Mrs. Dana Smith-Page by Dana Smith-Page

What is the teacher doing?

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:43:45 UTC

The teacher is providing a safe place to explore academic inquiry by guiding student research based on his or her professional knowledge. The teacher is always available for the students but never obtrusive and in the way of their own discovery. As a teacher, I should be moving around the room from group to group helping to guide learning and to stimulate more inquiry. I want them to know that I am happy to be there with them and for them.

The learning space my students deserve! (If there were no limits)

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:46:59 UTC

The physical space in my classroom would be adjacent to an exit leading to a beautiful garden. There would be natural light pouring into the room and all the desks and chairs would be appropriate for my students and their collaborative learning. I would want computers/laptops or some adequate devices which would aid in the students formulation of questions for research and used deftly to acquire the best of evidence from electronic sources. Room! There would room to move about, to find a quiet corner, and to come together to share our learning. The students would have the space to create whether by writing or composing or drawing or building or acting out their understandings of the days' lesson or in depth study.

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:48:49 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:49:28 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:49:48 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:51:47 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 19:54:22 UTC

The physical space

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:10:52 UTC

Straight from the movies! (With COOKIES!!!)

Students First

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:14:54 UTC

If classroom is truly student centered, the students should be eating up the opportunity to learn and to synthesize their learning . They are having robust debates about topics that are relevant to them and the content of the course. Questions would be flying from every corner of the room, and the students will then become a community of learners and risktakers?Technology would be used for acquiring knowledge and for gaining understanding of the course content and the world around them. And even when they are having a bad day, they would understand their responsibility to the whole as an integral part of one another's learning.

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:24:00 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:24:24 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:24:48 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:34:32 UTC

A parting word on my model for teaching...

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:38:28 UTC

Don't laugh. Mr. Rogers was among the most perfect models for teachers that has ever graced this earth. He didn't just tell us what to do. He made sure....there was conversation, there was questioning, there was exploration, and there was a imagination. Using the best technology he could at that time, we learned to be good neighbors and to help one another whenever possible. If he were here today, I believe he would be using tools like Schoolnet, Padlet and Educreation...Imagine what the trips to the Land of Make-Believe would have looked like now! Look at that--MAKE and BELIEVE. So intrigue and detailed, the learning still endures. Yes, this is the kind of teacher I want to be.

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:47:55 UTC

dlsmithp — 2015-08-09 20:49:44 UTC