I followed the 7 blogs listed below:
1. Smart Classroom Management at http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2Fsmartclassroommanagement
2. Free Technology for Teachers at http://www.freetech4teachers.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.freetech4teachers.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault
3. Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day at http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Flarryferlazzo.edublogs.org%2Ffeed%2F
4. Naturally Educational at http://www.naturallyeducational.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.naturallyeducational.com%2Ffeed%2F
5. Will at http://willrichardson.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwillrichardson.com%2Frss
6. A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet at http://mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fmediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault
7. Cool Cat Teacher Blog at http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/ or my Google Reader URL at
http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fcoolcatteacher.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault
Just as I was amazed by our social bookmarks assignment, this was just as awesome. There are a couple of blogs that I found the most helpful to me as a elementary teacher/tech in training. Larry Ferlazzo's blog was amazing because he lists so many resources for so many areas in teaching, but my favorite blog was A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet. I think I prefer Julie Greller's blog because there isn't so much information that it is overwhelming, but at the same time what she posts is useful. I also like that on her blog she provides grade categories (such as K-3) to also minimize extraneous information for busy teachers. Of all of the blogs posts my favorite was an article posted in the Smart Classroom Blog called "Why the Word 'Go' Is An Effective Classroom Management Strategy" by Michael Linsin. The "Go" technique was a very simple strategy, but one I look forward to trying out to hopefully cure one of my classroom annoyances. The irritation of being in the middle of directions or instructions, and the students stop listening and start moving because they think they know what you are about to tell them. Then you loose valuable time because you have to stop them, and start over. Linsin suggests an answer to this problem that I believe may work. Preface your instructions with the simple phrase "When I say go, do the following......" Then after you give all directions, pause then say "go" to give permission to stop listening and to physically begin the assignment. Hmmmm, I wonder if I should share this technique with our pastor. Perhaps he could cue the congregation as to when to begin zipping up Bible cases instead of during his final remarks. I suppose children in the classroom aren't the only ones in need of a verbal signal.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Social Bookmarks Post
Using social bookmarks was an awesome experience. To have so many resources at the touch of a button just boggles my mind. So many times when I came across an interesting web site, I would forget to add it to my Delicious account. I would back-track until I could locate it. I plan to continue to "grow" my account! I used my account as a resource to complete some of our class projects. When time allows, I want to go back through our many course resources to make sure I have included them on my Delicious account. Social bookmarks are an invaluable tool!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Digital Citizenship
Being a good digital citizen is of great importance because it protects us (and our students) physically and emotionally. I really like the SafeKids.Com strategies listed in our text on page 218. It gives some good advice on ways to limit interaction with online predators, rules in using the internet and consequences for not abiding by the set rules, keeping passwords top secret, and not doing anything hurtful to others or illegal. Before this course I was oblivious to the widespread common problem of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. The little I had heard of it was linked to older students. I had no idea of the abuse elementary aged students are experiencing. We have got to make it our business to teach Digital Citizenship in our curriculum because otherwise our students could potentially be harmed.
Having a good digital reputation is also of great value. To treat others kindly and to report instances of verbal abuse can stop cyberbullies in their tracks. Students don't realize the negative impact posting compromising pictures or comments has on others and on their personal futures. Once those are posted, there is no taking it back. Children do not think about future consequences, so we as educators have got to teach them the importance of having a good digital reputation. There is an abundance of resources to use to teach good digital citizenship. We just have to implement the information into our curriculum.
Having a good digital reputation is also of great value. To treat others kindly and to report instances of verbal abuse can stop cyberbullies in their tracks. Students don't realize the negative impact posting compromising pictures or comments has on others and on their personal futures. Once those are posted, there is no taking it back. Children do not think about future consequences, so we as educators have got to teach them the importance of having a good digital reputation. There is an abundance of resources to use to teach good digital citizenship. We just have to implement the information into our curriculum.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Thinkport Activities
Wow, this assignment was frustrating. Every attempt to access the Thinkport site ended with an error message. The light bulb finally came on - "check classmates' blogs to see if any of them were able to access the site." Thanks, Donette, for explaining how you were able to get in! So, there weren't many simulations appropriate for lower elementary students, but I liked Varnelle Moore's Primary Math Activities. The activities would be helpful in teaching first graders to recognize shapes, create patterns, and explore spatial relations and symmetry. Each lesson consisted of four activities - interactive, technology, paper & pencil, and a literature connection (listing books to share with your students) to give lessons more meaning.
