Over this month long journey through EDU 515 I have learned about web tools and their uses in the field of education in whole new ways. I have never been a frequent visitor of sites like WordPress or Pinterest. However, now that I see the practical uses in my field I plan on visiting and implementing them in this upcoming school year. One of my favorite discoveries during this class was the idea of wikis as a form of a lesson. I think it’s a great idea to create a wiki and allow student to explore on their own in a guided format. This allows students to the work independently and put their education in their own hands. In order to implement these into my classroom I will definitely need to practice more on how to create them.

This course has assisted in my lifelong learning goals but giving me new web tools that can help me create new activities to teach with as well as given me an outlet to look for new ideas. Pinterest will allow me to discover new ways of teaching as well as discover activities even never seen or used before. I didn’t quite realize Pinterest was full of fellow teachers posting and sharing their ideas. I was definitely naïve to this.

One way I think this course could be improved is by ensuring that every link works. I came across a few links that were no longer working or available. Although this information is very useful it some of the links seem to be a little out of date in terms of how far the internet has progressed. I would definitely take another discovery course if it was offer in the future

The following is a list of links that will guide you to an activity to use in the beginning of the school day to bring your students together. It’ll incorporate physical activities, talking points and incorporate activities to promote a healthy engaging culture.

1) Kids Yoga to settle and ease the young mind

Link: https://www.kidsyogastories.com/yoga-in-the-classroom/

Summary: This website offers step by step on how to implement using yoga within your very own classroom. It states several reasons as to why yoga may be useful for you. Yoga can be used to teach our students about self regulation and allow us to teach them mechanism of control.
Commentary: I think this site is a great resource to you especially if you have a group of active students who lack self control. This will allow the to settle their minds in the morning and focus in what they need to do to be successful. This would also be a great activity to use in between transition periods to gather our thoughts and prepare for the next part of our day.

2) Talking Stick: Because you all deserve to be listened too

Links: https://www.discoveryeducation.co.uk/spotlight-on-strategies/try-a-strategy/item879696

Summery: The talking stick is used for controlling group meetings and class discussions within the classroom. Whomever has the talking stick has the right to voice their opinion and response without and one interfering. If you have the talking stick it is your turn to talk. The talking stick can teach students skills such as public speaking, patience, respect and listening.

Commentary: Talking sticks have proven to be quite successful in the classrooms I have taught in. It is important for teachers to demonstrate to the class how to use them and explain why we use them.

3) Morning Meeting- Everyone has the urge to share

Link: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/what-is-morning-meeting/

Summary: Morning meetings are a great way to engage students in the beginning of the day. It allows the teacher to create a sense of community and set children up both academically and socially to take on the day. Morning meetings may contain 4 parts but can be change depending on time and topic. The four parts consist of a greeting, time to share, group activity and morning message.

Commentary: From my experience morning meetings are a great way to get a vibe from your students at the start of the day . You are able to see whose on and whose not. Based on what you see in the morning meeting you can determine how you will attack the rest of the day. You may notice a student needs some one on one time. The students I have taught have loved the morning meeting becuase it gives them a chance to talk and share

4) Morning Work: Some love it, Most hate it

Link: https://onestopteachershop.com/2017/11/classroom-morning-work-ideas.html

Summary: There are several reasons one should implement morning work into the every day routine of the classroom. It allows students to slowly transition into a day of learning. Every second of every school day is important and morning work allows teachers to give work on yesterdays topic to look for fluecny in understanding. Morning work should be reachable and not straining on the students. You do not want to over work them the second they walk into the room. Morning work should always be three things, Manageable, Relevant, and Useful.

Commentary: Morning work is a great way to manage students early in the morning as they are trickling in . There is a thin line between morning work students can bare and morning working students agonize over. It MUST be reachable and easy enough for them to do in a timely fashion. It can also be used as a check in to see if they remember a previous lesson or be used as review leading into a new topic.

5) Morning journal

Link: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/english/2010/online_writing/writing_prompts/gr_5_writing_prompts.pdf

Summary: This Link provides you with an endless amount of writing promts to give your student in the morning. This allows them to start the day off quietly and engaged in enhancing their writing ability.

Commentary: I believe it is very important for students to have ample amounts of time in the day to write down their thoughts. This not only improves their ability to vocalize on paper how they feel but also allows them to express themselves in way that can be soothing and therapeutic.

6) Exercise in the Classroom

Link: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/elementary-exercises.html

Summary: It is proven that physical activity can help improve test results and behavior within a classroom. Physical activity can also give students a chance to get rid of a lot of extra energy they may have in the morning. This article will give you several ideas on whta you can implement with your students.

Commentary: I think this is a great idea for both students and the teacher. Physical activity is great for all aspects of our lives. It makes us healthier and improves our ability to learn. This is also a great right to burn all that extra energy the kids have in the morning.

7) Question of the Day

Link: https://funfreshideas.com/40-weird-questions-to-ask-your-students/

Summary: This is a list of 40 weird questions you can ask your kids in order to learn new things about them. They are all light felt questions that allow to student to have a conversation and discussion that is academics oriented.

Commentary: I think this is a great way to get to know your students. Its a way to talk to them and have discussion that isn’t about what of the subjects your are learning about. You can build a relaxed environment to really get to know your students.

8) Read to your Student

Link: https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/al-khor/parent-resources/our-school-enewsletter/primary/the-importance-of-reading

Summary: Reading to your students is very important in their development as young readers. It will help them expand their vocabulary and enhance their listening skills. It is also important for children to see adults reading in order to foster a community that sees the benefits of reading.

Commentary: The only reason I read the way I do today is because I saw my parental figures growing up constantly reading. It became something normal that every human does. So instinctively I began reading a lot. If our students see us read then they are more apt to begin reading themselves

9) Show and Tell

Link: https://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-elementary-school/16204-benefits-of-show-and-tell/

Summary: Show and Tell gives students are chance to share with their classmates something they see of importance. It can be a drawing, game, book, event, ANYTHING. Its important that children to see their interests as viable and important.

Commentary: We all like to talk about ourselves even our students. This can be done once a week as special activity for students to engage with each other and build a community.

10) So Many more Choices

Link: https://www.pinterest.com/sarantaugas/morning-activities/

Summary: This is a pinterest page with links to 100s of activities you can choose to do in your classroom. Maybe its last minute and you need a time waster. THis is your go to.

Commentary: Good luck on your Morning Activities!!!!

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