Congratulations Class of ED641 Spring 2007

Though in our hearts, we feel happy and are filled with joy of completing ED641, we seem to have some feelings of sadness because we all know that we will miss each other for all the wonderful times we spent together in class. We all know that we all enjoyed our time together during Spring 2007. I was impressed of the outcome from everyone of us. I know we all worked hard to accomplished the various integrated curriculum and most importantly, we gained a wealth of information from the class. Thank you Richard, Thank you Mary, Thank you Crystal, Thank you Charlene, and Thank you Professor Rivera, and if you are still viewing this blog Sheila, Thank you Sheila for a wonderful Spring 2007. Good Luck and may God bless you all.

Si Albert

It''s Over!

What a journey! It all began with Under the Red-Blood Sun, and here we are today on our last day. It is a great feeling for we all have accomplished so much. Thank you to all of you for being such wonderful classmates with your insights to what is happening on your side of the teaching world. I learned from all of your presentations and ideas. Our meeting at the Outrigger Hotel showed how diverse students can come together in a different setting and work together towards one goal. Kudos to all for a great job! Looking forward to being your classmate again. Keep blogging!

OHHH Right!

Hello fellow Colleagues! We have finally reached the finished line. Congratulations to everyone who hung in there during the stressful times. I learned so much from everyone. It was frustrating, exciting, and educational. So everyone breathe a sigh of relief and jump up for joy! This is my first graduate semester, and I can say that it exceeding my expectations. I hope that I will be able to have Dr. Rivera as a teacher again and all of you as classmates as well. I was disappointed that the classes that I am taking did not include Dr. Rivera's. I hope that she will be teaching the one class that I have no instructor for! Crossing my fingers. If all of you graduate before me, Congratulations and Good Luck! Don't be strangers, and keep blogging!

Awesome Job to All!

Hello again all!


So we've come to the end of the course. And is it a good thing? Well, I'd have to say that I now feel so liberated after working hard on all those intensive learning activities. Nevertheless, it's a good thing that they're all very good ones. Though there were many, the time spent doing them was well worth it.

It was a pleasure working with you all. I enjoyed all the laughs, the presentations you did, the sharing of your lessons, and yes of course, the casual chit chat about the teaching life. The time spent with you was a wonderful experience. Dr. Rivera, thank you for all your support, and yes, those awesome strategies. You have gotten me even more psyched about the integration of technology into my lessons. If only our school system wasn't in dire straits right now, otherwise my students will drop the current nickname, "project king," and call me "internet king" instead!

Okay, until we all see one another next semester, have a terrific summer! If it felt that the ED641 class, at the least, went by very quickly to you, I'm thinking our break is going to go by even quicker!

So, from me to you all: "A job well done!"


Regards,

Richard Rafan

I can't believe this semester is over. Everyone did a great job on their LiveText portfolios. Can you believe we did all that work? We're GOOD! I want to thank everyone for all of the great ideas and support. We work well together. And thank you Dr. Rivera for sharing your expertise and always being available when we needed help, which was alot!

I wish all of you luck in your literary claims to fame and hope you all have a very blessed and restful summer.
Take care and I'll see you next semester..........Crystal

P.S. My picture is too big, but I like it. It reminds me of how my summer should be.

Last Class!

Thank you for all the nice things everyone wrote about me. I hope to be your classmate in future courses. The PowerPoint presentations were very informational. I liked the idea about playing Jeopardy with the students to get them motivated. I did not realize that there are so much of advanced technology devices for the SPED students out there. Now if only the parents will fight for their kids to get it.

WOW! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your wonderful comments. My self esteem is soaring. You guys are great classmates. You make all the hard work and dead lines easier to handle.

Great Power Points by everyone. Lots of good information. Charlene, you really know your stuff. Your job must be very rewarding, as all of ours are I'm sure. Classroom Jeopardy sounds like fun. Kids of all ages like to play games and when there is a little competition involved, it's even better. Throw in a sticker and you're a winner. Well, maybe something more grownup for the older ones.

The activity we did was very thought provoking. All of you have a great week and don't forget, "Those who lose dreaming, are lost".

Quote Activity

Wonderful ED 641 Day

Wonderful ED 641 Day

The PEA feedback was heart warming. I was having a rough day but it just brightened up. I really felt special when I read the comments. It's wonderful when you read positive things about your personality. I guess it's true about what they say, "Words are timeless". Words are able to lift up anyone's day.

WOW! That was a lot!

