Blog Post #4

     The standard I chose to analyze was LAFS.K.W.2.6. This standard states that with aid from the teacher, kindergarten students will be proficient in writing on digital devices, either for personal or group assignments. The technology mentioned includes SmartBoards, StoryJumper, and Paint. The students will strive to use these materials to complete and submit assignments. I believe I am prepared to implement one of three tools into my teaching as of right now. In high school, I would utilize the SmartBoard to present in my AP classes and teach lessons in my PIT Crew class. I have not used StoryJumper or Paint in my education, so I do not feel as if I am prepared to teach using those online softwares. As for other softwares not mentioned, like Word or Canvas, I feel like I would be able to utilize those in my classroom proficiently. Based on my current skill set, foundational technology would be extremely easy to teach and implement in my classroom. However, the two softwares mentioned in the standard that I have not used, I do not think I would be ready to implement the fullest extent of this standard in my classroom. 

    The resource I chose to analyze from CPALMS Educator Toolkit was "Washing Hands: Counting to 20." The goal of this tool is to master counting to twenty, while learning how to wash your hands. There is a how-to video on the website that I can use as an example to show students. I believe that this tool is important because students learn a math skill and hygiene. I would use this in my classroom because it promotes a fun learning technique for a math skill. Learning how to count to twenty is a foundational tool for future math skills, like adding or subtracting. Not all students know how to properly wash their hands at the age of five or six either. This tool is a way to learn math skills and life skills in one consecutive lesson. I would teach this because it is integral to learn to count, and it will promote cleanliness within my classroom. 

    I believe proficient Internet searching as a teacher is important because it allows educators to find resources quickly. The Internet can be used to find classroom standards, study guides, teaching resources, and fun online learning tools. It can also help an educator quickly search for an answer that they may not know off the top of their head. The Internet searching skill that I will use most moving forward would be the Advanced Search tool. In future classes and throughout my career, I will have to find very specific resources. The Advanced Search tools allows you to exclude things, narrowing down the search algorithm. This can be useful to find specific file types that I may want to use as future resources or for educational purposes. One Internet search tool that I do not recall being introduced this week is the use of quotations (""). I use this when searching for specific titles of papers or individuals. With the use of quotations, I can find a research paper or author, and it seems to help. It is really effective for me when I am writing research papers for a class because it narrows down the search algorithm and helps me find exactly what I need.