Free the Teachers

Publisher: Emily Daniels

GAME ON!

According to a 2011 survey, 91% of U.S. children ages 2-17 play video
games. Teaching involves relating with the students. There is no
greater equalizer!

By: Samantha Jones love to be able to make their
own decisions.
Introduction:

Video games aren't just for
boys, a study shows that 45% of
gamers are women, and 58% of
parents play video games with
their kids as a way to socialize
with them ,(2). Utilizing video
games in the classroom is a
simple way to teach students in
a way that they love and in a
way that aids students in
retaining information.

Why? 2. Competency: Video games allow
children to challenge themselves
Why should I bring a video game and compete with others.
simulation into my classroom? Learning to overcome challenges
Isn't video gaming addicting? is an important skill to learn
Yes, it is! Research has shown as a child.
that video gaming is addictive
because it reaches out to a 3. Relationships: What? Isn’t
child's three essential needs. video gaming done individually?
Not always. Some video games
1. Autonomy: Video games allow require team members to complete
children to make their own a level. The need of a companion
choices. Children often don't teaches children the need for
get much say in what happens in human affection.
their day to day life.
Generally, they are told what to These three needs are essential
eat, what to wear, where to go, for a child to develop into a
and when to go do it! Children healthy adult. Utilizing these

three things in the classroom 1.Points: The more time put into
offer a need for children to the game, the more points
attend school instead of the earned. These points come from
homeschool option. completing a certain task.
Points in the video game can be
How? changed to grades.

How can we as teachers bring 2.Badges: Badges help students
gamification into a classroom publicly how off their
and still be able to keep achievements. This is a good
students focused on learning? strategy to keep children
interested in the game.
The gamification is set up to
focus on a specific topic 3.Levels: As a game goes on,
discussed in class. Each game is players progress through levels
set up to help each child that get progressively more
progress through different difficult. In the classroom,
levels of knowledge. That levels could be lessons, or even
doesn't sound fun! The game is units of study.
set up to look like the average
video game. This means there are 4.Appointments: The internet can
character and plots. By keeping allow for students to virtually
this format, children will not meet other students from around
see the learning as a general the world to team up on
game in the classroom but will challenges.
be able to focus on the
challenges. There are 6 aspects
to the gamification that aid its
function.

This helps children build
relationships as well and learn
new things about the world.
Students can even make
appointments with other students

in their class. This builds the rewards such as the badges;
classroom unity. however, they aren't the only
reward offered. Another con
5.Bonuses: These can help keep brought up is that some games
students playing every day. This aren't well made. This can
helps children get hooked on happen with anything that has
earning extra point. The more a ever been created. Gamification
child spends the more they are isn't inherently a bad thing,
learning. Bonuses in the but when not practiced correctly
classroom can be a night of no in the classroom, it can lead to
homework or an extra five unproductive classroom behavior.
minutes of free time. Pros:
Research has shown that when
6.Infinite play: In the integrating learning material
classroom, this can mean into a video game, children have
allowing students to keep an easier time remembering
playing until they finished a information. They have an easier
level. In most video games when time relating the information
someone quits before finishing, learned to the action of the
they lose points. This wouldn't game.
happen in the classroom game,
but children could be afraid of This means that students could
this. Therefore, classroom produce high test scores and be
infinite play should be
considered.

These 6 things are seen in every
video game and by having them in
the classroom, gaming
stimulation students will find
the game more like an actual
video game instead of lame
version of a video game.

It's important to know that
gamification shouldn't be the
only teaching method used in the
classroom. Gamification should
be used for a section of
classroom time daily.

Cons:

With any new idea comes cons.
One con to gamification is
teaching children about external
rewards. Yes, there are some
aspects to gamification in the
classroom that have external

able to recall information for a questions that could be test
longer period of time. Also, questions.
children enjoy going to school
more because they have something This case study illustrated a
that they consider fun to look success of gamification in the
forward to each day. classroom. Lampe used his
teaching strategies to make the
Case Study: gamification more fun for
students through the live
In a case study, Professor costumes. There are more ways
Clifford Lampe at the School of that the game could be brought
Information at the University of to life in the classroom to
Michigan (1) tried out bring students together.
gamification on a high college
class. Lampe successfully Summary:
integrated the gaming with
classroom material. One thing Gamification is a fantastic idea
that Lampe did to further merge to bring students interest into
the two ideas was to have his the classroom and help them
students once a month dress up learn new material. Video gaming
as their character in the itself contains important
stimulation to the class. Then essentials to children
he would have a class game where development. Gamification
students answered verbal shouldn't be used solely in the
classroom and the only way
students learn.

Are you willing to enter the game?

Sources:

1. http://clab.iat.sfu.ca/pubs/Stott-Gamification.pdf
2. https://www.classcraft.com/gamification/
3. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/91-percent-of-kids-play-

video-games-says-study/
4. http://www.nea.org/tools/59782.htm
5. http://www.edudemic.com/ultimate-guide-g

amifying-classroom/

Word count: 1020

By: McKenzie Dick You can use it in centers as you rotate the

There is a big debate on whether or not students around tables with different learning
technology should be used in the classrooms. If subjects at each table. Students are able to inter-
we do decide to use technology how much of it act with the teacher and also interact with com-
should we use? How much time on the technolo- puters. It gives them the time to learn as they are
gy should we use? There are so many different going through each center you have given them.
questions that teachers are asked on a regular ba- This center-based activity blending is called the
sis and some of these questions come back to the station rotation blended learning. Another activi-
philosophy of the teacher. One philosophy that ty based blended learning idea is a flipped class-
room model is when that of when a teacher teach-
has exploded into the twenty first century is
es face to face at a school and then someone at
called blended learning. Blended learning is a
home or off the school premises teaches through
system where teachers combine

face to face instruction with

computer mediated instruction.

“They incorporate the

main features of both the

traditional classroom and

online learning

(Christensen).”

There are many differ-
ent ways that this philosophy
can be used in the classroom
and can improve the students
learning.

One way that some

teachers have blended their classrooms is by ac- instruction on the computer. These ways of
tivity blending.
learning can be very effective and can help your

“Activity blended deals with the use of class during school hours. These are just some of

computers in and face to face instruction the blended strategies used to help in a blended
in the classroom. In terms of the emerging learning classroom. These classrooms blend
blended-learning taxonomy, the Station learning face to face and are different from other
activities like hybrid classrooms because they are
Rotation, Lab Rotation, and Flipped Class- all done within the classroom with the watchful
room models are following the pattern of eye of a teacher helping with the needs of the stu-

sustaining hybrid innovations dent.

(Christensen).” .

Blended learning gives access to new opportuni- instructional classroom.

ties. Blended learning does this because they have “Access to learning is one of the key fac-
the opportunity to work with not only the teach-
ers but they also get to use technology to ad- tors influencing the growth of distributed
vance their learning and give them the most flex- learning environments (Bonk).”

ibility possible. Access to learning in a way that is unique

“Many learners want the convenience of- and can provide as much instruction as a normal
fered by a distributed environment yet do day of teaching can help us grow in ways that
not want to sacrifice the social interaction students will be able see in the future. “Cutting-
or human touch they are used to in a face edge productivity tools provide ‘workspace’ envi-
to face classroom (Bonk).” ronments that package together the computer-
based work, collaboration, and performance sup-

Children want that flexibility of learning port tools (Harvey).” Access to these cutting-
in different ways and as students do this some of edge tools can help us along the way as students
the students learn better when they can interact become more engaged and more independent.
both in front of a computer or devise and also They help us to learn in a new way that is differ-
with the interaction of teachers and other stu- ent than learning by face to face instruction.
Blended learning gives the best of both worlds, it
dents.
gives the opportunity to work and get instruction
Blended learning gives access to new op- on a computer but it also gives face to face inter-
portunities. Blended learning is mostly an online action that is important when we begin to think
school with some face to face contact. Blended of the social and emotional gains it gives in the
learning gives access to new opportunities and to school system.
things that would not be available in a normal

One problem about this implication in the blended learning has grown into computer blend-

classroom is that this philosophy can be disrup- ed classrooms. This makes today’s world the best

tive. Students can have a hard time listening to we can have because we can go and find anything

instruction when they have these new devises anywhere on the computer and the students can

that they are not use to. Children can choose learn through this. There is so much that stu-

what they do and there is a flexibility with blend- dents can learn from this way of thinking. Learn-

ed learning. There are many opportunities for ing in this environment can be very beneficial

students to learn and grow, though it may be dis- and can help students to understand devises bet-

ruptive. Students have an opportunity to develop ter so that when they become part of society, they

in a way that can help them in the future. are able to know how the technology works.