Motivating to Read

Hi Everyone, 4/16/07

Everyone's presentation in class was very interesting and useful for our students in class. It seems that there are many ways to teach vocabulary acquistion with the students. Thank you all for sharing your great ideas. For sure, those techniques we discussed in class together will be implemented in my classes with my students. Dr. Rivera's in-class activities were very interesting as well. The feature fruit allows students to use their cognitive skills as they reflect on what they know about fruits. Sometimes, each student can support their choices based on the fruit's developmental stages of growth. The venn diagram was very interactive and definitely encourages students to join in in the discussions. The technique using the circular diagraming and putting related information regarding the stories was very organized and fluid. It allows everyone to see similarities and differences between the stories themselves. It gives students a chance to organize their thoughts and gives them ideas that might be useful to them. For example, as the discussion becomes more apparent using the venn diargram, this illustration can enable students to use this format as a basis of outlining ideas, and possibly give them possible angles to writing and presentations. Other things that we discussed such as journals, study guides, and other related activities were very informative and useful. These ideas help foster creativity and innovative ideas to learning through reading and writing. I am enjoyiing this class very much. Even though I am experiencing some tough times in my life, I honestly am learning alot from Dr. Rivera, and most of all, from everyone's ideas. Thank you everyone our time together so far. See you soon.

Si Albert

PTA

Hi everyone! I am so sorry I wasn't able to make it to class. If Dr. Rivera didn't inform you, I had a PTA meeting. It was suppose to end at five but right at the last minute one of my students parents showed up. We had an hour and half meeting. It was a longest meeting I ever had for a student, but it was good. We were able to resolve issues about my student. His parents are very concerned about him which I am very happy about. They had concerns and I had concerns that we discussed. The best part was that my student was with them. So he was able to clear up some misconceptions that his parents were having. We developed a strategy plan that would hopefully help my student pass the class. A communication log was also implemented. A communication log is how his parents are able to know what he has to do or what he is going to do at home. His parents write letters to me and I write letters to them in the communication log. I hope it will help with attendance also. It was a long PTA meeting but the results were good. It seems that you learned alot during the class, I wish I could have made it.

Strategies!

I, sincerely, learned from each and every one of you on Monday’s presentations. Richard, I am so ENVY of you that you were able to work with your own students to see if a concept really works. Someday, I hope, I will be able to incorporate everything I learned from ALL of you into my classroom. We read a lot yesterday. I personally, need to have hands-on activity to see if a concept really works. And that’s what, I hope, this course will lead me to--at least in my classroom. I, as an elementary teacher, have to work hard at it--thanks to my son’s girl/boy friends. As weeks go by, it is getting harder. My followers are avoiding me (but I keep enticing them with the best thing any human being needs –FREE FOOD!) In the end, it’s ALL about STRATEGIES that we learn in this classroom. And that--I am learning--thanks to all of you!

I really enjoyed hearing about the strategies you used and how it worked out for you and the students you worked with for the activity that required you to promote independent vocabulary acquisition with your students and the one which required you to use a prereading strategy. I certainly enjoyed the experience I had with my kids. I guess I'm blessed to have the kids readily available because I'm a middle school teacher, but I'm sure that you all can find a way to improvise. And that's part of being an educator; and that is to improvise on a lot of things.

I like the study guide ideas covered in class today, especially those dealing with the use of technology. I have some ideas on what I plan to do, but the problem is that with our school system and the situation of a lot of my students are currently experiencing in terms of their family background, they do not have the resources to take advantage of the technology I want them to take advantage of. Looks like I'll have to do what I mentioned earlier - improvise!

After hearing the presentations on activities 12 and 13 and all the interesting feedback all of you get from your students, I sometimes feeel like I would really like to try teaching older students. Maybe after I get my degree, I will give it a shot.
I really appreciate all the handouts that Dr. Rivera gives us to help us with our activities. When I get really lost, I pull out those handouts and get myself back on track. Thanks!

We are half way there!

I loved the General Roots and Prefixes handouts. I kind of knew that by figuring out the prefix of a word one could guess the meaning of the word. But the handout had more than I anticipated. Every time I think that I may be falling back on my work Dr. Rivera sure know how to introduce subjects that perk me back to this course. Loved the neat way of introducing “The Poor Old Dog”—webbing. I will try and find a way to do this introduction with my RMIII 1st graders. They are reading about Jokey the overweight beagle that has to go to the health spa to lose weight!
I am bewildered that there are so many literacy programs to help our secondary/adult citizens. Every human being needs a chance to get back on the bandwagon that they missed. I mentioned about the life experience program. Here it is—hope it will help someone you know along the way:
http://www.nedp.org/old/index.cfm
The External Diploma Program grew out of a study that was designed to identify the reasons why many adults did not choose to earn a high school equivalency certificate through the GED testing process. That study led to the development of the EDP, an adult applied-performance, competency-based assessment program that awards a high school diploma to skilled adults who have acquired many of their high school level abilities through their life experience. As they complete the EDP process, adults demonstrate their abilities in a series of simulations that parallel job and life situations. They are evaluated according to established performance criteria instead of by comparison with others.A key feature that distinguishes EDP from other high school completion programs is that it is an assessment program, not an instructional program. Another key feature is that candidates are awarded a traditional high school diploma upon successful completion of program requirements rather than an equivalency certificate.

