Cybersafety

Took a while but I have finally completed the modules on cyber safety on Connect.ed.

I couldn’t help but think the entire time I was completing the online simulations “Oh no she is going to be telling everyone where she is and where she lives on an exact day at the exact time”. That probably wasn’t even the point though, but that’s what first came to my mind.

I feel I would have responded differently if I actually knew a bit more of the context.

However, the surveys and modules have opened my eyes more about cyber safety and definitely recommend checking it out.

Here is my certificate that I received.

Goodbye wordpress…

Goodbye wordpress! Forever? I am not sure. Most likely not. I will probably end up making my future students do this as well so they can learn my suffering! (Kidding! Or am I?)

I have enjoyed doing the blog posts yet haven’t enjoyed it at the same time, so just wanted to say farewell unless I come up with something else to talk about!

A nifty quote…

I wanted to add this nifty quote I found on study desk by Alan Kay,

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

As teachers we are helping change little people’s lives. We are not only giving them an education, but an opportunity. We are creating a brilliant future if we only try and want! Karleigh also feels this way, so it is not just me!

I helped change one life for even just one day whilst on prac… and I can’t wait to change so many lives. And in 30 years when I have students coming back telling me how much they appreciated me, I will know I have done something fantastic. And what better way to live your life, by having a job that changes others, which eventually leads to changing yourself in the best of ways.

Positive behaviour! Positive behaviour! Positive behaviour!

Positive behaviour! Positive behaviour! Positive behaviour! I swear all I ever hear about is Positive Behaviour for Learning! And you know why? BECAUSE IT WORKS!
The school I was at for prac used nothing but PBL or previously known as SWPBS, and even the difficult kids there was a noticeable difference.

Thank you to Karleigh for showing me this useful website. This website talks about a range of positive behaviour management approaches, such as schoolwide positive behaviour support, restorative practices and peer support. These and a wide range of other approaches aim to restore and build relationships and a positive school culture in the broadest sense.

There is also a nifty video and some activity ideas.

Totally going to link myself…….

Ok so I just scrolled through to see how many blog posts I had done and I noticed this post. Here is little old me saying that I had a feeling that prac would be the worst prac ever and that I was doomed because I have had nothing but good mentors every single prac and a great class.

I am glad to say that my thoughts were proven wrong, as I stated earlier this is definitely my best prac yet. It helped open my eyes that special ed is definitely for me and I don’t want to do anything else. I don’t even mind now if next semesters mentor is bad because one out of five is fine with my as I have heard bad stories of people having many bad experiences (touch wood though).

I think I will be the happiest pig in mud however if next semesters prac (even though it is sadly a mainstream) turns out fantastic as well.

The IWB, cue angels singing!

I found the ICTs in the class I was in quite limited, however, did find that they had an IWB that they never utilised! Tianna uploaded a great video explaining the IWB for those who have not had a chance to use one.

Here is the video

The interactive whiteboard is a saviour in disguise, and I definitely see why teachers use it as a go to, it is both engaging yet educational! The only issue I found with using it in class is that as it was never used when the students tapped the board it registered that they clicked somewhere else. Though this was great as the students had to pick up on this and guesstimate where they should have been clicking for it to work.

Hard semester…

I am glad that I am not in saying that this semester has been difficult, just as Tianna and Haylea have stated it has been a very long and hard semester. However, prac has been my highlight. My mentor told me I am welcome to come back for my internship and I have definitely found this last prac my favourite yet.
At first I was worried as the school I was at was over 40 minutes away. The prac office lady told me “you can say no”, but I said yes and I am so glad that I did! This prac has helped me open my eyes as to why I wanted to become a teacher to begin with!

I saw this video a while back and didn’t really think much of it. Doing this course has really opened my eyes to the bigger picture of this video however.

Think of it like this, we have been brought up with the expectations of work sheets and talking at the front of the class. But what happens if there is a new revolution that benefits everyone in the class? I feel that this video applies to ICTs in the classroom. Having to learn a new way to ride your bike, or a new way to teach is a big step, however, once you retrain your brain and get used to it, you wonder why you have never been able to do it or never used it before.

Prac – 20th May

This is the story the kids created today. There were three students who helped, and two watched and listened.

Characters:
Olaf, Elsa – from frozen
Scar, Zira – from the lion king 
Peppa Pig, Daddy Pig – from Peppa Pig
Lava Girl – from Shark Boy and Lava Girl
Setting: Antarctica
Plot: getting revenge on Peppa Pig and Olaf 

Olaf is singing ‘In Summer’.
Olaf sees the villains and runs away.
Scar yells, “Get back here you little squirt!”
Zira gets all of her lionesses to capture Olaf, “Attack!” She screams.
Unicorns come to capture Olaf.
Olaf runs and bumps into Elsa.
Elsa uses her snow powers and freezes the unicorns. Lava girl comes and combines her powers with Elsa to create blue ice fire.
Peppa Pig then runs and jumps into the blue ice fire wearing special gumboots.
Peppa Pig jumps and knocks the villains over and yells, “Freezing ice cold puddles!”
Her yelling is so loud it breaks the ice.
The villains fall into the ice. But, Peppa Pig falls in as well!
Daddy Pig swims over with a rope and saves Peppa Pig.
The villains activate a jet pack with their claws, but it fails and they yell “We’re blasting off again!”
Then they get swallowed by a blue whale.

All the heroes ring Mummy Pig and ask if they can come over to party.
The end.

Prac 4th June

So today I did my first health and physical education lesson. health today and pe tomorrow.
The kids were very restless today and so I didn’t expect much.
But anyway, I chose to do mental health – because they all knew about healthy eating, healthy bodies, but didn’t know much when I asked about a healthy mind. 
So we spoke about all different types of emotions (used the characters from inside out) and then focused on anger (there are a few conflict and anger issues within the classroom).
We spoke about what we feel when we are angry, and what we can do instead of conflict. I found a website that suggested things to do when feeling angry.
So it was all pretty rushed because everyone wanted to go outside and see mentos be put into diet coke (which wasn’t that interesting)
But one student came up to me when everyone went to watch the experiment, let’s call him Matt. So Matt came up to me after and asked me if I could leave the website up, because he wanted to reread so he could process it. When the bell went we had a little chat about some things, he then asked if I could write down the site so he could look it up at home. He asked me where I found it and said he is going to go show his mum what to do when angry so they will hopefully fight less. He was so happy and so proud and it made me feel amazing. 

So a lesson that I thought turned out terribly, has potentially changed a students life. I am so so grateful for this prac. And cannot wait to help more lives.