Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1500

Blog 6:Reflecting on Privilege

What is privilege? What is bias? Privilege is a special right, advantage or available only to a particular person. To be biased is to have a prejudge in favor or against one thing, someone or to compare a group to another.

In today’s world, we experience and undertake in bias or privilege situations in our daily lives. We many not realize this encounters until we come face-to-face with them. I understand that we live in a world, where there are drawbacks but that should limit goals. In the Diggin Deep assignment, where we continue with our daily life, but also, write down experience we have with privilege or bias. This small encounter will help me realize the bias that I have, the opportunity that I receive and the disadvantages that I would happen because of privilege. It a great assignment for anyone to do, to understand where they stand in society.

As an African-American raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota  I know that there will be some disadvantages, I will face because of bias and privilege. I went to schools that were very diverse in cultures, races, and religions. With all the diversity I was surrounded by, schools didn’t really educate student much about bias and privilege, it wasn’t until high school that I learned about it. My high school social studies teacher was the first person in the education system to teach me about privilege and what it mean for me. Something that stood out is how he educated the class on the true, without trying the sugar code it.

In the field of education, we will encounter students of different races, cultures, and religions Everyone has biases and their own belief, but if you carry that into the class it will affect the way students will learn. I understand that every teacher has their own values, that’s what makes each classroom different and it would be difficult to just push them to the side. Instead of prejudging or giving special rights to a particular group, but allow students to create their own values and beliefs. This will help develop skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking.

Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1500

Observation 3

At this time of my observation, I have completed the 15 hours. As I stated, Franklin Middle School is where I do my observation hours. Franklin is a 6-8 grade public school. I’m located it the 6th-grade math class. The reason I choose that area is because when was a student I enjoy math, especially middle school mathematics. In the Observation hours, I get to see how the classrooms are run and learn from the teachers.

The teacher of the math class really tries the relate to her students and make the class more stimulating than a typical math class. A moment that stood out was when one of the students was making noise, moving about and being disturbed during the silent work time. The teacher asks the student to come seat by her. Then, she started a conversation with the student asking him how his day was going, about his class and etc… As they were talking the student was doing his work. That moment stood out to me because the teacher didn’t push the student to the side by telling him to be quite. She interacted with the student and got him to refocus.

Another moment that resonated with me was a discussion I had with the teacher. We were talking about teaching and how to keep that same enthusiasm coming to this profession. She said, “The passion just redirect itself and the moment you start looking at this as just a job instead of a career, is the moment you lose that passion.” I believe that is true because people usually enter teaching for the money, they choose this profession to educate young minds.

As a student, I personally never agree with the standardized testing. I think that student shouldn’t be judged on the way they test because everyone test differently. When the student is testing in class they are allowed to have their notebook and a pencil. Something that is missing to the communication. Group test can be a helpful learning experience. Some students may not work well alone and I think it working in a group is a good way to share ideas with each other.

Bridgett Ellis

EDCU 1500

Observation 2

At this time of my observation, I have completed the ten hours. The observation hours take place in a 6th-grade math class. The educational philosophy, I believe that is being incorporated in the classroom is Realism. The educational goal of Realism is to observe reality regardless of human awareness. Also, to test and verify knowledge through skill demonstration. The teaching design of the class is very structured and informative. The teacher present the material on the smartboard, by explaining the work, showing examples and reviewing. After the lesson, it presented to the student they are usually asked to demonstrate their knowledge through homework or a class active. The teacher also draws from reality and integrate it into the lesson. With this element, the students are able to put their own twist on the assignment.   

Teachers are conducting the classroom and shaping the minds of young students. The teacher has an effective impact on the student's education. She gives helpful feedback to the student and guide them through their work. Something that stood out about the student-teacher is how she interact with each student differently. Some students are shy when it comes to speaking in front of the class and others are more outspoken. Another thing that I acknowledge is how she put them in small groups, so they can work through the problem together.

The physical layout reflects the teaching style of the classroom. The layout also demonstrates the educational philosophy. In the observation class, the students are facing the smartboard and the teacher’s desk is at the front of the class. On the walls there are posters of math examples, times tables and students work. An effective class arrangement is a setup that helps students thrive and perform their best.

Bridgett Ellis

EDCU 1400

Tech Toolkit

In this week of the tech toolkit, I choose a website that adds a new dynamic to projects. Creaza is an online website that brings student projects to the 21st century. Creaza is a learning and playful tool that will engage students. It will also promote collaborative work within the class. With many different possibilities, the website offer tools for brainstorming, create cartoons and editing video and audio. With hundred of activities, students will be able to be creative and playfully learn. This look would be a helpful benefit for students and teachers.