Happy Holidays!

Questioning Strategy

Hi everyone! I tried one questioning strategy today with my students. It was lots of fun, my students were really engaged. Even my most disruptive student was engaged. We not only read but reflected on what we read. My students had a lot to say. I really love these questioning activities because my students reinforced their learning through their questions, comments, and through their classmates reflections as well. Another collaborative activity for them to enjoy.

Have A Pleasant Spring Break--Read and Relax

Hello Everyone,

Relax and read for Spring Break! We all deserve a break from work, school, and the bustling hectic schedules that we all have. Our lesson today was very informative and full of ideas for our activities. First of all, Sheila's 3 Multicultural books were authentic with real time stories. The element of real experiences from people that lived during the war. Though we read sad moments in these books, it is important for everyone to know how the war has affected many people. The social impact it has caused, the suffering, the despair, and most of all, the lives lost are very dramatic and real. These books serves as a reminder and let us hope that we learn from our past. Remember, the past is our future. The presentation from everyone was very informative in regards to state and local adult literacy programs. From our local area in Guam to many various places in the United States, many programs are geared to help adults as well as offer support for continued education. It seems that our federal and local government continue to formulate programs to educate at risk people, and as well as to anyone that can meet the criterias of the many programs presented in class. As far as the other activities, I really enjoyed learning the different activities with Dr. Rivera today. The ReQuest helps teachers and students engage a story interactively. Through explicit questioning, and to the more text implicit questions, and to a more thought provoking questions can make in-class discussions more fun. The exchange element promotes effective classroom discussions and helps reinforce comprehension as well as learning the target langauge. The CRT also was very informative. All in all, I did learn many things today. Thanks to Dr. Rivera with her ingenious and interesting activities. Enough said! Please take my advice and enjoy Spring Break. Read and Relax!!!!!!!!!!

Esta ki man a'a'lihit, Si Albert (Until we meet next time) Biba Chamorro!!!!

strategies!

Wow guys look at all the strategies! Some of these strategies have never even reached my eyes. It goes to show that I still have alot to learn. There are so many different strategies being created, I just can't keep up sometimes. Thanks to Dr. Rivera xerox capabilities. I hope in the future I will learn more activities or strategies to better my teaching.

The Busy Literacy Bodies

Like the 'Poor Old Dog' we would have to be 'patient' and remember that things will 'happen when they happen'. Triumph over the many 'hardships' that come our way, and eventually we will see the 'REWARD for the GOLD RING' 'within time'! Thank you for the congrats you all and for the comments on my presentation evaluation!

Have a GREAT SPRING BREAK!
Regards,
Sheila

Strategies, strategies, strategies!

I like that everyone shared their experiences in administering their Cloze tests to their students, especially the elementary teachers, Crystal and Sheila. Wow! I can't believe that their students are reading higher-than-their-grade-level literature! At least in my experience, I was startled to see the results of my students. For a 6.5 grade-level reading material, even (one of) my above-average students gave disappointing results. My below-average student even outperformed her. Now, all of sudden, after reading and discussing more about schema and all the other theories that help to explain how people read, what makes a person a good reader doesn't only involve how they perform academically. There are other factors and variables that come into play that ultimately determine a child's reading capacity.

Wow, so many very useful strategies to use in our teaching of reading. I like them all and can't wait to try them. It's nice to know that although these strategies are part of the assignments that we need to submit, we can also use them at our discretion. And who wouldn’t want to? I think are quite effective, not to mention very fun for the students.

Testing

It was interesting to hear the results of each of my classmates test results. They each presented interesting views and strategies in admnistering the cloze test. This activity was educational in a sense that it allows you to learn about your students. You learn that there are factors that influence the test results and you also learn about your students reading ability. The cloze test can be used as a simple reading assessment for your students file. It is a good idea to administer a cloze test at least once or twice a year. Its good to know if your students can read the text or not.

We are Busy Bees!

