Journaling

In Chaprter 3 of Daniels & Bizar I learned a lot about journaling and using notebooks in the classroom.  I have tried to use notebooks and journals in the classroom, but found that I get away from it throughout the year.  I always have good intentions to start them and keep them going, but with the limited time and the lack of space and students constantly losing their journals it seemed like we never found the time to do them.  I found the chapter very helpful!  It provided great ideas on how to use journals and notbooks in the classroom and how to keep them from becoming stale.  I think if I start them in the beginning of the year and use a variety of the methods listed I might be able to keep the journals going for a longer time, hopefully throughout the entire year next year.  Journaling also provides students a chance to use their literature skills.

Integrated Curriculum

Integrated curriculum is important to the success of every student!  If students are only taught that math is related only to math and done in math class, they are losing out on valuable learning.  All subject correspond to each other in some way and can intersect and help reinforce the concepts of the other classes.
In science I use math and reading a lot and help reinforce graphing, multiplication, etc.  Students need to see that the skills they learn in the other subjects will have practical knowledge in the real world and in real life situations and see how they can put it to good use.  By doing this we as teachers are encouraging students to not think of school as independent subjects but as a whole, and using the knowledge throughout every class instead of only using the analytical side of their brain for brain for example.