Meet Elaine McConnell: Cat-lover, teacher, and learner

How About a Classroom Redesign?

I'm always so concerned with what I'm teaching and how I'm teaching that I often overlook where I'm teaching. The truth is, though, that the classroom environment plays a major role in students' learning. The challenge this week was to try to make no-cost changes to improve the classroom learning environment. This week has already been quite crazy at school, so I did not have much time to make extensive changes, but I was able to make a few which I have outlined below. First, although it is a small change, I made some of my spaces more organized. I eliminated the clutter in front of my window, and took down some useless cords from the ancient, no-longer-functional television in the front of my room (the television was supposed to be removed last year, but, as you can see, they obviously haven't gotten around to it yet). These small changes really made a big difference in the overall welcoming presence of the room. BEFORE AFTER BEFORE ...

The Blurred Line Between Personal and Professional Lives in the Digital Age

Original image CC0 through Wikimedia Commons The first amendment and its protection of free speech is a pillar of American society. However, in the age of social media, the laws and guidelines regarding free speech for professionals, especially teachers, have become more ambiguous. Should teachers be subject to professional repercussions for posts deemed inappropriate on personal social media accounts? Before delving into the opposing viewpoints, consider the scenario outlined in a KENS 5 report here . In this particular example, a teacher pinned several controversial e-cards, relating specifically to teaching, to her personal Pinterest page. A parent found the page and is urging the district to take disciplinary action towards the teacher. This scenario poses several important questions regarding teachers’ personal freedoms. Should teachers be permitted to freely post on social media accounts while “off the clock”? Or, must they be held to higher standards than the ...

The Potential Impacts of Technology on Spelling and Writing: What Can Teachers Do?

This week I compiled the research I've been conducting over the past few weeks into a digital presentation. Before going into more detail about the actual presentation, Here is a link to my Diigo Outliners Page I used to curate and organize my ideas for this project. Also, below is the interview I conducted with my colleague Heath Curran about teaching writing in high school and using the Collins Method. Interview with Heath Curran from Elaine McConnell on Vimeo . Now, on to the main event. I researched the potential impacts texting, autocorrect, and spellcheck have had on students' writing and grammar. My findings were multifaceted, and, to be, honest, I was quite surprised by them. In my video, I outline the various arguments about the potential impacts and also provide some insight about possible teacher interventions. Please view my video below. EDIM 516 Final Video from Elaine McConnell on Vimeo . MY REFLECTION What do I know now that I didn't kn...

EDIM 516 Through the Eyes of Elaine McConnell

Search This Blog