The four unique feature in this online tool is packed with curriculum-based content and activities. Mindomo is one of the features, the mind mapping tool can be helpful for visual learners. With the brainstorming, students will be able to create mind maps, that can be easily be turned into presentations. With Mindomo, students will organize and get an overview of their thoughts and ideas. The cartoonist feature will allow students to create a comic strip consisting of different characters, backgrounds, texts, and images. The cartoonist has a wide variety of themes with each content.

The movie editing is complete with professional titles, transitions, music, animation, narration, and effects. This will give a professional look to any project. With the movie editor, students can connect their cartoonist to create slide shows.

In the audio editing, students will have access to hundreds of integrated audio clips. They'll  be able to choose from both music from different genres and a large collection of sounds. The audio editor will record and mix sounds. Students can produce their own audio clips and soundscapes.

I think that this tech tool will add a new element to presentations. It also encourages collaboration within the classroom.  This website gives the students a chance to put their own creative spin on a project.

Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1400

Tech Toolkit: Gradebook

The tech toolkit that I found this week is the Engrade grading system by McGraw-Hill Education. This tool is a great grading system for any teacher, who's looking to create their own grading system. Although most schools provide their own grading website, it may not work for everyone.  Every teacher teaches different, which means they may grade differently.  This is a free online grade book that offers many different characteristics.

On the site, you will start by creating an online profile, with your username and password. You’ll be able to sign up as a teacher of students. For teachers the first you’ll create a class using any subject. When creating the class, you’ll add the class name, grade level, school year and grade period. Then it asks what type of grade system will be used. You’ll be able to choose the traditional grade scale 100-90% is an A, 89-80 is a B, and etc... or you can create your own grading scale. When that finish you’ll add the name of students, then the class set up will be complete. The other characteristic this site is the attendance, performance review, and seating chart. With the performance review, teachers will be able to make commons on how each student is doing every day. This can be a helpful reminder that teachers can look back on to track the students development. Also, the seating can be very useful if a teacher is absent. The teacher can also add quizzes to the class site.

I think that this can be a helpful tech tool for many schools. It gives teachers a chance to have more academic freedom with the grading system. Also, is can beneficial if schools are have cut back since it’s a free online grade site.  

 

                           

Bridgett Ellis

3/18/16

 EDUC 1500

Blog 5: School Funding

School funding was the topic in this week of class. In the class discussion, I learn new interesting things about school funding.One of that thing were where does the funding come from. The school's general funding source is the Federal Government (4.2%), Local (12.7%) and State (83.1%). The thing that I found interesting about the federal government percentage because it seems they have a substantial influence on school districts. With the requirement of the standardized test another test from the federal government, I would think they would contribute more of a financial support.

It was also interesting to see how the funds are being used.  The fund is being distributed to student transportation (5.8%),  District Level (4.5%), Facilities, Operation and Maintenance (13.1%) and Instructor, Supplies (76.6%). To see the way the funds are distributed to schools and to hear about schools are cutting are some programs, was a hard thing to understand.

When I hear news about schools cutting programs such as music or other extracurricular activities but also being able to finance things for sports activities.  It makes me wonder how are the funds are really being distributed. While there's a growing need for funds, schools are often finding why to get financial support.  

Bridgett Ellis

Blog #4

Option #3 (Religion in Schools)

In this week of class, our group selected to talk about religion in school. In today's world, religion is one aspect that defines us. Religion in school had always been on the back burner. Schools often push religious away and sweep it under the rug. Schools don't often contribute religion because of they believe in will cause conflict. With 70% of Americans identifying as Christian, that does have an effect on our public school. Christianity any has greater attention than other religions in public school today. Although Christianity is at the forefront of public school, does that make America a “Christian Nation"? The first amendment to the United States prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion and impeding the free exercise of religion. With this first amendment, students are allowed to pray in school, as long as it doesn’t disrupt school activities. Students can also be dismissed from class for ritual prayer. In the education system, there are many different ways to incorporate religion into educational assignments and also following school district guidelines. Although religion can be a difficult subject to discuss, I believe that all religion should be equally endorsed or not at all. Students should feel that they are equals.

