Reflection

My name is Rachael Threadgill. I teach self-contained emotionally disabled 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. This past week was our first week back with students and I am looking forward to a great year.
In week one of this course I reviewed my idea on learning theories. I stated that I combine parts of the Behaviorist Perspective and the Constructivist Perspective and as this school year has begun I find that I still believe this. I continue to use the Behaviorist theories when it comes to my behavior policy in my classroom. The students are given a point sheet each day that monitors their behaviors for positive behaviors they earn points for negative behaviors they lose points. The points are added up each day and put into an account book to be spent on activities in the class. This fits with the Behaviorist Perspective in that “the learner acquires behaviors, skills, and knowledge in response to the rewards, punishments, or withheld responses associated to a behavior (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). As for instruction I continue to use more of a Constructivist Perspective because it “relies on the cognitive concepts of inquiry-based learning and social interaction (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 2008). This was our first week back and one of the first assignments I had the students complete was a learning styles inventory. As I begin to plan out each lesson I try to make sure I am addressing each student’s learning style which I have found keeps them focused and more interested.
After learning about so many different technologies that are available I have already begun to change some of my lessons. I am working on creating an online scavenger hunt for my social studies and science classes that will coincide with the first chapters of the book. I have also began to look at designing a project that will allow the students to create a voice thread for an upcoming unit in social studies. This past week I also set up accounts for each of my students to complete a blog each week in math that will consist of them answering a math problem and commenting on other students blogs.
What I would like to do by the end of the school year is have my students become more effective users of technology. By using different forms of technology in the classroom throughout the year in all the subjects I teach, the students will be allowed to learn different ways to do things. They will have the opportunity to practice with each new form and improve on what they do. Another long term goal that I would like to achieve is to continue to improve my use of technology. I don’t want to continue to use the same things over and over, such as power points. I want to use more and be able to teach other teachers how to use different technologies. We have a new middle school opening next year and I would like to be the new technology integration specialist for the school. By continuing to take classes and practice I may just get there.
As the beginning of the new school year begins I hope everyone has a great year. I can’t wait to show my students what I learned this summer and have them learn the new technologies as well.
References
Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical Foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.