Concept Mapping: Staying Healthy

Concept Mapping can be great for everyone! It is especially great for students in the lower elementary grades because they can be made by teachers to be colorful and interesting for their students. It helps with the following NETS-T Standard: 
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
 design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

I think this because concept maps adapt to relevant learning experiences. They can reach low vision students and even deaf students (outline view can be used to read to deaf students) They are a great way for kids to explore new topics. Although, concept maps can seem difficult to make, once you get the hang of a concept map program, such as Kidspiration 2, they are actually fun to make! They can also be great for older students to use as a study tool in high school or college. Above is a photo of a concept map that I created to teach second graders about staying healthy. The map includes links to four websites to give children more information on the given topics. The concept map was actually really fun to make.

NETS•T Standards

                                                      NETS-T Standards
1. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.
c.	promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.
d.	model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

I believe that all teachers should teach and engage students, no matter the age about real life situations. Everyone should learn how to have experiences with peers and learn how to act properly at a young age. Teachers should engage children in creative ways to make them think about situations.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
d.	provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

I think that with all the current and future technology, all teachers should be able to adapt classroom situations and lessons to teach children with all kinds of needs in their classroom.
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
b.	collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

Using technology to stay in touch with students, staff, and parents will be very helpful in the classroom. It gives everybody a chance to talk without having to meet up at a certain time or answer their phones.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a.	advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.
b.	address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
c.	promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.
d.	develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools.

Teaching digital safety and responsibility is extremely important in teaching! No matter what grade. I think that with all the websites out there today that all students need to know how to protect themselves. Students also need to know how to use technology legally.

5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:

a.	participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
b.	exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.
c.	evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.
d.	contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.

With all the current technology available, teachers need to be well educated themselves to be able to educate their students. These days, students sometimes know more about technology than their instructors do. Technology is always changing and updating, so we must be constantly learning.

Standards can be found at: http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008 

My Lovely Life

    Hi guys! My name is Haleigh Taylor. I am currently a junior at Southern Miss Gulf Coast, aiming to be an elementary teacher. I am hoping to teach Kindergarten up to third grade. I have a strong passion for working with children. I currently work as a hostess at T.G.I. Friday's. I love my job and the people that I work with, but am so glad it will not be my future career. I am newly married to my amazing husband, Benjamin. We are in the process of house hunting for our first house together. I can not wait to finish school and start having children of my own. I adore fashion, working out everyday (or at least trying to!), reading E.L. James books, and doing art and DIY projects. I love being creative and making something out of nothing and want everything in life to be beautiful. I have an amazing life and could not be happier!
    I do not have that strong of a background in computer technology, I like to blame this on Hurricane Katrina in eighth grade messing up my Computer Technology class. I can manage to get around enough to complete school work and get on Facebook, but have to consult my computer expert husband on how to do most things.I hope to learn more in IT365 though! I do believe that technology should and will be a major part of teaching and learning in my future classroom. I think that if the technology is available, then why not use it?!