blog post 8 changemaker
As I was going through the We Virtual learning center there where a few things that stuck out to me specifically. This is a very good page for teachers to come to for help. I navigated to the “lesson Packages & Supporting resource’s” tab. this is a really good way for teachers to get some help information and lesson plans for all grades, skills, and themes. this could be a very useful too for teachers. they can see different lessons plans that they can use or can just use things from those lessons plans to help. I definitely can see this being useful in my future teaching career. Being able to see all these different lessons plans for all different topics and ages is so useful. It is being regularly updated with new and better information. I don’t see how teachers wouldn’t use this as a reference if they knew about it. This website should be shared to more teachers for help and reference.
The Future, The Change
As I reflect on my vision for my future classroom, I am filled with excitement and optimism for the journey ahead. I am inspired by the opportunity to create a learning environment where curiosity is nurtured, diversity is celebrated, critical thinking is valued, and social and emotional well-being are prioritized. While the road ahead may be filled with challenges and uncertainties, I am confident that with dedication, passion, and a commitment to lifelong learning, I can create a classroom where every student feels inspired, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
New Ways through the help of WE Virtual Learning Center
My Findings
This is the home page of the website. On the left there is a navigation tool for different pages on the site. I clicked on WE Teachers Courses and Lesson Packages & Supporting Resources.
A Virtual Learning Center can offer a wide range of learning resources. These diverse resources cater to different learning styles and preferences, enhancing engagement and retention.
WE Teachers Courses
WE Teachers is a no-cost program that helps teachers build their capacity and empower their students. It connects them to a network of like-minded peers, offers professional development and training sessions, and provides resources to help their students become active, engaged citizens.
The page has lots of guides, resource, and course for teachers to use. One that stood out to me was the Mental Well Being in the Classroom, the resource is broken up into sections about mental health in general, within the youth and teachers mental health. There’s resources are more just for teachers eye to help better understand the in’s and out’s of education life.
Lesson Packages & Supporting Resources
This page is debated to lesson plans for all age groups and topics of world issues.
Many tabs are on this page that take you to different lesson plans or resources. It is very organized by categories so its easy to navigate.
My Thoughts
The Virtual Learning Center has the potential to transform education and empower learners of all ages and backgrounds to thrive in the digital age. With each step forward in my educational journey, I am constantly reflecting on the values and principles that will shape my teaching practice and the learning experiences I aim to cultivate for my students. With the help of many resources for my further students and myself I feel that the WE Virtual Learning Center is an amazing tool to use for my classroom.
WE Virtual Learning Center
The resource I read through on the We Virtual Learning Center is about the Service- Learning Educator Guide. This guide is for the educator and shows how they use this framework for students to accomplish their learning objectives. While also engaging with and addressing the needs of their community as well as possibly the entire world, their country, their state, or their county. Through this framework it shows the educator how they should have their students investigate and learn about the topic that is being taught to them. Then the action plan of how to implement their learning on the lesson or topic at hand to apply it into the real world. As well as how they take action to do so and what type of action they will take to accomplish this goal. Finally reporting what the outcomes of what they have learned, each and every step they complete must be recorded and reflected so that they can implement these notes into their final project as well.
I thought that this was a great resource as it gave the teacher the full outline of what the lesson and work should be done by their students. All the educator has to do in this situation is follow the lesson plan and what each part wants the student to accomplish. Then at the end the students have completed a service while learning about a certain topic. This service will help their community, county, state, country, or maybe even the world which is a very positive thing. That is why I decided to research and write about this tool from the WE Virtual Learning Center since it is such an amazing tool from this website. WE Virtual Learning Center has many other great tools and resources such as the student toolkit which helps students complete projects like these and the steps they must go through on their own to work through these projects correctly. I suggest looking through this website with everything that it has to offer as it has many great resources that educators and students can use for their class.
https://vimeo.com/garciacreativemedia/review/510525284/851a1a17e5
Service Learning with WE Schools
WE is an amazing learning experience that promotes a collaborative service between students AND teachers! Like-minded students choose an issue or topic that needs attention and consideration then develop plan to bring awareness to this topic. This allows for the students and community to become involved through volunteering and skilled work.
A success story from this concept is this story from Texas that raised funds to aid those in need through a GoFundMe campaign and local donations.
I look forward to using this resource in my classroom for many reasons. I feel as though this can not only bring our community together to help local issues but can also expand to global issues too. The students and teachers can influence others who want to help but do not know how to get started.
Resources on WE
WE is an amazing website filled with resources and training for teachers to use that encourages them in addressing social issues within the class. On the website, I decided to check out the resources and lesson plans offered. WE not only teaches educators about certain topics, but offers help, advice, and tips for teachers to give the most to their students without hurting themselves.