Lots of things coming up for us and isn't it great that we have a whole week off to get it together? I hope I don't get lazy and REALLY take the week off. Congratulations to you Sheila! And I hope you start feeling better. So, we're finding out that our basals might be a little too difficult for our students. I wonder how they were evlauated in the first place to rate them at the grade level they are. How valid is the Raygor Estimate? Does this affect the SAT 10 scores? If our text books are not true to the grade levels that are using them, that could lead to all kinds of problems. Something to think about. Changing the subject, there are so many literacy programs and almost all of them are developed for all ages. I wish more families would take advantage of what is being offered.

Creating Fun Reading Activities

The activities we did in class was engaging and interesting. The cloze test activity seemed to be easy, but it allows you to think carefully before you answer. Trying to fit the best word in can be challenging, even for the proficient speakers of English. I find it challenging and fun for me. The reading of a poem with four people was another activity that allows several students to be involve in the reading. We had fun making mistakes and doing it over again. It gives us ideas of how we can allow students to do an activity together. Very interactive and fun. The letter puzzle with domesticated animals and word recognition activities are very interesting because it might help ESL students create and recognize words. It allows them to reflect on their thoughts about words that they might know or might not know. Keeps them guessing. I really enjoyed doing these activities. We can use these activities in our classes.

Brain teasers

The Raygor Readability formula where matching text to appropriate reading level was interesting. At first I thought, hey what can I do if a student is already placed in my class and is not up to par with what is expected of him. Now I understand that when this entire DI program is over (at least for the elementary students), I can look into the formula and determine whether a certain student has been placed at the correct grade level. The cloze practice was another interesting testing program BUT I wonder what kind of testing is used here in Guam for testing our high school students? The brain stretchers were challenging for me and look forward to doing the rest of the brain teasers.

The Cloze Practice Test & Brain Teasers

Wow, I just found out one effective tool in determining my students’ reading ability – the Cloze Test. I think that this test is powerful in that it gives teachers a clear understanding of their students’ literacy competence based on how they perform on it. Though the test only requires filling in the blanks, I also feel that it also checks to see if students are able to exhibit a number of things such as their vocabulary level, individual schema, reading prediction and comprehension based on passage context clues, exposure to reading material, and so on.

In addition to the introduction of the Cloze Test, I also like all of the activities that were shared, especially the ones that Dr. Rivera shared with us. I think they all are excellent activities, and I feel that they would be very good brain-teasers and stimulants for my students. Sometimes, I feel that my students need to take a break from all the assignments and projects they have to complete before the end of the third quarter (lately, I’ve been seeing it in their facial and bodily expressions). So, the puzzles in the handouts that she gave to us are all wonderful educational activities that I think all my students will undoubtedly enjoy doing for a change.

TEXTBOOK TESTING

This will be an interesting activity. Its important to know if our textbook fits our students reading ability plus we need to know if its grade appropriate. We owe it to our students to be aware of our resources while teaching. We did alot of activities today. I enjoyed the brain teasers. Sometimes we make things harder than it should be. The activities were interesting because I became frustrated and I kept making the activity harder than it should. We all learn something new everyday!

Again everyone is choosing many interesting books. I noticed that 3 of our classmates favor Mariquita, which is an interesting and multicultural story. This is interesting because alot of the books that were picked related to each presenter in some particular way. This proves the point that by relating to your reading in some aspect, your understanding is reinforced.

Snowball bushes are special to me.

Again we are remeinded of the different views all of us have when we read a book. We all come away with a picture in our minds of the characters, the scenery and what the author was trying to get across to the reader. I feel all the books we chose were carefully researched to connect to our text, Under the Blood Red Sun.

The Cloze Test was hard, I thought. However I didn't do as bad as I thought I would. I"ll share. I got 80%. But this isn't my favorite kind of test. The Raygor Readability Estimate seems a little time consuming, but pretty accurate at the same time.

Thanks for discussing all of the upcoming activities and clarifying what is expected. Sometimes the syllabus is a little intimidating. The Poems for Four Voices was my favorite. And thanks for another copy of your presentation from the Educator's Academy. Those activities are fun and challenging.

Have a great week!

Reading is Fun

Hello Class of ED641,

The presentation was very interesting and informative. Thank you for all your handouts. I was able to learn a synopsis of your multiculltural books that all of you have presented in class. I find the books very multicultural because they seem to have real experiences depicited as well as a feel of many peoples's social impact from the WWII. As I sat there listening to everyone's presentation, I was able to find out many things about your books. From the brief descripitions, accuracy, expertise, respect, purpose and with an added bonus, some links related to each book was made available. Everyone's presentation was excellent. We are able to grasp a view of how the author came up with their books. The accuracy, the involvement of cultural elements such as langauge, food, and life experiences have made all the books very real and interesting to read. Kudo's to everyone. See you next week!

