My 21st Century Classroom

Ideally I would love to be teaching in a second or third grade elementary school classroom. I wish to be working in a school where the atmosphere is very calm and inviting to those who are new and or shy. I believe that technology is the new route in learning for these upcoming generations. Right now young children are living with the technology we have today, we are approaching a technological evolution, therefor our children need to start learning with technology. Some may focus on the negatives of technology or even the word, but I assure you that with my teaching and understandings of this technological world the children will not only know of the technology tools out there for their advantage, but how to use then in a knowledgeable manner. Another great benefit is that teaching through technology can promote more child centered learning allowing the children to grow on their independance. Technology in the classroom allows for flexibility in lessons, broader varieties of creativity, there is easy access to those at home, and is interactive for all students.



My Ideal Classroom:
For my classroom I would love to have no more than 15 children. Thus this way I can focus on a classroom community where each child feels safe and welcomed each day they walk through that door of the school. My classroom layout seems basic, however it is more of an open floor plan allowing for the mind to have an open mind to the world. Click on this link and you shall see my vision of my classroom.

http://floorplanner.com/projects/22254502-my-21st-century-classroom/#assets

The door to the classroom would be an accordean door assuming there would be an adjoining room on the other side. Once you enter the room there are shelves to the right where each child is provided a personal cubby with their name on it. Then directly in across from the entrance is the morning meeting rug where the children will meet in the morning to go over the days agenda along with a personalized meet and greet where children will talk about what they did after school when they got home yesturday or a group interaction promoting communication to the children. In the middle of the room, the central part, are desks that are in horseshoe shape so that it provides a continued sense if movement through the room. In front of these desks would be an interactive white smart board and a mobile white board. In the lower left corner is a quiet area where children can go for independent study. In the upper left corner in the computer center where technology based learning would take place, but not limited to (I will further explain in an example of a lesson plan for this environment). And then another small group horseshoe shaped table to promote once again group interaction and a stronger sense of community with their peers.

Lesson Plan:
These lessons will be designed to incorperate the tools of technology into the traditional classroom. Students will learn to use the technology effectivlly and safely. Children will also learn to conduct research connected to their projects through the web. Through these teachings I expect each child to be able to demonstrate the skills necessary for participating in a group or independently (AL 2.5). The children will be able to participate in familiar and unfamiliar activities (AL 4.2) and the child will be able to initiate tasks and experiences as active leaders when selecting topics with increased flexibility, imagination and ingenuity (AL 5.1). I as the teacher would promote the children to work and solve problems independently when possible, but encourage assistance when needed after all other avenues for assistance have been exhausted or unresolved. I will be accepting of children's willingness and unwillingness to try new experiences and I will encourage and praise on a child's efforts and completion.
A typical lesson plan would consist of the children expanding throughout the room each day. There would be structuralized lessons and lessons of flexibility for the students to decide to work independently or in groups. Each day would start off with a morning meeting. Here children would communicate to their peers what they did after they got home prom school the previous day or walk around the group greating eachother with a handshake and smile saying good morning while using the childs' name. Or the morning meeting could be as simple as a vocabulary review in a fun manner like a game. And then the school day would procced as an average school day but with technology integrated into the lessons for added creativity and resources.

We are living in an age where technology is abundant and advancing in it's use. Although my education of technology is still growing and developing, I know that this method of learning is essential to the children that are living with technology everyday.

So let's embrace this new way of life and discover our world together!


Resources:
http://floorplanner.com
http://www.swagbucks.com/images
http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm
http://asumag.com/mag/university_top_design_ideas/
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.slideshare.net/mscofino/the-21st-century-classroom