JennC

=Introduction =

I've been teaching middle level education for thirteen years: 7th and 8th grade Language Arts, created a new 8th grade elective //Media Literacy//, and also team teach many other subjects with the teachers at the Sparta Middle School in Sussex County. I've been an instructor with RTC for eight (?) years teaching Student Responsibilty & Self-Discipline in Learning Communities, AD/HD, Stress and the Teaching and Learning Process, and looking forward to adding UDL to my list.

I love that education happens to be my career and my passion; however I am also very passionate about my family. I am very happily married to my high school sweetheart and we have two children in high school. Our oldest is preparing for college so we are really enjoying the whole college search and all that it involves.



Other passions of mine are yoga, meditation (Give it a try! Click above.), reading, writing, and drinking wine.

Thought it would be fun to share my website with you. I got the idea from Caryn's wiki intro~thanks Caryn! //Click on the picture of my school below//: == = 5,4,3,2,1 =
 * __5 New Technologies__**: Delicious, google docs, wikispace, facebook. edmodo, skype for the Sony studio for my Media Literacy class, and as many others that I can!!!!!
 * __4 New Ideas to Share:__** Zamzar, SchoolTube, TeacherTube, UDL comparison to the GPS device, Signed Stories, WGBH Guidelines for Describing STEM Imaging,

1. recognition of learning-//Representation// 2. strategic learning- //Expression// 3. engage learner-//Engagement//
 * __3 Principles of UDL:__**

As a Library Media Specialist, it's my job to encourage teachers to incorporate technology into their lessons. I have to say that many of our teachers do lots of technology as they instruct with wikis and we all have personal moodles. They use moodle as an interactive tool with the kids as well as post all materials for class. This is a link to my class moodle: [] Key code: Caputo.
 * __2 Changes in Teaching to Reach All Learners:__**

I don't know if there are changes that have to be made, as much as maybe two more stretches further into the UDL approach. I'm still thinking about what they are or can be. Ok, here are my thoughts, my brain is going crazy...
 * 1) create wikispaces to keep in contact with the kids in the various clubs I run
 * 2) create a parent link on my website
 * 3) create a more interactive/informative reference link for teacher on my website
 * 4) indicate all new changes in the September newsletter to parents to set the tone for the year
 * 5) talk to Dianna Ramsey about starting a charter school with all RTC instructed teachers because we all get it.....!


 * __Big Idea to implement on Monday:__**
 * parent/student/ professional link
 * add all new website/wiki info into September newsletter
 * hold a parent night to share with parents
 * monthly emails to teachers

Culminating Activity #1
When first asked to complete this activity, my first thought was how can I do this without being so redundant. Do I really need to regurgitate everything already read in our binder and our text, and already stated by the members of our class, and by Jon? Then I realized, yes I do because while it may be repetitive for me, Jon has no idea of what is going on in my head... a bajillion things. So, in an effort to put my thoughts and energy into our Blog #2 response, I decided I'd simply list my words generated from reading Dr. David W. Cochran's article, //Universal Design for Learning Reaching all students with digital media//, to complete this activity and it will be these words that will summarize what I believe UDL is: flexibility, diversity, all-learners, differentiation, balance, special needs, enables learners/teachers, access, embracing differences, bottom up.

Culminating Activity #2:


Great article in Family Circle September 2010 "Class Acts" by Dan Tynan

Culminating Activity #3
The intention of this letter is to be sent via email as an attachment.