Esta La Bista, Si Albert

Multicultural Books

Books, Books, Books, Wow! I loved all the books that were presented today. The presentations were very informative and fun. Richard, I loved "Her Wild American Self" and will patienly wait until March. Charlene, the Island of the Blue Dolphins will be next on my list of reading. Crystal, I agree with your purpose part of the evaluation--there is no way the events could have taken place in the US. The six components of Literacy is important and I was glad that we had a chance to go through them today. Comprehending, sentence order, oral communication, interpreting, the power of prints are all components of Literacy. It is important that we teachers provide the opportunities for our students to fine tune and integrate these components. The joyful Noise was a fun activity. It brought the different strategies we can use with our students. Students will be definately engaged, interact, think, and cooperate with each other. It is an activity where everyone will be involved. What a fun way to introduce poem/poetry to the students!

Multicultural Books Analysis

I was very pleased to hear of everyone's analysis on their tradebooks. The content of the books that were shared that I have not read are very compelling. I like that because of the way everyone presented their analysis, I have become inspired to learn more about history by reading more tradebooks/novels about that take into account historical events.

Many of the books that were analyzed were about World War 2. I'm not very much a history buff, much less a fanatic about World War 2. Though I'm liking it more and more each day. However, after reading fictionalized accounts of the events and the dramatic experiences of the characters, I'm compelled to read more like them. The history books don't really tell about how what was really going on, like how exactly the people felt and lived. Wow, all of a sudden history has become interesting to me ... in a sense. Yes, I'm referring to books with a storyline that also teach about history. I like books like these. And I guess I make up one example of a person enjoying reading a book about something not of prime interest by reading about it in an interesting book. Oh what an oxymoron!

Presentations

Whew! Today started of as a stressful day but towards the end, the day wasn't all that bad. It was an eventful and informative day. A day where there were so many presentations that were interesting and informative. I thought that all the presenters were well informed whom presented valid facts. All the books or stories that were chosen were excellent choices. I learned facts about each book that I never knew. I was so nervous on my presentation. I bet everyone was, but give yourselves a pat of the back because everyone did a good job.
The presentations were great because we got handouts, we were listening, we were viewing,we were reading, we had visual representations, and at times we were writing. So, I know learning did occur during our presentations.
Chrystal made an interesting fact that I thought that was true. She said "Children follow facts more than fictional qualities in the story." I believe that children can relate more to facts because facts are real and are experienced. Today was interesting outcome. A stressful day can become a learning day!!!!

I'm buggy about reading!

Nothing like sharing a good book with a friend. Thanks for all the great info about your books. I think we all made excellent choices. I don't know about you guys, but I really enjoy reading those young adult books. Does that mean I'm still a young adult? At heart maybe. Seriously, students can gain a lot of knowlege from historical fiction while being entertained at the same time. I think they will remember facts easier when they enjoy what they are reading.

Activity 7 reinforced my belief of how important literacy is to all of us, but most importantly, children. Children who read well do better in other subjects and in all aspects of schooling and beyond. As the world becomes more complex, reading is increasingly important for children trying to find their place in it.

Research shows that writing develops higher order thinking skills and helps students learn content across subject areas. And the more students write and receive positive feedback, the more their writing performance improves.

Speaking and listening go hand-in-hand. Only by combining the two is it possible to gain understanding and promote open communication.

Using visual aids enhance learning for children as well as adults. All these components go together to build their literacy.

Have a Great Week!

The More we do it, the wiser we get.....

Hello ED641 Members, 2/12/07

Today's class was very enlightening. I was able to load up activity 1 on live text and everything went smoothly, thanks to Dr. Rivera's well explained instructions. I also would like to thank Sheila for showing me how to get other clip arts with google. To be honest, I am beginning to know where to access more resources such as clip arts and learning more about Louise Rosenblatt's Transactional Theorys. It is very important to learn more about the world of literature. After reading Ms. Rosenblatt's Transactional Theory, I was able to reflect one of her theories with activity 1. Her theory on aesthetic stance helped me to understand what I felt after reading a book called "A Lonely Heart." I seemed to connect with many different emotions reading about the life of a blind man. I was able to understand the many difficulties of being blind, the feelings that I seemed to feel--as if I was trying to be the blind man. I felt captivated with this man's experiences throughout his life.

