One of my favorite Things was learning how to set up my blog. I can't tell you how proud I was of myself that I had a blog and an avatar and gadgets and then pictures. Wow! I can't believe all the things I put into/onto my blog.
Another favorite was Library Thing because of the different ways to search for books, the recommendations of other readers, and the ability to see what other great readers enjoy. I haven't cataloged my personal books yet. That may be a summer job.
I've always considered myself a lifelong learner, but now there seems to be so much more to learn and so many ways to learn: wikis, nings, teacher tube, Google tools, edublogs, etc. I know I haven't even scratched the surface so I know I will never get bored!!!
I have found new resources for teaching, lesson plans, technology uses in the classroom such as class blogs and/or wikis, and tools for creating interesting lessons.
As much as I have enjoyed this class, I know I am not ready for the next 23 Things yet. I need to make the 1st 23 Things a real part of my routine and explore more uses for them before I dig deeper into new Things.
To keep up with new Web 2.0 applications I will keep checking into Classroom 2.0 and read the forums. I already read a few that I didn't know about and am curious about: diigo and animoto. I'll check those out this summer. I will also keep up with Google Reader. That was another favorite. I loved having all that info coming to me instead of me having to dig for it. COOL!
I like the idea of keeping my blog focused on "Learning New Things". I've enjoyed the blogging experience and I always like to feel I have gained new knowledge or skills each day. I have learned so much! Thank you Mary and Debbie for leading the way!!!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thing 23
Classroom 2.0 is an absolutely wonderful resource for educators. You can search topics and see other members suggestion, or you can ask a question of the members and get tons of feedback for your problem or situation. There are tons of videos to learn how to teach/do things, or to show to a class to enhance learning of almost any subject.
Special Ed in the 21st Century is a Ning network that I thought would be useful in my position, and I still think it might be at some point in the future. My experience here showed me that these social/collaborative sites rely on the members for the quality and quantity of the content. From what I can tell, the site is less than a year old and needs time to build up content.
The 23 Thingsters Ning is fun. I liked seeing colleagues I've worked with or taken other classes with. Thanks for putting all the helpful Common Craft Videos in one place.
I could see using a Ning group in school to comment with the teacher and fellow students about current learning, viewing or reviewing videos, etc. I don't see myself using a Ning site daily but I will know how to find answers to technology or education questions.
Special Ed in the 21st Century is a Ning network that I thought would be useful in my position, and I still think it might be at some point in the future. My experience here showed me that these social/collaborative sites rely on the members for the quality and quantity of the content. From what I can tell, the site is less than a year old and needs time to build up content.
The 23 Thingsters Ning is fun. I liked seeing colleagues I've worked with or taken other classes with. Thanks for putting all the helpful Common Craft Videos in one place.
I could see using a Ning group in school to comment with the teacher and fellow students about current learning, viewing or reviewing videos, etc. I don't see myself using a Ning site daily but I will know how to find answers to technology or education questions.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thing 22
This was the scariest of all the Things for me. I do not want to get in touch with everyone I went to high school or college with, and if I want to talk to a co worker I can talk to them at work or pick up the phone or shoot an email. You may ask, "Why don't you want to get in touch with people from high school or college?" I really don't want to get sucked into wasting hours on Facebook. I also don't want to feel obligated to correspond with people I haven't seen or spoken to in 20 years.
Some things I did while on Facebook: I searched by name, school, and workplace and found many people I know. I was honestly surprised at some of the people who were on Facebook. Once I found a friend I looked through their friends and found more people I know. Some people choose not to display their friends.
I'm not sure about educational uses for social networking. Perhaps setting up a class or organization page might have some usefulness, but I think a blog or wiki would serve that purpose just as well and pose less risk. Social networking can be useful for career building/job hunting.
I'm glad I know more about social networking, but I'm just not comfortable with it and don't desire to spend time on it. I have deactivated my account, but if I need to find someone I will know how.
Some things I did while on Facebook: I searched by name, school, and workplace and found many people I know. I was honestly surprised at some of the people who were on Facebook. Once I found a friend I looked through their friends and found more people I know. Some people choose not to display their friends.
I'm not sure about educational uses for social networking. Perhaps setting up a class or organization page might have some usefulness, but I think a blog or wiki would serve that purpose just as well and pose less risk. Social networking can be useful for career building/job hunting.
