Final Blog Post

Here we are, my final blog post. This week I learned how to make a stop motion video. I found it very time consuming as I have never made one before. I learned to duplicate many slides to make it easier and only make small movements to make it as realistic as possible. This week I added some final touches by finalizing posts and adding pictures. Finally, I made a TED Talk about my Genius Hour project and why I was inspired to choose my topic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Genius Hour project because it allowed me to connect two important aspects of my life together. I grew up at Camp Wabanaki and has now become my second home. I want to be the best educator I can possibly be and make a positive impact on every one of my students who I interact with. By implementing the Quality Eight into classrooms and executing these aspects as best as possible, students are sure to have the need to want to come to school. They are likely to excel and enhance their learning if these qualities are targeted within teaching practices.

Edmentum. 2018. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://blog.edmentum.com/10-back-school-read-alouds-teach-classroom-rules-and-expectations

Personal Collection, 2018.

As I go through and complete this Teachers College degree, I will remember the Quality Eight while lesson planning and engaging with my students. I have learned many ways to foster belonging and inclusion within the classroom for all my students. This project has inspired me greatly to make a difference in my students desire to want to come to school, foster a caring, respectful and responsible attitude towards oneself, others and our environment. Overall, the Quality Eight will be embedded in my teaching philosophy as I will continue developing my own learning as I will constantly learn new things from my students themselves. I aspire to be an influential teacher who promotes an inclusive environment for everyone where individuals can learn and grow, connecting and building relationships with one another. I will continue to be a leader and help shape my students to execute a positive welcoming community. As a future educator, I am committed to serve others and build a healthy classroom. I will aim to create a diverse, inclusive environment which was fostered by my experiences at the YMCA.

North Minister PC. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://northminster-atl.org/making-a-difference/

I have learned to use a Genius Hour project with my own students as it promotes individuality, creativity, choice, and many factors within the Quality Eight. I have learned to reflect on the quality of teacher I want to become and how implement strategies that will make a more positive learning environment. This project reinforced how special children are to me and how lucky I am that I get to work with children and make an impact on their lives.

Personal Collection, 2018.

"Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it"- Charles R. Swindoll

Blog Post #5

A place to return to and meeting life needs are the last two elements of the Quality Eight. Camp Wabanaki is my place to return to as it has become my second home. I never want to leave when its time to say goodbye and it is a place that is special every time I go. Students spend so much of their lives at school, it should be a place they want to return to and look forward to going to every day. Embedding all the other aspects of the Quality Eight into a classroom will increase students interest in wanting to come to school. It is important each student feels special and it is a place they can be themselves, wanting to return to. 

[Online Image]. Retrieved from https://stmarkomaha.org/calendar/back-to-school-welcome-concordia-academy/

[Online Image]. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/8a8wPS4WwTCiq1Yt6

Lastly, ensuring and meeting life needs. This includes having emotional support from peers and adults at school. Students should feel recognized and valued in order to feel emotionally support. Teachers should be aware of students clothing. For example, is there a student showing up in the same clothes everyday or not dressing appropriately for winter? Additionally, some students may not have as much access to food as others. Implementing programs in your schools that allow students to have snacks or ensure they have a lunch is important because students will not focus if they are hungry. Teachers should be cognizant of students outbursts if they are typical or not. There may be many underlying reasons a child is acting out. They could be tired and not have gotten sleep that night, hungry or may not receive the emotional support at home. Every child has an invisible backpack with a different upbringing and it is important students basic life needs are met as best as possible at school. Positive emotional bank accounts are crucial for meeting life needs of a student to ensure they feel like they belong. The Third Path written by Tranter, Carson and Boland, 2018 discusses many strategies for educators to develop student achievement and well-being ensuring to check-in with their children. The Third Path fosters many key ideas that the Quality Eight entails. 

Manipal Blog 2015. [Online Image]. Retrieved from https://manipalblog.com/basic-necessary-things-needed-in-life/

Blog Post #4

For week number four, I began by creating an artifact for my Genius Hour project. My Movie Trailer is now posted and I hope you enjoy it! I also added a video of what Camp Wabanaki is all about so viewers can have a visual and see how the Quality 8 is implemented.

