Videos

Videos have become a huge part of students lives. They watch music videos, movies, and entertaining clips online, so why shouldn't we use them in our classrooms. I think that students respond well to videos because it is something that they can relate to.  Youtube and Teachertube are two great sites that teachers can use to find videos to use in the classroom. With Youtube teachers need to make sure that they screen the videos before showing them to their students, because some videos may be inappropriate.  

Another great way to use videos in the classroom is to have students make their own! This can be done with students as young as second or third grade. They may not be able to tape it on their own but they can certainly put ideas together.  Students love to be creative and use their imaginations and making a video would be a great way to do that. Their are so many topics and subjects that you can use videos for and I think the students would really enjoy this activity.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a site that is relatively new to me but I find it so exciting! I signed up for it a while ago but never looked at it. A few weeks ago I started looking more at the site and what my friends pinned and now I am hooked.  I have found so many excellent ideas to use in classrooms of all levels. I don't have my own classroom but I pin ideas for different levels so that I will be able to use them in the future. Some ideas I have even been able to use with my after school care students.  I have found holiday crafts and ideas to keep them busy while they are in the program.  Pinterest has so many great ideas if you don't have account go out and sign up!!

Facebook in the Classroom

Facebook to most people is known as a social networking site to post pictures on and to talk with friends, but it can be used for so much more than that.  Facebook can be used for communicating with students and parents about what is going on in your classroom.  Teachers can post pictures of special events that have taken place. They can also post paperwork that would normally be sent home with the students. I think this would be very efficient because it is less likely that students would lose the paperwork because it has been posted. It also can keep parents involved in what is going on with their children. Homework assignments can be posted as well as what school work was done during the week.  Although their are many good reasons for using Facebook, there are definitely some challenges to using it. If students have their own personal Facebook accounts they are more likely to get distracted with that instead of using it for their educational purposes. It can also be difficult if not all of your students have access to a computer. The teacher needs to know the families they are working with so that they do not offend anyone and so that it is easy for all families to communicate back and forth. I think Facebook is a great idea to use in the classroom as long as the teacher can work through all of the details.

iPads

All educators have their own opinions about using iPads in their classrooms, some negative and some positive. I think that using them in the classroom is an excellent approach to using new technology with our students. I do not have my own classroom but I have seen them used at different age levels while I substitute teach.  I think I have seen the iPad be used most effectively in a three year old classroom.  The students were so excited to use the iPad and explore the apps. They not only learned how to use educational apps but they were learning to share also because there was only one iPad. After they had used them for a few weeks the students were basically working the iPad completely on their own, at only three years old. The iPad is one of the best tools to use with the young students!

Technology in the Classroom

Taking this course has taught me a lot about how to use modern technology in the classroom.  I have learned from being in classrooms that technology is important, but this class has opened my eyes to so much new technology. I have always considered myself to be in with the newest technology, but I am thinking twice about that now. I have learned that I can even use technology with some of my youngest students. I always associated it with older students, but am learning more ways to get the little ones involved. Since this class has begun I have been looking more into different types of technology and reading a lot of research on it! I can't wait until I will be able to use it someday in my own classroom.

Teaching in After School Care

This is my second year of being an after school care teacher. To me this is just as rewarding as being a classroom teacher because you have your regular students and you fall into a rhythm.  The students really count on you as the teacher to keep to a schedule, make the experience fun and to keep them safe.  This year we have changed our program at Blessed Sacrament in order to make the time spent in after school care (ASC) as beneficial as possible for the students. We make sure that all of our students in ASC work on their homework first everyday. Most of the people that work in this program are certified teachers and we want to make sure that our students can ask questions while they are working.  The students are also able to work in centers once their homework is done. We have board games, puzzles, word puzzles (crossword and word searches), coloring sheets to match the seasons and areas for students to play with their own toys. This is new this year and has worked very well. It keeps everything organized but it also gives students the freedom to choose what they would like to do.  Once centers are finished we try to get the students outside, but in bad weather the students are able to utilize the gym. We recognize that the students need to run and get their energy out after sitting in the classroom all day. The students usually have about an hour to an hour and a half to run and play in the gym or outside. 

This can be a challenging job but I have learned to embrace it. I have been able to connect with the students that come to the program on a regular basis. The students give input as to what they would like to see or do during ASC and we try to honor that. I am happy that even though I cannot have my own classroom currently I can work with children everyday!

About Me

Hi everyone!

I want to use this first post to tell you a little about myself. My name is Annemarie Bono and I am in my last year of graduate school at Le Moyne. I am originally from Long Island, where most of my family still lives. I have a 22 year old sister who is a senior at Utica College, a 20 year old brother who is currently serving in the United States Army, and a 17 year old brother that is in his senior year of high school.  I miss them all as well as my parents all the time because we are all on different tracks right now.
I have attended Catholic schools my entire life right through college. I did my undergraduate studies at Le Moyne as well and have my degree in Sociology with a concentration in Elementary and Special Education (1-6).  I am currently substitute teaching at Blessed Sacrament School in Syracuse, as well as working at their after school program.  I truly enjoy getting to work with the students in the classrooms and after school because I learn so much about each one of them. I am hoping that once I finish my Master's in May I will be able to find a full time teaching position!