Bridgett Ellis

Tech Toolkit

The tech tool I explored this week is Glogster. Glogster offers free accounts for teachers and students. This website is a platform for presentations and interactive learning. It provides different media outlets such as photos, videos, audio, graphics, and texts. Glogster combines these tool on the one page and creates multimedia  posters, with limitless possibilities. It's also can connect with Youtube and Google, so there an unlimited amount of video and image to choose from. Glogster can be a helpful tool for arranging lesson plans and presentation. Teachers can add a new technology way to teaching with the video and audio. Students will be able to create their own posters and share with others in the class. Glogster encourages collaborative educational work because students and teacher could make comments on each other poster and send messages.

Bridgett Ellis

EDCU 1500

Educational Philosophy

I believe that the purpose of education is to teach and explore the unknown. Teaching is about making the students think critically. A teacher should create assignments that encourage critical thinking skills. This will help students build problem-solving skills.  I think that education  should challenge students. To challenge the students, it important to contribute things that are interesting to the students. The integration of subjects that interest the student can add a different dynamic to the class and they will be able to show their individually through their work. The students should walk away for the class feeling that they learned something new. Teachers should guide to the students through tasks such as assignments, projects, and other academic activities.  Education is not just about a letter grade. The purpose is to push the student mentally ability. 

 Schools are environments where people can learn from one another. With so many different personal and ways of thinking, learning doesn’t necessarily have to be in the classroom. School can also be a place where students find their identity. The purpose of school is not just to students the basics, but to prepare the for life challenges. Schools will teach the building block that students will carry with them throughout their lives. Another thing, schools can provide educational self-discipline techniques. A place where students can learn wrong from right. 

 I believe that learning helps establish your own way of thinking. Students can learn the same things but process them differently. Education is the process of gaining information or knowledge and using it to develop different skills. Learning is also about progression. The more we learning, the more we widen our point of view. Learning doesn’t have to be just in the classroom. Also, involving that community is an essential part of the learning process. I believe that the students can learn from the people in their community, by getting different perspectives.

Bridgett Ellis

EDCA 1500

Observation 1

I’m doing my 40 hours of observation at Franklin Middle School, in North Minneapolis. I have been to the school a few time before. Franklin Middle is grade 6-8. The school offers extracurricular activities such as band, choir, dance and many more. As I observed the outside scenery of Franklin Middle School, I notice that the building has an old-fashion type structure to it. Something that stood out about the design of the school was the long pathway leading to the school and the big windows. I felt a very welcoming vibe because of the way the outside was presented. The structure of the building has an extensive landscape for a middle school, which I thought was a good factor because have more space.

                                                 

As I walked around the neighborhood I notice that it was silent. I reviewed the school around the time that class was in session. There weren't many people out around the community during that time of day. While reviewing through the neighborhood I saw a person walking, I spoke to a person about the school. She told me that she didn't have anyone children goes to but said: “it seem like a pretty good school.” I believe that this "urban" school is a great place to do my observation. With the diversity at this school, I feel that I can learn more about teaching in a different type of community.

In the Community of the school, there are many different aspects, such as schools, stores and parks. There's an elementary school less than a block away, which I think in a great thing because students that finish elementary school wouldn't have to go far to a middle school. Also, the student can visit the elementary have helped out. In the area, there's a Cub Food grocery store. In addition to the many different stores, the neighborhood has a park across the street for the school. The park has a swimming pool and a playground. This community has multiple different elements.

Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1500

Blog #3

The history of education has a substantial influence on the education system today. In historical events such as Brown vs. Board of Education or Engel v. Vitale change the dynamic of the school system.  History has shown that many cultures and communities had been oppressed when it come to education. The Brown Vs. Board Education was the desegregation in schools because separate didn't mean equal. In podcast The Problem We All Live I notices some similarity in objectives. Although both Brown Vs. Board of Education and the podcast are many years apart they had the same goal in mind, integration.  Both wanted equal education opportunity for all student, no matter what community they come from. 

 The podcast talked about the difficulty that Normandy school district  faced trying to pull themselves out of the academic rough spot. The school was trying mostly everything to help. The one thing that could improve the school was integration. In the school of mostly African American and Hispanic, the student did not receive the best form of education. The integration in the school means better teachers, higher quality materials and more academic support for the students in struggling schools. The statistics have shown that the students who attend this diverse schools are more likely to continue on to college. The students from Normandy transferred to the Francis Howell school district. The Francis Howell community wasn't very accepting of the transfer. The Normandy students were given a bad reputation, of being violent and weren't capable of keeping up with Francis academic standards. I believe that the Francis community prejudged the students for Normandy without giving to the integration chances. Often when the parents feel that the school is heading for a downfall they leave, which segregates the school.