“Students move on an individually custom- They will know computers better and how to do

ized, fluid schedule among learning modali- things that some students may not know how to

ties, and the teacher of record is on-site. The do because they have been taught in a blended

teacher of record or other adults provide face- classroom.

to-face support on a flexible and adaptive as- “The concept of blended learning is root-
needed basis through activities such as small- ed in the idea that learning is not just a
group instruction, group projects, and indi-
vidual tutoring. Some implementations have one-time event—learning is a continuous
substantial face-to-face support, whereas oth- process. Blending provides various benefits
ers have minimal support (Staker).” over using any single learning delivery me-

dium alone (Christensen).”

Learning is a process and blended learning
is an amazing way to become better at the new
techniques and strategies to grow and develop
the classroom.

Reference:

1. Christensen, C. M., Horn, M. B., Staker, H., &
Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive, I.
(2013). Is K-12 Blended Learning Disruptive? An
Introduction to the Theory of Hybrids.

2. Harvey, S. (2003). Building Effective Blended

Learning Programs. Educational Technology,

(6), 51.

Students have the opportunity to learn in a 3. Staker, H., Horn, M. B., & Innosight, I. (2012).
different way to grow and to develop in a more Classifying K-12 Blended Learning.
advanced setting.
4. Bonk, C. J. (2007). The handbook of blended
Blended learning is when students learn learning: Global perspectives, local designs. San
by computer and also from face to face interaction Francisco, Calif: Pfeiffer.
with students and teachers. Although learning
Word Count: 1116
has been around for a long time, in today’s era

J ourney to Special Education 2. What made him want to go into
Interview with Mr. Pulsipher special education? He knew kids
(Faculty at Brigham Young growing up with special needs, and
University- his mother had been a paraeducator.
Idaho) given by Through his mother he had heard a
Christee Allred lot of stories. He hadn’t really
thought about this career though
I had the amazing until someone had told him that
opportunity to people with history degrees have a
interview Brother hard time finding jobs, but that
Pulsipher, one of the schools are always looking for
faculty in the teacher special educators. One of the many
education reasons he liked special ed was
department. Brother because he felt needed. He felt a
Pulsipher received connection to the kids he worked
his master’s in educational administration with and loved it.
and worked as a special education
administrator for a few years. I was able to 3. What was his first job after
learn more about his schooling experience finishing school? After finishing his
and how he got to where he is today. undergrad, Mr. Pulsipher found
himself to be in survival mode. He
1. What was his school experience had three kids and a wife and needed
like? Where did he go to school to support them. He went back to
and what kind of degrees did he work for a Corporate Jet Center,
receive? Mr. Pulsipher received his because he desperately needed the
undergrad in history at Brigham money to support his family.
Young University Idaho. He later
received his masters in educational 4. Where are all of the places that he
administration at Southwest Baptist has worked, what were those
University in Missouri. experiences like? Later, him and his
a. Was this what he originally family moved to Missouri where he
wanted to do growing up? worked as a paraprofessional. The
No, teaching was not what he Sped teacher of the school was
planned on going into. He retiring, and they ended up putting
wanted to go into History him in. He said that when he started
because he really enjoyed as the sped teacher he didn’t even
history, and he thought know what an IEP was. He said that
maybe with his history the special ed director was very
degree, that he could maybe helpful and was able to sit with him
go into law or work for a in IEP meetings and things like that.
benefits company. This was when he started a SPED
master’s degree, but then switched it
over to education administration. He
tried applying for jobs in Missouri
but found out that Idaho was hiring

for teaching. He worked in three the reading strategies for individuals
places in Idaho: Rigby, Madison, and with special needs, the SPED 400
District 91 in Idaho Falls. He says which is the elementary senior
that it was in Idaho Falls that he met practicum. He also teaches the SPED
Sister Hovey because she was 393 class with is strategies for
observing BYU-Idaho students. He students with emotional behavior
taught for 8 years. disorders.
7. Does he plan on doing this until
How did he end up being a professor here you retire? What are other goals
at BYU Idaho? He found out that they he has? Yes, this is the career that
opened a
new Mr. Pulsipher wants
major at to do for the rest of
BYU-I. It his life. He feels
was the very happy and
K- content with what he
is doing right now.
12 major. 8. What is his
He philosophy of
applied education? Mr.
and says Pulsipher’s
it was a philosophy of
miracle education is that all
that he individuals that
was hired come into this world
because his application only ended up are susceptible to improvement. He
showing the three months that he served as a believes that all individuals can grow
paraprofessional. When the first presidency and learn, no matter where they’re at.
received the three candidates, the third one He says he likes a quote from a
they sent back and said they had the wrong famous influencer that says, “All the
person. They ended up getting minds and spirits that God ever sent
into the world are susceptible of
5. Brother Pulsipher’s application and enlargement.” He believes that we
clearing things up, and he got the can always build on individuals
job!! strengths and that we can just love
them. He says that with education we
6. What classes does he teach? Mr. need to do what’s necessary, not
Pulsipher teaches a lot of classes on convenient. Something that he said
campus. He doesn’t teach all of these was that we will always be teaching
classes at the same time, but he forever.
switches back and forth between
semesters. He teaches SPED 310
(Exceptional Students), he has taught
SPED 300 which is the assistive
technology class. SPED 391 which is

“I watched Braelyn raise her hand. She knew the
answer and this time wasn't afraid to say it.
Speech-Language Pathology isn't my job; it is my
privilege.”

-Breed Communicators Member

Speech-language pathologists
help children with speech
problems.
Help your child to thrive in the
classroom.

More Info at BreedCommunicators.com
1(800) 123 1234

By: Christee Allred synthesized voice etc. The aid methods
ranges from single chart with symbols to
Some children and adults in the computer based application. This aid comes
world today have so many great thoughts under Augmentative and alternative
and ideas to say and share, but do not have communication (AAC). It includes all type
the capability to do so. But now, there is a communication means to convey thoughts,
device that may change the way that these feelings, needs etc. for the people with
amazing individuals are able to disorder. Progressive diseases such as
communicate. The TOBII device can use stroke, CP, ALS gradually may affect the
eye recognition, so that even individuals communication ability of the individual.
who do not have the use of their fingers to Such conditions can reduce a person's ability
touch a screen, are still able to share their to communicate with others even for their
wants, needs, and thoughts. basic requirements of daily life”(Pal,
Mangal,& Khosla, 2017).
Another phrase for devices that
provide communication helps is There are lots of other reasons why
augmentative and alternative students in the regular classroom may have a
communication. In the professional journal struggle with communicating, but no matter
titled Development of Assistive Application what the reason may be, we want to be able
for Patients with Communication Disability, to help our students in the best way that we
it talks about the importance of helping our can! In another article titled Using the iPad
students and in this case “patients” with to Facilitate Interaction Between Preschool
communication. Children who use AAC and their Peers, it
discusses how different tools like the TOBII
“Communication is the essential part of can help children to have positive social
human life. It helps to make connection and
interaction with others. People with
communication disability use other way of
interaction like gestures, facial expressions
etc. but sometimes it is difficult to
understand what they want to tell or express.
Augmentative and alternative
communication (AAC) explains other ways
of communication for the people with
communication disability [2].
Communication aid lies under AAC. It helps
disabled people to communicate effectively
with others via symbols, set of pictures,

interactions with their teachers and the other “Tobii Dynavox, part of the Tobii
students in the classroom. It talks about how Group [STO: TOBII], is the leading
important it is for children to have these provider of touch and eye tracking based
positive interactions, so that the can have a assistive technology hardware and software
good experience in the classroom, and be for those with communication and mobility
challenges. We have helped thousands of
able to share their thoughts and ideas. individuals with disabilities such
“Positive social experiences for children can as aphasia, autism, cerebral palsy, ALS,
have a cascading effect impacting muscular dystrophy, Rett
participation in school, increasing self- syndrome and spinal cord injury lead fuller
confidence, and adding to future success in and richer lives. Tobii Dynavox stands at the
academics and social forefront of assistive technology and special
relationships”(Michelle C.S. Therrien, education, delivering the most advanced,
Janice Light). effective and empowering communication
and computer access tools
Lets talk a little more about the available”(tobiidynavox).
actual tobii device that has helped so many
individuals with their communication needs. One individual who was affected positively
The tobii is a communication device that by the Tobii Dynavox was Hayden. Here is
uses eye detecting technology to help his story:
individuals who are non verbal or can’t
speak, to be able to do so. You can also use “Hayden, who just celebrated his seventh
touch to enable the tobii. If a student wants birthday, is a natural when it comes to
to tell the teacher that they need to go to the teamwork. Surrounded by people who want
bathroom for instance, then they can use the best for him, it seems Hayden wants
their tobii, and tap a picture of the bathroom, nothing more than to give back.
and the tobii will talk for them, telling the
teacher that they need to use the bathroom. That can mean many things: A hug and a
This is a breakthrough device in kiss for his mom Toni or caregiver Hailee.
communication technology. The official Sharing his music, toys or a joke with his
tobii dynavox website says, brother Evan, 9. Paying attention to his
therapy cat Sabra, and dogs Honey and
Wrigley.

