Noteblog 4-- Due 2/9

I really enjoyed reading the article, "Digital Natives in the Classroom."  After thinking about how they defined a digital native, I do not think that I would completely qualify as a digital native.  I took the quiz and I knew about half or a little less than half of the words and their meanings.  Therefore, I am an emergent digital native.  I have grown up with and used some of the technology that was discussed.  This blog that we are doing for TE 402 is the first blog that I have ever partaken in.  I actually did not even know how to blog or what a blog was until I began blogging here.  After blogging a few times I can understand why both students and teachers like this new technology.

Having a blog allows students to share their ideas and opinions with others in their class or group.  The blog is more "fun" than just writing a paper and turning it in.  The blog is easily accessible and  allows for students to comment on each others work.  This then will promote deeper thinking, students can challenge one an other.  The more students use technology, the more efficient they will become.  Thus, they will de defined as a digital native.  This is the same for emergent readers in literacy.  The more exposure to literature that students have, the better their understanding of literacy.  This idea is applicable to not just literacy but all other subjects as well. 

The other readings for the week, Tompkins and Gibbons, had a lot of great ides to develop phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling.  One of the ideas that I think and have seen work really well with students is the word wall like Gibbons suggests (62.)  The word wall can be set up in a multitude of ways. The words can be attached to the wall so the students can see then visually, or the words can be used as a manipulative.  Used as a manipulative, the words would work best if they were on a magnetic board on the wall or even a wall with velcro on it.  For example, if one of the words was "dinosaur" on one card would be "dino" and on the other card would be "saur."  The students would have to match the proper word beginnings with their word endings.  This method will help the students with their vocabulary.

Another method that I think would be useful to help improve students vocabulary, spelling ect., is making jumbled sentences.  Gibbons suggests that students can tell the teacher a sentence about themselves and the teacher will write it down on a long paper strip.  Then, cut the strips into single words and "jumble" the words together.  The students will then unscramble the words to create the sentence and write it down (70.)  This can also be used with younger children, use single words and jumble the letter and then have the students re-arrange the letters to make the word.

The readings for this week offered a lot of insightful information that I know I can use in the classroom.