In addition to today's experience in class, everyone was able to share their life story of how they started reading and writing. Practically, everyone had a different experience. Thank you everyone for sharing your life to us. You know, this is one of those experiences that we have not experienced for a long time (especially for me). Sitting down and listening to everyone talking about a portion of their life was very rewarding to me. It has been a long time that I gathered around to sit and talk to each other and tell about each of our life experiences. It was great! Thank you! It was very personal and I felt warm listening to everyone. I hope everyone felt the same. I can see the value of activity 1 in this course.

Furthermore, we must not forget to click on the comment section of each blog. Now I know that we could respond to each blog as we go along. Very interesting and very interactive activities. Today was very enlightening as I said before. I am beginning to understand this course clearly. See you all on the next meeting.

Esta la bista, Si Albert

Literacy autobiographies and the connection to Rosenblatt's transactional theory

Hello all!

I enjoyed hearing the oral version of your literacy autobiography. It's interesting to find out how each and every one of your development in reading and writing was unconventional. And good they are because I think that one of the best ways to learn something is by doing it in your own unique and preferred way.

You know, I forgot to mention that although I liked to show off as an elementary school kid when it came to reading out loud, I also hated it when my teachers would tell me what to read. I never liked my reading to be "prescribed." The things that my teachers would tell me what to read were almost always boring to me, and often, I would forget alot of the important parts to the reading because of this (yes, and to think this was in school, huh?). I liked to take my time so as to stir my imagination on the material or subject matter I was reading to better understand and go wild with it.

Now, having discussed more about the aesthetic stance of Rosenblatt's transactional theory, I now am convinced that at least this part of her theory gives me the understanding that the process of its development was carefully done - the researching, studying, and analying. It's like I can almost say to her, "Wow, was I one of your subjects before?" Rosenblatt had definitely created such a powerful theory, and a very convincing one, I should add.

Transactional Theory

There were times when I would just read to get information and there were times I would be so engrossed in a book with emotions flowing. Now I know that there is a theory behind this reactions. The aesthetic and efferent stance clearly explained what I was not aware untill I read Rosenblatt's work. Now I will be able to share these stances with my students. The reflections on everyone's autobiography was entertaining. I found it amazaing that (I think) everyone's recollection of their first brush with literacy was in kindergarten or around the age of 5 or 6. The IRA's strong position statement that the school should initially provide literacy in the child's home language was interesting. As teachers it is important that we learn a little about our students' home language. Tomorrow, I am going to ask my students about their home language and maybe will learn how to say hello or goodbye in their language. The picture reflection brought out the different aspects in how we all see things differently. However, the underlying concept about the activity was all about cooperation, contribution, and succeeding in life. The acitivity reminds us that every child is different and to take what they know and build upon it.

Our Reading Paths

It was great hearing about all your reading paths. We all have experienced some sort of

influence, be it strong or subtle. In connection to our 'Picture Reflection'

activity, my perspective is that we all really do have many people who have touched our lives in one way or

another that we just can't recollect. Somehow, that lady who we just can't recall

her name taught us at least one thing, which has formed who we are

individually. I'm sure Albert, you will always be able to save, upload, and manipulate a picture because one little thing I have done has impacted your knowledge on technology and you may not remember my name ten years from now! (Smile big...that was a little bragging.) But somehow, pieces of our individual puzzles are from others that we can recall and thank, and then there are those people that we just can't remember. As educators, we place a piece of our puzzle together to create the children, our future leaders. Thank you for allowing me to share my story of Amelia Bedilia's impact on me. (Here's the kicker, my mother-in-law's name is Amelia!) Have a GREAT WEEK and Happy Valentine's to you ALL!

Boy, do we have a lot to say!

I think Rosenblatt was a bit of a philosopher. Her theory requires us to "see the reading act as an event involving a particular individual and a particular text, happening at a particular time, under particular circumstances, in a particular social and cultural setting, and as part of the ongoing life of the individual and the group" (Rosenblatt, 1985). That makes me feel like if I want to read something and be able to make meaning of it, I'd have to confer with the universe and make sure all of the stars and planets are aligned for me. However after our class discussion, I understand that she just wants us to "feel" what the author is trying to convey to us and really enjoy the text.

Here I am again sharing my livetext. I remember when we first started with livetext, I didn't have a clue. But with Dr. Rivera's guidance and patience I got to the point I am now, which is more confident and not too shy to show my work. Thank you Dr. Rivera.

It was interesting to hear how we all got our start in reading. We are all such different people from different cultures and backgrounds and yet here we are, all together, seeking the same degree with a lot of the same beliefs and goals. Small world.