Or it can mean spreading the word about his
dream project—the future Boundless
Playground for children of all ages and
abilities that he’s helping to establish at a
community park. Under the name Team
Hayden, Hayden and his family advocate for
other families with medically fragile
children.

“The biggest thing is he has a voice,” said technologically, we can continue to invent
Hailee Winsco, the senior University of things that can help individuals in the world
Northern Florida special education major to communicate and live in a way that is
who is Hayden’s full-time caregiver when easiest for them.
school is not in session.
Resources:
Like his family, Hailee understands his
limited natural speech but saw a place for Pal, S., Mangal, N. K., & Khosla, A. (2017).
AAC technology in his life. When Hayden Development of assistive application for
received the I-15 about 18 months ago, she patients with communication disability.
dove right in and created plenty of general Retrieved from https://eds-b-ebscohost-
language content for the device (phrases com.byui.idm.oclc.org/eds/detail/detail?
such as “Let’s hang out” or “How was your vid=5&sid=d8b7b228-9709-40ed-8901-
day?,” for instance) to help him get used to 84f6a6dce6ea@sessionmgr4007&bdata
using it. =JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU=#AN=ed
seee.8094044&db=edseee.
“Everything is extremely relevant to him,”
Hailee said. She often programs the device Therrien, M. C., & Light, J. (2016). Using the
with Hayden on her lap to make sure she iPad to facilitate interaction between
has his input, whether given by a gesture or preschool children who use AAC and
verbalization. their peers. Augmentative and
Alternative Communication, 32(3), 163-
Toni and Scott Chadwell love listening to 174.
their son. “He now has tools to help him doi:10.1080/07434618.2016.1205133
communicate his choices, needs, wants,
likes, dislikes…as wells as call me and Information about us - Tobii Dynavox. (n.d.).
family members by name,” Toni said. The Retrieved from
best part is “watching him make his own https://www.tobiidynavox.com/about/ab
choices and seeing the rewards of those out-us/
decisions.” For kisses, he’ll say “Mom,
come and get me!” Hayden has more control Word Count: 1142
over everything from selecting favorite
music to practicing sight words for school.

Everyone on Hayden’s team shares Hailee’s
optimism about his AAC journey. “I’m
excited to see where he goes with it,” she
said”(TobiiDynavox).

Just like Hayden, individuals who
once weren’t able to verbalize their wants,
needs, and ideas, now are able to. This can
be life changing, enabling them to have an
easier time communicating with the world.
Hopefully as we continue to advance

“Studies show that if you alternate outdoor and indoor learning, and the
teacher is prepared, you get good results” -Anders Szczepnski.

By: Emily Daniels But what happens when their students

Sweden is often considered a leader get older? How are they going to learn basic
when it comes to outdoor learning. Pre- algebra, geometry, social studies?

schoolers As the
there are students get
most likely older, it
to spend does gets
their days harder for
digging for the teachers
earth worms to teach the
and scaling material
boulders, that they
then they need to
are learning learn in an
wall words outdoor set-
and practic- ting unlike
ing hand- the younger
writing. age groups.

Many Therefore, a

parents be- coalition of

lieve in outdoor learning because they believe dedicated researchers, educators and outdoor
the best childhood memories are made out- nonprofit groups in Sweden have joined forc-
es to give teachers the tools they need to bring
side, while jumping in puddles, digging in
dirt, catching bugs and climbing trees. Par- the classroom outside. With these tools,
ents in Sweden encourage their students to go teachers can teach math, science, history and
outside whether it is snowing or raining. The other subjects throughout sixth grade.

weather is no one’s concern when there is so What about students in middle and

much to learn about the environment or to be high schools?
exposed to. Even scientists in Sweden encour-
age all parents and caregivers to get with their Yes; teachers in Sweden have claimed that is
children every day, regardless of the weather. has been much harder to make subjects such
as calculus, humanities, history, and music

more meaningful outside. Though middle and Sweden has implemented the idea of healthy

high school students are not able to get an learning like no other. Exposing their stu-

outdoor education as much as younger ele- dents to nature through education has

mentary students can, schools have compro- brought test scores up and improved the stu-

mised by building nice outdoor areas on dent’s mental and physical health. To contin-

school properties and adding more study or ue this beautiful system of education, the

eating tables outside.

These environmental changes have allowed
and encouraged students to spend as much
time as they can outdoors while still receiving
the education that they need in order to go to
college etc.

Torbjorn Wrange, an outdoor education con-

sultant, explains that the “goal is to get more

teachers involved in using outdoor recreation

as a method to teach traditional academic

subjects, as well as improve the students’

health and strengthen their bond with na-

ture.” This program that Wrange started has

trained over 1,200 Swedish grade school

teachers. Some of the trainings provided in-

clude fishing, exercises in mindfulness, peda- Swedish government has spent over $60 mil-
gogic flow and outdoor cooking, as well as
lion
hands-on advice for how nearby na-
ture areas can be used to enhance “Today we have so much scientific data re-

classes. garding nature’s effect on stress ,diabetes

Katting, another director in and ADHD, and we know that it’s healthy
the Outdoor Environmental Educa- for children to be physically active.

tion Program, believes that there is a There are certain parts of the brain that are

misconception that having or stimulated when we move around and have

providing technology to students fun in a varied environment. We turn on

itself will provide all the educa- our intuition when we go outside — and we
tion that they need. “But need to do it more often.” -Szczepanski
what it really means is that

teachers have a different role now.

The teachers don’t need to pass on as dollars

much information as they used to, but they to better improve school courtyards, to make

need to teach the students how to transform it more suitable for learning. With this

all this information into knowledge. To do change, teachers have the ability to take their

that they need practical experience” claims students and teach them in fresh air.

Katting. Not only is it where they can receive

experience but it is great for their health.

Standing desks have stated to boom in recent class time. HealthLine has provided and

years in the United States. FUN FACT: shared with the public 7 benefits of having or

Obama requested standing desks for all his working on a standing desk.

employees in the White House which cost 1. Standing lowers your risk of
around $700,000. weight gain and obesity.

Students spend around 8 hours a day A. It is scientifically proven that

mostly sitting at desks in school. Even after standing while working can burn

close to 1,000 calories each week

if standing each afternoon.

Though this may not seem like a

huge change, a little can go a long

way if it is consistently done.

2. Using a standing desk may lower

blood sugar levels.

A. Studies have shown that using a

standing desk at work can lower

blood sugar levels especially after

lunch.

3. Standing may lower your risk of

heart disease.

A. Studies have shown that even an

hour of intense exercise may not

make up for the negative effects

of an entire day spent sitting.

B. The idea that standing is better

for your heart healthy was first

school hours are over, many go home to sit or proposed in 1953.

slouch on a couch to play on their phones or 4. Standing desks appear to reduce

electronic devices. These activities have back pain.

brought several health issues that need to be A. Participants have reported up to a

addressed. In Melbourne, a primary school 32% improvement in lower back

swapped out traditional desks for adjustable pain after several weeks of using

height desks that allow the students to sit or a standing desk.

stand based on their preference. Though this 5. Standing desks improve mood
specific teaching trend does not fix the need and energy levels.
for recess and exercise throughout the day, A. 87% of those using standing desk
students in Australia have the opportunity for reported increased vigor and en-
a little movement and energy release during ergy throughout the day.

6. Standing desks may even boost 2. McGurk, Linda. “IN SWEDEN, TEACHING

productivity. OUTSIDE IS IN.” Children & Nature Net-

7. Standing more may help you live work, 18 Nov. 2015,

longer. www.childrenandnature.org/2015/10/23/in-

A. 18 studies have shown that those sweden-teaching-outside-is-in/.

who sit the most are at a 49%

greater risk of dying early than

those who sit the least.

Standing desks have more pros than cons. Standing desks with
improve the quality of life and productivity. So why are stu-
dents in the United States not using standing desks like stu-
dents in

Australia?

3. Maldarelli, Claire. “There's a Better Way to

References: Use a Standing Desk.” Popular Science, Popu-
lar Science, 27 Feb. 2018, www.popsci.com/

1. “7 Benefits of a Standing standing-desk-bad-for-you#page-2.

