Extra post

Assignment 3B - after a few days..........

Blogging has certainly opened up a whole new world for educators in this century.  I am noticing how there are bloggers/webmasters from all over the world, telling their story about their classroom or their journey through the education maze.

http://www.jeffdelp.com/2012/11/09/how-authentic-is-your-students-audience/

One teacher shares after a community and school wide presentation - the effectiveness of the presentation on the lives of the kids and the community leaders and business owners that attended. How insightful to remember that our kiddos aren't going to be changed by presenting something they don't care about to an audience that isn't there.  Point made.

Our kids to be engaged in their world - not our world.  If we don't make their education progressive and meaningful then we've failed as teachers. How many presentations have I sat through as a concerned parent, that I can hardly wait to leave?! Too many! Why not engage the kids and parents in up-to-date and useful information?  Check this blog out.

Assignment 3A - What I liked!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FSyAehMdpyI

While looking over the website Free Technology for Teachers found at

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/

I was excited to see how education has merged itself with theater. Seriously, now you can watch an interesting and funny video about  chemistry and not be bored to tears!  Try video series out next time you are in need of a classy presentation on one of the tougher subjects to teach.....chemistry!

I really like having access to all these wonderful helps when it comes to tutoring.  As I've tutored over the years it has come to my attention that kids learn in many different ways. One very exciting way to support that learning can be using videos on the web. Hint: Before using, always preview the video!

How to use your Google Reader!!! (extra)

http://23things.barrow.wikispaces.net/file/view/Google_Reader_-_Intro.swf  

Things are changing so quickly these days - If you haven't tried a "Reader" then you might be missing something to make your life easier!  No, I'm not talking about the "tablet" (mini or otherwise), I'm talking about a web-based 'reader' that subscribes to many different websites or blogs and then organizes and manages all of it!

This might be the best way for you to wade through the many different web postings that you need to manage in your job or school on a daily basis.  Just click on this informative video and you're on your way!

Assignment 2 Week 2 Task 1: Now, for 50 points, go to your blog and create a blog post in - post a response to the reading and questions listed above.

Week two – Review of five blogs

http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=133   “Why I don’t Assign Homework,”\

http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2010/02/04/letters-of-gratitude/

http://www.ahlness.com/2007/02/is-this-ssr-20.html  Sustained Silent Reading turned out to be reading blogs and writing comments

http://debbiestephens221.edublogs.org/2011/12/08/what-did-we-learn/

a digital farm http://reading221.wikispaces.com/Trumpet+of+the+Swan

http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/06/11/action-the-digital-learning-farm/

Sylvia Tolisano shares examples of student-directed learning using Alan November's concept of the "Digital Learning Farm," emphasizing students as contributors.

·  What do you notice about the genre of blog writing in general? Often the blog was written by an adult for other adults to read and observe or gain insight into new teaching techniques.  I found that the blogs/webpages/wikis that were made by the kids with adult supervision of course, were the most interesting and advantageous.  I believe that as adults we are often ‘overwhelmed’ with good information.  This is the age of information – I frankly have more ideas than I have time to read them! However, for the kids it’s a creative form of journaling. The can act-out, audio/video themselves and their ‘art’ and place it on the webpage. They can draw and post their drawings, there are really endless ways to asses their knowledge of the book they read or the project they’ve completed by using webpages.

·  How is blog reading different from other types of reading? How is it similar? The reading is harder for me when the text is smaller – I struggle with on-line reading for very long. The reading is sometimes more interesting than reading a text book.

·  How is blog writing different from other types of writing? How is it similar? The writing is similar in most ways I suppose. You must know how to type fairly well, and at least there isn’t a handwriting prerequisite for blogging!

·  How does commenting contribute to the writing and meaning-making?  Commenting can be beneficial to an ongoing work – a project or class assignment.  Commenting could be an opportunity for the kids to use improper language or terms. I think the posting of finished projects by the kids is beneficial in many ways.  It is a good way to assess their knowledge, and improve their technical skills, as long as every student has the opportunity to actually do the online work.  Often one technically skillful student will ‘hoard’ the opportunity to do the posting.

·  How can blogging facilitate learning? Certainly, blogging can facilitate learning,  As we know there are many hands-on learning benefits.  My kiddos have to watch “Vimeo” films to complete their assignments at home. That a great way for the kids to learn new information and finish their homework.

Extra post

So, my dog is still learning to sit on his blanket while I work at the desk.  So today, he kept sneaking off the blanket to go down the hall and check out the bedrooms where he always manages to get into trouble.  I called his name quietly three times in a row and he obediently went back to his blanket.  On the fourth try, I called his name, he turned around and bolted out the back door!  I guess he'd really had it with me and my rules! Makes me think of how we react to God when he gently calls us to himself and a life of obedience. Sometimes we run! Prov 19:23 "The Fear of the Lord leads to life...so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil."


Leesa

Writeboard Discussion (extra)

My Writeboard discussion.....
2/1/13
Hey guys,
Do you think it's good for the kiddos to have their phones in class or not? I was in 5th grade and they just can't seem to manage the use of their phones correctly.  I know that having their phones can be helpful when it comes to other apps but it is really necessary in the classroom below high school?

I think that high school kids manage their phones pretty well.  Most schools I work in don't allow them to call or text but they can pull out their phones for music during study halls.  That actually seems to help because they stay on task better and are less distracted by other kids that are messing around.

So tell me what you think? Do you allow your kids to take their phones to school?

Leesa

Assignment 1-B

A Day in the Life....

My day in the classroom today consisted of kiddos reading a novel right off of their phones, tablets, iPADs and other devices. Interestingly enough, it actually makes it nicer for them because they don't have to carry the book around.  They have a book right there in their pockets ready to read!The only draw-back is if not properly guided, kids will use their reading time for chatting with friends or searching the web.

Making a connection to our world and the newest 2.0 Web is illustrated by the following story: Our assignment today was to make a power point video presenting information about the planets.  Each group of student secured a laptop, pulled videos or other images off the web and then proceeded to combine their knowledge of the planets into an amazing portrayal of our celestial world.

My understanding of the 2.0 Web includes much more then power point presentations, images, and cell phones with novels, but this day still exemplifies how 'virtual' our kids education has become.

After reading the article, "A Day in the Life of Web 2.0" I am certain we have a long way to go to make the best use of the potential inside the web as we not know it.  But as with life, all things are a process.  This process of learning and growing into a bigger understanding is use of Web 2.0 has much in store for us!