I'm glad I know more about social networking, but I'm just not comfortable with it and don't desire to spend time on it. I have deactivated my account, but if I need to find someone I will know how.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thing 7b
I'd like to share 2 items of interest that I discovered through the TechLearning blog. The first is Quizlet. It is an online program where teachers can plug in the information to be learned and the website makes an online quiz and printable flashcards. Looks like a fun way to learn some not so exciting data - definitions, states and capitals, etc.
I also liked from TechLearning The Writing Teacher. It had a great power point on teaching rules for commas and had worksheets available to print. This is great for me, because I need practical ways to teach the rules. My learning disabled students don't internalize the mechanics of grammar and punctuation very well and need practical rules to use. I'm looking forward to finding many more useful items at The Writing Teacher.
I found a cute Mother's Day lesson at Suite101. Based on a poem, the students learn that mothers are people too.
I also liked from TechLearning The Writing Teacher. It had a great power point on teaching rules for commas and had worksheets available to print. This is great for me, because I need practical ways to teach the rules. My learning disabled students don't internalize the mechanics of grammar and punctuation very well and need practical rules to use. I'm looking forward to finding many more useful items at The Writing Teacher.
I found a cute Mother's Day lesson at Suite101. Based on a poem, the students learn that mothers are people too.
Thing 20
Google Docs is incredibly useful for several reasons. First, its safe from computer crashes. It will always be there - at least that's what we're told. Second, it can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. So whether I'm at school, home, or out of town, I can access important documents and allow others access to those same documents. Third, I can get advice and input from others without the hassle of emailing back and forth. And last for me, although I'm sure we could think of more advantages, I have a record of all the revisions that I can go back to without fear of losing them or having to save multiple copies.
I used Google Docs to make my Sub plans. Next time I'm out I can simply edit the note/schedule with the new assignments. Cool! I could also in a pinch invite a coworker to view/edit/print from Google Docs. I could see teachers working on creating a test/worksheet Collaborating on Google Docs. Students could edit a study page on Google Docs, similar to what we saw being done on a wiki.
I used the spreadsheet to make a chart for my kids chores at home. I can edit as needed without having multiple copies floating around on my computer. Teachers could make class charts/checklists and other teachers could respond or add data as needed.
Google Docs is way cool!
I used Google Docs to make my Sub plans. Next time I'm out I can simply edit the note/schedule with the new assignments. Cool! I could also in a pinch invite a coworker to view/edit/print from Google Docs. I could see teachers working on creating a test/worksheet Collaborating on Google Docs. Students could edit a study page on Google Docs, similar to what we saw being done on a wiki.
I used the spreadsheet to make a chart for my kids chores at home. I can edit as needed without having multiple copies floating around on my computer. Teachers could make class charts/checklists and other teachers could respond or add data as needed.
Google Docs is way cool!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Thing 21
I had no idea that Google had so many tools and products! I explored several: Google Earth, Google Maps, iGoogle, and Google alerts. I tried to explore the Notebook because I thought that would be very useful, but it is not allowing new users to sign up. It is only continuing with current users.
I fed my Twilight appetite on Google Earth and Maps and located Forks, Port Angeles, and La Push - for my daughter of course. : ) I could see these tools being great for Social Studies/Geography lessons. I could spend hours looking up locations and taking the tours that are available. Teachers could create their own tours to keep the students focused, too.
I also used my Google alerts to get Twilight news. There are some cool fan made trailers for New Moon that I would never have seen without the alert. Fun! The alerts could be used in the classroom in a variety of ways such as following current events or getting info on a specific topic (astronomy, natural disasters, political leaders, etc.)
The iGoogle page is quite useful since it is customized to my wants and needs. I have local and national news, weather, movies, jokes, email, Sudoku, and more. I like having it all in one location and I will continue to use this application regularly.
One feature I would like to explore more is Google SketchUp. I'm not sure exactly what I would use it for, but it looks like a lot of fun. I'm going to introduce my 13 year old to it. I think he'd have a ball with it!
I fed my Twilight appetite on Google Earth and Maps and located Forks, Port Angeles, and La Push - for my daughter of course. : ) I could see these tools being great for Social Studies/Geography lessons. I could spend hours looking up locations and taking the tours that are available. Teachers could create their own tours to keep the students focused, too.