An example of the resources is the lesson titled “Trauma-Informed Practice: Part 1 PowerPoint & Survey.” This slideshow focuses on teaching what Trauma is, how it affects students of all ages in different ways, and how teachers can respond to help and support these students.
Why is it important?
The information given from this lesson plan on the WE website is incredibly valuable because of how many students may have some type of trauma. According to the PowerPoint, “More than 50% of all US children have experienced 1 or more forms of trauma” (Slide 10). Every student deserves to feel safe in the classroom, and with an almost guarantee that at least one child in every classroom is going to suffer from some type of trauma, it is important that teachers are aware of the signs and know how to react. For the first 18 years of a child’s life, school is where they spend a majority of their time, they deserve to have resources and people their who can help them.
What does WE Teach you?
Each lesson plan focuses on something different, but no less important. All of them provide support, training, and answers to questions for teachers to be able to use in order to help students. A program such as this one is easily incredibly important because the resources it holds can help thousands of students. Getting to explore a source such as this one has been exciting, especially as someone hoping to become a teacher. I hope I remember this program so I can use it if need be in the future!
We Virtual Learning Center Resources
With the use of the internet, teachers and educators have been able to share their resources and tools across the globe for others to use to enhance their own education. This global collaboration has provided aspiring teachers today with an endless amount of resources to help support and enhance their learning. The Website WE Virtual Learning Center is one such source of education resources and today I will share 3 interesting things I found while exploring the site.
Events And Opportunities For All Teachers
Before we jump into the educational content and resources provided throughout the page, something I found very helpful was their event calendar. This helped show what types of events are being held when throughout the school year and how you can fit your teaching schedule around it. Events such as the Say It Now Workshop, Global Classroom, and Professional Development can help you learn and explore even more ways to improve your classroom as well as network and make connections with other educators around the world.
Endless Amounts of Lessons And Resources
Throughout the website, there are hundreds of lesson plans, teaching strategies, and course resources available to view or download. These resources range from classroom management, to improving social connections between students, to subject area content. It is really amazing how much there is. One resource I found interesting was the WE Are One Campaign Guide, a lesson plan/guide for teaching the importance of accepting diversity and providing inclusion with technology. The lesson plan is very well crafted with interesting graphics and designs. One small issue that I would like to mention is that while the website has many different resources, the way it organizes them can be somewhat confusing and difficult to navigate.
Different Types of Media For Teachers and Students
As a Visual/Audio learner, I love it when a website provides knowledge and resources in multiple different ways and formats mainly through video. Luckily the We Virtual Learning Center has a large collection of videos for you to watch yourself or use in a classroom. They contain many of the same resources and information as listed before in video formats such as Workshops, virtual events, and lesson ideas.
Conclusion
I am happy to add this website to my collection of educational resources and I believe it can be a great help for anyone looking for lesson ideas or wanting to improve their teaching craft. While the website can be a little confusing and complicated, it is still a vast and incredible resource that I would love to make use of myself as a teacher
You can check out the website here for yourself at this link https://weschools.we.org/. If you like this blog feel free to check out my previous blogs as well.
Empower Your Classroom with WE
What is WE?
WE is a charity and educational platform that aims to help people all across the world. WE hopes to spread the message that everybody should be able to get out of poverty, have access to education, and so much more. Their website offers the ability to donate, learn about what others have done; there is a virtual learning area that provides materials for educators to give to students to help them grow within the classroom.
Inspiring Students for the Future
Since the project has ended, I have missed being a part of Global Goals in the classroom, it was so incredible to learn about. When browsing the WE virtual learning center, I noticed a section named “Action Campaigns”. When I clicked this area, I noticed that there were several categories that match what we were doing for the Global Goals project, including conserving water, going green, and even STEM innovations! I decided to explore the “WE Are Innovators” section of the campaigns.
WE Are Innovators
In this section, there are several modules with specified grade levels they could be used for. One module of value (for younger students) is one about understanding human impact on the environment.
After looking through this resource, I was absolutely amazed. It provides articles and videos for educators to show students to get them to think about how humans interact with the environment. It has question that direct students to recognize where waste comes from, and the varying forms it takes on in the environment (smog, trash, pollution, water problems). Later on, it provides ideas on how to get students into groups and determine what they can do, both individually and as a community, to better the environment and help their community.
