Book Club

Part I:

In Kira-Kira, there are several words in this book that are tier 3, at least in my opinion. Most of these words are those that are Japanese in origin, such as kimono and kira-kira itself. There are not as many English tier 3 words in this book, because despite the author covering several deep topics, it is written as if coming directly from a young girl's mouth detailing events of that happened in the recent past. There are a ton of tier 2 words in this book that will probably need to be covered by the teacher, especially if this book is being read by advanced younger students. 

Overall, I think that while the tier 2 words are definitely important to understand in the long run, for this book, it may be especially useful to teach some of the tier 3 words used in the book so that students understand them while reading. While they are specific for this book, they are (at least in my opinion) important enough to focus and devote at least a short time to covering.

Examples of words-
Tier I: dangerous, scientist, reflections
Tier 2: preparation, ancestors, gossip, fatigue, economy
Tier 3: kimono, shunning, kira-kira

Part II:

For my activity, I think I would do a quick activity with word posters using some of the words that are written in Japanese. They would then draw a picture of that word, which would help them associate what that word means.

P.S. Sorry this post is so late! Apparently I forgot to click publish before I exited out of the window last time, didn't realize it! My bad!

Week 10 - New Literacies

CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING

How has your conceptual understanding of literacy changed since beginning this class? 

            I started with the very basic concept of literacy, being able to read and write. Throughout this assignment, this view has evolved into a much broader definition. I now feel that my traditional definition has been replaced by one that is much more complex. Now, literacy is having the ability to understand and communicate. Literacy requires much more than simply reading and writing.

How does your research on a new literacy and development of your own digital literacy (using your new technology) inform your thinking?

            My concept of cultural literacy developed a great deal as a result of my personal research. I learned about the discussions and points of contention surrounding a common core understanding. I was able to learn about the key players in these debates and understand why each believes their arguments are valid. Learning about cultural literacy really helped me make connections and explain why understanding different cultures are important.

            I had no idea how a virtual or open world worked until I participated in this assignment. The potential for such technology has only just been tapped. Although the potential is great, the productive use of the world and the maintenance of proper usage have not been established. I think the realm of a 3-D world would be very interesting to explore, but the results may not be what is envisioned.

What new knowledge, skills, strategies and dispositions are you now aware of, and how do these compare/contrast with more traditional literacies?

            I am now aware of virtual worlds, weeblys, glogsters, and more. I have not mastered any of these technologies but I have been able to scratch the surface of my understanding and open myself to them. Being able to interact with these and use them to communicate and understand the world a bit more has allotted me a new view on what being literate means. I’m sure being able to navigate web page is on par with navigating a book. Creating 3-D worlds is akin to writing a book. These new technologies have allowed me to learn about new literacies in ways I never imagined.

            As for learning about cultural literacy, numeracy, geo-literacy, etc., I feel I have learned a great deal about these new literacies. I have a new and deeper perspective on how people understand the world around them. Through completing and viewing these projects, I have learned in new and interesting ways. These routes toward learning were varied and differentiated. As a result, I know more about how people interact with and understand the world around them.

CLASSROOM   IMPLICATIONS

Given your conceptual understanding of literacy (topic #1 above), what does it mean to provide “effective literacy instruction” to diverse learners?

            Providing effective literacy instruction will allow the students to understand their world better. Because of this greater understanding, students will become more capable of performing at a higher level in school. As a result of this effective instructive, they will become well-rounded individuals who can think deeply and critically.

How does your research on a new literacy and development of your own digital literacy (using your new technology) inform your thinking? 

            The classroom implications of my research and development will be reflected as I predict when and where students will need further exploration or explanation in areas they are unfamiliar with. My lesson planning will be impacted greatly by the experience of my students in each of these literacies. I also believe that my students will be given the opportunity to present their knowledge in new ways as a result of my exploration into these different technologies. I foresee students using these different tools in many different ways as a reflection of their abilities and competency.

DIGITAL LITERACY: What do students need to know and be able to do in order to develop their digital literacy? What types of support do students need to develop digital literacy? How would you go about providing that support?

            I believe students need the opportunity to explore and create in order to develop digital literacy. I think developing digital literacy is as simple as showing them a site or program to work with and letting them go. Today’s youth can be given a new tech option to explore and can discover what works with little guidance. If students are given a task to complete or a problem to solve through use of any of these technologies we have been asked to explore, I would expect them to be capable of doing so. Perhaps an introduction to the technology would be all that is needed as long as students know the expectations of their behavior and work habits.

