About me

My name is Stephanie Evans, I am a junior at The University of Akron, dual-majoring in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. I an completing my first year here at Akron as I am a transfer student from Ashland University. There, I studied nursing, so I have huge biology and chemistry background. The reason I changed schools is because I had family medical issues and financial issues and my fiance graduated college, so we moved to Akron, close to Cleveland, so he could find a better job. I changed majors because nursing school is memorization-based for so much, which education is application-based, and I love it. I was actually working as a nanny and decided to apply at Akron last minute to see if I could still attend school last fall. It happened to be that I was accepted the day school started to attend school at Akron and I began classes the next day.

 I work at a daycare in Akron as a school-age teacher. I work with second through fourth grade most of the time, but sometimes I have all kindergarten through fourth grade, too. I will be working during the summer, as a full-time teacher, creating my own lesson plans, taking the students on field trips, and participating in a carnival at the daycare.

Last semester, I accomplished something so big. I made the Dean's List with a GPA of 3.925. I was so proud of myself. I think taking a year off school and changing my majors was the best thing I could have done. I was already young for my class, so being able to mature and then attend school has helped me focus on the importance of school, not just getting through it. I try so hard now, do more than just the bare minimum. I set aside time each day to complete homework and do not let myself get behind on assignments.

I have grown so much through this semester, I became a teacher and use the things I learn in class and apply them to my students. The activities that I have to make in my classes, I let my students try them out and tweak them according to my students' needs. For my major project in Educational Technology, I learned how to crochet, Not only did I learn how to crochet, but I took the time to teach my students how to crochet as well. they loved it. I sat down with them and walked them through each step, it was an amazing experience. They were able to help me through my project. My goal is to incorporate my students in my decisions as much as possible because in the end, they are the ones that are going to be affected and changed.

Last PLN, Productivity

I am a very productive person. Other people call me a busy-body as I cannot just sit down, I have to constantly do things. Whenever I help students with homework, I cannot sit down, I have to stand up and walk around. This helps me think of new ideas and activities to do with the kids since I am always thinking. Technology has helped me expand my ideas to others and if I cannot think of something to do, I can use technology to help me use someone else's ideas. But that is just one way I use technology to be productive. I also use my Google calendar to organize my routines and deadlines, that way I always have my schedule with me wherever I go.

After watching this week's topic video and reading the featured articles, I have learned about so many other ways to become even more productive that relate more towards teaching rather than my every day activities. I have used Google Docs in the past for school so I am familiar with the app, so that will be a must use in terms of sharing documents with colleagues or parents. I found this fa-nominal app called Wunderlist. I checked it out and it is so much better than my Google calendar. Here is the link to sign up. As with my calendar I can access it anywhere with internet or data. When signing up for the app, it gives you categories to choose what you want included such as grocery lists, family information, work information, etc. I can then enter in to-dos and share them with others and organize them however I want. In the classroom, I can use this tool to set goals for the students and share them with the parents, that way everyone is on the same page and the parents can be involved in their child's goals and accomplishments throughout the process. Parents can be there to help their child because of course there will be steps and processes included.

Other productivity tools I will use in my classroom include YouTube and SmartBoard. I am sure there are others I will use, but these are a must.

Jake Miller's presentation showed me that for big issues in the classroom, there are small, easy solutions. Teachers just need simple guidance to learn such steps. He did not just use some issues, he used many issues that teachers may face every day, for example, one of the problems addressed was "I need a way to communicate with [the students] what they should be doing, when" the solution: Google Calendar, one of my favs. Well done presentation, Jake's presentation.

Major Project Post #5

Here is the link to my video for my major project, learning how to crochet!

Major Project Post #4 Design Plan

Stepping Texture Hat

Supplies:

          Yarn of any color

          H (5mm) size hook

          Large sewing needle

Brim (band that goes around your head)

    Begin with a slip knot

    Chain 8

    Insert hook into each loop and slip stitch (7 in total)

    Turn project over and chain 1

    Only work in the back loops

    Continue this until desired length is achieved

    When finished, slip stitch into back loops to join (creating a seam)

    Do not cut the yarn

Round 1: Beginning the hat

    Chain up 3 (never count this as a stitch)

    Double crochet into ridge (count in sets of 5)

    Repeat all the way around (add in more stitches if you don’t have enough to finish with a set of 5)

    Slip stitch into the top of the chain 3

Round 2:

    Chain 3

    For the first 3 stitches, complete front-post double crochets

    For the next 2 stitches, complete back-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around (still in sets of 5)

    End with back-post double crochets

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 3:

    Chain 3

    Begin this round with 1 back-post double crochet

    Next, 3 front-post double crochets

    2 back-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around and end with 1 back-post double crochet

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 4:

    Chain 3

    First 2 stitches are back-post double crochets

    Then 3 front-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around and end with 3 front-post double crochets

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 5:

    Chain 3

    First stitch is 1 front-post double crochet

    Then 2 back-post double crochets

    Then 3 front-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around and end with 2 front-post double crochets

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 6:

    Chain 3

    First 2 stitches are front-post double crochets

    Then 2 back-post double crochets

    Then 3 front-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around and end with 1 front-post double crochet

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Repeat rounds 2-6

Round 1 of closure: (remove stitches to close the gap)

    Chain 3

    Make 3 front-post double crochets

    Skip the next space (leaving a space) and make 1 back-post double crochet in the second space

    Then 3 front-post double crochets

    Repeat all the way around

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 2:

    Chain 3

    3 front-post double crochets

    Skip the back-post double crochet (leaving a space)

    3 front-post double crochets, repeat all the way around skipping the back-post double crochet

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

Round 3:

    Chain 3

    2 front-post double crochets

    Skip the next front-post double crochet (leaving a space)

    2 front-post double crochets

    Skip the next front-post, repeat all the way around

    Slip stitch into top of the chain 3

To complete the hat:

    Cut a 2 foot strand (this should still be attached to the hat)

    Pull the strand all the way through to make a knot

    Put string through a large needle and insert needle across the gap, then across again making an X

    Pull it tight to close the gap

    Insert needle through the center and tie it to make it secure

Pom-pom

    Complete 100 revolutions around your hand (not too tight, it has to come off your hand)

    Cut the yarn

    Cut about 1-2 foot long strand and set it under the wrapped yarn

    Tie the strand around the ball of yarn tightly

    Take scissors and cut the folds on ball of yarn (being careful not to cut the longer strands)

    Insert the longer strands into the top of the hat and secure the pom-pom in place by sewing it in

    Cut any additional strands on the inside of the hat