The Wonders of “WE Are Innovators”
The resource mentioned above is a fantastic way to have students increase their STEM skills while also making them aware of how humans impact the environment. This is a valuable resource to have, as it allows for students to contemplate how to interact with the world in the future, and it increases their understanding of the consequences of waste in the environment. By having the students work in groups, they can collaborate, communicate, and reflect on how they can help the world around them all while becoming better in STEM related areas.
Conclusion
WE is a fantastic website if you want to learn about how to help both in your own country and internationally. It is even better for helping educators empower students to learn more about how they impact the world, and how they can directly change the course for environmental issues.
Citations
WE website: https://www.we.org/en-US/
Exciting Tools To Use In the Classroom
Technology has helped people greatly when it comes to staying organized and on top of things. In my future classroom I would love to use a virtual calendar that can be accessed by every student and parent. This is a great way to keep students informed of what is expected of them fo that month. It allows students to gain skills when it comes to planning ahead and getting assignments done on time. I love the idea of the virtual calendar because it will never get lost and will always be available. I cannot wait to use this type of calendar and personalize it to the assignments and links I have for my classroom!
WE Teachers Mental Well Being in the Classroom
There is certainly a heightened focus on mental well-being in schools today than there used to be. When I was in school grades K-8 mental health issues among students were not acknowledged the way they are now. Today, we know much more about their impact on academic performance. Recognizing its crucial role in student success and overall quality of life, schools are increasingly integrating mental well-being into their curriculum and support systems. In my future classroom, this is an area I really want to continue to put an emphasis on. I want to give my future students the support I wish I had as a child in school.
Understanding and building knowledge about mental health issues in youth is crucial for several reasons. Most mental health problems often emerge during adolescence, and early intervention can prevent long-term consequences. It is important for all people to know that mental health affects various aspects of a young person’s life, including academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being. By increasing awareness and knowledge, we can reduce stigma, promote help-seeking behaviors, and provide appropriate support and resources to those in need. Understanding and addressing mental health in youth fosters resilience and equips them with coping skills to navigate life’s challenges effectively.
Section two in this unit discusses common mental health challenges amongst students. Some common mental health challenges in youth include anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, eating disorders, substance abuse, self-harm, suicidal behavior, and mood disorders like bipolar disorder. These issues can significantly impact a young person’s emotional well-being, academic performance, and social relationships. Early recognition and intervention are crucial to prevent long-term consequences and promote healthy development. By addressing these challenges through education, awareness, and access to mental health resources, we can better support the needs of youth and foster resilience, ultimately ensuring their overall well-being and future success.
Supporting children struggling with mental health in the classroom involves creating a safe, supportive environment where emotional regulation is promoted through coping strategies and regular brain breaks. Providing individualized support, encouraging peer empathy, and normalizing mental health discussions are essential. Implementing sensory supports, establishing predictable routines, and collaborating with mental health professionals further bolster student well-being. By modeling healthy coping behaviors and prioritizing student support, educators foster an environment where all students can thrive academically and emotionally.
The last section of this unit covers the importance of a teacher’s mental well-being. It’s vital for teachers to be in a good mental state as it directly impacts their effectiveness in the classroom and their ability to support students. To maintain their mental well-being, teachers can prioritize self-care through activities like exercise and hobbies, establish clear boundaries between work and personal life, and seek support from colleagues and loved ones. Engaging in mindfulness practices, attending to emotional needs, and taking regular breaks also contribute to their overall well-being. By prioritizing their mental health, teachers can create a positive learning environment and serve as positive role models for their students.
Gratitude Activity – WE Virtual Learning Center
I found this cute, fun, and engaging activity on this site https://www.we.org/en-US/ which seems to have the chance to have a positive impact on students.
It seems like a great little way to incorporate teaching gratitude to elementary school children and it can be extremely beneficial and valuable for my future classroom.
Teaching gratitude in a 3rd-grade classroom can have numerous benefits. It fosters a positive classroom environment, enhances social-emotional learning, and promotes empathy and kindness among students. It also helps children develop a sense of appreciation for what they have and who they have in their lives. Additionally, expressing gratitude can improve mental well-being by fostering positive emotions and reducing stress. Through activities like this one, students learn to recognize and articulate their feelings of gratitude, which can lead to stronger relationships and a greater sense of happiness and fulfillment. It helps them develop crucial social-emotional skills that lay the foundation for their overall well-being and success in life. At this age, children are beginning to understand their emotions more deeply and are forming relationships with peers and adults. Learning about gratitude helps them appreciate the positive aspects of their lives, fosters empathy and kindness toward others, and teaches them to express appreciation for the support they receive from family, friends, and teachers. By cultivating gratitude early on, 3rd graders can develop a positive outlook, resilience, and strong interpersonal skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
