Google has many new applications for educators (as well as parents) teaching to all ages. The technologies available can serve diverse needs and interests for teachers, students and parents. I am excited about the possibilities of applying these applications to expand the array of available teaching methods to my students.
As a kindergarten teacher I would often use Google Book Search. Reading level K-2nd grade would be easy to download and use as tools to increase reading level and literacy. This would also provide reading materials for those who can read at more advanced levels without having to purchase additional books for the classroom. For story-telling time, these virtual books would be great to use in conjunction with smart board-type applications. All the students could easily see the letters, words and pictures - creating group involvement.
I would also love to utilize Google Earth with it's applications for Earth, Sky, Oceans, etc. Whether all together as a class, or in individual stations, exploration of the world and sky would expand their understanding of the natural world. It would also be fun to follow different blogs such as the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee blog - finding out the "latest" on favorite animals by checking in weekly.
The Picasa application would be a good one to use for creating classroom scrapbooks, including photos, artwork and activities that all the children could see and enjoy. Individual programs could also be put together that could be burned on to a CD or sent via email to each child's home so they would have a personal journal of their "Kindergarten Year".
Using Google Docs would be a great way to monitor the computer centers when the children are on the Internet, thus making sure that appropriate material is being viewed. Even with kindergartners, group projects could be worked on in collaboration with each other, with monitoring by the teacher. Homework could be done with immediate teacher feedback and helps. With the teacher involved, whether at school, or at home, the level of interest and motivation would lead to accelerated achievment.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Dear Parents:
This letter is going out to all parents of incoming kindergartners to let you know of our school’s philosophy of equal education, compliance with state and federal laws, especially concerning students with special needs, and how this is reflected in our classrooms. We value our students and parents highly and seek to keep communications lines open on all our policies, at all times. Providing a quality education to all students is our goal.
We know that every child deserves the best education available. The Federal and State governments have backed that up in law. There are three laws that concern children with disabilities that I would like to give you some information on:
1. The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was signed into law in 1990. The primary function of this law is to prevent discrimination of people with disabilities by employers, local and state governments, public facilities and telecommunications. It also defines what constitutes “disabilities” and the parameters of what are considered violations.
2. The Assistive Technology Act or ATA passed in 1998 and refunded in 2004. It says that each state is to receive funding from the federal government for assisted technology programs for disabled persons who qualify for the act. There is no age limit for this assistance; birth and up. This law encourages educational advancements, independent living, and employment. Teachers come under this act to gain the resources they need to teach effectively to every student in the classroom, offering a fair education.
3. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA affects children with disabilities and their education most closely. The law clearly states that all children with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate education and it defines the parameters of those that qualify for an Individualized Education Program or IEP.
We want you to know that our education team is experienced in developing educational programs for children with special needs, while integrating all our students in an effective learning environment. If you have any concerns with the learning abilities of your child, let me know. This is an exciting time for you and your child and for me as well. I look forward to our year together and encourage you to speak with me anytime about all aspects of your child’s learning and education as they take this big step into kindergarten.
Sincerely,
Crystal Fronk, Kindergarten Teacher
Edtech 202 posts with information cited:
http://jiamariecree.blogspot.com/ http://heatherdavis202edtech.blogspot.com/ http://jocelynstearns.blogspot.com/ http://ryleemcclellan.blogspot.com/ http://trush-%20trush.blogspot.com/ http://willwardell.blogspot.com/
Links:
To find out more about IDEA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea2004.html
http://specialed.about.com/od/idea/a/ideadefined.html
To find out more about ATA: http://www.ncdae.org/activities/papers/carol/atapnes/html, http://www.afb.org/section.asp
http://www.ftcd.info/resources/ATlawsprint.pdf
To find out more about ADA: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/ada.html
This letter is going out to all parents of incoming kindergartners to let you know of our school’s philosophy of equal education, compliance with state and federal laws, especially concerning students with special needs, and how this is reflected in our classrooms. We value our students and parents highly and seek to keep communications lines open on all our policies, at all times. Providing a quality education to all students is our goal.
We know that every child deserves the best education available. The Federal and State governments have backed that up in law. There are three laws that concern children with disabilities that I would like to give you some information on:
1. The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was signed into law in 1990. The primary function of this law is to prevent discrimination of people with disabilities by employers, local and state governments, public facilities and telecommunications. It also defines what constitutes “disabilities” and the parameters of what are considered violations.
2. The Assistive Technology Act or ATA passed in 1998 and refunded in 2004. It says that each state is to receive funding from the federal government for assisted technology programs for disabled persons who qualify for the act. There is no age limit for this assistance; birth and up. This law encourages educational advancements, independent living, and employment. Teachers come under this act to gain the resources they need to teach effectively to every student in the classroom, offering a fair education.
3. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA affects children with disabilities and their education most closely. The law clearly states that all children with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate education and it defines the parameters of those that qualify for an Individualized Education Program or IEP.
We want you to know that our education team is experienced in developing educational programs for children with special needs, while integrating all our students in an effective learning environment. If you have any concerns with the learning abilities of your child, let me know. This is an exciting time for you and your child and for me as well. I look forward to our year together and encourage you to speak with me anytime about all aspects of your child’s learning and education as they take this big step into kindergarten.
