Demographics Write Up!

• Classroom
• Students in Class
• Males: 14
• Females: 12
• Grade Level in Class
• 6th
• Subject(s) Taught
• Language Arts, History
• Demographics
• School Socio-Economic Status 
• 87.4% free and reduced lunch
• School location
• Urban
• Describe relevant aspects of your school and community that influence and/or impact teaching and learning
• First Creek Middle School has extremely high diversity. The population is only 20% white and has very high Asian and Hispanic populations. As a result, there are many ELL students (15% of the school). There are also issues with gangs and drugs, along with racial tension. The staff is working to address these issues. The aim is to hire more teachers who are ethnically and religiously diverse so that we can better connect with our extremely diverse student body. 
• As previously stated, 87.4% of the school is on free/reduced lunch. This is a high poverty area with many single parent families. As a result, there is not a lot of PTA support and virtually no technological support other than computers. There are four computers in each classroom, but are not very current in terms of programs and OS's. There are computer labs available with reservation by teachers. In addition, the school has a gym, cafeteria, theater, and soccer field. 
• As far as parent support goes, there is not much. Many students come from single-parent families who work long hours (nine to eleven hour days). Most classrooms have one parent come in twice a week to help some of the ELL students who don't speak English well.  As a result of a lack of parental supervision, many students have to babysit younger siblings which impairs their ability to do homework well if at all. There is a study hall period after school, but because of lack of busing, it is difficult or impractical for students to attend. 
• 69.8% of teachers at First Creek have at least a Master's degree. This shows that the district is attempting to hire teachers who can better teach the students. Six teachers on staff teach extracurriculars, from choir to art to band and P.E. There is a large amount of students who are involved in these because of the excellence of instruction and performance opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.The teachers have high interest in the students and want to be heavily involved in their lives. 
• Classroom mobility
• 1.2%
• Race/Ethnicity
• 1.9% American Indian
• 16.7% Asian
• 3.4% Pacific Islander
• 20.1% Asian/Pacific Islander
• 17.5% Black
• 32.3% Hispanic
• 20.8% White
• 7.5% Two or More Races
• Spoken Languages
• 53% English as First Language
• 32% Fluent in English as a Second Language
• 15% English Language Learner
• Identified Special Needs Students in my Classroom
• 6 Special Education Students
• 4 IEP's for Behavior
• Academic Profile
• Assessment Data
• MSP testing results
• 32.3% at/above standard
• 67.7% below standard
• Technology Standards for Grade 6
• EALR 1 – Integration
• Students use technology within all content areas to collaborate, communicate, generate innovative ideas, investigate, and solve problems
• Components
• 1.1: Innovate: Demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology
• 1.2: Collaborate: Use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others
• 1.3 Investigate and Think Critically: Research, manage, and evaluate information and solve models using digital tools and resources
• EALR 2 -- Digital Citizenship
• Students demonstrate a clear understanding of technology systems and operations and practice safe, legal, and ethical behavior.
• Components
• 2.1: Practice Safety: Practice safe, legal, and ethical behavior in the use of information and technology.
• 2.2: Operate Systems: Understand technology systems and use hardware and networks to support learning.
• 2.3: Select and Use Applications: Use productivity tools and common applications effectively and constructively. 
• 2.4: Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency): Transfer current knowledge to new and emerging technologies.

Blog Assignment Week 3--Marc Prensky

Marc Prensky's discussion on "Digital Natives" versus "Digital Immigrants" was truly a thought-provoking one. He proposes that we use methodology that "Digital Natives" (my generation and younger) to teach young students, since they are familiar with it. Using a familiar methodology to teach unfamiliar content is a good idea, but would be very difficult to implement.
The problem is that while my generation is now entering the workforce as teachers, older teachers who are part of the "Digital Immigrant" generations are often uncomfortable with technology and the way that students now think. Prensky speaks of the necessity for teachers to adopt new technological habits to better teach their students. We must become familiar with Smartboards, document cameras, even CAD programs and building computers. Students have endless potential and will be more involved in learning "Legacy" information (traditional subjects) if they are put into a format that is interesting to the students.
How far is too far, though? Do we completely ditch the old system? Though Prensky doesn't completely advocate this, he does think that we should delve into technology in the classroom more so than relying on traditional methods.
I believe that teachers need to be sensitive to technology and to use it for the good of students, but I don't think that we should completely abandon traditional methods. We shouldn't completely abandon tried and true methods just to keep students entertained. They have to learn that there's more to life than technology or TV. As our world progresses further, they should be aware how to use technology for good, rather than just sitting around and playing videogames.
In short, we should expect students to be able to succeed with or without technology. We should use it to their advantage, but not necessarily abandon it completely. A book, a play, or painting with a brush and canvas can still be enjoyed, no matter how much technology develops.

Week Two Blog -- Sir Ken Robinson Response

I posted this as a comment last week, but wasn't sure if we were supposed to post it as a real post. Here it is.

This video really made me think. The idea of becoming "disenthralled" with different areas of education and allowing change to come where it's needed really stuck with me. His point that we have built our educational models around that of fast food scared me, but it was a valid point. We so value conformity in a classroom that students who are not gifted in the ways that are valued in a classroom may be labeled as "stupid" or "incompetent." The "revolution" that Robinson suggests, however, would be very hard to implement and would take a lot of time and effort. I think that using technology more in the classroom would be a good way to unlock the potential of kids with different needs or types of intelligences. It would change everything and be completely worth it, if we can find the passion to implement it.

Spring 2012 Class Blogs

Joshua Wenzek

Lauryn Ernster

Arica Johnson

Kristine Stipp

Adam Loga

Jordyn Wilson
Professor Adair

Blog Assignment Week One

Ever since I was a little kid, I was considered different. I went to a private school which had a lot of more wealthy families. My family definitely wasn't one of those, and on top of that, I was a loud and opinionated little girl. As such, I was sort of on the fringe of a lot of groups at school. I was still a "happy" kid, however, armed with a small group of fellow nerd friends and a voracious desire to learn. My teachers all the way up were pretty compassionate, always spurring me on and helping me to feel loved and special. However, in middle school, I had two teachers who changed the way that I looked at school. The whole hormonal thing was starting to happen, and I was pudgy and nerdy, so I was getting insecure and a bit hesitant in school. My sixth grade teacher and my middle school history teacher both helped to pull me out of my self-pity and insecurities and to become a growing adolescent with a desire to succeed and to live well. I have seen several kids in my classroom experiences (as a student, a tutor, or a TA) who have had similar attitudes or have no one to believe in them. Sentimental and cliche as it sounds, I want to be an advocate for them and to believe in them, even when no one else will. I want to teach the things that have been taught to me in a way that makes them love school and to become better citizens of a growing, yet shrinking world. 

As far as technology goes, I suppose that I am a product of my generation. I know my way around the internet pretty well, can use a smart phone, and know "texting lingo." I am not really comfortable with a SMARTboard or other such education-related tech. I am excited to learn, though! :)

I think that technology is necessary in education, especially since kids are becoming more and more familiar with technology at a younger and younger age. Teaching them how to use technology well is important, as well as using technology to help them to make connections between what they know (the medium) and what they don't already know (the material.) Technology has nearly endless possibilities, and I believe that these should be used for students' benefit, as well as added comfort for teachers.