I also used my Google alerts to get Twilight news. There are some cool fan made trailers for New Moon that I would never have seen without the alert. Fun! The alerts could be used in the classroom in a variety of ways such as following current events or getting info on a specific topic (astronomy, natural disasters, political leaders, etc.)
The iGoogle page is quite useful since it is customized to my wants and needs. I have local and national news, weather, movies, jokes, email, Sudoku, and more. I like having it all in one location and I will continue to use this application regularly.
One feature I would like to explore more is Google SketchUp. I'm not sure exactly what I would use it for, but it looks like a lot of fun. I'm going to introduce my 13 year old to it. I think he'd have a ball with it!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Thing 19
I had never heard of Voicethread before. It has some cool uses! I enjoyed the Math lesson on functions. I could see planning a lesson for when I have a sub and the students would just watch the Voicethread on the computer. I could also see having students comment on a picture, reading passage, video, etc. The students would enjoy reading or listening to each other's comments.
On a personal note, it would be fun to post old or new family photos and have members of the family comment on the photo, family history, funny stories, etc. It would be a great way to share memories even when Grandma or Aunt Sue live hundreds of miles away.
On a personal note, it would be fun to post old or new family photos and have members of the family comment on the photo, family history, funny stories, etc. It would be a great way to share memories even when Grandma or Aunt Sue live hundreds of miles away.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thing 18
I've looked at YouTube many times, but I hadn't really thought of the educational uses for it. I found some great videos about learning disabilities and reading difficulties. One was Reading Comprehension SpEd #2. It illustrates how learning disabilities feel and how they affect students. I think I've seen this clip at a staff development. Another video was The Power of Dyslexia-Famous Dyslexics. This video made me want to cry. It tells what teachers and other adults said about these very successful adults while they were in school. It should make all educators stop and think about the potential in every student.
TeacherTube is fun, too. I found an MISD video which I had seen before. Quite funny! I found videos for the 50 states and capitals, how to dribble a basketball, the science of sound and instruments, and a funny Top Ten Things You Do Not Learn About Teaching in College.
I can see using educational videos in class to enhance learning and aid in memory. Students are more likely to remember a video than a lecture or reading from a textbook.
I used YouTube to review how to embed a video into a blog. You can view that below. Watching the video was much more helpful than reading printed directions because I could see what it looked like and where it was located on the screen.
I'm always amazed at what is out there on the web!
TeacherTube is fun, too. I found an MISD video which I had seen before. Quite funny! I found videos for the 50 states and capitals, how to dribble a basketball, the science of sound and instruments, and a funny Top Ten Things You Do Not Learn About Teaching in College.
I can see using educational videos in class to enhance learning and aid in memory. Students are more likely to remember a video than a lecture or reading from a textbook.
I used YouTube to review how to embed a video into a blog. You can view that below. Watching the video was much more helpful than reading printed directions because I could see what it looked like and where it was located on the screen.
I'm always amazed at what is out there on the web!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thing 17
Podcasts can be very interesting, educational, and entertaining. I previewed a few podcasts and was not impressed with the quality - some had poor microphones, some featured students or adults who rambled on and on. I don't have the time or patience to sit through this type of podcast.
I have found several good ones. One new one I found through the Learn Out Loud directory is Discover Spanish Podcasts. They are about 15 minutes and teach conversational Spanish. I plan to do this with my kids this summer. I also found the Princeton Review Vocab Minute. It teaches vocabulary through catchy tunes and makes learning new words fun. I'm thinking next year I may do one per week with my classes.
I have found several good ones. One new one I found through the Learn Out Loud directory is Discover Spanish Podcasts. They are about 15 minutes and teach conversational Spanish. I plan to do this with my kids this summer. I also found the Princeton Review Vocab Minute. It teaches vocabulary through catchy tunes and makes learning new words fun. I'm thinking next year I may do one per week with my classes.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thing 16
Library Thing was much more than I anticipated! I loved the ability to search for books by their tags. I searched "tweens" to find something new for my daughter and found many new possibilities. Looking up one suggestion on the tween list led to more recommendations, and soon much time had passed, and I'm still not exactly sure what path led me to all my discoveries. All I know is that I found books that I wouldn't have otherwise. I had trouble with the Unsuggester. Maybe it was the books I searched. or it wasn't working properly that day.
