Back to School PowerPoint Reflection

The Back to School PowerPoint is a great tool to welcome students back to school and to your classroom. With this assignment, I learned how to incorporate a fun, exciting theme, a teacher introduction, and an overview of the class into an interactive PowerPoint. I also learned how to format pictures in PowerPoint. I never knew you could make photos any shape you want! Now my teacher introduction photo matches the rest of my PowerPoint theme, how great!

I love my overall layout, as well as the theme I chose for my PowerPoint. It's so bright and cheery! I think I gave ample information about what to expect in class as well. I give a description of what to expect while reading each work and after we finish each work. This PowerPoint is to be given in-class so that I could fill in the specific information regarding the class overview. I would also email the students or their parents a copy of the PowerPoint to use as a reference at home. The note to the parents at the end invites parents to contact me for any reason. It's always good to let parents know you're available.

While I think I covered a good deal about what to expect in the class, I feel as though it was maybe a bit too vague. As I said before in a previous reflection, I have never actually taught a class, so I have no reference to work off of. I didn't give any examples of works we would cover. I also plan on having students complete a major project to accompany their final exam and final essay. I didn't include that in the class overview, but I should add it in. I left it slightly blank so I could change material if necessary. I would give examples of works we would cover while giving the in-class presentation of this PowerPoint. However, I still find it a bit lacking.

This Back to School PowerPoint shows my ability, once again, to create an effective presentation using PowerPoint. I haven't included everything I plan to cover in class on the slides, avoiding confusion and boredom. I included a sound, a photo, external links, a variation of text angles, and an overall theme to the PowerPoint to show my abilities with this program. I feel extremely comfortable using PowerPoint, more-so than I ever have, and will definitely use it in my professional career for a multitude of projects.

Internet Safety & Classroom Rules Reflection

In making the Netiquette Flyer and the Classroom Rules PowerPoint I learned to incorporate two different methods of communication classroom and state guidelines to students and their parents/guardians. The netiquette flyer served to notify students and parents of the guidelines to be followed while using the internet in the classroom, while the classroom rules ppt was more of an interactive, in-class guide that could also be accessed by students and parents at home. Most rules in any setting arise from a problem. Since I don't have a class, or problems (yet!), I had to draw my rules from what I experienced in high school, and make some up I thought would come in handy. I learned that communication of these rules, especially the netiquette rules, is extremely important for students to feel and act safe and for parents to feel rest-assured.

I think the way I communicated the rules of my class via PowerPoint worked well. I used a humorous theme (which was also a reference to the most popular piece of literature, The Bible) to get students' attention and I felt that the rules I provided were appropriate for the grade level and subject. I even offered a solution to the plagiarism problem by attaching a link to an MLA guide website. In the netiquette flyer I directed towards the parents, I provided links to sites I believe would be helpful if any parent should have concerns not covered in my letter regarding internet safety. I also provided them with my phone number and email address. I think these elements worked rather well.

While I feel as though my creations were overall effective, I believe some elements didn't work as well as I had planned. In my classroom rules ppt, I provided a link to the OWL @ Purdue. I think this site is a great resource for students (I use it as a reference for nearly every paper I write). I only wish I had found more sites to give students to use as great resources. I could have offered alternative research sites to Wikipedia or I could have showed them the numerous "plagiarism-check" sites to which teachers have access. I feel as though there was more information I could have provided for my students. On my netiquette flyer, I don't think many elements worked against me. The only problem I have with this document is the overall layout. I think my spacing is off and I have an extra page I just can't seem to get rid of! I'm concerned that if I tried to print the page, it might not turn out right. This is all a matter of tweaking and improving my Word skills, however.

In these documents I showed my ability to use different programs for communicating class rules and guidelines. My PowerPoint contains an external link, slide themes, transitions, and images. My netiquette flyer incorporates images, borders, lines, and different texts/text boxes.

Back to School Brochure Reflection

In my 'Back to School' Brochure, I gave students the information they need in order to be successful in my classroom. I gave a brief overview of classroom rules and expectations, as well as a semester overview. This brochure is meant to be supplemental to the first day of class. I would be going over the brochure with the students in-class, as well as answering any of their questions and going over more specific information regarding the class.

This project taught me that it's extremely difficult to prepare for a class you've never taught before. I tried to create a feasible semester overview and reasonable expectations for my classroom, but found it difficult having had no experience. I also learned the importance of notifying parents what happens within the classroom. While my course is geared towards 12th grade, parent involvement is still important.

I think the overall layout and the announcement to parents works really well. I made sure to let parents know they can participate in the class on any field trips we might take or by suggesting material to cover. I also made them feel comfortable to contact me about anything concerning the class. I think it's difficult to reach all parents when their children are in 12th grade. Many students feel pretty independent, and some are already legally adults. I think that by going over the flyer in-class and then having them take it home for their parents to review is the best strategy. That way, I'm not overlooking either party.

While I feel as though the method of presentation and the announcement to parents went well, I thin the whole flyer is a bit vague. Like I said, I've never actually taught this class, so, more than it ever will be, this is a work in progress and a learn-as-you-go sort of endeavor. In the semester overview, I described the method of assessment, but never really told students any content they'd be learning. If we had covered the Idaho Education Standards in class, this may not be the case, but I feel as though I'd be lacking some content information either way. The rules and expectations of the class also seem a little vague to me. I don't know what rules to lay down because I don't quite know what to expect. However, I think I did a pretty good job without having any experience.

I'm glad we did this project. It definitely prepared me for what I'll have to do during my career as an educator. By doing this I've proved (as much to myself as anyone) that I can use Word to create an effective Back to School flyer for students and teachers to refer to throughout the semester. While it needs some adjustments, I feel as though I've done a good job with the task and information given to me.

http://www.spokentext.net/members/erintetreault/Back_to_School_Newsletter_Reflection.mp3