1. iTunes U
2. Grammar Girl
3. Reading Fluency
4. iTunes as a resource for social science / history / geography lessons -- you can find music from a particular country or region or historical period to play as students come into class. This kind of scene-setting also works for novels set in places or decades unfamiliar to students.
5. Others? Please comment to contribute to the list!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
iPhotos Ideas
1. Tour of the school
2. Figurative language describing picture
3. Poetry using pictures
4. Life cycles of the butterfly using pictures
5. Talk about the seasons using pictures
6. Sequencing using pictures
7. Descriptive paragraphs
8. All about me with photos (things I like, characteristics, etc)
9. Character perspective letter
10. Author or character cards with stats
11. Pictures of clouds... write descriptions
12. Simple machines...write descriptions
13. Pictures of Nebraska and write about Nebraska
14. Rocks and Minerals write about them
15. Narratives about the picture... write the story that goes with the picture
16. Tyler's blog bringing photos into the mix with different writing exercises
17. Others? Please comment to contribute to the list!
2. Figurative language describing picture
3. Poetry using pictures
4. Life cycles of the butterfly using pictures
5. Talk about the seasons using pictures
6. Sequencing using pictures
7. Descriptive paragraphs
8. All about me with photos (things I like, characteristics, etc)
9. Character perspective letter
10. Author or character cards with stats
11. Pictures of clouds... write descriptions
12. Simple machines...write descriptions
13. Pictures of Nebraska and write about Nebraska
14. Rocks and Minerals write about them
15. Narratives about the picture... write the story that goes with the picture
16. Tyler's blog bringing photos into the mix with different writing exercises
17. Others? Please comment to contribute to the list!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Rededication
I am rededicating this blog. Today I embarked on a new adventure. 1st I started my first class towards my phd. It's the Nebraska Writing Project Technology Institute. Also, I started my new job as a part time tech. integration specialist at my school. Really the job doesn't begin until August when the teachers and students all come back to school, but I'm trying to get a head start. Therefore, I'm rededicating this blog as a blog to think and reflect on my journey as a first time tech integration specialist. There will be ups... and there will be downs... Let's just hope there are more ups than downs! Wish me luck!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Ever Wonder
Ever wonder how you got where you are? Almost every day someone who is supposed to know more than me...who's been in the position many more years than I have, asks me a question... And I know the answer... It's odd. How did I become the "expert"? The person they come to ask? I didn't ask to become a leader. I honestly don't know how I became one. But, I have to be honest with myself. I have become a leader, whether I wanted to or not!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Words on My Board
I teach computer to K-5th graders. Today...as I'm erasing my white board...I am wondering about what I'm teaching. In the last two weeks the following words have been erased from my whiteboard:
Space, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Weather, Water Cycle, Cloud, Tornado, Hurricane, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratus, Cirrus, Cirriocumulus, Mammal, Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, Fish, Invertebrate, Rocks, Minerals, Crystals Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Igneous, Sandstone Shale, Limestone, Chalk Granite Basalt, Obsidian, Pumice, Coal, Marble, Slate, Quartzite, Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Calcite, Halite, Talk Galena, Pyrite, Copper Sulfide, Sulfur, Simple Machines, Lever, Pulley, Wedge, Wheel and Axle, Inclined Plane, and Screw.
Intersting words for a computer lab...don't you think?
Space, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Weather, Water Cycle, Cloud, Tornado, Hurricane, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, Stratus, Cirrus, Cirriocumulus, Mammal, Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, Fish, Invertebrate, Rocks, Minerals, Crystals Sedimentary, Metamorphic, Igneous, Sandstone Shale, Limestone, Chalk Granite Basalt, Obsidian, Pumice, Coal, Marble, Slate, Quartzite, Quartz, Feldspar, Mica, Calcite, Halite, Talk Galena, Pyrite, Copper Sulfide, Sulfur, Simple Machines, Lever, Pulley, Wedge, Wheel and Axle, Inclined Plane, and Screw.
Intersting words for a computer lab...don't you think?
Main Accomplishments
Last year my biggest accomplishment, the one thing I felt most proud of, was having 1st graders create powerpoints. I never thought I would ever in my life be doing powerpoint with 1st graders.
This year, I already know what my main accomplishment is, the one thing I feel most proud of. Once again it has to do with 1st graders. My 1st graders a couple of weeks ago posted their animal habitat movies onto docushare so that they can share them with their friends and family.
I really love student docushare. I often want to share my students work with their family, but posting it all on the school webpage is too time consuming for 650 students. This makes it so easy for the student to upload their own document and then if they choose to share it, they can.
