Off to Columbus

To my SI family, I’m off to Columbus bright and early this morning.  They moved my time to 9am, so we are leaving home at 4:30am.  We are taking the kids to my best friend’s home first.  I loved my summer class with all of you and thank you for your prayers.  I’ll try to [...]

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Cover Letter

Cover Letter To any blog readers who happen to stumble upon my site,             Thank you for reading my blog.  This was initially created as a requirement of the Marshall University Writing Project’s (MUWP) Summer Institute (SI).  But it has evolved into something much more.  I have discovered that I like to write.  This was [...]

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How I Almost Lost My Husband

How I Almost Lost My Husband               It was a beautiful spring morning in April, 2003.  My husband, Tom, had been struggling with back pain for many years and his neurologist had scheduled him for an MRI.  Tom is incredibly claustrophobic and therefore could not be slid back into the closed MRI machine until [...]

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The Education of a First Year Teacher

The Education of a First Year Teacher             This past school year I taught my first full time year in the classroom.  At the beginning of the year, I decorated my room as most teachers do.  I stapled borders around message boards and my door.  Sticky dots clung to the back of laminated posters depicting [...]

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Demo Flyer

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My Plans to Have My Very Own Web Page

My Plans to Have My Very Own Web Page               During Summer Institute, we have been learning how to use various technologies.  While Web Pages were not specifically covered, I’ve been inspired none the less.  It is my goal to have my very own Web Page during the next school year.  This technology was [...]

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How I Use Technology

How I Use Technology        In the classroom, I often lecture with a PowerPoint presentation projected up on the whiteboard.  I underline the notes on the board that I want students to write down in their notebooks.  I also use the projector to show slide shows, videos from united streaming or Thinkfinity and fun [...]

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Exit Slip 7/8/09

What are the top five lessons you will take back to your classroom or lifestyle after summer institute? 5: To write. 4: To rely on fellow educators to help me become a better teacher and to be there for them when they need me. 3: To encourage my children at home to write.  Writing shouldn’t [...]

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Blogs & Wikis

Blogs & Wikis   Part of our reading for Summer Institute was Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  Below are my favorites quotes from the first two chapters and why. Ch 1 quotes: #1: “Today’s students, of almost any age, are far ahead of their teachers in computer literacy.” #2: “…years [...]

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Demo Components

Jill Smith Literacy & Learning Disabilities Marshall University 2009 National Writing Project Demo Components Format: 1.   Needs assessment: The underlying assumption about writing targeted in this demo is that writing and learning go hand in hand for all students.   2.   Learner analysis:  Student population – students with learning disabilities.  They have special ways of [...]

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