Desk.” Healthline, Healthline Media,

www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-

a-standing-desk#section8.

Word count: 1135

Mr. Grothem has
been an elemen-
tary school
teacher for 10
years at Corona
Ranch Elemen-
tary in Corona,
California. Today
we are meeting
with Mr.
Grothem to dis-
cuss how he won
his elementary
school a new
computer lab
with Mac com-
puters and iPads for every class.

1. What made you want to enter in the competition in the first place?

A: " I saw the advertisement at the district office and thought it was a good opportunity for me
to show off my classes talents".

2. What did you do for the competition?

A: " Every teacher had to use technology in a video to explain why their class needed the tech-
nology. I thought wow I'm a drummer and then it hit me. I made a video with my class to the
beat of ' I Can Ride My Bike With No Handlebars'.

3. You did this about 10 years ago. Looking back now at how the school has been helped,
what are you most thankful for?

A: "I am really thankful that our school had this opportunity to use technology so early. It
wasn’t even popular in schools when we won this and now it's huge!"

4. Why do you think it is important to use technology in the classroom?

A: "The world is changing and almost everything now is about technology! I think if students
don't learn how to use it they are in a way behind from other students around the world.
Technology is how everything gets done. Might as well use it for learning."

5. What is the use of technology in the daily classroom?

A: "It is great for getting kids excited about doing their work because its more fun than doo-
dling. It is also nice for them to learn in a different way."

By: Samantha Jones

TEACHER
ED
SOCIETY
MEETING

WHEN

Thursday, June 21, 2018
7:00 PM

WHERE

Taylor Building #120
Brigham Young University-Idaho

525 S Center St. Rexburg, Idaho 83460

TREATS• Questions• Education Majors•
Summer breaks • Best school for you• How to make a
perfect resume • Career Networking Center tips •

RSVP:
(208) 123-4567
[email protected]

Smart Boards in Today’s Society learn and grow beside each other and are
able to interact with the touch screen smart
By. McKenzie Dick
board. “It lets students create a more
“Technology has become a part of dynamic
social development; new learning learning experience on their own as when
technologies should be formed by updating they are taught with a smart board
the old learning (A Review).” What is a incorporated into the lesson students become
smart board? How do they work? Should I more excited about learning (A Review).”
use one in my classroom? These might be Students can have an enjoyable experience
some of the questions you are asking in the classroom with the smart board.
yourself. The smart board is a mix between Teachers can help children have a good
a projector, computer, and a white board. It experience with the interactive Smart board
is a tool that can be used in the classroom to by knowing how to use the smart board. One
help update new learning. It can be used in of the negatives of using a smart board is
many different ways including audio visual that teachers many times do not know how
and tactile learning. Teachers can use it like to use the smart board correctly. Teachers
any other white board and draw on the smart must take the time to learn how to use the
board using different tools like the markers tool so that classrooms can succeed.
or their fingers. They can also use it as a The smart board can help you to provide
projector that has interactive features that creative and attractive material that goes
help make it a tactile learning experience beyond just learning in the classroom. As
with their students. A smart board can be a the students learn, they want to participate
very interactive teaching tool that teachers
can use to grow their curriculum and help
their students learn in a more interactive
way. There are positives and negatives to a
smart board and it can be a good way for
teachers to grow in their technology. There
are three main positive aspects of smart
boards that are important when considering
buying a smart board.

First is that the smart board is
interactive and has touch screen features.
One reason smart boards are so interactive is
because they have many visuals. Teachers
have the freedom to use it in an interactive
way by using it as a white board. The white
board can be used to write on and explain
instruction on. You can use the white board
to project videos and other interactive things
on the white board. The board is a touch
screen which allows the students and the
teachers to make changes throughout the
lesson. Students have the opportunity to

and they want to learn in the classroom. boards. Find the material that works for you
Student are going to get bored so one way and grow that material into a creative
we can make sure that they are always interactive morsel that can be used at a click
following along with what the teacher is of a button. One benefit to this is that you
doing is by having attractive and creative can use what materials you want and find it
material that goes along with the lesson. throughout the internet.
You can make your smart board creative just This device is a technological device that
by getting on your computer. The more needs to have the proper equipment so that it
creative you are with your lesson, the more will function correctly. Teachers know that
interactive and happy your students will be there can be some hiccups in the road. Be
in your classroom. A study was done on aware that as teachers go about teaching
biology students analyzing if students like there can be delays in the classroom when
the use of a smart board in the classroom. the device is not working properly. Teachers
“The results of the present study carried out should make sure they have back up lessons
to determine high school students’ attitudes in case they need to move on without the
towards smart
board use in smart board. The
biology lessons better they know how
revealed that the to use this device, the
students generally more proactive they
had positive will be in the
attitudes (Yapici).” classroom and the
The study showed more the students will
that students were grow with them.
able to grow in the
learning process The smart
like helping them board device devise
understand the has both Pros and
subject matter Cons but can be very
more easily beneficial to all
because they were students and to all
able to interact with a creative and attractive classrooms if they
smart board. Student have the innate ability know how to use the
to learn and having that interactive and device correctly. The smart board is an
creative device on hand can really help with interactive creative tool meant to help
the learning process. teachers faculty and others in the classroom.
There are so many things that you can put The more society is willing to work with the
on a smart board. It can be used for science, smart board the more helpful it will be to
math, or English. The materials used on the teachers and the students. This tool is a
smart board can vary from class to class. helpful device, although it does not take the
This is up to your imagination and who your place of a teacher. “If the smart board is to
class will be. Many different materials can be used effectively in teaching and learning,
be used and the imagination to this is it should be used with all its potential. The
endless. Work to make your class great and teacher should be able to adapt this tool to
use the smart board advancements to help his or her own teaching approach and to
your classroom thrive. No more chalk learn how to use the opportunities provided
by the smart board for learning.” (Yapici)
Create an effective teaching area for your

students and this device devise can help
accomplish those everyday needs.

Resources
Yapici, I. Ümit and Ferit Karakoyun. "High
School Students' Attitudes Towards Smart
Board Use in Biology Classes." Educational
Research and Reviews, vol. 11, no. 7, 10
Apr. 2016, pp. 459-465. EBSCOhost,
byui.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-
ebscohost-
com.byui.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=tru
e&db=eric&AN=EJ1099956&site=eds-live.

A Review of the Use of Smart Boards in
Education." 2016 IEEE 8Th International
Conference on Engineering Education
(ICEED), Engineering Education (ICEED),
2016 IEEE 8Th International Conference
on, 2016, p. 120. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1109/ICEED.2016.7856056.

Mechling, Linda C., et al. "Impact of
SMART Board Technology: An
Investigation of Sight Word Reading and
Observational Learning." Journal of Autism
& Developmental Disorders, vol. 37, no. 10,
15 Oct. 2007, pp. 1869-1882. EBSCOhost,
doi:10.1007/s10803-007-0361-9.

Word Count: 1140

What is a growth mindset? ly began to start improving in their school

Carol Dweck, psychologist from Stanford work..

University, describes growth mindset as the Benefits of a Growth Mindset:

believe that talents can be developed over- 1. Healthier attitude. A healthier attitude is
time. formed from a growth mindset, but making a

What is a fixed mindset? student not see a wrong answer as a failure,

A fixed mindset is the believe that talents are but as a need for practice. There is no shame
in practicing.
innate.

The question is which mindset leads to 2. Better at receiving feedback. Students are
more successful students? able to form this attribute when they can vis-
ualize feedback as instructions instead of cor-
In recent studies results show that students rections.
can grow more
from facing 3. Better problem-solving skills. Over time
challenges. students who are taught to have growth
These tests mindsets can look a problem in the real world
have shown through multiple perspectives. This view
that students point allows a student to think outside the
who believe box.

that their intel- These three simple aspects help students look

lectuals could at problems in an unfamiliar perspective.

grow per- They can work with others to view all op-

formed better in the classroom. Research in tions available. In addition, they aren't afraid

psychology and neuroscience prove that the of misunderstanding something. By looking

brain is cable of change and can reorganize at their failures as minor setbacks students

itself when people put effort into developing are less likely to be held up on one problem.

new talents. "Dweck’s studies show that The problems with a fixed mindset:

around 40% of US students display a growth A fixed mindset creates many foundational
problems in the development of a students
mindset and 40% a fixed mindset, while the learning ability. With a fixed mindset stu-
remaining 20% show mixed profiles." (2) dents
When students were introduced to a growth

mindset from a fixed mindset they immediate-

tend to only focus on only the formulas to When a student begins to feel poor about

good scores. The problem with this is it opens their intelligence they can't succeed.

the possibility for a student to not understand How is a growth mindset created?
the steps in a formula or the need for
1. Students are
each step. Eventually, when students
praised for their
can't fully understand something
efforts and
overtime each new process becomes
strategies (2)
more difficult until the student can no

longer understand the concepts and A common

fails. Another problem with a fixed problem teach-

mindset is that students can't handle ers have is

challenges. A student who has a fixed praising stu-

mindset gets angry and/or frustrated dents for get-

when they face a problem they can't ting the right

get right. These emotions lead to answer. Yes, it

them ultimately giving up. People is a great

with a fixed mindset don't recover thing for stu-

well from setbacks. They take every failure dents to have the right answer, but it is more

personally. By taking an error personally, the important to focus on how a student got their

student lowers their self esteem academically. answer. It's a good idea to have the student

explain their through process behind their

work.