As far as for school uses, it's a great tool to use for "if you liked _____, you'll probably like ____." I liked the 50 books idea and you could use any number you wanted to fit your needs. Being able to search topics/tags would be great for designing thematic units. And of course, being able to catalog your classroom library and have it all online would be a great benefit, and it seems so easy to do. Great thing!
As far as for school uses, it's a great tool to use for "if you liked _____, you'll probably like ____." I liked the 50 books idea and you could use any number you wanted to fit your needs. Being able to search topics/tags would be great for designing thematic units. And of course, being able to catalog your classroom library and have it all online would be a great benefit, and it seems so easy to do. Great thing!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thing 15
Bookmarking on Delicious was not difficult. I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface of the possible uses for Delicious, but what I have seen is very useful and easy. One thing I used the Delicious bookmarks for was to look up what others have bookmarked for the region we plan to visit on vacation this summer. It turned up some attractions I wouldn't have otherwise heard of.
I used Delicious to look up info for a poetry unit. I searched for an author I liked and found several good sites. I clicked on the box for the # of people who have also bookmarked that site and looked at other educational sites they had bookmarked. It felt a little weird - like I was peeking into their private collection. It was quite helpful, though, because I found several other cool websites.
I made one mistake on the assignment this week. I accidentally clicked to import my bookmarks from Firefox to my Delicious account. This turned out OK because when you import they are private (marked with a lock symbol) until you click share. So no harm was done! I will tag and share these as time allows.
I used Delicious to look up info for a poetry unit. I searched for an author I liked and found several good sites. I clicked on the box for the # of people who have also bookmarked that site and looked at other educational sites they had bookmarked. It felt a little weird - like I was peeking into their private collection. It was quite helpful, though, because I found several other cool websites.
I made one mistake on the assignment this week. I accidentally clicked to import my bookmarks from Firefox to my Delicious account. This turned out OK because when you import they are private (marked with a lock symbol) until you click share. So no harm was done! I will tag and share these as time allows.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thing 7a
I would like to share a few interesting items I found on my Google Reader. The first is Minute Monologues. These are one minute readings or recitations designed to make students focus on tone, expression, and body language. I think it would work well with my resource classes to improve fluency. The name of the book is Magnificent Monologues for Kids (Sandcastle Publishing, 1999)
Another great idea which I plan to use is the Step Book for parts of speech. Some of you may call this a flip book. The students write one part of speech on each "step". Inside they can put examples they find in their reading, science, social studies, etc. It's designed to be an ongoing activity. I think it would be quite helpful for my students, and much more fun than a bunch of grammar worksheets.
One item of interest is a TED talk "Dan Ariely: Why we think it's OK to cheat and steal" You may want to check this one out if you have a problem with cheating in your classroom or if you are concerned about our lack of morals in society.
Another great idea which I plan to use is the Step Book for parts of speech. Some of you may call this a flip book. The students write one part of speech on each "step". Inside they can put examples they find in their reading, science, social studies, etc. It's designed to be an ongoing activity. I think it would be quite helpful for my students, and much more fun than a bunch of grammar worksheets.
One item of interest is a TED talk "Dan Ariely: Why we think it's OK to cheat and steal" You may want to check this one out if you have a problem with cheating in your classroom or if you are concerned about our lack of morals in society.
Thing 14
I used Wordle and 30boxes. I did not care for the 30boxes. To me it was more trouble than it was worth. I can hand write on my calendar much quicker than entering all that data on the web. I can see how it might be useful for super-social people to stay connected, though.
I did enjoy Wordle. My son, 8th grade at Kimbrough, used Wordle for an assignment in Science. He had to input important words about the Periodic Table. He enjoyed that assignment Other uses might include listing character traits about a main character, physical properties of an element, or descriptions of countries or landforms.
You can see my Learning 2.0 Wordle on my wiki.
I did enjoy Wordle. My son, 8th grade at Kimbrough, used Wordle for an assignment in Science. He had to input important words about the Periodic Table. He enjoyed that assignment Other uses might include listing character traits about a main character, physical properties of an element, or descriptions of countries or landforms.
You can see my Learning 2.0 Wordle on my wiki.
Thing 13
As you can see at the side of my blog, I used the happy face generator and mosaic maker. Happy face generator was so easy! I'm thinking I could use it in my classroom to post student expectations, homework assignments, upcoming events, etc. Also it would be a fun addition to a classroom newsletter.
