Creating a Culture of Can

Culture of Can Article


As I was looking through tweetdeck this morning, I found an interesting tweet that lead me to an article titled "Creating a Culture of Can." This article explains that we should not only teach to learners but these learners should be" enabled" learners. As expressed in the article, "An enabled learner can grasp macro views, uncover micro details, ask questions, plan for new knowledge and transfer thinking across divergent circumstances." I think this is an interesting concept and believe it to be true. Instead of hearing I can't do this from my students, I always tell them to say I will try.Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'm possible :). But how do we create this culture of can in our classrooms, at home and in society? This is the big question.the article states three ways .

The three ways to create" can"
1. Using a gradual release of responsibility method: I think this has been effective for me because it at the beginning shows the learner how to do things, give guidance and then let's him/her try it on their own. One of the tools that helps me create this gradual release is using graphic organizers to help differentiate and organize information. This serves as a guide at first and then eventually my learners become independent and responsible for the concept. I really think allowing a student to be responsible for his/ her learning is one of the most important things to value In Order to create curiosity and a culture of can.

2. Using the individual student as a culture maker: Learning about your students,and getting to know their habits leads to a positive classroom environment. Creating a culture or classroom community can help other children want to learn and say I can.

3.Diverse and authentic terms for success:Allowing the students choice and self published and designed projects is important for a culture of can. It makes learning more student centered rather than teacher directed.

Gradual release is what I am trying to work on in my classroom to create this culture of can. I hope to achieve positive results.

What do you think of this? How have you creating enabled learners or students who say I can or I will try instead of I can't?

Making math relevant

Growing up I was never interested in math, but rather scarred of it. I thought math was just numbers,equations, graphs and an array of complexity. I always just memorized multiplication facts or different ways of doing problems to get a "certain correct answer." I did not know how it related to my everyday life and thus this for a while, disinterested me in math. However, in 5th grade, my teacher made math relevant. Math is used everyday in a variety of ways.Whether it is in recipes, measurements, at restaurants,money or even counting to a certain number in games, math is important and should not be forgotten. Yummy Math is an incredible site that brings relevance to math.It has helped me bring real life into my math instruction. My young children are now more interested,confident and less scared of doing math because they know the relevance of it. Instead of asking,"Why do I have to learn this?," my students are excited to become engaged with the new math concepts that they see every day.This I believe is very important and should not be overlooked. Math should be taught as something children can relate to, not just complex numbers and equations.

Yummy Math Website




 What do you think? How have you seen math taught in schools? Is it taught in a relevant way or just as a set or numbers,processes and equations?

Twenty Percent Project Update

I have gathered a plethora of resources on sign language I have found online as well as iphone apps. I made a pinterest board with my resources.I also discovered a pretty cool online photo editing site lunapic and made my video cover. From these resources I have made a video of myself signing the ABC's. Below is what I have so far.

Video Cover Picture:

Pinterest board:
Sign Language Pinterest

My ABC signing video

 Next,I hope to put my video to music, as well as include subtitles for each letter. My next step will also include signing simple words and phrases that that can be used in the classroom such as please, bathroom,water,etc.

Whole Brain teaching

As I was looking through pinterest, I came upon this video about Whole brain teaching. I was intrigued so i watched it. Whole brain teaching is a radical new teaching system based on three principles:  the system should be brain based, fun and free. I think whole brain teaching could be very useful for elementary school grades. It stresses a student centered ideology and gives students an opportunity to be leaders and teachers. I love the mirror element where a teacher says something and the students repeat back to the teacher exactly what they were taught. I also think using hand gestures could help younger students remember concepts.Singing is a great way for younger children to learn concepts as well. There is even a classroom management tool involved in this teaching system: the class yes and hands and eyes. I think both of these could be another way of getting children;s attention and keeping them on task. I may try this Whole brain teaching in my prekindergarten classroom because it seems so much fun and engaging for the teacher and students

. What do you think of this?Has anyone seen this teaching model in action? if so, has it been effective?

How I am using technology to foster my learning

Steps for Cultivating my PLN

1. Check tweetdeck for new ideas I am interested in( I check this daily on my iPhone)

2. Check Pinterest and pin things to my board that I like in the education section

2. Retweet or tweet 5 or 6 things a week to  #usdedu

3. Pick interesting ideas,concepts,activities from my hashtag groups on tweetdeck and create a blog post about it

4. Comment on Other Peoples blogs

5. Check Edmodo for class assignments

6. Create blog posts for class assignments

These are just a few steps I take to cultivate my PLN. Hopefully this is helpful for you !

My Learning so far

Although the course is not over yet, I feel like I have learned so much about how technology can enhance ones career and personal use of the internet.

As an educator, I have found that it is very helpful to hear others perspectives,ideas,activities, thinking,etc. Before, I would attend school mettings and PD days to get that wonderful teacher to teacher advice,suggestions,feedback. Now, I have learned that through social media sites such as Twitter, Pinterest,blogging and Scoop it, I have access to a plethora of resources. I now can use twitter effectively, instead of seeing it as a "this is what I did today"app. I have come to  use Tweetdeck everyday to connect with other educators and expand my teaching practices. I have also learned how to cultivate my own PLN and what a PLN is. Creating my own blog puts my thoughts and ideas about certain concepts on paper and i am able to hear other peoples comments and perspectives on the issues. I am now more connected than I was before.
I am starting to become more of a risk taker with my ideas and I am learning that this is okay and actually quite helpful on my blog. I can not express how excited I am witha ll this social media and can not wait to bring it into my classroom and share all of the wonderful things I am learning.

Organized tweets are very beneficial.Tweetdeck has been amazing!