Module 8

                I thought that this chapter was very informative, especially because even I have trouble utilizing the internet to find information that I need! I think that google is a great resource for finding information… to be honest, it is the only search engine I use to find information, this is because I don’t really know any other way of finding information. Google is very useful, but there are some down sides, especially when trying to use it with a child or in a classroom. For one, it is not filtered at all, so children could easily stumble upon inappropriate things that have nothing to do with what they are trying to research. Other than the obvious, it also does not refine the search enough, so a child can find an age appropriate website that is at their reading level. Not to mention that sites like Wikipedia could easily be misinforming children.

                I was very interested in the different websites that the book mentioned, I definitely liked Gooru, because you could narrow it down by grade and general topic (math, science, language arts, etc.), that way children, parents, and teachers could easily find information for their topic that could reach the child’s understand and keep their interest. I also thought that the instagrok web was an interesting way to get children exploring different topics; it is definitely more fun than sifting through all the websites on google! But I also really liked the lessons that the chapter talked about, because it gave the children the freedom to search what interests them, which will definitely get them invested in their topic, and I think it is exciting for children to share what they learned with their peers. It is also a good tool for a parent or teacher to utilize when searching for books to introduce that child, or class.  I think that though classes need structure and guidance, kids always have a lot more fun when they can independently research topics that interest them and it will motivate them to put effort and time into doing it! 

Book Review: Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

The book I chose to review was Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan. I chose this book because it was unlike any other children's book I have ever read; both the art and the writing was imaginative and beautifully done. It is a fun and adventurous way to explain the seemingly unexplained goings on in a suburban town. The whole book really speaks to the imagination that a child possesses and reading this as an adult has a unique quality that brings you back to childhood, when you were telling stories such as these short tales. I highly recommend this book and other books by Shaun Tan!

Module 7

I like whenever the book goes into more detail about blogging; being a new blogger, I still don’t know much about the many uses of blogging and how to best utilize it in a learning environment, so I really learn something from the text! When I find myself sitting down to type the blog post every week, I also find myself struggling over exactly what to write about and if it is enjoyable and informative for my classmates and professor to read. This was something that I did not have to worry about when I was in high school, when I wrote papers I would only have to worry about whether it was what the teacher was looking for, and even then I would know that they would correct me if my thinking process was wrong; now, I have to make sure I thoroughly explain my thoughts in a way that anyone reading can understand and I find myself proof reading a lot more than I did in high school, but I think that this process will better improve my writing and explaining skills as a student and as a future teacher.

That being said, I can definitely see the advantages in blogs as reader responses and digital book review as reader responses. I think that the knowledge that their opinion will be read by more people than just the teacher and a few classmates is something that will encourage children to push themselves to write better and to motivate them to write more thoughtfully. I find myself saying this a lot in my blog entries, but I really think that it is important for children to learn their self-worth and feel that their opinions and voice are important and are being heard. I think that this encourages children to better themselves and to be proud of their achievements.

                Another thing that I really liked was the idea of the anchor charts. I think they have a place in the classroom both digitally and traditionally. I remember making them when I was in elementary school and it was always a fun activity, where everyone got involved deciding what was written on the charts and decorating them. I think general ones, such as charts about respect and listening, can always be kept as posters in the classroom, but other ones, that might not have to be referred to on a daily basis can be stored and/or created digitally!