YOUR 'NEW LITERACY': What do students need to know and be able to do to develop the type of literacy you investigated for your project (e.g., cultural, political, social, etc.)? What types of support do students need to develop this literacy? How would you go about providing that support?

            First, to develop cultural literacy, students need the motivation to explore a new culture or their own. Then, students need to have many opportunities and plenty of time to do their exploring. During this time, students will need to read, watch videos, view pictures, and absorb as much culture as they can. I feel support can be given in the form of activities that grab student’s interest. Then, as students explore and research, support can be given by showing reliable sites and sources with great information. I would have to prepare myself a great deal before releasing the students on their research. I would need to familiarize myself with the different tools that can be used for collecting information on different cultures. These tools would need to be readily available for students as they search the internet and all the places that hold information. I would also need to stay informed on different cultures by continuing my own exploring.

Literacy Project

• 1) YOUR CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING:
  Literacy cannot be described in one simple, specific definition.  There are many different types of literacies and the list continues to grow.  One can be literate, having the ability to read and write, but may be lacking many different types of literacy, such as cultural (the literacy my group and I explored).  If someone is lacking cultural literacy and read someone about a different culture their comprehension of the material may suffer.  This type of literacy somewhat fits into my previous understanding of literacy, because without having that prior knowledge of a culture you are learning about you may not understand.  However, there are many different literacies that I would not have considered before learning more about from looking at my peers projects.  For example, emotional literacy is the ability understand, identify and manage emotions.  I did not know or think this idea was considered an emotion, however I now think it is crucial to consider, remember and teach them.
  
  
  The concept map I created and updated still lacked many of these different literacies, I really need to look into adding more to it.  My concept map includes general information that many of my other classes have taught and focused on, such as reading & writing, including prior knowledge and experiences.  I really think our concept maps are a useful representation of how we are continually learning, growing and expanding our understanding of literacy.  This also shows how much literacy really includes and continues to grow and include more as more forms of knowledge and communication expands. 
  
  
  I used two Common Core Standards for my language arts lesson plan,"describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence and cause/effect" and "compare and contrast the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic."  I used a children's book and a poem in my lesson.  My lesson expected students to have prior knowledge about segregation and racism.  These texts really focus on being culturally and emotionally literacy to relate to the text and culture of the time period.  
  
  
  After learning and thinking about "being literate" as a teacher and my responsibilities I think it is crucial that I am literate before I expect my students to be.  As a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) minor it is crucial to be culturally literate to better understand my students and create better connections with them.  Additionally, being culturally literate allows me to bring new ideas, cultures and perspectives into my class that otherwise wouldn’t be taught or understood by my students.  Creating various ways of learning and understanding for students bridges necessary gaps.  Additionally, from this project I learned more about other forms of literacy.  One that I can implement in my placement classroom and in future classes is emotional literacy.  The students in my placement classroom struggle with their emotions and knowing how to express themselves in a productive way.  I have witnessed and broken up fights as well as many instances of bullying, which is unacceptable.  I truly believe many of these occurrences stem from their inabilities to express their emotions and feeling in a positive manner. 
  
  
  Digital Literacy:
  I think students are continually developing their digital literacy, since our world is being more digital.  However, it is our job to teach and guide them to use digital devices and sites in a positive, responsible way.  Many students need to learn which sites are useful, helpful and most importantly, safe.  Students need to learn how to distinguish between these sites and when to use them.  I believe students need examples to show them the differences between sites to develop their digital literacy.  
  
  
  Cultural Literacy:
  Cultural literacy focuses on the general knowledge of a culture; for example, understanding slang, street signs, interactions, etc.  Students learning English as a second language will need to experience particular situations to see and learn slang and the meaning behind particular actions.  Immersing ESL students in regular classes allows them the experience and understanding that will teach them and will help them become more culturally literate.  Pairing a native English speaking student with an ESL student will help both students understand one another and each others culture more.  
  