I researched belonging and safety regarding the quality 8. Similarly, after reflecting on what I learned, I believe safety and belonging go hand in hand as there is social, emotional and physical safety which all relate to belonging. If a child does not feel safe socially, emotionally or physically, they will not feel like they belong resulting in the refusal of coming to school. To begin, there is physically safety which is the easiest to enforce. Ensuring all children know the safety procedures, feel protected and feel safe in their surroundings. 

Barclay, P. 2016. [Online Image] Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bigideas/belief-and-belonging/7208864

Physical safety is the easiest to execute if teachers are properly following the safety guidelines, rules and procedures. Social and emotional safety on the other hand is harder to establish. Students need to feel like a sense of belonging by having agency, autonomy and feeling apart of the class. It is important for teacher to recognize diverse needs and make strong connections to each child, getting to know their interests, to feel like they belong. 

[Online Image]. Retrieved from https://www.runfordiversity.com/about.html

Teachers should foster a supportive and caring learning environment, where students respect each other feeling a sense of community. Students needs and emotions should be met as everyone learns differently. Overall, for children to feel like they belong, teachers should create an inclusive classroom where everyone feels safe and supported, enhancing their ability to learn.

Information retrieved from personal communication and Lee, C. (2019). 7 Ways to give your students a sense of belonging. Retrieved from https://www.turnitin.com/blog/7-ways-to-give-your-students-a-sense-of-belonging

Blog Post #3

This week I researched two more aspects on the quality 8 which were fun and learn and be challenged. I reflected on how to implement these strategies into a classroom setting making it more enjoyable for students to want to come to school and learn. Before our next Genius Hour post, I will need to research two more qualities to write my next post. This week I combined fun and learn and be challenged as they overlap with each other.

In order for students to be successful in their learning, they must find interest in what they are doing and have fun with what they are learning about. A key strategy to integrate fun in the classroom and be challenged to learn something new is giving students choice in what they are learning about. Children always have individual choice in what activities they want to participate in at camp which gives them agency and a sense of autonomy. Like we have been learning about, students are more successful when there is a more student-centred learning approach or having flipped classrooms. Having choice allows students to have fun with their work because they can engage in what they want to research making them excited. Students are challenged to be active participants in their own learning by exploring the topic of their choice. Another way to make classrooms fun for students is to connect the material to students interests and personal lives. When students can relate to subject matter they are more willing to learn and stay engaged.

[Online Image]. Retrieved from https://binged.it/2pmkhpI 

Retrieved from Hopkins, D. (2012). [Online Image]. https://binged.it/2MFltMX

Students have fun when lessons are interactive or when there are games involved. Students can make sense of their own learning when there are interactive components involved through hands on experiences. Students can also have fun with cooperating or collaborating with others in interactive lessons. Students are able to challenge each other and learn from other ideas too. Another way to make the classroom interactive is going on a field trip or learning in a different setting such as outside. When students are interactive and engaged, they are more interested in what they are learning, which leads to having fun. Teachers can incorporate drama in their lessons making it interactive for the students. Students can act out scenes in books, dress up as people from social studies units or use their imagination in being creative.

Personal Photo, 2018.

[Online Image]. Photo Retrieved from https://www.discoveryacton.org/fieldtrips

Jigsaw learning activities is also a great interactive way for each student to take responsibility in what they are learning and learn from others. Each student is responsible for their own piece and they come back and share with each other. Furthermore, adding technology where students can explore their learning by playing games or incorporating gamification makes it more fun for students to learn as they are challenged at their own pace through quests or levels. When lessons or classroom material is too easy for students, they lose interest, get bored and do not have fun with learning. There needs to be a balance where students are challenged enough where they can still learn and have fun.

[Online Image]. Retrieved from MedEdPublish https://binged.it/32femlb

The most important strategy for students to learn, be challenged and have fun is to get to know our students and have a positive attitude about what they’re learning about. When teachers show passion towards what students are learning about and have a good relationship with their students, students are more likely to thrive in their learning.

(Content sourced from personal communication & Cox. J. 10 Ways To Keep Your Class Interesting.

https://www.thoughtco.com/ways-to-keep-your-class-interesting-4061719)

Stay tuned for my Movie Trailer about my Genius Hour Project. I have never made a movie trailer before and I have very little background on how to use iMovie. It will take some trial and error, and playing around with iMovie until I complete my trailer! There are only four more elements of the quality eight to research on. Thanks for reading my blog!