Social Bookmarking ---> Delicious.com (NETS-T IV, V)

1. The Deadly Virus, The Influenza Epidemic of 1918
From this exhibit I learned about the plague of 1918. It killed more people than World War I. WWI claimed an estimated 16 million lives; the influenza epidemic that swept the world killed an estimated 50 million people. One fifth of the world's population was attacked by this deadly virus. Within months, it had killed more people than any other illness in recorded history! This site is a great resources for teachers to use when discussing the epidemic of 1918. It includes various primary sources: pictures, newspaper articles, personal letters, and government documents. The photos were very interesting because they reflect when it was like at that time and how people were attempting to take precautions against the illness. It is important to teach students what primary sources are and also use them in the classroom. Primary sources provide students an insight that secondary sources are unable to do. Primary sources give students a look into the past and and provide them with first hand information and images. Secondary sources are altered and the information given may alter the truth, primary sources come right from the area of study and are 100 percent authentic.

2. National Education Association, Achievement Gaps
Student Groups Experiencing Achievement Gaps

* Racial and ethnic minorities
* English language learners
* Students with disabilities
* Boys/girls
* Students from low-income families
Students who are at risk for experiencing achievement gaps are within the same groups of people who are experiencing them; along with gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Becoming a culturally Competent Educator
I definitely would find out the the diverse groups served by my school. I would try to get a feel for which families were active in the school and encourage them to use resources provided by the school if it would benefit them. I figure that people should use the resources since they are out there and are free of charge. I am the type to engage students and staff in an extracurricular activity that explores culture and race. It would not only interest because we would be learning about different cultures, but it would make the students feel more comfortable knowing people care to explore their culture. It would make it easier on me as a teacher and also benefit my students to network with other schools. If they have culturally friendly ideas that students everywhere would enjoy, why not use them?! Networking opens the doors to new ideas and friends.

3. Stop Cyber Bullying
I am a Cyber Saint! I have only logged onto someones account with their permission. I can see this quiz relating more to a teenage audience. Teens are so involved in the internet these days that it is easy for them to be caught up in internet drama and a competition for attention.
The discussion on what methods work on different kind of cyber bullies interested me the most. It introduces teachers to the different types of cyber bullies in a way teachers can relate to. The four types of cyberbullies include: The Vengeful Angel,
The Power-Hungry or Revenge of the Nerds, The “Mean Girls”, and The Inadvertent Cyberbully or “Because I Can." It explains these classifications in a way that teachers can easily identify the type of bully they have on their hands and methods on how to deal with it. When teachers can identify the motive behind the bullying they are more easily able to address the situation. STOP cyberbullying is a great resource for teachers and students, I was very impressed by this site!

4. Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
Under the list "Subject Access" I chose to explore Weather Info & Maps. I found a very interesting site called Dan's Wild Wild Weather Page. This page was made by newsman and chief meteorologist Dan Satterfield. Satterfield designed this page for children and adults to teach them about weather and events in mother nature. This page is easy to navigate with information, maps, and pictures on an array of terms, from clouds to hurricanes. It teaches children about weather in a way that they can understand and comprehend. This information can easily be used in a classroom their is also an area designed for teachers including free science lessons plans, weather units, educator resources and much more!
Under the list "Teacher Helpers"I chose to explore Gadgets and Podcasting. The link iPod Touch in Education caught my eye. This link leads to a site created by Apple that explains how iPods can be used in the classroom as educational tools. The site was created my a number of teachers who share their experiences about using iPods in their classrooms. You can also check out various applications that are designed to help teach traditional subjects. This is something to consider using in a classroom if the iPods are available; image how much the children would love using an iPod!

5. Multiple Intelligences
Quiz- What's your learning style?
1) Intrapersonal 69%
2) Naturalistic 67%
3) Interpersonal 63%
Video-
I watched the video Multiple Intelligences Thrive in Smartville and I found it extremely interesting. The idea that everyone has 8 intelligences or ways of learning is an amazing concept. I have always thought that tests in school were sometimes unfair because not everyone is a good test taker nor can showcase how smart they are through a test. At a multiple intelligence school they take this issue into consideration and give their students a chance to show HOW they are smart. I would have loved to go to a school like this in my childhood, I have always felt that I was smart in ways that teachers did not recognize. I think the concept of Smartville is genius! Most kids love to "play house" and to have a town where children can learn and play at the same time is absolutely amazing. I would love to teach at a school that embraces the 8 intelligences.

6. Teaching Tolerance
Grades 3-5, Science and Health
Accepting Size Differences
This lesson is designed to teach students the importance of accepting students for who they are; big, fat, tall, skinny, short. They will identify their own biases and how the media has shaped some of their biases. After the lesson 3-5 graders will, * understand the purpose of adjectives, use adjectives to describe pictures of potential classmates, compare the use and fairness of those adjectives; and develop and commit to a classroom anti-harassment policy. Students will get the opportunity to judge and describe pictures of people and see how their words may effect someone emotionally. They will learn about differences and how they are not always a negative thing. This lesson is very valuable in my opinion. Having students learn this early on in the year can set the tone for the class and make people feel more comfortable and welcome. Teaching students this make students be more aware of their actions and accepting of their classmates.

7. Multicultural Education and Equity Awareness Quiz
Q- According to a study by the American Association of Physicians for Human Rights, what percentage of physicians report witnessing a colleague giving reduced care or refusing care to lesbian, gay, or bisexual patients?
A- 52%
This is horrible! I cannot believe that is this a statistic, I wonder if this happens with certain races too. What happened to equal rights? This means that more than half the time a gay person goes in for medical treatment they are not getting adequate assistance, this is unfair and should be illegal.
Q- In a 2007 study, UNICEF rated the treatment of children in the 23 wealthiest countries in the world based on 40 indicators of child well-being. Which two countries received the lowest ratings?
A- The United States and the U.K.
This question surprises me. I would like to know what the 40 indicators being tested are because I don't see children in The U.S. being treated poorly at all. I can't image that the U.S. is among the two lowest.

8. The Netiquette Quiz
I received a 70% on the Netiquette quiz, I guess I need to brush up on my cyber etiquette! I would have my class take this quiz on netiquette because it even taught me things about the internet I wasn't aware of. Learning netiquette will help students effectively get their point across and also help them interpret messages people send them. Emoticons are a fun way of jazzing up plain text in the appropriate text. It is important to teach students that in school related work using emoticons is not okay. Emoticons can be fun and it is important to know what each one represents :)