 Busing was an essential factor in the integration. The busing program was a way to transport students to schools outside of their district zone. This program started in 1971 and desegregated many schools. 

I understood that there is progress that still needs to be made in our education system. The knowledge that I received made sense of how integration has an extensive influence on the way students perform and the education system. 

Bridgett Ellis

History

Education has evolved over the past years.  Something in history that stood out to me is what I learned about in the School: The Story of American Education Youtube videos. I learned more about women not being able to continue their education past three years. In the three years of education, women were taught things that will prepare them for marriage and motherhood.  In the 19th century, as education evolve it was a high demand for educator in secondary schools, women were given the opportunity of higher education as students or teachers. Teaching became seen as a job mainly for women because of the nurturing factor of this occupation. Women went to college to be trained for service out west as teachers. Catherine Beecher was a strong believer in women being educators. Beecher considers it a women's moral calling. An important person in education history is Mary Jane Patterson. Patterson was the first African American women to get a degree. Although women were given the opportunity to teach, they were also considered lower than men in the work field. Women teachers were paid less than male teachers. Also, women teachers often worked under male figures.

The things that I learned about women's history in education, gave me a better understand of how far women educator have come.

Bridgett Ellis

                                                                              EDUC 1400

Tech Toolkit

A Tech Toolkit that I chose this week is the Educreation website. Educreation is a whiteboard presentation type of device that can be used by teachers and students. Educreation has separate account access for teachers and students. With the tool, anyone would be able to draw, upload pictures and make recordings. Educreation allows users to import images, maps, background, document and web pages for more creative freedom. Students can be creative in projects, homework or any other class activities This device give teachers the chance to create their lesson plans or videos and upload them online by using this tool. With this tech tool being online, teachers can automatically sync any lesson to the students amount or via links, emails, messages or any other social media outlets. This will allow students to have access to Educreation from any device and learn at their own place. The teachers can also give students feedback on their work assignments through the website. Another advantage of using this tech tool is that teachers can store lessons and students can view them later. 

Blog#1: EDUC 1400

Tech Toolkit 

Link: 

http://www.padlet.com/

In today's world, technology is everywhere you look and it's important to teach students about the academic advantage that come along with using technology. As teachers in this generation, we have a chance to bring a new way of  teaching  to the classroom with technology. The website, Padlet is an electronic bulletin board that can be used to share any information, topic or other data. With this website, you're able to be creative and design your own layout by adding wallpaper, pictures, videos and other outlets. This tech tool is something I will use for a 7th-grade classroom to integrate technology into teaching. In the classroom, this tool can be helpful with teaching lessons. Since it’s online the students will be able to review the lessons at a home or anywhere else. It can also be used in projects, students will learn to communicate with technology in progressive ways. The students will be capable of creating and present their own work and I think that will help them learn better. When you create something of your own instead of just reading about it from a book, the information resonates more.

Another way that I would use this website is as a review chart. The review chart will be a helpful tool for myself and the students. The chart will be divided into three section, what we learned, what we didn't  understand and what can be improved. The students will be allowed to make comments on their class experience. It will give a better understand of what's going well and what needs to change. The parents will also have access to the website and see what they're learning.

Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1500

Blog# 1: Teaching As Autobiography

Most teachers often talk about the past experience that they had as a student that made them want to become a teacher. In experiences good or bad, there layers that help decide what they would do differently or what they would like to incorporate in their own classroom. A learning experience that I had was my 8th-grade math class. The teacher that I had was so energetic and upbeat, she always told jokes that made everyone laugh. I was the type of student that didn’t share much and wasn’t involved in any class discussions.  The learning environment that she created was very open and pressure free, which made myself and other students feel able to interact and share more. A change in environment can make differences the way students learn.

I remember one time I didn’t understand the material and she took time after school one-on-one to review the section until I got a better understanding. I believe that was one of the moments that make me want to teach. That moment made me feel like she not only cared about my education but also me as a person. I think that she understood that everyone learns differently and tried to connect on a different level with each student.

That type of teaching is something I would like to include in my own future classroom because not every student learns the same way. They're not a lot of teachers in the field that makes students feel cared for and value. An important part of teaching to me is about making a space where students can be creative and explore.  Another thing I would like to contribute is the type of environment where the student feel encourages to share and interact in the classroom.