The mosaic maker was a little trickier, but not too bad. I used family photos to make a mosaic. I had to upload my photos to the mosaic maker. One thing I was disappointed with is that some of my photos wouldn't work because they were sideways. I suppose I needed to edit/rotate them on my computer's photo software and then upload. I was just hoping the mosaic maker had that editing ability, but it didn't. Anyway, I ended up changing out a few of the photos to get all of them facing the right direction. A couple of classroom uses for mosaic maker that I thought of were: at the beginning of the year the students could use it to tell about themselves using their own or flickr photos, or students could make a mosaic to go with a biography.
I also went to the spell with flickr sight and made one but could not get it to upload to my blog. I did get it to upload to my wiki so you can see it there.
The mosaic maker was a little trickier, but not too bad. I used family photos to make a mosaic. I had to upload my photos to the mosaic maker. One thing I was disappointed with is that some of my photos wouldn't work because they were sideways. I suppose I needed to edit/rotate them on my computer's photo software and then upload. I was just hoping the mosaic maker had that editing ability, but it didn't. Anyway, I ended up changing out a few of the photos to get all of them facing the right direction. A couple of classroom uses for mosaic maker that I thought of were: at the beginning of the year the students could use it to tell about themselves using their own or flickr photos, or students could make a mosaic to go with a biography.
I also went to the spell with flickr sight and made one but could not get it to upload to my blog. I did get it to upload to my wiki so you can see it there.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thing 12
Well, creating the slideshow wasn't too bad. Embedding was the hard part for me! I finally got my slideshow onto my wiki, but I still can't get it into my blog. I googled "How to embed video into a wiki" and found a nice tutorial that helped. Did I miss the part about videos also being called widgets?
My slideshow is a vocabulary lesson for flying - hovering, fluttering, soaring, gliding. This took me a very long time and I am rather frustrated with myself. I'm hoping the next thing will be a bit less time consuming and frustrating for me.
My slideshow is a vocabulary lesson for flying - hovering, fluttering, soaring, gliding. This took me a very long time and I am rather frustrated with myself. I'm hoping the next thing will be a bit less time consuming and frustrating for me.
Thing 11
Thing 11 was confusing to me. Too much information and choices! I couldn't figure out how to download pictures to a file, so I finally just copied the links into my wiki. Also, at first I selected photos on Flickr that were C and not cc, so I had to go back and reselect. Ugh! Looking at all the beautiful photos was inspiring, though.
My planned project is to teach vocabulary with pictures - flying, soaring, gliding, hovering, floating. Flickr is an excellent tool with lots of possibilities. I liked the idea of using the photos to help tell a story.
My planned project is to teach vocabulary with pictures - flying, soaring, gliding, hovering, floating. Flickr is an excellent tool with lots of possibilities. I liked the idea of using the photos to help tell a story.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thing 10
I hadn't noticed the cc before, but I will now. This opens a floodgate of new possibilities for students' projects. We've moved way past clip art! Beautiful photos, music clips and videos are out there for free.
I haven't been using much of the internet for my classes - my room isn't really set up for that. But now with all the resources that are available on the web, I think I could work it out. My students would relate well to video clips from the internet. It would grab their attention much better than I could.
A potential negative of using Creative Commons is making sure to follow the restrictions on the cc materials.
I don't currently share content on the web - I haven't known how to create the material or how to share it until now. This can be a great outlet for my creativity. Thanks Learning 2.0!
I haven't been using much of the internet for my classes - my room isn't really set up for that. But now with all the resources that are available on the web, I think I could work it out. My students would relate well to video clips from the internet. It would grab their attention much better than I could.
A potential negative of using Creative Commons is making sure to follow the restrictions on the cc materials.
I don't currently share content on the web - I haven't known how to create the material or how to share it until now. This can be a great outlet for my creativity. Thanks Learning 2.0!
Thing 9
I had fun in the sandbox! It wasn't as complicated as I thought it might be. I always feel so proud when I've learned one more new "thing"! I've enjoyed looking at my classmates wikis, too. When I first heard about Thing 9 and the sandbox, I immediately thought of my kids when they were little - they are 13 and 11 now - playing in their sandbox. One day they decided to get out the water hose to make mud pies. What a mess, but oh the fun they had!!! I knew I needed a certain picture for my wiki, so I went through the old photo albums and found the one, scanned it, and uploaded it into my wiki page: Playing in the Mud. Take a look at my cuties!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Thing 8
Three of the wikis that I explored were the Holocaust Wiki Project, Room 15 Wiki, and Discovery Utopias.
