What I learned....

Literacy:

It is important to use literacy in the classroom.  It enhances learning and encourages students to think and explore.  It helps students retain the information they have learned.

Things I will implement in my classroom....
I will definitely encourage critical thinking/literacy into my classroom.  I want my students to be able the critically analyze websites they see, books they read, and information they are presented with.  I will encourage them to explore and create beyond what they already know.

I am going to use all of the activities and lesson plans that we created for this class.  The vocabulary assignment helped me create activities that encouraged learning of vocabulary terms.

As a teacher, I will often refer to the text set I created to find ideas for a class library or books that my students could read to explore the content more.

I will be using digital technology in my classroom.  I will start a class blog where students can post lab results/pictures and can discuss topics and resources that relate to the curriculum.

How it helped....
This class helped my familiarize myself with literacy as a whole.  It opened my mind up that text is not simply a published book.  Text is a wide variety of resources to learning.  This class helped me become a better teacher by learning how to implement literacy into my classroom.

FCS is totally wicked!

Have you ever felt like the young boy in this clip?

Have you ever felt that life is too boring and you rarely ever get to see something "amazing?"  Your search is over!

Family Consumer Sciences aka FCS has some of the funnest and interactive classes that you will ever take in your middle school or junior and high school careers.  

This is just a small list of things you get to do when involved with FCS....

Knife skills - cut food like a professional chef and impress your friends and family.

Cooking  - learn to make your own food so you don't starve at college.

Sewing - Sew your own outfit that you can wear and show off.

Fashion - learn about dressing for your body type and participate in a runway show.

Textiles - learn where your clothes come from.  Learn about the history of a jean from plant to your closet.

Child Development - See what it's like to have your own baby.  Take a baby home with you that you can feed and take care of.

Interior Design - Learn how to make your home look like MTV cribs.

Financial Literacy - learn how to become a MILLIONAIRE!


That's only a sample of what you'll learn in FCS.  In FCS you get to explore and create in so many different subjects that it's hard to be bored.

We have as much fun as the chef in this clip.

Come join FCS classes!

Technology

I'm not as text savvy as I once was

I don't own an ipod, ipad, mp3, or smartphone.
I have a cell phone that I use to.....

 text

call people

receive calls.

My husband has an ipad which I occasionally use to play Scramble with Friends (best game eva!) but that's about it.

My main source of technology is my 7 year old brick of a laptop Macbook Pro.  I love it, it's the greatest piece of metal I own!  I only use it about 3 days a week when I am on campus because we have yet to get internet at our apartment (it's in the works.)  When I do use it I go online to post to blogs (like this one), do my homework, get information (open/closing times of stores, recipes, etc.) AND.... to do the occasional visit to facebook :)

If I ever watch T.V. I have to be doing something else i.e. crocheting, cuddling with my stone-cold fox of a husband, sewing, working on homework, curling my hair, writing a paper, etc.  T.V. watching for me feels like a waste of time so I like to do other things while I'm watching.  

In the past I was a huge blogger!  I would spend hours a day reading and writing blogs; nowadays, time and life responsibilities are more demanding and I only write on blogs if they are homework assignments.  Which I enjoy doing :)

As a teacher I feel that being familiar with current technology is important in contributing success to your class curriculum.  Implementing modern technology (pinterest, twitter, blogs, websites, etc.) can help you stay connected with your students.  It helps your students stay informed of the curriculum in class and it gives me, as a teacher, the opportunity to present more resources that relate to the content material.  It also is a great way to connect with the parents.  Through technology students can explore new ideas and designs.  I would encourage my students to post their opinions, projects, creations, and ideas onto their own blogs or social networking sites so they can help others progress.

Affective Dimensions of Reading

Am I a good reader?

Throughout my life I've asked myself that particular question but over the past couple of years I've disregarded it because, in my opinion, I had thought myself a good reader.  However, a couple of days ago I found out in one of my college classes that I am one of the slowest readers in my class.  I'm not discouraged;  I may not be quick and reading but I have always enjoyed a good book.  Books are a source to me of escape from the realities and stresses of the world.  Books take me into worlds of happy endings, adventures, and eccentric characters and lifestyles.  

My favorite types of books are those that lift me up, make me feel inspired, or touch my heart.  I wish I had the gift for loving textbooks but unfortunately, that genre of book does not have a place on my "to read" list. 

One time in my life when I really enjoyed reading was my junior year of college.  My family had recently experienced the death of a close family member.  I had returned to school after the Christmas holiday and I felt very alone.  I decided to start reading children's fiction.  Whenever I was feeling down I went to my room and opened the Fablehaven series or Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.  For a few moments I was able to get away from the drama of roommates, the stress of homework, and the sadness of being away from my family. From that experience I found one thing: reading keeps me sane.  Nowadays, I try to have some type of recreational novel to read but I'm lucky if I have time enough time to spare to read a page.

As far as I can remember, my parents have always loved reading.  I was never expected to read but I found joy in reading as I followed the example of my parents and older sister.  As a teacher I want to set an example of reading for my students.  I want to show them different books and articles that relate to the content area that I am teaching.  I feel that giving interesting reading opportunities to students helps them to realize that reading doesn't always have to be boring.  There are many magazines and books published that involve sewing, fashion, interior design, child development, cooking, and financial literacy.  I need to help my students realize the potential of written media as it relates not only to my discipline but to their everyday lives.

Introduction - Blog One

My name is Camille.  I am a Family Consumer Science Education (FCSE) major, which includes interior design, clothing and textiles, foods and nutrition, child development and parenting, and financial management.  I love bright colors, good food,  sewing, cooking, and the outdoors.  I got really lucky a couple months ago when I married my stone cold fox of a husband.  One of the coolest things we've done since being married has been driving the Alaskan Highway and camping out on the way in parts of Canada and the western coast.

I love every aspect of Family Consumer Sciences because all of the subject material is applicable in everyday life.  I love that my discipline teaches people life skills that will benefit them in their personal lives and also help them contribute towards a better society. What drew me towards FCSE was the subject material and the opportunity to be an educator.  I feel that teaching is such a rewarding career.  Teachers have a strong influence on their students and we have the remarkable opportunity to help the younger generation become better individuals with the potential to improve the society we live in.

My definition of literacy would be to have knowledge and competency in a subject matter.  Literacy relates to my content area because students will have to demonstrate the skills of the subject material that is learned (for example, they will be taught how to read a recipe but the students will have to show that they can follow a recipe and make food.)  Being literate plays a vital role in the experiences and quality of our lives.