Sunday, October 16, 2011

Digital Literacy

I use digital technology monthly, weekly, daily and even hourly. I am always looking at the internet on my phone or using the computer for things like homework and hobby type stuff. I love to use the internet; I use it for everything. I think digital technology is so great and I love being part of a world that uses it so frequently and has it readily available. Here is a list of some of the things I use digital technology for and how I plan to in cooperate it into my own classroom.
  • Digital technology used
Daily: Iphone, Ipod, Desktop, Television
Weekly: Ipad, Laptop


  • Online texts I read
Cooking blogs/websites
Pinterest
Facebook
Email
Family/Friends Blogs
Cache Valley Crossfit
Body Rebellion
Interior Design online class material

  • Ways to include digital technology in teaching
I plan to in cooperate technology into my classroom by using a variety of tools like computers, laptops, cell phones, Ipad/Ipod, blogs, websites and Facebook. I will use computers for students to research, read articles, blog posts, discuss on FACS Facebook group, design products and many other things. I will use cell phones when taking surveys of certain topics discussed. I will use ipads/ipods (if available) for different learning material that match my curriculum. I think digital technology is a great tool for a classroom. I hope to get different grants to I can purchase different types of digital technology for my classroom to assist in my instruction.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

FCSE Motivation

Dear students, Family and Consumer Sciences has the BEST classes ever!! I am writing you this post to introduce you to what Family and Consumer Sciences is. This content area is perhaps one of the best tools for teaching you how to be successful in life. FACS has many different names; Family and Consumer Sciences, home economics and FCS. We cover clothing, foods and nutrition, interior design, human development and consumerism. We teach our students how to make and wear clothing, basic bodily needs concerning food and nutrition, how to design and decorate homes, how the body grows, how to raise a child from pre-birth to death and how to make and spend money. In FACS we EAT food, SEW fabric, make MONEY, play with TOYS, and become SUCCESSFUL in all aspects of life....What more could a person want?! Boys and girls should both go through these classes.

We teach our students....
  • how to date
  • get married
  • get a job
  • write a resume
  • cook food
  • make clothes
  • design a room
  • design a wardrobe
  • save money
  • write a check
  • use a credit card
  • manage and keep our bodies functioning
  • wash clothes appropriately
  • understand and teach children
  • become a member of FCCLA (find out more at fccla.org)
  • many more fun things
As you can see from the list above....WE REACH EVERYONE'S INTERESTS!!

Below are some pictures of students in our classes having fun gaining knowledge to reach them success in life!

Literacy Inclusion

As I am finishing up doing my clinical hours this semester I can't help but ponder about my mentor teacher as well as my future teaching. My mentor teacher has been a huge blessing in my teaching career. She is AMAZING. One thing I noticed with her teaching was she did everything she could to include reading and writing into her class. She felt very strongly about having her students use their writing skills everyday in the classroom. As we sat down to construct a test together; she was very particular about what kinds of questions she asked. She didn't want a single multiple choice or true false question. She wanted the students to be able to think critically and apply each question to themselves. She would ask questions about the subject matter but then she would say "In one paragraph describe how the concept above applies to you." She was always getting her students to think and rethink things. She loves new technology but feels so strongly about doing a lot of handwriting too so student's don't forget how. I admire this lady; she is such a great teacher. When I become a teacher in the near future I hope to be able to in cooperate such things into my classes as she has to hers. I feel so strongly about having my students keep developing their literacy skills in my content area so they can become more literate people and be able to continue learning and growing.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Learning Autobiography

Can I just tell everyone that I L.O.V.E.D. writing my literacy autobiography! I loved remembering and looking back at all of my memories of becoming literate. I feel like I'm very literate in some aspects of my life and in others I still have tons of room to grow. I loved talking with my mom about learning to talk, read and write. It was so much fun to look back and see how far I've come now. I will defiantly do some of the things my mom did with me for my kids. I will make sure we make reading books together a huge part of our lives because that is one of my greatest childhood memories. Reading stories every night with my mom was a highlight of my childhood and I want my children to be able to experience the same thing. I am loving my literacy class because I'm learning so much about myself as well as how to make my future classroom a better place.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Introduction

Hello everyone! I'm Gentry James and I'm currently a senior at USU studying Family and Consumer Sciences Education. I LOVE my area of study! I can't wait to teach what I love most! In my free time I love to run, cook, bake, camp, four wheel, watch my husbands softball games, hang out with family and participate in my newest addiction...PINTEREST! I've been married for over 2 years and love life! I love FACS with all of my heart! I have a huge passion for food and nutrition as well as fashion and adult roles! I love to work with people;especially those younger than me. I think having skills and knowledge in the FACS subjects are essential for living a successful life. FACS teaches skills like cooking, money handling, interviewing skills, child care and garment producing. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was old enough to talk. I love teaching new things to people and helping them better themselves. There is not one area of FACS that I dislike...So I figured I would LOVE my job if I went into this profession.