Creating Digital Authors

Reading: Creating Digital Authors

Three important ideas/things I learned from the reading today are students usually play online games at school, they have very limited access to technology at home and at school, and teachers need to go beyond online games and basic word processor to teach students’ technologically, but the most important thing I learned from the reading is that technology had a positive effect on students’ writing process and final products.

Journal- Where I Am From

I was born in Falls Church, Virginia. I grew up in multiple different cities and houses but my true home was in Fairmont, WV at age 9. I consider Fairmont my hometown because all of my family is from here and I was always connected to it even when I didn't live here. My home in Fairmont overlooks the Tygart River and is my favorite view and scenery. While standing in our living room you can see the train tracks on the other side of the river, boat docks everywhere, and the river flowing Northward. The view from my house triggers so many memories and childhood feelings, it's my favorite view!

Growing up it was just my dad, mom, sister, and I. Along with us four we had two dogs that were a huge impact in my childhood. Although there were only four of us, we always had our neighbors who became like grandparents to me and my family members near by. My grandma's house was one of my favorite places to go as a child. All of my aunts and uncles and cousins always gathered together at grandmas house on holidays and it was and still is my favorite family tradition. Being with my whole family brings me more joy then anything else.

My mom, aunt, and uncles grew up in the same house my grandma still lives in today. I love hearing stories about which kid had which room and how they always fought over who had to share rooms. My mom lived in that house until she got married at age 17 to my dad. This is another one of my favorite stories. My parents dated for a couple years and after my mom graduated high school they decided to get married. My dad was living in Virginia while my mom was still in Fairmont so getting married was a way for them to finally be together, They got married, she was 17, he was 23. After being married for four years they decided to have a kid, and that's when my sister was born. 5 years later I came along.

Not only is my family amazing but my town is also. Fairmont is it's own unique little town. It's a little town where everybody knows everybody. Where everyone wants their local pepperoni rolls or Muriale's Italian food. Where high school sports are a huge competition, especially the legendary East-West rivalry. Fairmont is my home and always will be, it's unique in every way, shape, and form. 

From the boat during summer!

Most recent family photo taken over spring break at Folly Beach, SC.

 From my backyard during Winter.

 My dog Carson on the boat.

 Blackwater Falls, WV weekend trip during fall.

Where I Am From Poem

I am from the hills of West Virginia, from summer, winter, fall, and spring. From the flow of the river  across the way, dirt on my hands from always being outdoors. From my parents hearts and souls and my sister's support. I am from the house over looking the Tygart River, the sounds of trains roaring through the trees, and the sound of boats speeding on the river. From the smell of home cooked Italian food coming from Muriale's. I am from gold medalist winner Mary Lou Retton's hometown, where Nick Saban grew up. From "home of the original pepperoni rolls" or as we know it, Country Club Bakery. I am from Fairmont.

I am from grandma's homemade cookies and pepperoni rolls, from her wisdom and guidance, from her love and support and laughter. Holidays at grandmas house are what I live for, everyone fits perfectly. I am from my Aunt spreading God's word, from my Uncles' humor and wisdom, and from my mom's sensitivity. From the memories made in grandma's one bathroom house where we all gather that I will never forget.

I am from "sticks and stones will break your bones but words will never hurt you." From my father's tough love and support. His love for sports and hard headedness. I am from my mother's sensitivity and emotions, from her big heart. From "treat others how you want to be treated." I am from the most amazing parents and family in the world. From their young love that people thought would never work to their everlasting love that will never end. From screaming and fighting with my sister to hugging and 'I love yous.' From always bickering but always making up and being stronger.

I am from weekend road trips growing up. From softball tournaments and soccer championships far away. From our yearly beach trip that we can't live without. From traditions and values that will never be replaced. From working in our little yard on the weekends just for an excuse to be outside. Summers that we wish would last forever on the little Tygart River, one of the only rivers that flow North. From laying on the boat for hours thanking God for the beautiful life we have. 

I am from West Virginia, not Northern Virginia or part of Virginia, from our own state that bleeds blue and gold. From mountaineer fans that never give up no matter how bad our sports teams are doing. From that old East-West rivalry that will never die down. From a place so homely that you will never want to leave. Home is where my heart is, where it will always be. I am from the most beautiful place on Earth.

Teachers are Designers

Teaching is closely related to designing because they both involve problem solving and is action based. Teaching is all about finding solutions and planning. Designers design whatever their profession is and teachers design a way of learning for their students. People may not realize but these professions are very closely connected.

It is important for teachers to use UDL's (Universal Design for Learning) because it helps diverse learners to eliminate barriers that are keeping them from learning. UDL's can be used in a classroom for a short story, for goals, instructions, and assignments. There's 3 principles of UDL: recognition or the "what" of learning, strategic or the "how" of learning, and affective learning which is the "why" of learning. 

I vaguely remember being a student and learning so much in one day but never comprehending it all. Teachers would teach in their preferred way and not think about how we perceived it or took it in. Students have to know what they're learning 100% or school is pointless. And in my own experience I feel as if most of my school experience was a waste because some teachers didn't do their job in teaching students recognition of learning. 

Strategic learning to me is one of the best things teachers these days do. In my high school career teachers always went over the form of an essay or how to organize your thoughts. No, they did not always give enough information or the right information but most of the time I strategically knew what I was doing academically. One of the most important duties of an elementary teacher is to teach students how to express themselves. Expressing yourself falls into the strategic, or "how" of learning. I feel that I am good at expressing myself and speaking up thanks to teachers I had at an early age. A person has to know how to communicate and tell others how they feel, expressing yourself is a very important learning aspect to have. 

And finally, affective learning. Affective learning seems hard to do because you have to keep students engaged and motivated to learn. This learning principle of UDL is probably one of the most important ones because a child will not learn if they aren't interested in the activity. This is where teaching is a lot like designing because you have to design lessons that are engaging for your students and make sure almost every child is interested in learning it. Being challenged to complete an activity and do good was one of the ways I liked learning and did good in learning. I loved when my teachers presented me with something new to learn or a fun assignment because I was determined to do my best and learn something new.