In the Holocaust Wiki there were student projects that each told the history of a family from a European country and then gave options for what the family would do during a Nazi invasion. The reader clicks on an option and is taken to another page where the family dies or faces another set of choices. It was addictive! There was obviously a lot of research and technical work on the part of the students to make this happen. I thought it was very effective and a good way to make the Holocaust more real to the students. The only thing I would change is the appearance of the wiki - it was very plain. The use of different fonts, backgrounds, graphics, etc. would have made it more pleasing to the eyes.
In Discovery Utopias, the students each created their own ideal society. They had to explain the culture, economics, natural resources, etc. There were resources for the students on the wiki for the project requirements and books about other "utopias". I thought this was an outstanding project for teaching social studies, literature, and writing.
Mr. Lindsay (formerly Room 15 Wiki) was one of my favorite discoveries. Mr. Lindsay, a 6th grade teacher, has created an outstanding wiki for his class! It has links for homework, student blogs, news, brainteasers, curriculum, etc. There are also educational videos on the wiki. There is so much information for the students and parents about the material that is being learned in his class. Plus it is all very organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. It is obvious that he loves his job and the new technology he is using!
I would love to have a classroom wiki like Room 15 where I could give info to students and parents and have it remain as a resource for review. I would also like to have my students blog about what they have learned, or use a new writing skill on our classroom blog.
This was a fun "thing"!
In the Holocaust Wiki there were student projects that each told the history of a family from a European country and then gave options for what the family would do during a Nazi invasion. The reader clicks on an option and is taken to another page where the family dies or faces another set of choices. It was addictive! There was obviously a lot of research and technical work on the part of the students to make this happen. I thought it was very effective and a good way to make the Holocaust more real to the students. The only thing I would change is the appearance of the wiki - it was very plain. The use of different fonts, backgrounds, graphics, etc. would have made it more pleasing to the eyes.
In Discovery Utopias, the students each created their own ideal society. They had to explain the culture, economics, natural resources, etc. There were resources for the students on the wiki for the project requirements and books about other "utopias". I thought this was an outstanding project for teaching social studies, literature, and writing.
Mr. Lindsay (formerly Room 15 Wiki) was one of my favorite discoveries. Mr. Lindsay, a 6th grade teacher, has created an outstanding wiki for his class! It has links for homework, student blogs, news, brainteasers, curriculum, etc. There are also educational videos on the wiki. There is so much information for the students and parents about the material that is being learned in his class. Plus it is all very organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. It is obvious that he loves his job and the new technology he is using!
I would love to have a classroom wiki like Room 15 where I could give info to students and parents and have it remain as a resource for review. I would also like to have my students blog about what they have learned, or use a new writing skill on our classroom blog.
This was a fun "thing"!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thing 7
Commenting has been a challenge for me. I often second guess myself and bog down with editing content and mechanics. It's scary to have my thoughts out there for anyone to read. I do, however, realize the importance of commenting now. It helps to validate the author's views and encourages him or her to keep on blogging. Also, the comments from other readers add value to the original blog. Two heads are better than one, so to speak. Blogging is definitely much more personal and interactive than just reading an article. You can be connected even if you are thousands of miles away from each other.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thing #6
This assignment was fairly time consuming. There is so much out there on the web that it takes awhile to sift through it. I did find some pretty cool feeds. One of these is Suite 101: Primary School Articles. It has lots of lesson plan ideas, such as St. Patrick's Day math and using Irish Folk Tales to teach a variety of reading skills. I know I will be checking in regularly to spice up my lessons.
Another one is The Leaky Cauldron blog, "Reading, Writing, and Chocolate". Being a huge Harry Potter fan, this one is really fun. It connects current issues in education to characters and lessons learned in the Harry Potter series. I especially liked Doris' blog to then President-Elect Obama on education reform, and the blog Why Fred and George Struggled at Hogwarts, which references the book Boys Adrift by Dr. L. Saks. This looks like an extremely beneficial book, and I plan to pick up a copy.
