Reflection # 3 - Inkscape

My first thoughts on Inkscape were questions like what can I do with this in my classroom? How can this be of use? I have since then looked up tutorials on a lot of things I can make. I like that it’s a creative website and you can create lots of neat items like bowling pins, rusty gears and insects. I watched the “swirls and flourishes” tutorial and watching this video helped me see all the different types of tools I can use with Inkscape. Inkscape can be a nice tool when designing things like animals when the option you want is not available or free. I also found you can do typography using Inkscape so I can make a “classroom rules” canvas or even something for my own home. I can also do angles for a math class. There are many ways that not only teachers, but other professions could use this handy tool in any situation. Think of Student Council where students need to make flyers? DONE. What about a church festival flyer? DONE. I have enjoyed watching tutorials and I’m impressed with Inkscape. I can be a better at using this tool by practicing, watching videos and checking out tutorials on sites like Pinterest and Google. I can overcome any obstacles this way because I am a visual learner and watching other people do things is a lot easier than people telling me what to do. Overall I think I will have fun with Inkscape and honestly can’t wait till I have some free time to make something!

Video Reflection #1

Autobiography Video

Reflection #2

My initial thoughts on Project-based learning were actually “confused”. I really didn’t know what I was reading. I feel like this assignment jumped on me and I never really saw it coming! I started to understand what was going on when we had the PBL collaborate conference call on blackboard. At that meeting, Mr. McGilvery asked questions like, “Would you rather work with a team or by yourself?” From these questions I started to understand project-based learning and then it came together, duh! I now know what project-based learning is and I am for it all the way.

I could use the project-based learning method in my future classroom by the normal, easy ways. I would pair up students and make it a project that you compare things with other groups or the other student in your group. I enjoyed working together in high school (mainly because it was chemistry labs and I didn’t know what I was doing), but being in the group helped me understand what was happening. I could ask questions if I didn’t understand and I could compare my answers without “cheating”.  I would use project-based learning in this same way – to help students understand what is going on.

Let’s say I am teaching a reading class, these are the stages I would use. (5^th Grade)

Stage 1: The class gets to pick the group they’re in - students would then choose a book they find interesting and read it together.

Stage 2: Students would pick another teacher in the school to join their reading club and read the same book. During the reading of the book, students would do some annotations over anything they find that relates to them or excites them in the book. (The teacher doesn’t do the annotations, just reads the book).

Stage 3: Students will pick a date to have their “talk-show” where teacher must be present.

Stage 4: Students will have their meeting and the invited teacher they chose to read the book with them will be there. At this meeting, they can make t-shirts that relate to the book, cook food that was in the book, etc. They will talk about their favorite and least favorite parts of the book and anything else they want to say, (whether they liked it or not, was the book better than the movie?) etc.

Another way I could use project-based learning in my classroom, could be with a kindergarten science project.

Stage 1: I would split the classroom into groups of 3 I find would work well together.

Stage 2: We would do a pre-questionnaire on how many bites it takes for us to eat an ice-cream cone. We would have questions like how many bites, will it melt?, would you get a brain freeze?, how fast could you eat it?

Stage 3: We would walk to the science lab and sit at the tables. From there I would hand out (school appropriate) ice-cream bars and students would calculate how many bites it took them to eat their ice-cream bar.

Stage 4: We would walk back to the classroom and do a post-questionnaire. This would serve as an assessment for the project. 

Autobiography Video Script

My name is Janna Michele Fuchs. I was born in San Angelo, Texas and grew up in Wall, a town 15 miles east of San Angelo. I am majoring in education ECH-6th grade.

 I believe that the 3 words that describe me would be creative, organized, and thoughtful.  I believe I am creative because I enjoy doing anything artsy. I believe that you don’t have to have a perfect outcome, but the process of doing art and opening that side of the brain can really brighten your day. I chose organized because I love being organized! I like things neat, tidy and where they belong. The last word I chose was thoughtful. I chose this word because I always think before I act and I try to follow Thumper’s saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

My parents are Bill and Amy Fuchs. They are the best parents I could have asked for and love me in every way! 

What motivates me to do well in life is my family. I want to be someone they are proud of and I aspire to do all I can to make them happy and proud.

My career aspirations are to become a kindergarten teacher. I love being around little kids and kindergarteners are at a young, still needing mommy age, but they learn so much in that time and age.

I believe in the quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I believe this quote and teaching were made for each other. So when you’re out there in the world, be the change, teach someone how to help, how to read, or how to share, this will make a difference, not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. 

Reflection #1 - Introduction

Hello all! My name is Janna Fuchs and I grew up in the small town of Wall, Texas. My daddy is a farmer and my mother works at a ranch down the road! Together they are a great support system to me and my siblings.

I am majoring in elementary education with the goal of someday teaching kindergarten! I choose kindergarten because they are a great bunch of kids who have the eagerness to learn all kinds of new things, yet still want you to love them back!

You can find me on Skype using:    Janna_Fuchs

I decided to come to Angelo State University because I like the size of the school. My high school had 85 people in the graduating class and I knew them all! I would have freaked out in a massive college where classrooms are filled with hundreds of students! I also like ASU’s location! I’m a bit of a homebody and San Angelo is close to my parents for an easy home-made meal!

I want to become a teacher because I love being around children and I want to help them want to learn. I want to be that teacher who they can always count on. I want to learn the up-to-date ways of technology so I can be prepared for my future as an educator. I would also like to have the ability to teach my students how to use technology correctly so they are able to use technology well.

Technology has definitely changed since I've been in kindergarten! I remember the old box-like computers and the old-school games you could play on them! Games have really changed a lot because they aren't as pixelated or slow!  Same goes with computers… My computer is quick and lovely thanks to Wi-Fi, dial-up was awful and I can still remember that sound…  Overall, I am glad that technology has become what it is because I honestly wouldn't want to live without it!