  
  

  As I have mentioned before, my understanding of literacy has expanded drastically.  Literacy incorporates many ideas and perspectives.  My experiences with this project has made me realize that I have a lot to learn still and a long way to go before I am literate.  Culturally, I understand American culture and hopefully after I study abroad this summer I will understand South Africian cullture more.  After this project I plan to further my education my researching and ideally visiting/immersing myself in various cultures.  My new technology was interesting to learn about.  I really did not know what to expect before using it, which is one thing I wish I would have researched it a bit more before choosing and agreeing to use it.  There are pros and cons to Second Life, but realistically, I do not think I would use it in my future classroom.  I learned a lot about the digital world of Second Life and will be able to discuss as well as share thoughts and ideas with peers and students.  Learning how to use various forms of technology can only be a benefit.  Additionally, if Second Life had different security systems in place, that did not cost money, I would consider using it.  I think the traditional literacies are more general and the literacies we explored in this project are more subcategories that tie the traditional ideas together.  For example, traditional literacies include reading, writing and speaking while subcategories such as cultural literacy ties in reading street signs, communicating with slang, etc.  

  
  

  To provide “effective literacy instruction” to diverse learners is inevitable if you keep the different types of literacy in mind and teach them.  Each classroom is full of diverse learners coming from different backgrounds and experiences.  Understanding your students and what they have experienced is key.  In some ways your students can be the teacher.  If a student is more literate on a particular topic than others in the class, including yourself, providing them with the opportunity to teach and share their knowledge provides a new, effective literacy instruction experience.  Keeping in mind and connecting what your students know and what they are learning is key to a successful literacy lesson.
  
  

Week 10 Literacy Project

1.

My initial thought about “literacy” was that it only referred to reading and writing subjects. Throughout grade school I never saw the importance of literacy outside of everyday reading and writing. I never thought literacy connected to different aspects of learning inside and outside the classroom. After the new literacy’s project my understanding of literacy has grown, especially with cultural literacy. You can be can be literate in anything, it just means the mastering of that skill (like an expert). Cultural literacy means having the knowledge (as well as the capacity to do) all the aspects of that culture that makes it unique such as language (idioms, slang, body language, etc.), history, and anything that can contribute to the understanding of the reading, writing, and media of that culture.

The new literacies projects forced me to learn about two different kinds of literacy. I thought of myself as digitally literate but now I know there is so much more to learn. Researching cultural literacy and applying it with a foreign technology opened my eyes to a few things. My group’s technology was called Second Life and it was a very frustrating but interesting digital technology. It reminded me of some of the students I have in my current placement and how they must feel when learning something challenging. YouTube and Google were great scaffolding tools to aid in my exploration of Second Life. I never explored a virtual world and now I feel that with solid direction it can be very useful in the classroom. Virtual places are no longer restricted for social meet ups but many organizations and educational institutions use Second Life as an education tool (which I find very cool). Virtual classrooms require more interaction that the typical online class. Every online class I have experienced consisted of blogs and discussion posts that didn’t require much interaction. Second Life can be quite intriguing and very interactive after learning the technology. Second Life is such as complex tool that it is not as user friendly as a blog or discussion forum.

2.

            I believe giving effective literacy instruction is providing meaningful lessons that connect to the outside world. Diverse learners need diverse instruction that includes different presentations that cater to the various learning styles, senses, and background experiences.  Students should be able to actively discuss, question, and explore the topic at hand while making real world connections. When building cultural literacy students need to be able to be submersed in that culture as much as possible. Through using my new technology Second Life, I realized how many cultures and groups there are in the world. I use to think culture as just race and religion but culture is way broader as well as complex. Teachers serve their students an injustice by not exposing them to outside cultures during grade school. I personally believe that if I were culturally literate prior to entering college then possibly history classes (as well as others) would have been more enjoyable. Students would not feel so divided if they were more culturally aware. Knowledge is power and in this case it can build bridges for diverse students across the globe. For students to become culturally literate then they must be curious but also willing to accept other cultural views. It takes students to be brave enough to explore but respectful to the cultures they are exploring. In my opinion I believe cultural literacy teaches students it is ok to be different and that their uniqueness contributes to our society.