Another activity I think would benefit first graders is "How do you like a crowd?" by National Geographic XPeditions. Although this plan was developed for a geography lesson, I would use it to meet the math objective to organize, represent, and interpret data and social studies objective to identify physical features of Earth using maps. I especially liked the "Population Pasta" activity where students use pasta to represent population in different countries.
There are some really cool activities on the Thinkport site. So glad I was able to finally make a visit!
Another activity I think would benefit first graders is "How do you like a crowd?" by National Geographic XPeditions. Although this plan was developed for a geography lesson, I would use it to meet the math objective to organize, represent, and interpret data and social studies objective to identify physical features of Earth using maps. I especially liked the "Population Pasta" activity where students use pasta to represent population in different countries.
There are some really cool activities on the Thinkport site. So glad I was able to finally make a visit!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Comparing Software Reviews
I visited the following software review websites in order to compare them: SREB EvaluTech, California Learning Resource Network, SuperKids, and Education World.
SREB EvaluTech is a Southern Regional Education Board website that makes available to schools computer software recommended by state departments of education. Education professionals review the software applicable to K-12 grade levels using guidelines/criteria set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This free resource is available on a variety of subjects where key words and grade level only need to the entered to find appropriate software. Also, although based on standards from North Carolina, they fit curriculums throughout the nation. If a certain resource cannot be located, the site lists an email address to contact for additional assistance.
The California Resource Network has some impressive characteristics. This site hosts a variety of ways to search for software to fit an educators' instructional software needs. You can search for software by grade level, subject, topic, a favorite publisher, or at-risk student activities. You can even look for other resources in the categories of videos, Internet, or textbook. There were over 3,000 reviews, and the list is modified on a monthly basis. There is a lengthy screening process, and only software meeting specific guidelines are included on this website. The guidelines included meeting state standards (California), the CLRN board review (educators trained to evaluate software) standards, and legal standards. I don't mind if this resource is geared for standards in California. With the ability to type in a grade level and topic, one is able to access a wealth of potential instructional aids. I would use this site, in fact I look forward to it!
Although I really like some aspects of the SuperKids site, I'm not as impressed with it compared to CLRN. I appreciate the ease at which you can access information, but the search is linear (you can't search for grade and subject at the same time) However, I like that once you find software you are interested in, you can click a button to check out reviews of similar software. I understand that "kids, parents, and teachers" reviewed the software on a monthly basis, but who are these people??? I like that the site gives a list of best sellers, but to me it seemed more commercially motivated than focused on educational benefits.
While I like the Education World site (I actually have it on my Delicious Account.), it is my least favorite of the software review sites. It was not user friendly. The information on software review was interesting (especially the ones to assist teachers with administrative tasks and learning technology), but the rest seemed very limited.
And my winner is CLRN!!!
SREB EvaluTech is a Southern Regional Education Board website that makes available to schools computer software recommended by state departments of education. Education professionals review the software applicable to K-12 grade levels using guidelines/criteria set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. This free resource is available on a variety of subjects where key words and grade level only need to the entered to find appropriate software. Also, although based on standards from North Carolina, they fit curriculums throughout the nation. If a certain resource cannot be located, the site lists an email address to contact for additional assistance.
The California Resource Network has some impressive characteristics. This site hosts a variety of ways to search for software to fit an educators' instructional software needs. You can search for software by grade level, subject, topic, a favorite publisher, or at-risk student activities. You can even look for other resources in the categories of videos, Internet, or textbook. There were over 3,000 reviews, and the list is modified on a monthly basis. There is a lengthy screening process, and only software meeting specific guidelines are included on this website. The guidelines included meeting state standards (California), the CLRN board review (educators trained to evaluate software) standards, and legal standards. I don't mind if this resource is geared for standards in California. With the ability to type in a grade level and topic, one is able to access a wealth of potential instructional aids. I would use this site, in fact I look forward to it!
Although I really like some aspects of the SuperKids site, I'm not as impressed with it compared to CLRN. I appreciate the ease at which you can access information, but the search is linear (you can't search for grade and subject at the same time) However, I like that once you find software you are interested in, you can click a button to check out reviews of similar software. I understand that "kids, parents, and teachers" reviewed the software on a monthly basis, but who are these people??? I like that the site gives a list of best sellers, but to me it seemed more commercially motivated than focused on educational benefits.
While I like the Education World site (I actually have it on my Delicious Account.), it is my least favorite of the software review sites. It was not user friendly. The information on software review was interesting (especially the ones to assist teachers with administrative tasks and learning technology), but the rest seemed very limited.
