Thought #9

1. I truly think it is important to include technology in the objectives for the days because today it is all about technology.  Kids today are focused and centered around technology whether it's, computeres, internet, I-Pads, I-pods or anyting of this nature these students know it and love it. It is going to be the "hook" of the lesson and what gets and keeps their attention.  It is a fun and creative way for students to learn and it is something they want to use and they will be learning withough even realizing it.

2. Students must realize they are accountable for a product otherwise the center becomes nothing more than playtime. Teachers need to have something solid they students are accountable for and have to actually turn in. If the student is set lose and allowed to "work" without having something to turn in then it makes it a lot easier for the student to get off task and lose focus.  Students could and should work collaboratively on projects to build relationships and move towards common objectives. Kids can be accountable by initializing station options and completing the rubric. They could also complete open ended and closed sentences or simply reflect on what they learned.  If the student is not doing to appropriate thing or activity at the center then they will be removed from the center.

3. Tutpup is a really cool website and could easily be a center.  This is a site where the students will compete against other students around the world in spelling and math.  Many students have a competetive nature in them and they want to be the best. This is a great site for those students who will challenge themselves to be the best and if they are not they are going to work even harder to get there. It is also a cool place where they get to communicate with other students around the world. Another site I really liked was Thinkfinity.  This is a site for all subject areas where the students can go online and play all sorts of different games. The levels are based on age and ability so I know it is something they can handle and complete independently. One thing I really liked about the site is that it had a page for at home they could work on with their parents. Parents are always asking for ways to help and this is a great page to send them to.

4. I really liked the "Word of the Day" link and how it was used.  We could have a word of the day that the students focused on.  We would look up the word, writing sentences for every definition so they knew how to use the word. Students would try and use the word where they could and they could also go deeper and have to write the opposite meaning of the word, another word that means the same and so forth.  I also really like the site, Fun 4 the Brain. This is a math site where they have the students review their math facts in a fun way. Students need to review their facts everyday and this is a fun way for them to do it without thinking about it.  This is a fun engaging way for students to complete a center.  If the student is engaged and wanting to be at the center it lessens the change for disruption and discipline problems.