            Second Life is not a technology I would introduce to my second graders. It is a very complex technology that can be overwhelming  for anew internet users (also is not age appropriate). In general, I believe that students need to have general knowledge of the internet such as what it is, why it is used, how it can be used, and what you shouldn’t do (or allow) while on the internet. Students should always be provided with behavioral expectations as well as what is appropriate on the internet and what is not. I am a firm believer in visual aids as well as giving examples. When teaching any kind of digital literacy I would provide what is acceptable and what is not, the objectives of the lesson, example sites, and guided practice prior to allowing students explore on their own. This project has taught me a lot about being a student as well as being a teacher. Before creating any lesson a teacher must think about how to support their students during learning experiences. Active participation, meaningful practice, guided discussions, as well as making connections contribute to building literacy in any field.

Week 10 New Literacy Project!

I had a very interesting time with this new literacy project!  "Literacy is the ability to make and communicate meaning from and by the use of a variety of socially contextual symbols." Going off of this definition that I posted several weeks ago as to what the definition of literacy was, I think that this project ties in nicely. All of the technology used was very socially relevant- each of the technologies used is an up and coming tool for teachers to use to enhance their lessons and to help engage their students. Traditionally, I used to think of literacy as being the ability to read and write. Now, I realize that true literacy is an ability to competently use the tools around us. If a student cannot type competently, in today's world, I would not hesitate to say that they were not literate yet. There are so many new, awesome ways to help present information to students out there, like glogster or prezi.com, that are available to teachers now.

The only problem I see with this, is that since technology grows so fast, it is going to be the rare teacher that has the time and energy to keep abreast of all the new tools and technology as they become available. But, at the same time, I think that in order to provide effective literacy instruction to students, teachers have to at least know the basics of the technology out there to help students learn. It's going to require a lot of extra time spent learning new technology if teachers want to be able to help their students become as literate as possible.

For me, in order to present my new ideas of literacy into a classroom, I know that I will be spending a lot of time learning about new technology in order to help my students learn and use it effectively. I think that, at the basic level, all students should be able to type competently, know how to use some of the more popular websites out there such as google, etc., and to be able to figure out new websites. I don't want to just teach them everything there is to know about a new electrical technology- I want to present them with that tool and help them explore it to discover on their own how to use it. I think, in the long run, as technology continues to evolve and transform at such a quick rate, it will help them far more than just cut-and-dry explanations.

Week 9: New Literacy Reflection

I have learned a few things about Cultural Literacy thus far. There  are hundreds of thousands of cultures and sub-cultures. Individuals are usually only aware of their own and a few others (which they may not be fully literate in). Culture is non-instinctive, we are born with basic but are able to grow and learn into any culture. As we progress as a human race through technological inventions, agricultural inventions, and social/political systems, our cultures become more distinct as well as plentiful. The more there is to contribute in addition to an increasing population allows more cultures to emerge as well as current cultures to change. To not teach a student about the many cultures that surround them only serves them an injustice as a teacher. It is important for students to be able to comfortably identify and discuss different cultures, they should be curious about other cultures than their own. Cultural Literacy allow students to explore and become more aware of the world around them which leads to more opportunity to mental, cognitive, and social growth.

Second Life is definitely a tool that can be utilized to creatively explore culture. The downside is that it is a software that must be downloaded, which can pose a problem for students who do not have computers, up to date computers, or parent permission for Second Life. The very first thing I learned when downloading this software is that I really rooted for something I had no idea what i was getting into. I thought of Second Life somewhat like Sims (which I love) but it is way more complex than the Sims. I am up for the challenge and plan on wrecking my brain over this wonderful tool. Second Life is a virtual world that allows users to create realms, visit other realms, and interact with other avatars. This is great for students to explore with, especially if a class created several cultures to explore and then spent days exploring others. The drawback is that students will be more exposed to outside users who may not be using Second Life as an educational tool. There are plenty of creepers out there and I would hate for my students to fall victim to it. I wish there was a way of creating a private group that allows the teacher/administrator to monitor as well as restrict behaviors on Second Life.

I have high hopes for our Cultural Literacy Project, it should be a fun realm of cultural literacy learning!

Week 9

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—  What am I learning about my new literacy?

Cultural literacy is an incredibly important part of education and communication. I draw an example from my placement class. There was a vocabulary question that was fill in the blank and the student had no idea of what word to fill in because they didn’t understand the content of the sentence. The sentence needed the student to know what an Ivy League school was. I am in a sixth grade class and my students are very far from even thinking about attending a university, let alone Dartmouth or Yale. Their knowledge of universities is more than likely limited to MSU, U of M, and whatever school their parents may have attended. Cultural literacy involves knowing “the basics” of a culture that allows students and people to communicate effectively. Cultural literacy also allows students to succeed in the classroom, which is the very reason we teachers are in this business.

