Teacher Websites

The website that I chose to critique is: http://www.mzmarcotte.com/TableofContents.htm

The teacher's name is Ms. Marcotte. She is a middle school science teacher. I came across this website when I was researching online for middle school science ideas. I was thrown into middle school a couple days before school started so I needed some good, quick ideas that I can use in my classroom. I came across this website and found lots of useful information. Her website is very informative for her students, parents, and other teachers. This website is updated regularly with a date provided. Students can obtain information about the daily agenda in science, including homework. Long-term assignments along with rubrics and expectations are also included, which is great for parents as well as students. Students are provided with a list of extra credit activities that they can complete for science. Procedures are explained in detail for their homework, projects, and binder. Word documents are hyperlinked so students or other teachers can print handouts if needed. It also contains interesting science things for kids, like science games, interesting science facts, news articles, and jokes and quotes. There's also an online survey that’s posted so students can evaluate the class periodically throughout the year. It's an interactive website. The website also contains a link to a blog that her students participate in. I got a lot of my ideas for my classroom from this website.

The only problem that I found with this website was that as you navigate through the website you will find the fonts to be of varying sizes and colors. I thought that was a little distracting. Also, the layout was not proportional as we learned it should be in our last class. Other than that, I love this website and I visit it frequently to get ideas.

Video Games in the Classroom

How do I feel about video games? Well, I have mixed feelings about this topic. I grew up playing video games, and definitely enjoyed it when I was little. However, my parents always moderated my playing time so I wasn't playing all day long like most of my students. Also, the games have changed dramatically over the years from appropriate games to more violent games. Currently, I feel that popular video games played at home would be okay as long as parents are moderating the playing time and content of the video. I feel that's not being done, which is contributing to kids who are out of shape and have less attention span in schools.

I will defintely never use video games in the classroom if there is no curriculum link, because that would just be a waste of their educational time. I have used games in my classroom that I mentioned in my previous blog, but never a video game. I would use a video game if the game has a strong curriculum tie to the topic in hand in science or math and if there is no violence. It would be a fun way for students to practice math or science skills through a video game instead of a worksheet. I haven't used a video game, because I don't know of any and I don't have the resources available to purchase it for my students. Does anyone know of good video games for middle school science and math?

Currently, I don't forsee video games in my classroom because the budget is really tight in my school district for me to purchase games. Also, I am not aware of good, solid video games that relate to my teaching subject.

Games in My Classroom

I use games (technological and others) in my classroom frequently to review concepts that have been taught in the classroom. I have used Jeopardy and Millionaire, and have received a positive response from all of my students. I have created several games that are not technological to reinforce scientific and mathematical concepts. The kids are truly motivated when we play the games.

I have not had any experience with designing a technological game from scratch. Consequently, I haven't exposed my students to game designing. I think a game is a great way for students to learn concepts and I would love to design homemade PowerPoint games for my students to play. I also think it would be great if students designed their own games as it helps them construct their own learning and it allows them to play an active role in their learning process. However, I do not have time to teach my students how to create a PowerPoint game. There is so much of the curriculum that I have to get through the school year in math and science that I don't have time to teach them computer skills. There is so much pressure with the MEAPs and the school grade that I cannot afford to lose days not teaching math and science. Again, I love this idea, but I don't think it's practical for me because of lack of time. I would love it if our school's computer/technology teacher could present game design to the students and show them how to create a PowerPoint. I could then have them create a game based on math or science concepts because they would know the basics of how to create a game using PowerPoint. That's the only way that I think I can save time to have the students create games in science and math.