The activity we did, again tells me how very different we are as individuals, but how the undertone of our interpretations was very similar.

Practice Makes Perfect

Today (Feb 5, 2007) I mangaged to upload our activity 1, publish my choices of 3 multicultural books, and pick a topic (Writing Workshops). After completing these activities before 11:55pm, I was trying to figure out where will we be doing our forum discussions. Following Dr. Rivera's instruction, I click on the face to face icon (forum) and then it led me back to multicultural books/litarary topic and then I clicked on one of them. It led me back to the assignment. There was a reply on the bottom right hand portion of every one who loaded. I clicked on reply and responded by discussing what others have posted as far as multicultural books chosen and their litarary topic. I just hope I was on the right forum for today. I did just that. Too my surprise, I saw a response from Charlene right after I sent her my response. I also responded to the others too.
As an added surprise, I happen to go back to my email and found out that every time you post a response (discussion), it also sends it as an email to everyone. I clicked on every email in my account and it was all our discussions in the forum. This is great. Is everyone experiencing the same thing? I hope so! Anyways, if I am correct, we blog (just like this one) on every online encounter with each other. Is that correct to my recollection? I hope so! I hope everyone is doing fine too. You guys are welcome to email me at abcaasi@yahoo.com or call me at 472-6691 at home if you need to contact each other for help. You are all welcome. I am enjoying this class. I just hope my DSL internet connection remains till May 07. If you guys have any concerns or if you know something that I must have missed, please, please, call me or email me. I will keep you inform likewise.

Esta la bista, Si Albert

LiveText

Hi Dr. Rivera,
I finally managed to get in after alot of e-mailing back and forth with the LiveText technical team. They were very supportive. NOW I need your help in getting it going. Your patience is most appreciated. Later.
Mary

Technology is the way of the future........

Hello Class of ED641,

I apologize for not being able to find the class. Thank you very much for your kind understanding and really appreciate your support in every way.

Technology is the way of the future. From our homes, to our workplace, and in the field of teaching and learning, integrating technology in the classroom seems to be the edge of today. I am really amazed about what we can do in this class. The moodle site, the livetext, blogging, and forum discussions are just a few that is in store for us. I can sense the excitement in this class. I find Dr. Rivera very supportive and knowledgeable in her field. She really knows how to work the computer in the classroom. She makes so simple to understand. This class will give me an opportunity to work in a highly integrated curriculum with technology in the classroom. This class will enable me to work with computers as tools of education. Our experience in this class will hopefully open our creative minds to work with computers with our students in the classroom. We can also share our experiences with other educators and show them what we will be learning in this classroom.

Our classrooms of today have not taken advantage of technology in the classroom. I believe only a handful of teachers know how to integrate technology in the classroom. The University of Guam (today) is on the right track with NCATE standards to incorporate technology as part of the curriculum for teaching and learning. This class (ED641) showcase's this new age standard and I think it will shorten the gap to educate new and existing teachers. I am glad that Dr. Matilda is one of the leaders here at our University to make this happen for us. Definitely, I am looking forward to learning as much from this class and most important, to learn from each other. So, I will see you all on our next meetings and online discussions.

Esta la bista, Si Albert (abcaasi14)

I am very glad to find my way to class. Thank you everyone for understanding my lost predicament for being unable locate the class for today (1/29/07).

Upon arrival, I immersed myself into our highly integrated curriculum and was really amazed of how much we can do together as a class. I can imagine all the work that Dr. Rivera has put into making this highly integrated curriculum a reality. I am looking forward to blogging and discussing many things about literacy and our content areas. I find this a very exciting and wonderful. This probably will be my highlight of my college education here at the University of Guam.

I believe I will be learning a lot from this class. Just this first encounter today has been a rewarding experience for me and I bet it is for everyone. See you all on the next virtual meeting.

Esta la bista, Albert (abcaasi14)

When the lights come on, learning occurs!

As mentioned in the 484G textbook, when students get excited about a lesson, learning will occur. How true! Today's class session was a eye opener dealing with the computer. How to get on the LiveText, moodle, blog--everything was new to me. Technology is becoming a must know espect in our lives now.

Dr. Rivera, thank you for being so patient. We have many activities and you answered many of my puzzling questions. I especially enjoyed the unitedstreaming.com presentation. My students will certainly be glued to their chairs.

I also learned today that I need to buckle down and read, read,read. I enjoyed reading Under the Blood-Red Sun. What a scary time in a teenager's life.! I look forward to finding two other multicultual literature. Good luck to all!

I'm Seeing Double!