2. Use a multitude of teaching techniques

Don’t just lecture or make games! Switch
things up in the classroom. This allows stu-
dents to stay on their toes. It can help create
new challenges for students to face.

3. Teach the Importance of Challenges

It is innate in a person to not like to fail and
for this reason a teacher needs to explain the
importance of challenges. This concept can
help students focus on the importance of
learning rather than assessments. Students
who only focus on a test score don't learn to
gain knowledge instead they learn to memo-
rize. Memorization only lasts a short time af-
ter a test, then it's gone forever. By teaching

to overcome failure and keep practicing, a stu- tems. A control group was created that went

dent is more likely to succeed long term. through eight sessions of typical fixed mind-

4. Encourage the expansion of answers set study skills. The other group received

eight sessions of mindset study skill sessions.
Any student can take a formula and plug in At the end of the eight sessions the growth
numbers or words, but not all students can mindset group of students scores stopped de-
understand the why behind a formula. En- clining. This showed that growth mindset in-
couraging students to expand their answers tervention helps the brain form new, better
into sentences of why a student will be able connections. (3) This case study is just one
to comprehend core concepts. What does this example of growth mindset working.
do?
Recap:
5. Make time for goal setting
Growth mindset learning is a type of learn-
Creating goals is a key step in evaluating one- ing that focuses on the growth of intelligence
self. Make time for this in class. This will al- overtime. This growth comes from practicing
low students to access their own intelligence. and putting in constant effort. Students who
It can create motivation for learning and can use growth mindset have a high self esteem
help students have more fire behind their
which benefits them greatly. A growth mind-

set can not only benefit students while in

school but can continue to help people as they

face real world problems. A teacher can estab-

lish a growth mindset classroom by following

a few simple concepts into their daily activity

in the classroom. It is crucial that students

don't get praised for correct answers and

speed. Growth mindset teaching focuses on

effort and strategizing. Growth mindset is

currently being established in classrooms

around the world.

Will you implement growth

work. mindset learning in your class-
Case Study: room?

In a real classroom, African American and La- Sources:
1. https://www.stem.org.uk/system/files/community-
tino students were introduced into a new 7th resources/2016/06/DweckEducationWeek.pdf

grade classroom. Most students started off 2. https://garyhorvath.com/wp-content/
uploads/2016/11/USOC-MINDSETS-by-Carol-Dweck-
struggling from the change in education sys-

Word Count: 1000 Written by Samantha Jones

ONE-TO-ONE Organization is still an issue for
By: Emily Daniels students in all grades. Crumpled paper,
broken pencils, or “lost assignments” has
Students in the significantly decreased in the Bellevue
School District. Having all the students’
Bellevue School
District in classwork and homework on the OneNote
Bellevue WA app has decreased unnecessary organization
are participating time significantly. This switch to having all
in the One-to- education on OneNote has decreased the
One program number of paper used within the school as
where each well. It has brought so many pros to this
individual school district.
student is
provided a What is the specific computer that
laptop to benefit these students are using? The students have
their learning. been given a Lenovo Yoga computer. This
The School Districts’ expectation is that specific computer can turn into a tablet by
their students will have their laptop to use in flipping the screen around to the bottom of
all for students to use in all their classes and the laptop. On the right-hand side of this
for continued use at home. This program has laptop, there is a pen that can slide in and
allowed students that previously did not out for the student’s use. Students are able to
have access to technology to now have handwrite their work or type their work onto
access all the time. Students are now more OneNote.
advanced in their use of different Microsoft (Picture from the BSD Website)
software more than ever.

Currently, the Bellevue School
district focuses their school work,
homework and Collaboratory work on
Microsoft OneNote. In Microsoft OneNote,
each student is able to have a tab or section
specific to the classes they are taking which

the teachers control and monitor. In short, it
is a Class Notebook app that allows teachers
to deliver the curriculum, review and grade
students. It also allows them to post
assignments and manage collaboration.

What is OneNote like? As mentioned around binders, notebooks and textbooks.
above, Microsoft OneNote in short is an We still use textbooks though. My teachers
online notebook. Each student can use tabs just scan the pages necessary for the day (in
for each course they are taking that school the textbook) so we can read it. Its just not
year. Within these tabs, the students are able in the actual textbook” (Tim Bi).
to add pages for the specific assignments
that they do. For school use, the teacher “I would lose all my assignments.
controls and monitors these tabs to ensure My backpack was so messy I wouldn’t try to
that these students are using its application even find the worksheets that were given in
correctly. In the Bellevue School District, class. I hated it when some of my teachers
students are able to do math worksheets, would force me to clean my backpack. But
essay
prompts, with
outlines of OneNote, its
essays, etc. easy. Its not
through hard for me to
OneNote. organize
The student OneNote. All
simply copy my homework
and paste assignments
the have been
assignments turned in
assigned in since we
the content switched.
onto their Especially in
own math.”
notebook (which only the student and (Thomas
teacher has access to) to complete their Badart).
work. As a teacher, though this may be
tedious, they correct every student’s “I like how easy group projects can
assignment by going into each student’s be. We rarely have to meet up as a group
notebook and looking for the assignment. anymore. We just create a collaborative
(Microsoft). page that all students have access to. So we
never have to worry about finding a specific
How has OneNote impacted the time or place to meet. We just do our work
student’s life? A few students in the when we can from where we can. I love it”
Bellevue School District were asked about (Michelle Daniels).
what they thought of OneNote. These were
their responses. All the students that were being
interviewed gave positive feedback about
“I like OneNote because now, I don’t this transition. In many students’ eyes, it
ever have to carry anything but my laptop in was an easier way of schooling. But are
my laptop case to school. I hated carrying there some cons to having education be on a
laptop all day?

“I love having my own laptop for each student has the ability to use the
school because my older siblings are always internet and enlighten themselves to
using the laptops or computers at home. I everything that they can through it. But there
never got the chance or time to use it when I are always one or two students distracted by
was home. But my eye do get tired from their laptops during class. My classroom
staring at a computer for a long time management has changed.” (Ms. Krystal
sometimes” (Kylie Malyon). Stevens).

Some cons of using a laptop in Overall, the Bellevue School District
schools all day are tiredness in eyes, has seen the pros and cons behind
possible arise in health issues, or even technology and will continue to use it in
misuse of the internet. Though the students their schooling. It has brought much more
are limited on their internet use, students opportunity to both the student and teachers
have been finding ways to work around the like it has never before.
system. The school technology teams are
always working to ensure safety for their Reference:
students through internet use.
“Technology.” Bellevue School District, 4
Teachers have voiced their opinions Apr. 2018, bsd405.org/departments/district-
on One-to-One as well. technology/.

“I personally like it because it did “Video: What Is OneNote?” Project,
decrease the time I have to spend on busy Microsoft, support.office.com/en-
work. I don’t ever have to go down to the us/article/Video-What-is-OneNote-
office or the teacher’s lounge to print 150 be6cc6cc-3ca7-4f46-8876-5000f013c563.
copies everyday. One-to-One has always
saved time in my teaching. At the beginning “OneNote.” Bellevue School District, 22
of the year, I would spend the first week Sept. 2017,
preparing for the rest of the school year. I no bsd405.org/departments/district-
longer have to spend an entire class period technology/onenote/.
of two signing out textbooks or even
explaining too much about how things go in Word Count: 1128
my classroom because the students now
already have a good idea of how each class
goes with OneNote. Because this OneNote
application has gone so well, we will
continue to use it until an issue does arrive.
But for now, it seems like we’ll use it for a
while.” (Mrs. Julie Reeder).

“There are some pros and cons to it.
As a teacher, I don’t have to carry a lot
anymore. I can get all the prep I need for all
my classes at home through my computer. I
rarely go and make copies now. I like how

I Can Teach My Class with

Technology!

