My Think Aloud

Thinkaloud

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Website Evaluation: Feline Reaction to Bearded Men

After reading this website, it is clear many people contributed to this article, but it is also clear they are making fun of the research.  The facility showed cats pictures of different sizes of beards and then they analyzed they reactions of the kitties.  I think these people had too much time on their hands and were bored one day and decided to have some fun with their cats.  I know my cats love when my husband is a little scruffy because they love to rub their faces on his stubble.  However, if I showed my cats pictures of beards, they would probably look at me like I was crazy.  I can't even tell if the website was accredited.  The name of the website is Improbable Research, so I don't really believe anyhting they say to be true. 

Words Failed Me Then Saved Me

   I am in Intro to Special Education class with Dr. Moorose and he has taught us the differences between  the learning disabilities.  I was not aware how hard it is for dyslexic children to not only learn to read but to be able to process what they read.  I really never thought about how it would affect their being able to tell their left from right.  I just thought dyslexic children couldn't tell the difference between B and D and that is why they have so much trouble learning to read.  I didn't know it affected other areas of learning.  I also didn't realize assistive technology was available to students with learning disabilities.  This tool would be very useful when teaching children to read.  They could listen to a tape while looking at the words and be able to associate those sounds with the worlds.  There are also numerous computer programs that help children with learning disabilities.  Spell checker is a tool almost everyone uses now and it helps kids and adults learn to read.  I found a website that will link you to other materials to help assist learning disabled children.  This website gives links to videos, worksheets and advice on how to teach these children.  I found it to be very useful and plan on bookmarking it to use in my future classroom.

http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/education/at.html

Internet and Anti- Social Behavior

QUOTE:
    "On the contrary, cyber or online social networking may increase a person's social ease, the breadth and depth of off-line relationships, and their overall "social capital" – the resources accumulated through the relationships with people." (Owens, 2009)

RESPONSE:
      I agree with Ms. Owens.  Social networking is a great way to meet new people and also a way to reconnect with old friends.  It is so much easier to communicate with someone online because you have  time to get  your thoughts in order and you can avoid confrontation.  I have been able to reconnect with friends who have moved away and even out of the country.  I can also use email and facebook to catch up with family overseas.  Sometimes, when you need to get a message to a bunch of people, it is easier to just send an email or a note through facebook and then people can respond when they a have time.  Children, especially use the social network when communicating with friends, or even just getting their opinion or voices heard.  They don't have to worry so much about what their friends will think and they have more freedom to express themselves.  I do feel, however, that we need to teach our students the dangers of social networking nad make sure they are informed when using these tools.

Owens, Laura. "Internet & Anti-Social Behavior Theory Unfounded." (2009): n. page. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://laura-owens.suite101.com/internet--anti-social-behavior-theory-unfounded-a111897>.
http://laura-owens.suite101.com/internet--anti-social-behavior-theory-unfounded-a111897

"Does the Internet make kids anti-social? Does it make them stupid?." Millions of us, 10 Nov 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://millionsofus.com/blog/2008/11/10/does-the-internet-make-kids-anti-social-does-it-make-them-stupid/>.
http://millionsofus.com/blog/2008/11/10/does-the-internet-make-kids-anti-social-does-it-make-them-stupid/

Chart for Quiz

By looking at my graph, it shows the Asians, Blacks, Females and Hispanics did better in level two than the ones in the first series.  Then, the values start to vary and there isn't a set group that does better than another.  In series 8, the Special Ed students did a lot better than the other students, this could be because they had assistance from teachers. 

Line Graph

Life on Screen

Quote:

"When people talk to me about the digital divide, I think of it not being so much about who has access to what technology as who knows how to create and express themselves in this new language of the screen." (Lucas)

Response:

This is so true. Its not so much about who has access to the technology but who has the ability to use that technology. Students may have access to the newest and best technology but may not know how to use it. Or students may not have access to the best but can turn their ideas into something wonderful. Students need to feel comfortable in turning their ideas into something wonderful. We need to support students creative side and help them explore the ways technology can be useful for them.


Lucas, George. "Life on the Screen: Visual Literacy in Education." Edutopia. Interview by James Daly. Print. <http://www.edutopia.org/lucas-visual-literacy>.
http://www.edutopia.org/lucas-visual-literacy

Venable, Melissa. "New Literacies and Online Learning: Digital, Media, and Visual." On line college. (2007): n. page. Web. 14 Oct. 2011. .
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/05/27/new-literacies-and-online-learning-digital-media-and-visual/ 

Voki Lesson Plan

Click here for my Voki lesson plan
http://l-www.voki.com/open_pdf.php?file=Prince Charming (2nd - 3rd Grade Reading).pdf

Voki

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel."
Carol Buchner

Teaching Media Literacy

QUOTE:

"Even though students are spending more and more time on the Internet and teachers increasingly expect their students to do assignments online, digital media literacy skills are vastly underrepresented in the curriculum for all but the most advanced students (as, indeed, are offline critical-thinking and reading-comprehension skills)."  (David, Jane L)

RESPONSE:

  After I read this quote I was shocked but after I gave it some thought, I found it to be surprisingly accurate.   Even though students are on the internet the majority of their spare time is spent looking for friends or facebook and twitter.  The average middle school and high school student doesn't really pay much attention to current affairs when they are searching the web.  When a teacher assigns a research paper, the students usually just research their given topic.  We as teachers need to help guide the students to see that there are other information outlets.  When students use google, for example, they usually skim the first two or three available options and then they only skim the article.  We need to encourage kids to try and find other information outlets that give them more details. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzLRher5Cw 
Pilgram, . " Teaching Media Literacy in the Digital Age." Youtube. N.p., 30 Oct 2008. Web. 7 Oct 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVzLRher5Cw>.
David, Jane. "Teaching Media Literacy." Education Leadership. 66.6 (2009): 84-86. Web. 7 Oct. 2011. <www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/Teaching-Media-Literacy.asp&xgt;