And my winner is CLRN!!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Week 2 Assignments
Rainbows of Our Own
Week 2 Assignment - Embed a Video
I saw this kindergarten activity on TeacherTube and thought it was such a good idea to development literacy, creativity, and collaboration. I have no idea how this was made, do any of you? It reminded me of a PowerPoint presentation in a way. Also, I noticed there was background music along with the children "reading" the story. How was that done? I have so much to learn! Can you imagine how proud those boys and girls were as their entries were displayed??? Loved it!
Which rainbow page did you like the best? (I liked the dancing one the most!)
Web 2.0 Projects:
Since I'm not currently teaching, I decided to choose a unit topic where I can use new information to help "teach" my kindergarten Girl Scout troop. On Veterans Day our troop will march in the parade, present home-made thank you cards to the veterans, and then spend the remainder of the day doing crafts/activities related to this special holiday. After completing this unit, I feel completely prepared to teach my girls a few things about Veterans Day!!!
My topic was from the kindergarten social studies course of study.
ID historic symbols of patriotism.
Click here to see my concept map
For Animoto Video Entitled America Click here
I'll be honest, when I first started the Animoto project, I wondered how twelve photos of our flag, a bald eagle, and other American symbols could make any kind of impact in a video. I thought mine would be totally boring. When I watched it, I was pleasantly surprised! The pictures along with the music really made an impression on me although it was short in length!
Click here to view my 3 projects using Big Huge Labs
Using the Big Huge Labs applications was so much fun. Once you are able to find some good photos to use, the rest is very simple. I will use this again! It didn't occur to me at the beginning of my photo search to look at the clipart in Microsoft office. I really liked those!
For Glogster entitled America Click here
I spent the most time on my Glogster. One of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking, and this was very similar. Finding effective material (videos, activities, games) was the most difficult part, but well worth the time in the end. This was so much fun! I was able to test out several of the videos on my 5-year-old, so of course I chose the one that kept her attention while also showing her different American symbols in the background.
Week 2 Assignment - Embed a Video
I saw this kindergarten activity on TeacherTube and thought it was such a good idea to development literacy, creativity, and collaboration. I have no idea how this was made, do any of you? It reminded me of a PowerPoint presentation in a way. Also, I noticed there was background music along with the children "reading" the story. How was that done? I have so much to learn! Can you imagine how proud those boys and girls were as their entries were displayed??? Loved it!
Which rainbow page did you like the best? (I liked the dancing one the most!)
Web 2.0 Projects:
Since I'm not currently teaching, I decided to choose a unit topic where I can use new information to help "teach" my kindergarten Girl Scout troop. On Veterans Day our troop will march in the parade, present home-made thank you cards to the veterans, and then spend the remainder of the day doing crafts/activities related to this special holiday. After completing this unit, I feel completely prepared to teach my girls a few things about Veterans Day!!!
My topic was from the kindergarten social studies course of study.
ID historic symbols of patriotism.
Click here to see my concept map
For Animoto Video Entitled America Click here
I'll be honest, when I first started the Animoto project, I wondered how twelve photos of our flag, a bald eagle, and other American symbols could make any kind of impact in a video. I thought mine would be totally boring. When I watched it, I was pleasantly surprised! The pictures along with the music really made an impression on me although it was short in length!
Click here to view my 3 projects using Big Huge Labs
Using the Big Huge Labs applications was so much fun. Once you are able to find some good photos to use, the rest is very simple. I will use this again! It didn't occur to me at the beginning of my photo search to look at the clipart in Microsoft office. I really liked those!
For Glogster entitled America Click here
I spent the most time on my Glogster. One of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking, and this was very similar. Finding effective material (videos, activities, games) was the most difficult part, but well worth the time in the end. This was so much fun! I was able to test out several of the videos on my 5-year-old, so of course I chose the one that kept her attention while also showing her different American symbols in the background.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Introduction - Holli Mason
Hello, everyone! My name is Holli Mason. I received my elementary teaching degree from UWA in 1991. That really shows my age! During my teaching career, I have primarily taught first grade. In 2008, I took a leave from teaching in order for my husband & I to pursue an international adoption. Since bringing my children home to Butler, Alabama, I have enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom. My husband and I were blessed to adopt a precious brother and sister pair who are happy, healthy, and well-adjusted children. This is my second graduate class to do online, and I see some familiar names. Hello, everyone from Educational Planning! I am preparing to return to teaching hopefully next year, but until then I keep myself busy acting as room mother for my daughter's class, occasionally substituting, being a Girl Scout troop leader, and taking graduate classes. I look forward to learning about how to integrate technology into the classroom. Good luck to all of you in this class!
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