Do you want to
teach your class
with technology?

Apple is currently

looking for schools to
donate iPads to!
Don’t miss your chance to win your ENTIRE school free
iPads!
How to enter:
1. Make a video of your classroom using technology to
earn! The video can be no longer than 5 minutes .
Have fun with your video! Make it a song, a dance, or
just get creative with it!
2. Upload your video to YouTube using #iPadsforkids

Apple will be picking one lucky school for every month !

By: Emily Daniels students seemed to be getting more sleep
than they used to, if students were more
In 2015, the Bellevue School District decided
to tune into the concerns and needs of both awake than they used to be during first
the students and parents concerning school period, and whether they agreed with the
times. Both student and parents believed that
students were not getting the sleep that they concept of late start in addition to how their
needed and was hoping the school would teaching has changed or how their life as a
accommodate to accommodate their hours to
help their students get the sleep that they teacher has changed.
needed to get in order to succeed in school.
There were both positive and
At the end of each year starting in
2015, the School Board began asking negative responses from these surveys. Out
students, teachers, and parents their opinion of the entire staff body, there were a few that
on school times in the form of a long survey.
These surveys included questions on stood out.
whether they competed in sports or
participated in after school activities and Ms. Janet Ely, a middle school social
whether pushing back school time would studies teacher at the International School
interfere with that as well. After all the explained that this late start is something
research and survey had been finished, the that she does not completely agree with. She
Bellevue School does not see a change in the student’s
District compiled behavior with sleep or concentration in the
a graph that classroom with this late start. She also had
shows the overall mentioned that the students just go to bed
viewpoint of this later because they have the understanding or
transition.
mentality that school
The starts later. This late
entire staff body start has affected her
was emailed a teaching career by
survey where adding an additional 20
they were asked minutes to her
if they as teachers were able to see a commute both before
difference in the student’s behaviors or and after school which
activities in class from school starting late. If may also be the reason
why she disagrees with
late start.

Mrs. Julie Reeder has been a teacher
at the International School for over 15 years.
She has been teaching 6th grade math all the

way to precalculus in high school. During

her interview, she claimed that students tend
to stay up later like Ms. Ely claimed. When
she checks her emails in the morning, she
often sees emails from students sent between
midnight and 2 am. Late start may seem to
be a good idea, but the students are just
getting to bed later. In her classroom, she
does find that students seem to me a little
more awake than they used to be before the
time change. But as a teacher, she claims
that it has been harder for her to keep her
students motivated because they are burnt
out or tired. As a teacher, she does not agree
with the late start as well. Not only do the
students not get the sleep that they need, she
has less time to prepare for her lessons every
day because of her commute to and from
school from traffic. Both students and staff
end up losing so much time in traffic that it
does not justify the change. In addition, she
mentioned that this late start has had a
negative impact on students doing sports,
jobs, or any other after-school activities.

Lastly, Mrs. Charise Hallberg is a
humanities and literature teacher at the
International School who agreed with the
answers said in both Ms. Ely’s and Mrs.
Reeder’s interview. The most significant
change that she has seen in the students and
in her life is the difference in commute.

Overall, after this interview, it seems
as though the late start is not impacting
student’s sleep times, or their school work
and it has negatively impacted other parts of
their life. Though the Bellevue School
District will continue the late start for this
upcoming school year, this may be
something that will soon change.

Why teachers should teach multiple languages in their classrooms

By: Cydney Robson speak a different language than English. When
they go into elementary
“Language truly records the cultural trajectory school, they are required to not only speak Eng-
and customs of ethnic groups. It is not only a lish, but also read and write it as well. In recent
kind of cultural status and method of thinking, years, more and more states have been introduc-
but also a thread that connects with history, up-
holds the present, and moves toward the fu-

ture” (Zelin 2). Centuries ago, Italian and Greek

were languages spoke across the world. In our

world today, is English the new language spoken

everywhere? As people go around to other coun-

tries, it seems like almost every country is fluent

in English. More than half of Europeans stated

that they can speak at least two languages. A big

factor of how this is possible is because many

countries around the world, students are required

to learn a new language throughout the years.

In 1998, California passed Proposition 227 which

remodeled the requirements for students who

were Limited English Proficient (LEP). In other ing bilingual education into their classrooms as

words, it eliminated bilingual classrooms in the students learn two languages at an early age. Re-

state of California. However, in 2016, California searchers have been looking into this trend
residents passed Proposition 58 by a landslide as and have found many positive results which

it repealed Proposition 227, allowing bilingual leads to the question: should every state add dual
education back into their schools (BallotPedia 1). language into their schools? These are the top
This example shows Americans that it is possible reasons why schools should very much consider
to bring dual language into every school and pos- the fact of bilingual education.
sibly every classroom.

In the United States, more than 5 million children

1). Better Test Scores er in a quicker and smooth transition. Lastly, the brain

Multiple studies have shown that students in a bilin- will also develop creativity and analytical thinking.

gual classroom have better test scores than students in With this many advantages with cognitive develop-

a monolingual classroom. In the United States, states ment, the United States should start considering bilin-

are required to give standardized test. For the fourth- gual classrooms to help children develop their cogni-

grade reading test, only 47% of monolingual students tive thinking.

3). Culture and Diversity

Once schools bring in bilingual classrooms, it will

close the academic and culture gap between monolin-

gual and ELL (English Language Learner) students.

Once these students are put together in a classroom,

there will no longer be segregated in different class-

rooms and can all receive the exact same learning and

be in the same learning environment together. Every

student will feel involved in the activities. Bilingual

classrooms also value student’s cultural and linguistic

backgrounds. These opportunities for students to share

and embrace their culture and first language will

and 25% of dual-language students got proficient. 80% “nurture a strong sense of self-identity” (Alanis and

of bilingual classroom students, however, achieved Rodriguez 13). Every student should feel special and

proficiency. unique while they are in school and bilingual class-

The following year, the bilingual classroom students rooms can achieve this goal and opportunity.

outperformed dual-language and monolingual stu-

dents. This time, their test scores averaged 20% high-

er than their school peers (DeJesus 12). This is the

biggest reason why we should have bilingual class-

rooms. Multiple sources and years show that students

in those classrooms are able to receive higher scores

than students in any other classroom.

2). Cognitive Growth

Once a student learns another language, the cognitive

development in our brain grows rapidly. The cogni-

tive stretch is “a perpetual intellectual environment,

which forces students to think inferentially” (DeJesus

18). There are multiple benefits of cognitive growth.

Students are able think and react faster to events. This

also allows students to switch from one task to anoth-

How to Make it Work

It is very possible for every state to cre-

ate bilingual classrooms in their schools,

but it does take a lot of work and action.

“There must be a commitment, adminis-

tratively, organizationally, pedagogical-

ly, and politically, to support and main-

tain the students’ heritage language for

dual language programs to

work” (DeJesus 17). To really see if du-

al language classrooms actually work, it

has to be in the schools for at least five

years to compare student’s attitudes and

test scores. Assignments and teaching

cannot be made easier as these students

still need to learn Common Core Stand-

ards. Bilingualism just adds more oppor-

tunities in the classroom. Lastly, parents have to in-
volved and support the program as they help the stu- References

dents with obtaining the two languages. If all of this 1). DEJESÚS, S. C. (2008). AN ASTOUNDING

can be accomplished, then it can create a great pro- TREASURE: DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN

gram for every person. A PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING. Centro Journal, 20

Conclusion (2), 192-217.

