Make a Difference Movie

Having just watched this movie that Dr. Loungo has sent us, and after I wiped the tear from my eye, it occurs to me that this is very true. We don't always know the circumstances that our children go through. I am not given the student folders until the first day of school, however I have learned to make sure that even if I have to stay after school just to do this , I read each folder before the end of the first week. I have discovered some students who do not know where their Mom is, I have discovered that some students are "wards of the state." Students do have parents that are ill and some, like Teddy have lost a parent of other beloved member of the family.
I only wish I were given access to the folders before the school year begins, this would better prepare me for certain behaviors . Having the information ahead of time can as help me as a teacher. I am not going to do a take home gift project for Mother's day this year. Also, I sometimes have to dig for this information, I do not feel that the information folders given to us are as complete as I would like.
Getting back to the movie, I thought this was inspiring and I enjoyed it. Many students with a little understanding from a teacher , will rise to meet their potential. I hope I can inspire one of my students to remember me as a favorite teacher. However more than that I just want all of them to access me as a caring individual that they happened upon early in their life. My personal feeling is that every child has the potential for greatness, there are different levels of greatness depending upon the child. Teachers have such an impact on students and I really believe that we all forget that from time to time. We should all remember that we too have a favorite teacher and can remember the ones that truly cared. We must all strive to accomplish that very ideal.

You are not alone!

I have read many of my fellow classmates blogs regarding the WebQuest and I agree with the statements they make about actually making one as being a very overwhelming project. It seems that the hardest part is getting started, and after one does , having never done one before the process seems like a never ending task. I also, like many of you, began and then scrap my idea and will begin again tomorrow. I wanted to say Thank you to Dr. Luongo, for extending the due date. I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us , who will get it done and have already spent a great deal of time on it. I still believe it is an excellent way to teach and I only hope most districts will incorporate the amount of technology needed to use them in the future.
In closing I just want to wish my fellow classmates good luck with the assignment. Just know you are not alone in feeling the way you do. I am certain we will all get the job done!

Webquest

I have viewed the many webquest articles and video's in module 3. I must say that I like the idea of webquests. My only regret is that I know some schools do not have the technology available or the time allotted during the day for the students to work on them. As an at home project for students, though excellent, I fear that some inner city students may not have access to computers or the internet. They could however do the assignments at the library and should be encouraged to do that. I have not established the subject or the project I will be doing my webquest on. Though I would love to have my students do this, I am certain that because and only because of the financial situation of some, it will not be sanctioned by my district. I will make it an optional assignment perhaps.
I watch my students in the computer room when they have computers once a week, and I am just blown away by the speed and accuracy by which they can maneuver the websites they are allowed to go into. What a wonderful group to watch. They are never confused by the multimedia that surrounds them and I am sure they would love to have all subjects and assignments done by webquests! It does promote a higher order of thinking and I just wish we were given the opportunity to dispose of most of the ancient text books that we have and incorporate newer books with on line instruction. I just wish all school would step into the current time and realize what a disservice they are doing to some children.