Post #4

Chapter 7 focuses primarily on tools to use during the brainstorm process. In elementary school, students are first introduced to the topics of brainstorm charts and outlines. I would be able to utilize all of the graphic organizers in my classroom. I plan to teach elementary school and about 2nd grade is where students really get into working with writing stories- much in preparation for the fcat. Idea maps or the graphic organizers will be of utmost importance in showing the students the principals on how to write. The organizers help to keep the students writing focused in a logical manner and will help them understand the writing process with ease. All of these concepts will be used mainly in writing, but can also be used in history (i.e cause and effect maps), science or other areas of interest. I think the best way to work with the graphic organizers and get my students excited to use them will be by using 'inspiration.' I am referring to the program inspiration we recently learned to use. I think that will be the most conducive to learning for the students and will aid my teaching lesson.

As i mentioned before graphic organizers are of the utmost importance because it provides students with the basics of writing. Therefore, I would not only strongly encourage outlines and/or graphic organizers I would require them. In middle school and later years, I do not think that the emphasis needs to be on students turning in outlines, but instead that they know how to use them alone and show it through their papers. Elementary school is one of the most important times in a child's education. Elementary school is where students minds are still open and malleable. Teaching information that students can absorb and that will benefit them later in their school career is the best thing to do. Outlines and graphic organizers give solid background to constructing a paper. Graphic organizers teach how to make a paper 'flow' and help students to remember important parts to insert into papers. Elementary school is the time to lay foundation for further education and incorporating graphic organizers and outlines just aid the construction to a brighter future.

In the last week we have mainly focused on Google in class. All the new items, codes, and shortcuts I have learned will benefit me in the rest of my college career as well as throughout my teaching career. All of the Google information helps to narrow down information towards what I'm looking for and helps me identify what exactly I'm looking for, from more reliable sources. In teaching, I can use Google to find aids to lessons, pictures of certain sizes, websites, powerpoints already created about certain topics which will help me to gain insight or ideas for my own powerpoints. Google will give me access to hundreds of resources at the tips of my fingers. I have also learned more about graphic organizers and outlines, including ways to incorporate them into my class- even how to use them on the computer. This will benefit my career especially the technology aspect of graphic organizers because our school system includes more and more technology that keeps advancing. Being fluent with organizers on the computer and other ways to teach them will help keep my teaching level sufficient in the technology aspect. Everything we are learning in this class can benefit in more ways than one, and not just only for our future teaching careers.