Another one is The Leaky Cauldron blog, "Reading, Writing, and Chocolate". Being a huge Harry Potter fan, this one is really fun. It connects current issues in education to characters and lessons learned in the Harry Potter series. I especially liked Doris' blog to then President-Elect Obama on education reform, and the blog Why Fred and George Struggled at Hogwarts, which references the book Boys Adrift by Dr. L. Saks. This looks like an extremely beneficial book, and I plan to pick up a copy.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thing 5
I've just started using my Google Reader, but I think I will really enjoy using it. It is so hard to find time to surf the web and this brings the web to me. I thought it might be overwhelming having so much info on hand, but I just read what peaks my interest and I ignore the rest. Easy!
In the TechLearning Blog I found an article called New Teacher Tool Makes Individualized Learning and RTI Easy. Learning Plans on Demand sounds like a real time saver for teachers in getting individualized lessons for their students. I'd be interested to see exactly how it works and if it is just a bunch of leveled worksheets or something a little more creative. Perhaps I'll do a bit more research to find out.
An interesting site I found by accident was TED Talks. This sight features 20 minute videos from respected individuals ranging from Stephen Hawking to Rick Warren to mostly people I've never heard of before. I was linked there to a video called Do Schools Kill Creativity? Ken Robinson has some interesting thoughts on the matter and stories that illustrate those thoughts. Another interesting video was from Richard Baraniuk of Rice University. It talks about getting rid of textbooks and using open-source learning. I'm looking forward to watching more on this sight because of its wide range of topics: education, religion, politics, science, technology, etc.
In the TechLearning Blog I found an article called New Teacher Tool Makes Individualized Learning and RTI Easy. Learning Plans on Demand sounds like a real time saver for teachers in getting individualized lessons for their students. I'd be interested to see exactly how it works and if it is just a bunch of leveled worksheets or something a little more creative. Perhaps I'll do a bit more research to find out.
An interesting site I found by accident was TED Talks. This sight features 20 minute videos from respected individuals ranging from Stephen Hawking to Rick Warren to mostly people I've never heard of before. I was linked there to a video called Do Schools Kill Creativity? Ken Robinson has some interesting thoughts on the matter and stories that illustrate those thoughts. Another interesting video was from Richard Baraniuk of Rice University. It talks about getting rid of textbooks and using open-source learning. I'm looking forward to watching more on this sight because of its wide range of topics: education, religion, politics, science, technology, etc.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Thing 4
I enjoyed reading the recommended blogs. One thing I noticed about the blogging style is that it is very personal while still being informative. Often blogs are persuasive in nature, such as in Why I Don't Assign Homework and Spies Like Us.
I loved the student blogs. Patrick's Update was particularly interesting to me. He spoke so well and with such conviction and determination, but what really got my attention were all the words of encouragement that came in the comments. Blogging is a great way to express yourself and get advice from other caring adults and students. I also thought the Extreme Biology blog was great for discussing the environmental issues of the drought, conservation, and environmentalism. Many students were passionate about their views, while some admitted to learning something new from their classmate. Another blog I really enjoyed was How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci. Although I teach Special Ed, my two children are gifted. I often feel that our current education system is a disappointment for gifted children. I don't say this to put down any particular teachers. What I do know is that my kids' favorite school days have been Quest days, and when my son went to middle school and was in all AT classes he felt relieved to be in a class full of other kids like him. He always hated waiting around for the rest of the class to finish to move on. In fact his favorite elementary class was a 5th/6th split because he did his 5th grade work and then listened to the 6th grade lessons as well. Our current education system focuses so much on getting low achieving students to pass TAKS that our gifted students are often left unchallenged and unmotivated.
Why I Don't Assign Homework reminded me of the information I learned at the Ruby Payne conference. For students in poverty and/or lacking parental involvement homework serves very little purpose. I've always felt that nightly reading is important, as well as studying spelling and learning math facts. Homework for homework sake serves little purpose. Being a mom, I know that kids need some down time. Many kids have sports, dance, scouting, church, etc. to do in the evenings and these are important parts of their experience and life knowledge as well.
I think blogging is a valuable tool for educators and students to express themselves, demonstrate their learning, and to persuade others to their points of view. On top of that, they can receive valuable feedback and encouragement from others.
