Grace Culbreth

Professional Development-Laura Bush

I am so excited that I was able to hear the former First Lady,
Laura Bush, speak at Samford this year. She came because the
Education Department is turning 100 years old this year. Mrs. Bush
spoke a lot about her life in the White House, and how she and The
President campaigned and were able to win the election and become
the President and First Lady! Mrs. Bush was a teacher before she
became the First Lady and she was also a librarian. I never knew this
about the First Lady and I was so excited because one day I want to be
a librarian. She has created curriculum to help students read and she
has a passion for book. I was so excited to hear all of this. She often
goes to schools and reads to the students. She spoke on how she
thinks every child should have access to education and that teachers
impact the lives of young people.
She spoke a lot about her life in the White House and how she
and her husband, President Bush reacted and took charge after 911.
She spoke about how when Bush Senior was elected and their lies
leading up to her husband election, and their lives after being in office
for eight years. She and Dr. Westmoreland had a question and answer
time after Mrs. Bush spoke to the crowd. Dr. Westmoreland asked
questions to Mrs. Bush and we were able to see her very humorous
side as well. This was a once in a lifetime experience getting to hear

Mrs. Bush at Samford. I am so glad that we were given this

opportunity! It is one I will never forget!

Grace Culbreth
Ed Camp Professional Development
On May the 2nd I was able to attend EdCamp Birmingham, and I
am so glad! I was able to learn so much through all the sessions I sat in
during the day. The most meaningful talk I went to was with a woman
from Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights. She spoke to us about
interviews and applying and what we need to do in order to get a job.
She was so helpful and informative! She told us we need to make sure
that we give our resumes in person so the principal and other
employees will get to see us face to face before reading our resume.
Some other teachers came in while she was talking and gave us more
advice on classroom management, applying for jobs, and interviews. I
also went a session on Twitter, and how to use it in the classroom. This
was also a helpful session because I am not a tweeter, but she gave
me some great ideas on how to incorporate technology into the
classroom. These sessions were so meaningful, and I learned so much
more than I thought I would. I was able to learn about empathy in the
classroom, how to make cute worksheets, how to interview for a job,
how to integrate technology and getting students excited about work!

Going into this I was not sure what EdCamp was and I was not sure I
was even going to learn anything, but I learned so much from so many
experienced teachers from all over Alabama! I was able to hear the
stories from different types of schools and encouragement from many
different teachers. I was also able to present my Google Project to the
teachers, and they had great questions! I am glad I was able to share
my experience with them and encourage them to give their students
the freedom to explore and give their students the ability to create a
project on their own!

Grace Culbreth
Professional Meeting
For my professional meeting I wrote a lesson plan for Dr. Finn.

Design for Learning

Instructor:
Grade Level/Cooperating Teacher: Kindergarten
Lesson Title: Chinese Dragons
Date:
Curriculum Area: Art
Estimated Time: 45 minutes

Standards Connection: 6.) Identify artistic characteristics of cultures,

times, and places.
Learning Objective(s): Students will be able to create a dancing
dragon after they have learned about Chinese art.
Learning Objective(s) stated in kid-friendly language: After
learning about different Chinese art you are going to create your own
dancing lion!

Evaluation of Learning Objective(s): I will assess the students on

how well they have followed directions and how creative their dragon is
like the ones they see in photos before the activity.
Engagement: I will show the students photos of different art from
China so they will be able to visualize what they are learning about in
class. I will show them a slideshow teaching them about the dragons
and their legends. We will then watch a video of Chinese dragons in a
parade in China.
Learning Design:
The students will first draw the head and tail of a dragon on a piece of
paper. The will then cut them out and decorate with glitter feathers or
other crafty items available. They will now fold a piece of paper in half
the long way. They will cut along the fold line, making two long
rectangles. They will then fold the rectangles like an accordion. The
students will then glue or tape the two pieces together. This will be the
body of the dragon. The students will glue or tape on end of the body
to the head and glue or tape the other end to the tail. After the dragon
is assembled the students will then glue or tape the skewers to the tail
and the head of the dragon so they can move it around!
Assessment I will assess the students on how well they have followed
directions, and how creative they were able to make their dragons look
like the Chinese dragons they saw in the pictures show before the
activity.

IV. Closure: I will turn on Chinese music and have the students dance
with their dragons around the classroom. After we have danced for a
song I will have the students share with the class why they decorated
their dragons the way they did and what they represent.
Materials and Resources:
Colored paper
Scissors
Crayons or markers
Tape or glue
Wooden barbeque skewers or straws
Glitter or feathers
Materials and Resources:
http://china.mrdonn.org/dragons.html
http://presentations.mrdonn.org/dragons.htmlning.com/crafts/chinesen
ewyear/lion/ -Powerpoint
http://www.enchantedlear
http://www.crystalinks.com/chinadragons.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/dragon_lion.htm
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2012/01/07/the-anatomy-of-a-chinesedragon/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icgsW8YUxWs -Video