Sincerely,
Crystal Fronk, Kindergarten Teacher
Edtech 202 posts with information cited:
http://jiamariecree.blogspot.com/ http://heatherdavis202edtech.blogspot.com/ http://jocelynstearns.blogspot.com/ http://ryleemcclellan.blogspot.com/ http://trush-%20trush.blogspot.com/ http://willwardell.blogspot.com/
Links:
To find out more about IDEA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea2004.html
http://specialed.about.com/od/idea/a/ideadefined.html
To find out more about ATA: http://www.ncdae.org/activities/papers/carol/atapnes/html, http://www.afb.org/section.asp
http://www.ftcd.info/resources/ATlawsprint.pdf
To find out more about ADA: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/ada.html
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
IDEA – The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
This is a law by the federal government of the United States that says that all children within a state, that are eligible with certain disabilities must have a free and appropriate education available to them. The law regulates how states provide special education, early intervention and other services to children with disabilities, age’s birth to 26. The law only applies to states that accept funding from the Federal Government – all states have accepted, therefore they are subject to the law. (Wikipedia – IDEA, Building the Legacy of IDEA – 2004)
Students that have disabilities making them eligible for services have the following conditions: mental retardation, hearing impaired (including deafness), visually impaired, serious emotional disturbances, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury or other impairments or specific learning disabilities, who need special education and related Services. Children who do not qualify for IDEA may receive services under the ADA. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
The law came about through a case wherein was judged that if free education to disabled children is not available then it would constitute “a violation of due process”. (Wikipedia – IDEA) The law was last amended in 2004 - “Free Appropriate Public Education” (FAPE) to prepare them for “further education and independent living”. Before the “Education for all Handicapped Children Act” (EHA), preceding IDEA, the ratio of children with disabilities getting an education was 1 in 5. Those who were not educated in public school were taught in private homes, hospitals, or institutions and labeled emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, blind or deaf. Most received very little or no education. Now there are more than six million receiving services through IDEA. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
Note that the benefits for children with disabilities that enroll in private schools differ from those in public schools. (Building the Legacy of IDEA – 2004)
When a child qualifies for services through IDEA, an IEP is prepared. (Individualized Education Program). The child must be in the least restrictive environment where that child can still learn. The parents along with the following members of the school staff collaborate as a team to write an IEP for an individual child: regular education teacher, special education teacher, school psychologist, and the administrator. Parents can prepare the IEP if they feel the school’s plan is not fair. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
Links: http://en.wikipedia.org IDEA, http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home, http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea2004.html
This is a law by the federal government of the United States that says that all children within a state, that are eligible with certain disabilities must have a free and appropriate education available to them. The law regulates how states provide special education, early intervention and other services to children with disabilities, age’s birth to 26. The law only applies to states that accept funding from the Federal Government – all states have accepted, therefore they are subject to the law. (Wikipedia – IDEA, Building the Legacy of IDEA – 2004)
Students that have disabilities making them eligible for services have the following conditions: mental retardation, hearing impaired (including deafness), visually impaired, serious emotional disturbances, orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury or other impairments or specific learning disabilities, who need special education and related Services. Children who do not qualify for IDEA may receive services under the ADA. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
The law came about through a case wherein was judged that if free education to disabled children is not available then it would constitute “a violation of due process”. (Wikipedia – IDEA) The law was last amended in 2004 - “Free Appropriate Public Education” (FAPE) to prepare them for “further education and independent living”. Before the “Education for all Handicapped Children Act” (EHA), preceding IDEA, the ratio of children with disabilities getting an education was 1 in 5. Those who were not educated in public school were taught in private homes, hospitals, or institutions and labeled emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, blind or deaf. Most received very little or no education. Now there are more than six million receiving services through IDEA. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
Note that the benefits for children with disabilities that enroll in private schools differ from those in public schools. (Building the Legacy of IDEA – 2004)
When a child qualifies for services through IDEA, an IEP is prepared. (Individualized Education Program). The child must be in the least restrictive environment where that child can still learn. The parents along with the following members of the school staff collaborate as a team to write an IEP for an individual child: regular education teacher, special education teacher, school psychologist, and the administrator. Parents can prepare the IEP if they feel the school’s plan is not fair. (Wikipedia – IDEA)
Links: http://en.wikipedia.org IDEA, http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home, http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea2004.html
Saturday, June 13, 2009
This Spring I went back to college at Boise State University after a long absence from school. After two years working as an Educational Assistant in kindergarten I have the desire to be a classroom teacher for any grade k-6. I love working with children, helping them learn the basics and creating a foundation for learning in school and beyond. Teaching fundamental academics and social skills while giving them a balance with creativity throughout the curriculum are my goals. I love to see children grow to and beyond expectations.
With pursuing a minor in art and a minor in English, I would be excited also to teach middle school art or English/Composition classes. Teaching children to communicate and create visually or with words would help them in all aspects of their educational, and later, professional careers.
For eight years I illustrated children's books and magazines, both educational and religious. I also enjoy, on the side, teaching drawing classes to all ages. Anyone can learn to draw or draw better with direction and practice.
Born in Oregon, my family moved around a lot when I was growing up. I have lived in eleven states, and two countries, attending fourteen schools before graduating from high school. As an adult I lived in Costa Rica for a time and have visited China. I live with my very supportive husband, three beautiful and creative children, our terrier, two Amazon parrots and two Betta fish. We love Idaho - it's home!
With pursuing a minor in art and a minor in English, I would be excited also to teach middle school art or English/Composition classes. Teaching children to communicate and create visually or with words would help them in all aspects of their educational, and later, professional careers.
For eight years I illustrated children's books and magazines, both educational and religious. I also enjoy, on the side, teaching drawing classes to all ages. Anyone can learn to draw or draw better with direction and practice.
Born in Oregon, my family moved around a lot when I was growing up. I have lived in eleven states, and two countries, attending fourteen schools before graduating from high school. As an adult I lived in Costa Rica for a time and have visited China. I live with my very supportive husband, three beautiful and creative children, our terrier, two Amazon parrots and two Betta fish. We love Idaho - it's home!
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