Bilingual classrooms need to be used, because it 2). Alanis, I., & Rodriguez, M. A. (2008). Sustaining

works. People are able to see it works, because it a Dual Language Immersion Program: Features of

works it multiple ways. It helps with academics as Success. Journal Of Latinos & Education, 7(4), 305-

multiple studies show students are more likely to do 319. doi:10.1080/15348430802143378
better on tests if they are in bilingual classrooms. Not

only are there better tests scores, but there is also the 3). Zelin, L. (2017). The Choice of a Progressive Bi-

cognitive growth in the brain that can help students so lingual Education Model. Chinese Education & Socie-

much as they grow up. Lastly, every student can learn ty, 50(1), 25-32. doi:10.1080/10611932.2016.1262184

so much cultural of other languages if given the op- 4). Christoffels, I., Haan, A., Steenbergen, L., Wilden-

portunity. Not only will it give fascinating learning for berg, W., & Colzato, L. (2015). Two is better than

students, but English language learners will feel wel- one: bilingual education promotes the flexible mind.

comed in a class that appreciates their native lan- Psychological Research, 79(3), 371-379. doi:10.1007/

guage. Bilingual classrooms can benefit all children. s00426-014-0575-3

So, what is stopping us? Word count: 1017

Empowering people around the world to create an

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By: Christee Allred face this challenge, we find ourselves

In many school systems and classrooms making common classroom behavior
today, different management techniques management mistakes”( Barbetta, Patri-
and ideas are being tried in order to cia, Norona, Kathleen Leong, Bicard, Da-
keep our children focused and on task vid). One of the most popular manage-

during the work day. Things like point

systems, time out table, and cubes. For “Alright class, it is time to put away
most teachers, figuring out what strate- our books and move on to math time! I
gies are best for their classrooms can be need everyone to get the math supplies
quite a hassle. In an article written for their group, and then sit quietly,
ready to learn.”
about
class- As the children began to put away
room be- their books that they were reading and
havior gathered the supplies for math, one
manage- student began playing with the math
ment, it tools.
says,

“One of “Jimmy, please stop and wait for me to

our pri- begin math. We need to make sure eve-

mary re- ryone is ready before we start.”

sponsibilities as teachers is to help our Even though the teacher gave a clear
students learn. It is difficult for learning warning to Jimmy, he continued to
to take place in chaotic environments. play with the math tools, and ignored
Subsequently, we are challenged daily to the teacher.
create and maintain a positive, produc-
tive classroom atmosphere conducive to “Alright Jimmy, you need to go turn
learning. On any given day, this can be your card. You are not listening and
quite a challenge. In our attempts to not following directions.”

Jimmy slumps out of his chair and
goes to turn his card.

This is a little example of what the card In this paragraph they talk about how

management process looks like. In lots of the card system is helpful to classrooms,

classrooms around America, there are and how it gives children the opportunity

usually four different colored cards: to have responsibility. A lot of teachers

green, yellow, red, blue. Once a child like this approach because it does usual-

gets to blue, further disciplinary actions ly get children to behave and watch the

may be put in place. There are a lot of things that they are doing more. It also

different opinions and thoughts on the talks about how students who haven’t

turning your card procedure. Some

people believe that it is an effective way

to motivate children to behave and do

the things they need to do in class.

Other’s believe that it’s not effective,

and that it’s motivating children to be-

have and do the things they need to do

in the wrong way. Lets dive a little fur-

ther into these two hypothesis.

This is a practice that a lot of
teachers in the school sys-
tems have developed. It’s un-
derstandable, when most teach-
ers have a class of about thirty stu-
dents that they need to teach and keep
focused. This can be quite the task,
and some teachers may feel desperate.

On the Thought Company website, they

talk about some of the benefits of the

turning your card system. had to turn their card all week. The fol-

“A popular behavior manage- lowing describes the reward these chil-

ment plan most elementary dren get.

teachers use is called the “Turn-A “Reward the students that stay on green
-Card” system. This strategy is used to all week. Have “Free-Time Friday” and
help monitor each child’s behavior and allow students to choose fun activities
encourage students to do their best. In and games. For the students that flipped
addition to helping students display good over an orange or red card during the
behavior, this system allows students to week, they will not be able to partici-
take responsibility for their actions” (J. pate.”
Cox).

“If you see that a particular student called Hey teachers, please stop using

is getting a lot of warning cards behavior charts. Here’s why. This is what
then it may be time to re-think the one parent of a student had to share
about him and his daughter’s experience.
consequences.” (J. Cox).

Maybe this child needs another “Fellow parent David Martin’s
type of consequence in order to daughter was in kindergarten when
motivate them to behave. Overall, she was first exposed to a color

teachers use this tactic because it is an chart (or a turn your card system).

easy and simple way to encourage chil- For the first few days she stayed on

dren to have good behavior, especially the “good colors,” but still found
when you are dealing with a large class- herself preoccupied with the stu-
room full of students. dents who were not. “She saw how

reputations of children were being

shaped as a result of what colors

they typically landed on,” Martin

recalled to me. “She felt empathy

for them but helpless to do any-

thing for them.”

“Each day, Martin said, his daugh-
ter’s anxiety grew. Within the
month, she was “begging us to tape
her mouth shut to prevent a possi-
ble slip up that could result in her
clip being moved down.” And then
it happened: The teacher moved
the girl’s color from green down to
yellow.

On the other side of this debate, one “Martin’s daughter came home and
opinion of parents is that when teachers told her parents she wanted to kill
use these typical behavior manage- herself. She was five”(Russel).
ment tools such as turning your card or
blocks, that it begins to label the chil- While this is an extreme case
dren who have turned their card and and isn’t usually the case, a
maybe have to do it more often then oth- lot of children become discour-
ers. PBS News Hour published an article
aged when their card gets turned
or their color has to change.

Sometimes this does change behavior. but hopefully they’re able to do what is

But is it dangerous mentally? That’s for best for the children in their classrooms.

educators teaching the children of our Resources:
country to decide. As clearly seen, there
1.Cox, J. (n.d.). Don't Miss This Effective
are a lot of different opinions among
many educators. Sometimes what needs Behavior Management Strategy. Re-
to be done is decided based on the needs trieved from https://
of the students in the individual and spe- www.thoughtco.com/turn-a-card-
behavior-management-plan-2081562
cific classrooms.

Many schools use behavior 2.Russell, W. T. (2016, September 13).
charts and think that it is an Column: Hey teachers, please stop using
effective thing. Many people are behavior charts. Here's why. Retrieved
aware that all children have different from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/
temperaments, but it’s important that education/column-hey-teachers-please-

stop-using-behavior-

charts-heres

3. Mistake #1: Defining
Misbehavior By How It
Looks. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://
web.cortland.edu/
andersmd/
psy501/12.htm

schools and classrooms figure out what’s Word Count: 1201
best for the good of the classroom. It will
be interesting to see what teachers all
over the country and the world will de-
cide to do concerning behavior charts,

Speech Pathologist: David provide quality of life for the people
Allen you work with. The cons are that
there is a lot of paper work and you
By: McKenzie Dick have to document everything.
Question: How does a typical day in
Speech pathology is an interesting the shoes of a speech pathologist
career dealing with speech and
language. Some go?
examples of Answer: It depends on where you
what a person in are working but when working in at
this profession a private practice/ office you make
does is, in your own schedule. You have a lot of
speech is; paper work. You have a lot of time to
articulation, work with children. When in the
fluency, and school, you are in a natural
sound environment and get to collaborate
articulation and better and are able to use the skills
language; social you teach your children in context.
skills grammar, syntax, ability to In the hospital, you are more
understand and convey meaning isolated, you have less of a natural
and, functional understanding and setting which means that the
expressing language. Dr. David superficial setting can create
Allen shares his experiences as a problems with teaching in context.
Speech Pathologist. One positive of a hospital is that you
get to work longer with one person.
Question: What kind of degree did
you receive?
Answer: I got my bachelor’s degree
at Idaho State University in speech
and hearing then I got my masters
in speech pathology and my PH. D
in adult education.

Question: What are the pros and
cons to being a speech pathologist?
Answer: The pros are that you get to
work with children and you can

Question: What interests you as a Idaho state university has a great
speech pathologist? program for speech pathologists.
Answer: Working with people. Dr. David Allen has given good

Question: insight to
What speech
challenges pathology
would a new and can
speech help you to
pathologist make a
face? decision on
Answer: whether this
Learning the is the right
ropes of thing for
working in a you.
new setting.

Question: Why did you become a
speech pathology?
Answer: To help children.

Question: What do you think are
important qualities for someone to
excel as a speech pathologist
pathology?
Answer: Science back ground and
willing to critically think.

