So I did not excel at Excel...

Here is my lovely spreadsheet. Only with the help of my dear classmate, Heather, was this U.S. president quiz made possible. I can definitely see how excel can be very useful in the classroom. However, I feel like there are easier and equally interactive ways to create quizzes. This project took me longer than any other. I felt the least creative on this one as well. I am still amazed by the logic statements and the overall percision of Excel. Whether or not I use this in my classroom, I am proud to say that I have created a quiz on Excel...with the slight help of a friend regardless.

My Impressionism Diagram via Inspiration

This was my favorite assignment of all! It was so creative and simple. I would definitely use this in my classroom. I feel that the diagram is best used in a simple layout in order to effectively engage attention of students. The only thing I did not like was that I found it hard sometimes to condense information. I love art and sometimes secretly wish I was a talented artist so I could teach Art. However, I guess I will just have to stick with creating diagrams about art instead.

An Ode to the Literacy Scavenger Hunt

My group went on a literacy scavenger hunt. I enjoyed working in a small group and having the freedom to go outside the building. Finding the items on the check list was a little challenging at times. Believe it or not the hardest thing to find was the misspelled word. Apparently everyone on this campus really does know how to spell! Using a scavenger hunt in a classroom could definitely be appropriate with the right age group and content. Being a future Special Ed teacher, I may have to modify a scavenger hunt and recruit many aides to help. Otherwise, it could prove to be a little chaotic if not properly adjusted for my future students. Overall, I loved the opportunity to think outside the box and do a hands on activity.

Literacy Slideshow-Part Deux

Literacy Sacvenger Hunt Slideshow

Web 2.0

My Web 2.0 Tool was Smilebox. Smilebox has so many brilliant templates that allow you to create calenders, newsletters, virtual show and tells, and many other creative outlets for your classroom. We chose to create a newsletter about our TPTE 486 class as our artifact for the Web 2.0 wiki. Smilebox is a great tool that can engage parents and students outside the class. I feel there are some definite similarities to Glogster in some aspects, especially appearance. Children can create their own page and share it online via email or print it out to take home. If given access to computers in the classroom I definitely would use Smilebox as a work station to create a page about a current lesson.

The IBA

I.B.A.=Inquiry Based Activity. At first, I thought what in the world am I going to do?? After going through 4 ideas and attempting to create an IBA for each, I decided on doing my IBA about Africa. Naturally, I did my IBA backwards. I decided what topic and activity, and then chose my grade level and objectives. I really enjoy the creative license we have when doing these. They allow for children to construct their own knowledge rather than simply reading and reciting verbatim. I will definitely incorporate IBAs in my classroom.