It took me a while to figure out how to leave a post, but here's what you do...up in the right hand corner (where the dark blue is) you should see your email address. Next to that is "New Post". Just click on that and it will take you to a page where you can type and leave your own post. After you are done typing make sure to click on the orange, "publish post" button. You can then click on the view blog button (also in the blue, but on the left side) and it will take you back to the original blog, where all of the other blogs are at. Hope this helps!!!

Intro

I'm Lei Stratton, and apparently I just figured out how to do this blog thing. I've never done anything like this before but I think I'm going to like it. I'm a P-12 special ed LBD major, with emphasis in elementary aged students. I was legally blind until the age of 15, and I think that's what most drives me toward this career. I really think I'm going to enjoy this class, as I have already found the lessons intriguing.

Just realized I never introduced myself

Hey! My name is Keisha Webb. I become a senior this semester and I am majoring in Learning and Behavior Disorders. I can't wait to be a teacher. I think that it's a very rewarding job even though it can be a difficult one. I love working with children and watching them learn and grow. At the moment, I actually work with children every day of the week. Monday-Friday I work for an afterschool program. On the weekends I volunteer for two different programs through my church. One is a basketball league and I was a referee for the firt time this week. It was an interesting experience. Outside of that, I love music. I'm always listening to music, singing (badly), or have a song stuck in my head. I also love photography. Pictures capture a moment in time; almost like a frozen memory. Pictures have been really important to me lately because I lost an uncle last month, and having pictures help me to deal with the grief. Well, I guess that's enough rambling about myself. Have a good night!

Does anyone know how long it usually takes to get textbooks in from USB? I have had my textbook for this class ordered for 3 weeks now and it still hasn't come in. Any suggestions?!

teaching a 1st grade lesson.. breaking down words

I'm in methods right now and I'm teaching my 1st lesson next week. The teacher gave me the broad points to cover, and it seems as thoguh I'm doing something very similar to our class last week. Given 2 larger compound words (one letter per card pushed together to form these words) the students one by one will see how many words they can make with those letters. I was surprised to be doing it in a 1st grade class, but that's "higher level thinking" I suppose!?!?

Several people have posted on the blog that I left about my son being made to look up defitions and telling the teacher that his mom's teacher said that was wrong. I too, remember being made to take the dicitonary and look up the defitions of words. I have always felt that it was beneficial to me!! I feel like this is a good way to learn the meaning of words, because some words have more than one and I feel that this is a better way to just all around understand what the word means. Though, I do feel that just looking up the defition is not the only way to teach children the meaning of the word, it is a good way, but involve some fun activities such as playing a word game. There are many websites that offer neat games and activities to helpl with spelling and defitions (http://www.spellingcity.com/).

Weds - 1/30 - Class Cancelled

I hope everyone read their email and will not make an extra drive to Richmond for class tomorrow. My foot/ankle still hurts a great deal. Being on it all day and all night tomorrow night would be way too much. No way I could walk from the parking lot to class.

I am reminded of how incredibly blessed I am. My mom drove down from Indiana today to help with several errands and things I needed to do. When we saw the condition of the jeep I realized how blessed I was that I wasn't hurt any worse. The impact was on the driver's front corner. I just keep counting my blessings although there are a ton of details and LITERAL headaches to come.

I've actually noticed sore spots on my head today that I didn't feel last night. I'm sure it's from where I either hit the window or the rear view mirror with my head. Not to fear, you know how hard my head is!!

I'll miss you all tomorrow. See you next week!

Mrs. White

feel better mrs. white!

mrs. white, so sorry to hear about your recent accident. i hope your healing goes as well as can be expected...we will see you hopefully in class next weekend. feel better!

I really enjoyed the lesson last Wednesday night!! My son also wanted everyone to know that he enjoyed class too. He enjoyed it so much that he said he wanted to start coming with me every Wednesday, but he goes to Awana's (a church program) when school is in session so he decided that he would just come sometimes. Also, Mrs. White had mentioned something about the fact that teachers should not just give children words and a dictionary and tell them to look up the defition, and it just so happened that this morning his teacher gave them a list of ten words and told them to look them up. He was quick to let his teacher know that his mommy's teacher at college said that she should not do that (I am not sure how she took it). Thanks to all for tolerating him last week!!!