Technology integration is great! The disadvantage is when your mind doesn't move as fast as your uploading tasks and creating accounts. I just got lost between ED646's blog and this course. Can someone invent tabs for the brain?

Activities are FLYING in, let's buckle up and be ready. If you all encounter new knowledge that may be helpful, keep in mind sharing is caring! Before you know it, we'll be done, wiser, smarter, and we'll learn that we don't really need glasses to differentiate between ED641 and ED646.


Enjoy your week!


Regards,


Sheila Indalecio

LiveText is the Wave of the Future for Educators

After Dr. Rivera's introduction to LiveText and how to use the online portfolio program, I must say that I am impressed with its useful features, at least with what I have found out at the moment. Yes, I would like to do away with hardcopy versions of portfolios. Problems like with them being lost, having to create separate ones for particular purposes and what not, having to buy sheets and sheets of tabs, sheet protectors, and so on can virtually be eliminated with the use of LiveText.

In the school I work at, BMS, we have our classrooms wired for internet access. So, after seeing Dr. Rivera show us the Livestream feature of LiveText, I now have found an avenue that which I can resort to in order to broadcast educational videos to my students. Now, the only impediment is that I need to obtain a projector and a drape so that I can show the videos to my students : )

Though this is all I can say for now about LiveText because I haven't yet bought myself the access or registration code or whatever to create my own account. I'm sure that I'll go wild, though, with whatever they are that the program will allow me to exploit or take advantage of.

LiveText

While I was browsing through Live Text during class, I found that it would be useful after all. I was worried that this would be another software that I would have to purchase and then forget later on. I was also worried that the software would not be user friendly. I am not that great with computers. In many cases that software that I buy just ends up in the trash.
The wonderful thing that I just realized is that I could use Live Text for many purposes. I found that not only is it useful as a graphic organizer but a research engine as well. It would be useful as a research engine for my students projects or classwork's. I could also use it as a graphic organizer for my students projects or works. Live Text could be used as a resource engine for my thematic unit activity in 641 and my other classes. It provides resources such as online books, magazines, video clips, and educational movies.
Live Text is considered a virtual binder that holds and organizes your work. It is user friendly and I bet it would be student friendly as well! The surprise is that you will be able to use it even after you have completed the class. You could use it for many purposes if you just take your time to browse though Live Text. What a relief! One hundred and nine dollars is just too much to spend for a one time use software.

January 29/Lots of technology in Dr. Rivera's classes!

Two years ago if you would have me I would be creating power points, blogging, moodleing and doing online portfolios, I would have just looked at you and and said "whatever". But look at me now. I know some of you already knew about these things a long time ago, but I'm old school and computers scared me. But little by little, with the help of my professors and my kids, I'm becoming proficient and confident. I especially enjoy the Live Text. Portfolios used to be such a chore. They were heavy, time consuming and could get expensive. But with Live Text, you do the assignment, download it and your done.

With our Moodle Room, I enjoy reading everyone's views and ideas about our activities. Sometimes I get inspired by someone else's ideas and then my work veers down a new road and I learn something totally unexpected.

So good luck to all of us this semester as we take on the activities and Blog away!

Thanks for setting me straight!

I kept trying to post for Activity 12 and I knew the screen didn't look the same as last semester. I told myself I would figure it out tonight and there was your email to the rescue. So I will try and get this discussion going.

Schema, is one of the most important words I believe I've learned throughout all of my classes. It has taught me that the best way to get a student interested in a book, is to make sure they can relate to it in some way. Teachers should use their knowledge of the community and their students and provide books and reading materials that connect closely to the student's life experiences, not theirs or the schools (Short, Harste & Burke, p. 170).

Sometimes we think our students are having a hard time answering questions because they are not comprehending the material. Maybe we are just asking the wrong question for the student to understand and connect. All students come to school with many literacy experiences; fast food signs, toothpaste boxes, road signs, cereal boxes (Harste, Woodward & Burke, 1984). Their literacy experiences at school need to build from their knowledge of environmental print.

So, fill your room with books, read to your students, observe which books they select and listen to their responses and always remember "schema". It's where you start.

finally

I am finally in. I hope I did this right!

Dr. Rivera, I need help. I clicked something but have no idea what!!

There's a difference

Hello everyone. I learned something new. Well, that is if I did this correctly. So, there is a difference between 'post' and 'comment'. Comments follow under posts. Hope you all find the difference as well. Have a great week!

Regards,
Sheila Indalecio

WELCOME!

Hafa Adai and welcome to our class blog! You will be posting your entries here after each class session throughout the semester. Take care and happy blogging!

-Dr. Rivera :)