Create: Article Overview - Digital Learning and Grade Level Standards (9/19 web day)

I found an article on www.readingrockets.org entitled "Literacy Instruction with Digital and Media Technologies" by Diane Barone and Todd E. Wright.  The basic overview of this article is about how a classroom teacher incorporates technology and media into her classroom.  The technologies became a support for regular instruction, and therefore, a valuable resource.  One of the (many) positive aspects of incorporating media and technology was that it provides a scaffolding for students and a means of differentiation as well.


In my 2nd grade class, we incorporate technology in many different ways, always looking to see how we can integrate it with other subjects and meet standards as well.  One assignment my students do (in small groups) is to go through the entire writing process and create a biography about a famous person.  Once they write it on paper, they are then required to access Google Docs to type it and then add a picture as well.  Once published, the groups of students present the report to the class.  One of the writing standards that this assignment meets is 2.W.PDW.6  "With guidance and support from adults, and in collaboration with peers, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing."

Kelli Iverson
9/19/17

Reflective Post #4: Growth Mindset Introduction: What it is, How it Works, and Why it Matters (9/19 web day)

Growth Mindset is the theory or idea that what we believe - how we think- can play a role in our achievement and success.  There is a spectrum that ranges from Fixed Mindset>Mixed>Growth Mindset.  People, including myself, who believe in the effectiveness of Growth Mindset hold to the fact that skills are built, that people are in control of their abilities, and that you can learn and grow.  On the contrary, people who hold to the Fixed Mindset way of thinking assume that they cannot get better than what they already are (intelligence, talents, etc).  

After viewing the video about Growth Mindset ("Introduction:  What is it, How it Works, and Why it Matters"/https://youtu.be/75GFzikmRY0), I believe that the most important factors in achieving success and accomplishing goals are belief and focus.  I took the Growth Mindset survey and scored 48 out of 60 points which put me in the "Strong Growth Mindset" category.  I was pleased with that score because I do agree that dialogue teachers incorporate with their students (i.e.: "You do not understand YET") is a valuable tool in the classroom.  This way of thinking can help students understand that growth can occur and that they should not give up.  

Kelli Iverson
9/19/17