Question: What do you need to do if
you are becoming a speech
pathologist?
Answer: You need your thirty credits
of pre-requisites and on top of your
bachelor’s degree if you decide not
to get a bachelors in speech
pathology. Idaho State University

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Technology in the Classroom: Digital Textbooks
The debate between paper and technology

By Cydney Robson are most comfortable, and it’s our
responsibility, as well, to help students
Should teachers bring technology in their understand the emerging technologies that
classrooms? As each year comes, the debate they are going to be faced with” (Madris and
seems bigger and bigger. Some teachers Everhart 1).
have open arms to technology, but some are
strict on a technology free classroom. With 2). Helping Visually Impaired Students
iPads, E-books, Kindles, and Tablets
becoming more and more common in the Even though some teachers are hesitant with
home, it is no surprised that classrooms are using technology in their classroom, there is
starting to get rid of paper textbooks and a very likely chance that there will be a
bringing in digital textbooks. Since students continuation of technology in classrooms. A
already use technology so much throughout big question though is what about visually
the day with social media and impaired students? How can digital
communication, it is very likely everyone textbooks help those students? Digital
will be using lots of technology in textbooks offer a text to speech software
academics in the very soon future. People solution called ReadHear. ReadHear is a
automatically assume students will adapt “supported electronic text player…that was
very well to digital textbooks, but what does designed to read digital text” (Bouck, Weng,
research show on how students actually feel and Satsangi 4). A study done by Emily C.
about the new method of textbooks? Bouck, Pei-Lin Weng, and Rajiv Satsangi
did research on four students, ranging from
1). Example in Florida the age of 16-22, who were all in the same
algebra class at a school for blind students.
In 2011, Florida passed a legislation that After using ReadHear, out of the four
gave the funding for all schools in the state students, only one wanted to use ReadHear
to receive digital e-books as textbooks. than traditional textbooks (Bouck, Weng,
Researchers did a study on multiple school and Satsangi 6). So how is it that students in
districts in Florida to see if staff and students Florida loved digital textbooks, but the
could see benefits from e-books. At students in this study were not in favor of
Clearwater High School, teachers are very digital textbooks? Students have grown up
much in favor of digital textbooks as it with print textbooks, so it is a hard transition
offers read aloud features for lower level to change to digital textbooks.
reading students. In the Palm Beach County,
80% of students said they prefer reading 3). College Student’s Opinion of Digital
from e-books than traditional paperback Textbooks
copies. Suzie Carlisle, Dean of Academics,
stated, “Part of our desire to move in this As administration considers digital
direction is to meet the students where they textbooks, along with funding, it comes

down to the student’s feelings about digital 4). Other Studies and Viewpoints
textbooks. They are the ones who will using
it every day and learning from these Mitchell Weisberg also looked into further
electronic devices. Heidi A. Mennenga did a research on student’s opinions of digital
research on an undergraduate nursing textbooks as he did a two-year research on
research course at a university where the undergraduate seniors in a business class.
students were to use a digital textbook After using a digital textbook, 26% said they
instead of the usual print textbook to would use an e-book as their primary choice.
determine which version of textbooks 65% said they would use an e-book as their
students prefer more. After using the secondary choice. 10% said they would
textbook throughout the whole course, prefer to never use a digital textbook. So,
students took a survey to tell how they felt. what are some potential benefits that these
students saw in e-books as textbooks?
15% of students preferred digital textbooks Students said they were easily portable, less
over
printed expensive
textbooks, than an
8% felt average
their paper
academics textbook,
improved and it
with using prepares
a digital the Y
textbook, generation
and 46% for the
said they real
were world.
neutral. When asked if the program should The
move to digital textbooks, 63% said no. The disadvantages they saw was that e-book
students told that when using digital textbooks cause more distractions and
textbooks, the internet is right at your person preferences of paper textbooks over
fingertips, so it is very tempting to get e-book textbooks (Weisberg 1).
distracted from digital textbooks. Also,
multiple students complained of headaches Mixed Reactions
from staring at a screen for so long and how
a print textbook takes a nice break from Even though they are students out there that
staring at a computer screen (Mennenga 2). love the features of digital textbooks, there
are also students out there that love the
Even though many students were not in original paper textbook. There are many
favor for digital textbooks, if given the technology benefits, but there are also some
opportunity to slowly transition to digital health disadvantages. “In the study done
textbooks, students will be more
appreciative of digital textbooks as their Seomun and colleagues, students also
comfort level increases. identified several other physical and
psychological symptoms resulting from the
use

of digital textbooks, including blurry vision, References
neck pain, shoulder discomfort, wrist pain,
and greater stress and anxiety” (Mennenga 1). MARDIS, M., & EVERHART, N.
5-6). Students have also stated that it can (2011). Digital Textbooks in Florida:
create eyestrains and fatigue from staring at Extending the Teacher-Librarians' Reach.
a computer screen at reading level. With Teacher Librarian, 38(3), 8-11.
using digital textbooks in the classroom,
teachers and professors are able to share 2). Bouck, E. C., Pei-Lin, W., & Satsangi, R.
notes and highlights, digital textbooks can (2016). Digital versus Traditional:
often be cheaper than regular paper Secondary Students with Visual
textbooks, environmental friendly, easy to Impairments' Perceptions of a Digital
search, ability to highlight, easy to share Algebra Textbook. Journal Of Visual
notes and highlights, and it has updated and Impairment & Blindness, 110(1), 41-52.
current information.
3). Bouck, E. C., Pei-Lin, W., & Satsangi, R.
Even though students and teachers have (2016). Digital versus Traditional:
shown to be resistant from digital textbooks, Secondary Students with Visual
in the coming years, with slowly Impairments' Perceptions of a Digital
transitioning to a more digital classroom, Algebra Textbook. Journal Of Visual
everyone can start seeing more benefits than Impairment & Blindness, 110(1), 41-52.
drawbacks of using digital textbooks. Our
world is constantly changing, and new 4). Weisberg, M. (2011). Student Attitudes
technology is here, so why not start bringing and Behaviors Towards Digital Textbooks.
more technology into the classroom? Publishing Research Quarterly, 27(2), 188-
196. doi:10.1007/s12109-011-9217-4

Word Count: 1120

By Cydney Robson I sat down with Mark Stocking, a fifth-grade
teacher who works at Horizon Elementary in
It is summer break! Kids are outside St. George, Utah. He was born and grew up
enjoying the blistering hot day while playing in a small town called American Falls,
in the water with their neighborhood friends. Idaho. He got his teaching degree at Utah
They are chasing the ice cream truck so that State University and has been a teacher for
they can eat a melting ice cream sandwich eleven years now. When Mr. Stocking is not
with their weekly allowance. They have teaching, he spends time with his wife and
sleepovers and stay up late whispering and three sons as he plays with Legos, video
giggling. They get excited thinking that they games, and other activities to bring laughter
are out of school for three whole months and in the house.
dread the day when they have to go back. It
is a dream life for every child, right? So, lets start at the very beginning. Did
you always want to be an elementary
Teachers, however, like Mark Stocking, are teacher?
indoors during the summertime as they are
finding new lesson plans and improving
previous ones. Teachers are out of school,
but they are still spending their free
moments to get prepared for the following
school year that can be filled with more
creativity and engagement. They do this,
because they want the best for their students
to make them love and appreciate school.

MS: No, when I was a little kid, I did not A lot of your students look up to you as a
imagine I would be a teacher. As a kid, I teacher. Who was your biggest influencer
wanted to do something cool like be a as a teacher?
comedian, writer, or even a movie star. MS: Mr. Steidly. He was my high school
When did you decide to become a science teacher. I loved him so much as a
teacher? teacher that I had him as my teacher for two
MS: I did not originally go to college to get years.
my teaching degree. After high school, I Why is Mr. Steidly your favorite teacher?
went to Dixie University and got a degree in MS: He took time to recognize and praise
journalism. After I got married and started a every student he had. I really looked up to
family, I realized I needed a stable job. So, I him for that and it motivated me to be the
went to Utah State University and got my same way as a teacher.
teaching license. What is your favorite part of teaching?
MS: The best part is that I get to spend all
Why did you decide to teach? day with kids! I also love being able to teach
MS: I thought a lot about what I should do them new things as I love seeing how
instead of being a journalist. I realized that I interesting it is for them.
love being with kids. I also knew that I was Speaking of teaching, what is your
very much so a kid at heart, so I realized teaching philosophy?
teaching was the best career choice for me. MS: Learn it to know it. I want students to
figure it out by themselves first. I want them
to try different methods on how to figure out
the certain problems and assignments. If
they still cannot figure it out, then I will help
them. When they come to me for help, I do
not just give them the answer, but I will give
them hints and help guide them.
What is the biggest goal you have for your
classroom?
MS: I want to make sure the students get
engaged in the lesson. When I teach social

studies, it can be boring or fun depending on do not like their ideas and rules.
how engaged the students want to be.
In this day and age, teachers must be so
creative in their classrooms. What do you
do to put creativity into your classroom?
MS: When I create tests for my students, I
love giving them various options to answer
the question. They can write a sentence, or
they can draw a picture that shows their
answer. I also have Legos in the classroom
to get student’s creative brains flowing.
Lastly, I give students the opportunity to be
included in the creative process by giving
me inputs.
On a serious note, what do you do with
certain situations like having a reluctant
student?
MS: I want to have an interview with them. I
ask what is causing them to be so reluctant
in the classroom. Lastly, I find a way to get
the student motivated to want to learn and
stay respectful in the classroom.
What advice do you give our readers that
are wanting to become teachers?
MS: Be ready for whatever is thrown your
way. You will experience a disrespectful
student, you will have angry parents, and
you will have to work well with
administration and teachers even when you