Phonology

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but I understood the fact that Phonology is the smallest unit of sound, however I'm confused what part of the word is the phonology. For example if we have the words lay say ray pay would the phonology be l, s, r, and p or would it be ay since ay is the same each time wouldn't that be the smallest unit of sound or would it be the first letter since it makes each word different. I don't know if i just made sense or not but i was kinda confused when i looked back at my notes reviewing.
If anyone could help me out that would be great.

THANKS
amanda

I really enjoyed the lesson on Wed about phonemes and morphemes. I feel like I really understand it. I was supposed to learn it last semester in anthropology, but no one understood it. Going over it again just made it really clear. That was a good way to teach it Mrs. White.

Semantics Vs. Pragmatics

I have read over the material in chapter 2 that covers semantics and pragmatics. However, I am still a bit confused about the difference(s) between the two. I understand the book's definitions but I don't think I could explain to someone else the difference, nor would I probably be able to distinguish between the two on a test--and that could be bad! =]
Can anyone offer a suggestion as to how to make the distinction? Sometimes it helps to have another's perspective.

interesting facts

I have been to one class and unfortunately had to miss the second class but these posts have given me a great place to start catching up on my work thanks to all of you who left helpful tidbits.

Class last night

I was wondering if anyone could explain to me why we need to know about phonemes if we are teaching special ed. I remember talking about that in class however I do not know exactly what she said.

second week's posting...

I found last night's class to be very helpful. I have studied and extinguished finding both morphemes and phonemes in several language assessments during previous semesters. However, the activity, reading and last night's lesson really helped me distinguish between the two. I used to have to refer back to text and other information to remind myself what each word actually meant. I am now aware and have a clear understanding of what both words mean and what finding or listing them in tells.
I was also surprised when the international phonemic alphabet was used in class. I see how it ties in, but find the letters and representations somewhat confusing at times. I used to have it memorized, but looks like it was stored in my short term memory. ha ha.
All and all I feel that class is going great and with only two class meetings behind me I find all that is covered in class helpful and a great refresher and reinforcer from previous semesters.

missed class

Hey everyone! I missed class on Wednesday....would someone mind telling me what they thought the most important aspects of the discussion were? I'd really appreciate the help! Thanks!

blog test.....

I found class last Wednesday evening to be very interesting and seemed to be a great review for me. The first chapter seemed to give a good background of information to be covered as the semester progresses. I felt that any and all questions were answered and I know from experience that Mrs. White has high expectations for her students and I hope to meet those expectations to the best of my ability.

Hey!

Hey everyone! My name is Emily Blomquist and I am a freshman here, and I live in Case Hall. I love it here so far and I am an Elementary Education with Deaf and Hard of Hearing major. I was really excited to hear that you , Mrs. White, have experience in this field! I am really excited for this class!

Hello!?

Ok, I hope I have finally figured this blog out! I never knew I was this bad with computers, but trying to figure out how to post on the blog has proven to be pretty difficult for me!! I am a senior occupational science/occupational therapy major and just recently declared a minor in special education. I decided on a minor in special ed. because I think it will make me a more knowledgeable and well-rounded OT, when I eventually graduate with my masters which will be in approx. three more years. Eventually, I want to work with children with autism and currently volunteer with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope as well as Cincinnati Children's Hospital OT department. So far, I have enjoyed the special education classes I am taking this semester, which also include behavior disorders and behavior management. They are by far more interesting than most of the occupational science and anatomy classes we have! I am looking forward to this spring semester and am excited to gain a better understanding of education's views and perspectives on development!

Hey! :)

Hey Everyone! My name is Heather Rector and I am a junior at EKU. I just recently changed my major from communication disorders to an Elementary Ed. and Special Ed. major. I am from Frankfort but just got my first apartment in Richmond this past year. I wanted to first start off saying that this is my first time using the blogs in a class but I think I am going to like it. I think it is a great way to communicate with you Mrs. White and for us to better get to know our classmates. I am looking forward to the semester! :)