Ohio DL Schools

          After looking at the five different distance learning K-12 schooling options in Ohio, I would choose to send my child to Ohio Connections Academy. I chose this distance learning classroom because when I first clicked on the link to the website I felt welcomed. The site was easy to navigate and understand. I really liked how the teachers are experienced in online instruction and interaction. It is one thing to keep children involved and engaged when you are standing in front of them, but a whole completely different story when you're teaching them online. Ohio Connection Academy teachers get to know their students and their families, allowing them to personalize lessons and coursework to ensure that each student receives the right degree of challenge and support they need. Many parents worry that with distance learning classroom children will not get the social involvement aspect of a school community as they would in a normal classroom. Even in online school, Ohio Connections Academy students are connected to a school community. Students meet regularly in online LiveLesson sessions and have opportunities to share ideas, compare experiences, and have fun learning together. Ohio Connections Academy offers many ways for online students to meet and learn through field trips, online school clubs, and special school events. These socialization opportunities gibe students a chance to explore the world around them and form friendships with other students. They also help students gain social confidence, learn teamwork, and develop leadership and communication skills. 

          Along with the good, comes the not so good. After looking at the five different distance learning k-12 schooling options in Ohio, I would not send my child to Virtual Community School of Ohio. When I first clicked on the site it did not send a warm and friendly vibe. There was a kind of FAQs page, but it was more of a here's what we think parents will ask and not so much what actual parents asked. After looking around a bit, I came across their curriculum page. The site did not really talk about their curriculum or what they have to offer for their students. In order to learn a bit more about their curriculum you had to clink on a side link that brought up all the different subjects. Some of the subjects I clicked on were blank, while others had a small description of the subject. However I did like that each student K-5 receives a material box with a variety of learning materials (such as textbooks, lesson guides, arts and science supplies, etc.) that corresponds with the lessons taught in their grade level. As much as I like this, I wish that they supplied these material boxes throughout all their grades.

My Prezi

This Prezi is an introduction of who I am, where I am, and where I am going. The intended audience for this Prezi are the students I teach and their parents, faculty and future employers.

This was my first time ever using Prezi. I am a full on PowerPoint girl, but I have to say it was pretty easy and I like it! I like that you can get really creative with the layouts and designs of it. I would defiantly recommend using Prezi over PowerPoint!

Three Teacher Blogs I Liked

          Technology has come a long way from where it first started. It has changed the way people communicate with each other and how they function on a daily basis. Technology is great, but can be difficult to understand, especially when it comes to the classroom. Technology has become a major part of every classroom and it is important for teachers to understand it and how to incorporate it into the classroom. Many teachers have created blogs as a way to help out other teachers and to keep in touch with parents. For this assignment I needed to find three teacher blogs that I liked. I looked for preschool teacher blogs because that is a future goal of mine (to work with preschoolers).

Three teacher blogs that I liked:

1) Preschool Ponderings --> http://www.preschoolponderings.blogspot.com/

          I liked this blog because the teacher has worked for nearly ten years with toddlers and preschoolers. I loved that when she started teaching, she worked at a Reggio inspired school. What i really liked about this blog was that the teacher made post that were inspirational for other teachers. She had blogs about way to organize the classroom, helpful tips about behaviors and curriculum. 

2) Not Just Cute, Intentional Whole Child Development --> http://notjustcute.com/

          "Not all children are the same. They are not bags of chips on the conveyor belts of a factory - they are humans." I feel like this quotes sums up this teachers blog. The main focus on her blog is DAP or Developmentally Appropriate Practices. "'Developmentally Appropriate Practices' bring that term up in a room full of early childhood educators, and you'd better get comfy. They'll have a lot to say on the matter. But bring that term up with just about anyone who is NOT an early childhood professional, and you may get blank stares." This blog talks about the importance of DAP and how to help teachers understand and how to use it.

3) Art With Mrs. Nguyen  --> http://www.artwithmrsnguyen.com/

          I really liked this blog, even though it was not geared towards preschoolers, because art is a very important aspect of any level of education. Art is important because it allows children to express how they are feeling and can be a stress release for some children. I liked this blog because she talks about different ways to do art. She had posts about working with clay, watercolors, and other art expressions. 

Welcome to my Blog

Good Evening and welcome to my education blog!! 

        My name is Erica Svensson and I am currently a student at Columbus State Community College. I am studying early childhood education and will be graduating with my associate's degree in May of 2016!! I am currently working at a childcare center in Dublin, Ohio. I absolutely love the staff there and especially the children! They make every day better when I see their smiling faces!! Even though I am graduating from CSCC in May, I plan on continuing my education in early childhood education and get my teaching license. My original goal was to become a fourth grade teacher, but after working with younger children, I have decided to further my education with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and get my teaching license later. I would love to work in a preschool. 

        I am not married (although there has been talk about a ring!! Guess I'll just have to wait and see), but do have a loving boyfriend of four years. He is a mechanical engineer and is currently in Japan doing some training for work (is it march yet?). I love spending as much time as possible with him and with my friends and family. They all mean the world to me! I have many interests and hobbies, but will not bore you with all of those!! I love being creative, whether that's through drawing, painting, crocheting, or even making bracelets. I also love to read and hang out with friends and family. 

        I have always loved just being around children. I am the one at the family reunions who is running around with the children or sitting reading a story  or playing princess with them. So to make a career out of something I only imagined is a wish come true. It took me a couple years to realize that I wanted to be a teacher, even though the thought has always been in the back of my mind. 

        My goals as a teacher is to make a difference in the lives of the children and their parents. I want to see the excitement on the children's faces as they enter the classroom. I want them to be excited to come to school and keep that excitement throughout their school experience. My goal as an educator is to promote the child, encourage them to imagine and explore the world around them. To ask questions and seek out answers. To mold their mind through process rather than product.