Chapter 15 Blog

In this chapter I learned that handicap is the result of the mismatch between ones abilities and the demands of an environment. I also learned about the term mainstreaming and the meaning behind it. This term describes how students with special needs began to be able to participate in a classroom steeing rather than having to go to special needs classrooms. I also learned about all of the different devices that can be used in the classroom to help fascilitate students with special needs. These devices can help students in a range from physical disabilities to mental disabilities.

To help aid students who have disabilities I will set up my classroom in the best way possible to eliminate the mismatch between the students abilities and the environment. This may include having devices in my classroom that would allow for the student to participate in my class or just making the classroom accessable to them and making sure that they have freedom to move throughout the classroom. This is important because I do not want to make the kid feel like a seperate part of the classroom but rather a part of it. As a teacher it is also important to be prepared to meet the needs of a special needs student if one happens to be in your classroom. This may involve making adjustments to your classroom or adjusting your teaching in way that caters to the special needs student.

How much can you really prepare yourself as a teacher to appropiately handle having a special needs student in your classroom?

Chapter 13 Blog

In this chapter I learned a lot about the art curriculum and the positives and negatives within the curriculum. Since the No Child Left Behind Act it has been increasingly difficult for art teachers to get funding for projects within the curriculum. Technology within art has also become a major concern for art teachers. They are having to try and deal with the technology they are given to try and educate their students in areas such as production of graphics for example. teachers are unable to update the software because inadequate funding and teachers also have to regualate the amount of project students do within this area because of schools inability to pay for things like high quality papers and ink. Lastly I learned about the benefits that students can get when they are able to use the updated software. With this students are able to illustrate brochures, newsletters, and other documents with very high quality graphics which does not limit them in their artistic abilities.
As a teacher in the future I think it would be very valuable to have a classroom fee to avoid the unadequate funding in the art curriculum. If students are unable to pay the fee the art department could have fundraisers like a car wash or something to allow more money within the curriculum. Secondly if I am at a school that has access to the updated software I would incorporate as many projects as possible on the software as possible because if students are really looking to pursue a successful career in the arts, more likely than not it will be in the field of graphic design or something of that nature so they more fimiliar students are in this field the better.
Is it ok to hold fundraisers for funding if you are unable to get properly funded in certain curriculums?

Chapter 12 Blog

In this chapter I learned about social studies and the issues that teachers face when teaching the subject. One problem that teachers have is trying to cover a large content area in a short period of time. This only allows teachers to scratch the surface in the broad field of social studies. I also learned about how teachers can use simulation devices to help students better engage with the topics and also be motivated by the material. I also learned about the value of taking field trips in this topic area and about the benefits that that offers to the students.

To avoid just scratching the surface in this subject area teachers could focus their lessons on one particular event throughout the semester or school year. As students progress through elementary or middle school they could go over different subject each year which would allow them to dig deeper into the material. This would also allow for more time to give students to online materials such as time simulations that would help them engage more with the material and also be highly motivated by it. Spending more time in subject areas within social studies would also allow more time for teachers to incorporate field trips into their lessons. This would highly benefit the students because they would be at a high level of interactiong with the material that they are learning. Since social studies is not a main topic in standardized testing this would be possible because teachers are not having to cover enourmus amounts of material in a little amount of time.

How possible is it to take kids on an effective amount of field trips throughout the year since social studies is not a highly funded subject area?