I've had more parents comment on their students work this year. I think what excites me most is the thought that if they can do this in 1st grade, what will they be able to do if I'm still working with them when they are 5th graders? I've noticed, this being my third year, that all the work is paying off. The students are able to get through projects faster. What used to take 8 weeks is only taking 5 or 6 because the foundation is built and all we have to do is build on that foundation.
I think the most important thing I "taught" this year was the students user name and password. They use it every time they come into class. A great number of my 1st Graders have it memorized (along with my 2nd-5th graders). I have saved so much time next year. It took me a long time to teach it this year, but the reward will come next year.
Other things this year have been hugely positive. Having my Kindergarteners for 50 minutes this year has been fantastic! First of all, I haven't had a single student in tears because they didn't have enough time to finish a project. I has given them time to "play" and "experiment" with the computers, which wasn't a luxury they had before. They have learned so much this year through the extra 5-10 minutes at the end of class when they are done with the project for the day when they can just explore. What I worry about now is what do I do with them next year. I will need to find ways to challenge them along with all of my students.
This year, I already know what my main accomplishment is, the one thing I feel most proud of. Once again it has to do with 1st graders. My 1st graders a couple of weeks ago posted their animal habitat movies onto docushare so that they can share them with their friends and family.
I really love student docushare. I often want to share my students work with their family, but posting it all on the school webpage is too time consuming for 650 students. This makes it so easy for the student to upload their own document and then if they choose to share it, they can.
I've had more parents comment on their students work this year. I think what excites me most is the thought that if they can do this in 1st grade, what will they be able to do if I'm still working with them when they are 5th graders? I've noticed, this being my third year, that all the work is paying off. The students are able to get through projects faster. What used to take 8 weeks is only taking 5 or 6 because the foundation is built and all we have to do is build on that foundation.
I think the most important thing I "taught" this year was the students user name and password. They use it every time they come into class. A great number of my 1st Graders have it memorized (along with my 2nd-5th graders). I have saved so much time next year. It took me a long time to teach it this year, but the reward will come next year.
Other things this year have been hugely positive. Having my Kindergarteners for 50 minutes this year has been fantastic! First of all, I haven't had a single student in tears because they didn't have enough time to finish a project. I has given them time to "play" and "experiment" with the computers, which wasn't a luxury they had before. They have learned so much this year through the extra 5-10 minutes at the end of class when they are done with the project for the day when they can just explore. What I worry about now is what do I do with them next year. I will need to find ways to challenge them along with all of my students.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
To Stream or Not to Stream...That is the ?
Blogs are great. I love them! Have 7 different ones to "organize" my life, my writing.
Blogs let me vent. Voice my opinions (even if it's only for my benefit). I don't often "speak my mind". I'm often a chicken, but when I'm passionate, I'll speak up. Blogs let me "speak" about my passions.
Usually, I'll just voice my opinion via email, chat or blog, but often can't say what I'm really thinking out loud. Blogging has helped me think and challenge my own self/brain. Teaching is often an isolated job. I'm not often with a group of people to have meaningful, passionate conversations with. I like meetings that make me think. Meetings where we discuss things and I leave still wanting more. My brain hungers for the challenge. They motivate me. Make me want more. Blogs let me say what I'm thinking when there is no one there to listen.
This blog streams into a community blog in my school district. I flip flop often on whether I should remove it. I'm voicing my opinion for everyone to see. I feel I'm pretty careful with what I blog in this blog knowing that my coworkers, boss, etc might stumble upon it. But what I say is just my opinion. Opinions made public. A little scary for me. Today, I'll allow this to stream because today I feel like what I have to say is important, but by tomorrow (or next week, next month) I might change my mind.
Blogs let me vent. Voice my opinions (even if it's only for my benefit). I don't often "speak my mind". I'm often a chicken, but when I'm passionate, I'll speak up. Blogs let me "speak" about my passions.
Usually, I'll just voice my opinion via email, chat or blog, but often can't say what I'm really thinking out loud. Blogging has helped me think and challenge my own self/brain. Teaching is often an isolated job. I'm not often with a group of people to have meaningful, passionate conversations with. I like meetings that make me think. Meetings where we discuss things and I leave still wanting more. My brain hungers for the challenge. They motivate me. Make me want more. Blogs let me say what I'm thinking when there is no one there to listen.
This blog streams into a community blog in my school district. I flip flop often on whether I should remove it. I'm voicing my opinion for everyone to see. I feel I'm pretty careful with what I blog in this blog knowing that my coworkers, boss, etc might stumble upon it. But what I say is just my opinion. Opinions made public. A little scary for me. Today, I'll allow this to stream because today I feel like what I have to say is important, but by tomorrow (or next week, next month) I might change my mind.
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