Digital Natives

I haven't really noticed if my students are digitally inclined. The only experience I have is with my daughter, who I haven't seen or spoken to since she got her own computer. Since she is in middle school I guess I can use her for my subject. She and all of her friends are computer literate. They spend more time im'ing each other than they do talking on the phone. She understands HTML a lot better than I do and is able to navigate the web with ease. I think she owes this to a friend of hers. A few years ago they became obsessed with the internet. I worried that my daughter would never learn to like to read anything because she preferred being on the internet. I was proven wrong by Lemony Snicket. Thanks to those books, which she read in a week making me proud to claim her, she discovered reading. She still worships her computer, but she can become interested in books. She has the advantage of growing up in a house that has had a computer for as long as she can remember.

Replying to the prompt and other things....

First, I have to say that the only reading habit that I have acquired since entering the internet is reading fan fictions. It is amazing how some people are so creative that they take their favorite characters from books, television shows or movies and continue the story or create new stories. I read the news on the internet more often than I would from the newspaper or by watching television. The only other way that the internet has affected my reading is by recommending books. Had it not been for a few people on one of my favorite sites, I might not have read Harry Potter. The recomendations often come in handy when I've hit a wall on what to read. I visit sites because of a common like, so most sites can recommend books that I would enjoy. For me reading will always be important. I would rather lie on a bed, or sit on a couch with my Dr. Pepper on the side and a book in my hand. I don't like sitting in front of a computer to read novels. I can't get comfortable in front of a computer. I still need to feel a book in my hands that I can easily pick up and move to another spot in my house when I am being bothered.

I don't know if my students read less or more because of the internet. I have only been at my school for two weeks and am amazed at how well behaved my students are. This scares me because I think it gives me a false sense of security. I was placed in a really nice school in Rancho San Diego, far away from the area were I was originally supposed to go. I worry about expecting this type of behavior and then for my second placement getting a rude awakening when I wind up in a different school with a completely different behavior. I figure if I keep this in mind and don't expect perfect behavior, then I won't be suprised and upset. Not that i'm giving up on this expectation of a calm classroom, but more of giving myself a realistic idea that not all classes are the same.

On a side note, I found this website, http://www.iloveteaching.com/studteach/index.htm, that had interesting advice for student teachers. One thing I found that might be the most helpful is compiling a working portfolio that student teachers might use when they go on interviews for their first jobs.

How to use webpages

I think one fun way to use webpages in class is to have students create their own web pages based on anything that they like to read. First, they must choose one book and then research and reflect on the reason they like this book. Another interesting way for me is to create a web page that will direct students to specific areas that I want them to research. I'm sure that with more experience I will begin to think of other interesting ways to utilize web pages in my future classroom.

Favorite Authors

I have to say that my favorite author is Jane Austen. I have recently read and fell in love with Emily Bronte. I think I will focus on Kate Chopin for my author study because I love her short stories and I find it fascinating that she was overlooked for so many years because of one book, The Awakening, that was considered scandalous. While this book is not my favorite, I do love her short stories.

Finally Placed

I have finally been placed at Hillsdale Middle School in Rancho San Diego. I'm kind of excited because I'm finally going to start, but at the same time I'm depressed because i'm going to be busy. I haven't met my master teacher yet and have no idea what to expect. I was really excited over a presentation that I did the other day in a different class. I thought that it went better than I had imagined.

First post

This is my first post and I am currently in class. This week has been exciting in my house. My eleven year-old daughter has finally saved enough money to buy herself a computer. The computer arrived yesterday and is waiting for me to put it up. I'm happy that my daughter has enough sense to save money and understands the value of my hard earned dollar. The money that she saved up is mostly my money that I have given her throughout the last few years. She has had family members that have given her money, but it is mostly my money. However, the important thing is that she saved it.