Constuctive Classroom

After reading What is a Constructivist Classroom? I realized that we have been teaching in a misguided way. Schools years ago all taught one way. The teacher stood in front of the class and taught the lesson. Children listened then did worksheets or answered the questions at the end of the chapter independently. Children were given multiple choice questions which left them to not think for themselves. Today having children think of what they read and having them get ideas and letting them work as groups will help the children to learn and problem solve on there own. As educators we need to be there for the students but only to guide them not give them the answers. We need to be there in case some of the students don't understand something. Having centers is a big way in helping the students to learn and grow in different ways. Today we need to do more in schools and less at home because doing the work in school we educators can be there to help the students when they are struggling compared to them going home to where they might not have any help and that will just make them struggle even more. Allowing the children to ask the questions will help the children grasp the subject better because it makes them want to know more about it.

Why Use Technology in the Classroom? I have mixed feeling about technology and how much should be used in classrooms. I love that t will help our students get ready for the future but at time I fell like it will stop the children from thinking as much. Years ago using books made children have to read to find much of the information that was asked of them but today with technology the answer is just a click away.  Are so helping the children learn faster of are we teaching to take the easy way. I use I pads with some of my non-English speaking children but when I do use them I feel like I am not doing my job. I like the quote that she used in her paper "technology is neither good nor bad. The same hammer can both break windows and build cathedrals," I totally agree with it as much good it does for our children and the future as much damage it may cause or bring to them and the future. I guess technology is something where we need to learn to know when to use it and when to go old school.

Shamrock Stamps

Shamrock Stamps are easy to make. First here is the shopping list.

Shopping List:

Green Bell Pepper

Green Paint

Paper Plates

Dollar Store Plastic Table Cloth

Cost: Less than $5

Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes

Clean-Up Time: Less than 5 minutes.

I wash and dry the bell peppers, I cut a bell pepper in half, take out the seeds from the inside, and put two different shades of green paint on two paper plates. I set up everything on a plastic table cloth or rip up a large garbage bag, I demonstrated one time how to dip the pepper in the paint, then put the pepper on the paper.