I loved the student blogs. Patrick's Update was particularly interesting to me. He spoke so well and with such conviction and determination, but what really got my attention were all the words of encouragement that came in the comments. Blogging is a great way to express yourself and get advice from other caring adults and students. I also thought the Extreme Biology blog was great for discussing the environmental issues of the drought, conservation, and environmentalism. Many students were passionate about their views, while some admitted to learning something new from their classmate. Another blog I really enjoyed was How to Prevent Another Leonardo da Vinci. Although I teach Special Ed, my two children are gifted. I often feel that our current education system is a disappointment for gifted children. I don't say this to put down any particular teachers. What I do know is that my kids' favorite school days have been Quest days, and when my son went to middle school and was in all AT classes he felt relieved to be in a class full of other kids like him. He always hated waiting around for the rest of the class to finish to move on. In fact his favorite elementary class was a 5th/6th split because he did his 5th grade work and then listened to the 6th grade lessons as well. Our current education system focuses so much on getting low achieving students to pass TAKS that our gifted students are often left unchallenged and unmotivated.
Why I Don't Assign Homework reminded me of the information I learned at the Ruby Payne conference. For students in poverty and/or lacking parental involvement homework serves very little purpose. I've always felt that nightly reading is important, as well as studying spelling and learning math facts. Homework for homework sake serves little purpose. Being a mom, I know that kids need some down time. Many kids have sports, dance, scouting, church, etc. to do in the evenings and these are important parts of their experience and life knowledge as well.
I think blogging is a valuable tool for educators and students to express themselves, demonstrate their learning, and to persuade others to their points of view. On top of that, they can receive valuable feedback and encouragement from others.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Reflections on Thing #2
WOW! What awesome use of technology and communication! I'm sure the students are loving it, and it's a great way to keep parents in the loop. I could see using a blog to keep parents updated just like the class/school newsletter that we currently use. We'd be going green, too, with not using all that paper! Podcasts are a great way to record presentations for parent and student use.
I loved having kids blog assignments and comment on other students' blogs. This encourages deeper thinking rather than just copying answers onto a worksheet. It also is a great motivator because if it's fun the students will stick with it, and the thought that other students can see their responses should make them take their assignments more seriously.
This article really impressed me with the possibilities for education. I am a realist, though, and I know that much of the population at my school does not have access to this technology. I do know of one of our neighboring school districts where all middle and high school students are given a laptop. I'm wondering if MISD is headed in that direction. I know my kids would love it!!!
I loved having kids blog assignments and comment on other students' blogs. This encourages deeper thinking rather than just copying answers onto a worksheet. It also is a great motivator because if it's fun the students will stick with it, and the thought that other students can see their responses should make them take their assignments more seriously.
This article really impressed me with the possibilities for education. I am a realist, though, and I know that much of the population at my school does not have access to this technology. I do know of one of our neighboring school districts where all middle and high school students are given a laptop. I'm wondering if MISD is headed in that direction. I know my kids would love it!!!
My Reflections on Thing #1
I already knew I was a lifelong learner. From magazine articles to Sunday School class, staff development to the Today Show, I've always enjoyed learning. I suppose that's why I teach.
While looking at the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners, I thought that Habit #2 - Accept responsibility for your own learning - would be the easiest for me. I already do that!
I think Habit #4 - Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner - will be the hardest because I am admittedly intimidated by technology. I am determined, however, to put my best foot forward and step into the world wide web. I have to remind myself of my other successful learning endeavors, build on those strengths, and trust our class facilitators to give me the tools and information I need.
Habit #3 - view problems as challenges- and Habit #6 - use technology to your advantage - will probably pose the biggest challenges for me mainly due to my inexperience with technology. I have decided that I will view this course (and all new learning) as a fun time of discovery and adventure. That reminds me of Habit # 7 1/2 - PLAY! If I am having fun learning then the problems won't seem so huge and the payoff will be even greater!
While looking at the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners, I thought that Habit #2 - Accept responsibility for your own learning - would be the easiest for me. I already do that!
I think Habit #4 - Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner - will be the hardest because I am admittedly intimidated by technology. I am determined, however, to put my best foot forward and step into the world wide web. I have to remind myself of my other successful learning endeavors, build on those strengths, and trust our class facilitators to give me the tools and information I need.
Habit #3 - view problems as challenges- and Habit #6 - use technology to your advantage - will probably pose the biggest challenges for me mainly due to my inexperience with technology. I have decided that I will view this course (and all new learning) as a fun time of discovery and adventure. That reminds me of Habit # 7 1/2 - PLAY! If I am having fun learning then the problems won't seem so huge and the payoff will be even greater!
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