—   

What am I learning about my new technology?

I have learned a few things about Second Life/virtual worlds/OpenSims. First, I learned that my outdated computer does not have the processing power to run such worlds without crashing. Without being able to play and see what these virtual worlds were really all about, I turned to reviews. The reviews on these types of virtual worlds are very consistent in their content.

There are benefits and downsides to these virtual worlds. The benefits include: a new place for students to interact with each other and with the teacher, increased opportunities to communicate, the ability to choose a new persona, and the ability to create a world that reflects the vision of the users. These characteristics are especially beneficial for students who are learning a new language. Language learners can move and communicate at their own pace and can speak using academic or conversational language. There can be spaces and times that are specifically designated for different uses. The chance to interact during many occasions is why this can be a great tool for a classroom.

The pitfalls of such an open world are many and varied. Anything is possible in a virtual world. Anything. Avatars can move from world to world and from a safe learning environment created by a school to a completely user generated world filled with everything from virtual sex to virtual rock shows. This is obviously a concern when students are exposed to this type of material when they are supposed to be using such worlds for educational purposes.

Week 9: New Literacy Reflection

Second Life is a software that I can honestly say I never thought I would use prior to this project.  After talking about different types of technology we could use, my group decided to try a technology that would be new for all of us.  I can honestly say I already am very happy we chose to go down this new path because it provides me with the opportunity to learn something new and different ways to incorporate it in my future classrooms.  The population on Second Life consists primarily of older/higher grade level students, however with the expansion and growth of technology I would not be surprised if younger students begin to use this technology as well.
Second Life allows users to connect and communicate.  This is a HUGE component that will allow students to learn from one another.  Connecting to others in a safe environment allows students to explore, teach and learn about their cultures as well as others.  This opportunity has been difficult for most people to have; however now students can connect with other students of different native speakers of particular languages which will provide a more meaningful and real experience for the students which in turn will provide motivation.  This technology provides native English speakers to learn more about other cultures and languages as.  It also doubles as a great opportunity for ELLs to learn and grow in new ways.  Second Life provides a forum in which only written language is used; however, it will be interesting when they can provide sound (text to voice or voice to voice) communication.    Regardless, the written communication provides students to communicate and practice a new language in a safe, non-threatening classroom environment.  Additionally, it is similar to using twitter in the classroom, it opens up the communication for students who may be shy or otherwise would not talk or participate.
After researching and exploring more I have discovered that we are not the first to think about using Second Life for educational purposes.  Although we are not the first it is still a new concept that I don't think will become extinct anytime soon.  I look forward to creating more of the environment and really showing my peers what this technology can do in and out of classrooms for our students!

Week 9 - New Literacy Reflection

    So far, I have had a great time learning about our chosen medium to present this New Literacy project- Google Earth! I've heard so much about it, but to be honest I had never tried it before this project. I'm learning so much about this resource; it is so great how you can create slide shows and tours that people can follow. It's awesome that you can even make recordings and listen to recordings that others have made!

    Something interesting is how much time and effort it took me to become even relatively familiar with this program. It makes me wonder, with all the new technology out there how teachers can possibly keep up. It is fun, but challenging, and I feel like teachers do not receive training for most of the new technology they receive. For example, I know that Charlotte just gave students an IPad- great, until you realize that very few teachers actually utilize the device since they themselves do not know how to work it.  I think with new mediums teachers have to make a decision- weigh out the benefits versus the cost of time to learn the medium, since it can take quite awhile to familiarize yourself with any new type of medium enough to where you feel comfortable using the medium in a classroom and lesson based setting.

   For me, I think that I would use Google Earth with my classes in the future- especially for lessons regarding different areas of the globe. It is a great way for students to not only go "exploring" without leaving the classroom, but I also like that students can get a sense of just how far away some of these places are as the globe turns. (This would be a LOT of fun to use for a geography lesson!) Overall, so far I think this project is great as it helps us to learn more about a medium for presenting literacy that we may not have previously been familiar with, but now can add to our arsenal of tools for future use in the classroom!