New quarter! Spring quarter. I have class on Monday evenings and an online class on Wednesdays. I'm a little nervous about the online class because I feel I might do something wrong, but I'm also excited to learn more about the use of technology. Monday was also my first day back to school from spring break. My fourth graders (all 40 of them) were really happy to be back as well. It was a great day and I missed them. We only have a four day week, and unfortunately I have to give a few quizzes because next week is the end of the third grading period. Wow, already! This year flew by! I have homework to begin tonight, and I still have to get my text books for my classes at Otterbein. Maybe I'll fit in a nap... hmmm.. We'll see.

I tried Wordle!

I copied and pasted my blog into www.wordle.net, it was really fun to see! I like seeing all the words compiled bly size! Some of the largest words were students, teaching, like, class, group, ant think, social imformation, TWS, and unit. I want to try and use this website for other things!

This past Friday we went on our Jazz field trip to Otterbein College to see the Jazz faculty perform songs by Duke Ellington. The students had previously prepared good questions to ask during a Q and A session after the concert. I was so proud to hear these awesome questions and the Jazz musicians were stunned! The fourth graders were even offering information and complimenting the musicians on a great job of improvising. It was a blast. After the concert we went upstairs and a music methods course presented our students with an instrument petting zoo. Each student had the opportunity to try to play the instruments. They loved every minute of it. I was joking with one of the room mothers that I am single handedly going to start the next revolution of Muslim musicians. The parents that chaperoned had a great time as well and were very thankful and expressed their gratitude that they child or any of the children for that matter has been exposed to music in a complete educational way. I feel very privileged to have instilled this great memory into the lives of my students. I can't wait for our next field trip, but I don't think any other one we take during the rest of the school year will compare to the experience and wealth of knowledge they gained during this trip!

I like the jig-saw method

This week I have used the jig-saw method during my Social Studies class. We are studying natural resources, human resources, capital resources, entrepreneurs, inventors, monopolies and labor unions during the late 1800's and early 1900's in Ohio History (4th grade). The students are really into learning about these topics. I decided to group my students and each group received a topic to research to become experts on. One group researched entrepreneurs (i.e. John D. Rockefeller, Andre Carnegie ect.) Another group researched inventors and their inventions. Other groups became experts on laws and labor unions, and natural resources and products made from these resources. After a few days of research and sharing ideas within the groups, each "expert" was sent to a different group to display their knowledge on their topic. Then they discussed within these new groups why this information was important. Each group was able to record their original "expert" information as well as add new information. The students loved being called "experts" and I believe I will try this again!

Hey Stranger...

I have to admit that I don't mind blogging so much, but I honestly forget to do it. I guess having a hectic (current) lifestyle I can only handle reading face book statuses from friends.... The sad thing is, I haven't been current on that either! During this winter quarter, for the first time in my life I am experiencing this "out of control" feeling. Things that are beyond my control keep happening. I'm normally a planner, and can foreshadow things. That might sound boring, but that is how "life" has always been! The hectic nature of everyday life has let time blast by as if it were a rocket ship! I almost feel guilty that maybe I have made the wrong choice to take on too much at one time. That is one of my weaknesses. Saying NO! At school, with organizations, with friends, and even with family commitments, I find myself suggesting things, and then all of sudden POOF! I am put in charge of organizing, or assisting, helping, etc... I don't mind helping out. I feel very lucky and love everything about my life right now. I have an awesome and supportive family, work colleagues, college professors, and friends. Maybe I just need to learn how to say no thank you in the nicest way possible...
After reading and rereading the hack job I created out of my TWS (teacher work sample) It has left my mind in a blur.... I continue to teach my Jazz Unit and it is going really well! I have made some adjustments, like adding more read alouds for clarification ect. but when I put it down on paper, it made no sense.... I totally understand why my professor sent it back. What was I thinking???
I feel very fortunate that I have been given a second chance to fix it. I have worked on it, and have not liked the results, so I change it.... I'm just about to re-submit the first sections, so I hope it all goes well. I have to say this blogging assignment is a pretty smart assignment, because I find myself blowing off some steam here...
God, I'm 28, and I feel like a whiny 19 year old complaining about things I want to do, rather than what I am obligated to do.... I like that my 611 course is forcing me to do a lot of self reflecting.... I've always an over analyzer... my husband would agree! So with this new found (fingers crossed) confidence, and 2nd wind I plan to go out with a bang and hopefully do well in my winter courses... I know I will probably lose my 4.0 average, but as long as I pass, I will be happy with B's! Hmm... We will see. Ok time for Writing Workshop!
Sincerely,

Jill