Social Studies Methods- February

 Opening thoughts and NCTCS 
      Wow this month has flown by, I can't believe it is almost March!  I have learned about so many useful tools and resources to help me as a future educator.  This class has taught me so much about what exactly students are supposed to learn and all the different ways students can learn.  I feel like there are endless possibilities to teaching, for instance through art, reading, visual aids, auditory aids, projects, and etc.  I know for my future students to be successful I need to meet them where they are in their educational journeys and meet all of their learning needs.  The North Carolina Professional Teaching Standard that aligns with this action from a teacher would be under standard four, Teachers Facilitate Learning for their students,"teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students"(NCTCS).  This is where the teachers use data from the student, monitor the student, and work with colleagues to make sure the material is meeting the needs of the individual learner (NCTCS).  We were able to successfully complete the course to receive our flipped classroom certification this month.  I had never heard of this before until this class, I really enjoyed this experience and could see myself using this type of lesson in my future classroom.  I feel having a flipped lesson, where the students are able to watch the lesson before class, will allow for more hands on activity, practice, and questions to help students understand the material better.  The flipped classroom aspect would align with the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standard, standard four Teachers Facilitate Learning for their students, "teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction"(NCTCS).  I have enjoyed all of the differentiation discussions we have been able to have.  It is very interesting to see the different ways differentiation is used in the classroom and it is neat to see all the different resources each group has been able to find.  I feel like the differentiation resources will be very helpful for me to use as an educator.  I love using twitter each week for this class.  I have found so many helpful resources, communication networks, ideas, quotes, etc to help me in my journey to become an educator and will continue when I am a teacher.  For twitter and the wisdom from experience project the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standard relating the most would be standard one, Teachers Demonstrate Leadership(NCTCS).  This is where teachers collaborate with other teachers, create a professional community, and become life long learners so that they can lead their students in the right direction.  
Classwork
      For class work we have had a lot of things due such as the wisdom from experience project, the today's learner project, and our flipped lesson plan is coming due next week.  I really learned a lot from the wisdom of experience project.  The teachers I interviewed gave me so many resources, ideas, and advice to help me as a future teacher.  I have really been digging deep into my unit and I feel like it is coming together.  I will admit the unit was overwhelming to me when I first looked at it.  When I sat down and just begin to take it piece by piece it wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be.  For the unit, we create a final project for the students to complete.  I began to do more research on projects and on project-based learning.  I really feel like the students will be able to learn and absorb so much more information by taking part in a hands on project.  When I was in school, we were assigned a project, we had to research, know about the material in depth, plan a product, and create a product.  The students will have a product to show how well they understood the concept.    I found an article called "The Six Must-Have Elements of High Quality Project-Based Learning." I have attached the link and encourage you to check out these six elements!
the-six-must-have-elements-of-high-quality-project-based-learning
Clinical
      I was able to receive my clinical placements for this semester, I am at Central Elementary School and my clinical teacher is Ms. Pope who teaches fourth grade.  I was able to work with Ms. Pope last semester, I really enjoyed working with her in the past and look forward to working with her this semester.  I am excited to be able to teach lessons this semester, I hope the students are able to learn the information and enjoy them.  Even though I would like to teach the lower grades when I do become a teacher such as second or first, I am excited to have some experience working with the older grades.  I know by working with fourth graders I will be able to see the similarities and differences from the lower grade classes I have observed in the past.       
Future Classroom 
     In my future classroom I hope to use the flipped classroom aspect to help differentiate for my future students.  This aspect would differentiate by giving the students a different type of lesson to meet the needs of the different learners in the classroom.  Also, the students could watch the lessons at their own pace for the students who are in different levels of their educational journeys.  I will continue to be apart of twitter and will use the information learned such as new methods, helpful tips, games, etc to help me in my future classroom.  I will use the knowledge gained from the coursework and clinical to help me be the best teacher I can be.  I also hope to use many opportunities for my future students to learn through project-based learning.  I know for myself I learn more information when I have a hands on activity to go along with the material.  I feel like many of my future students will benefit tremendously from project-based learning.  I will definitely use differentiation in my future classroom, I hope to do this through groups, group work, instruction, assignments, and etc.  I know for myself I will be a little intimidated as a new teacher compared to teachers who have been teaching for twenty plus years.  After finding this article titled, "The Advantages of Being a New Teacher," I have a different perspective. <https://www.edutopia.org/article/advantages-being-new-teacher > We as future new teachers need to remember that we have a lot to bring to the table as well as the teachers who have been teaching for many years, we can teach each other methods that will help our students.  I just want you all to remember that we have a lot to offer and will be very beneficial for our future students!  Thank you for reading my blog!

Resources:
NCTCS <prof-teach-standards.pdf>
Schwartz, K. (2018, February 22).  The Six Must-Have Elements of High Quality Project-Based Learning.  Retrieved March 1, 2018, from the-six-must-have-elements-of-high-quality-project-based-learning
Johnson, M. M. (2018, February 6).  The Advantages of Being a New Teacher.  Retrieved March 1, 2018, from advantages-being-new-teacher