Sunshine and Texas

Week 5: Media Sharing

2008-09-18T01:06:00.005-05:00

I had a time with this area. I worked hard with Flickr. Getting it linked and running on Edublog wasn't a problem after some guidance. However, I could never get it to run on this Blog. Didn't seem to matter what I did! I've been trying to put a slideshow on my school webpage. Peeking in at other pages, I've done everything I can to get it to run. So, I'm going to try here and see if it will run. Not sure of the results, but I'm about to find out. If not, I'll go back to the drawing board!

Okay. It didn't work for I have to have the pictures stored her for this to work from http://www.barelyfitz.com/projects/slideshow. I have placed it on my website, but I haven't been able to get it to play.

So...since we are learning about Density right now, we will take a look at density activity.

And here's a CUTE poem explaining Matter!

I've learned so many things during this class. I'm using Wikispaces with my team of teachers. I enjoy the ease of this tool in sharing and creating/planning areas. I've put our ABC questions on my wiki. This way we can input our thoughts and findings to reflect the data. We have so many meetings, I'm excited to see how this works as it's my first time with the entire group to use the concept. So we'll see. I have a playlist and enjoy listening to the music during the quiet time of work, like now!

I'm still wondering how to get Flickr to 'flick' in this blog!

Week 6: One of my Favorite Toy

2008-09-16T23:05:00.003-05:00

As the year was about to begin I discovered this countdown clock. It is so very easy to insert! You just select your graphic, set the date and time of the event, and copy the HTML code. Then you paste it in your webpage. It is that easy. Each time an event comes up...I just update it to the next event! And you can select activities, holidays, etc. It's cool! Try it for yourself!

Countdown Calendars

Whoops! I totally skipped Week 5. So I'll go back and update this event! Sorry for the slip!

Flickr

2008-07-22T01:18:00.001-05:00

I have been able to link my photostream up with edublog and netvibes. However, I'm having trouble linking my flickr pictures to this blog slideshow. Any suggestions?

Week 4: Wikis

2008-07-15T22:18:00.003-05:00

Last year I was told of Wikis. I rushed to sign on and reserver several sites. However, I'm sad to say I was so busy I didn't make time to investigate this fabulous tools and begin creating my plans on them. This week, I've learned how valuable Wikis can be as well as their multi-purposes!
This upcoming year, I hope to be able to generate my plans using Wikis. As I was investigating this tool, I kept seeing our team sitting around the table during our sharing out the forthcoming lesson plans. An undetermined amount of time rushes by during this sharing out as input interrupts the delivery of the plans. Using Wikis, we can create plans and others can review them prior to our sharing time. They can include their own thoughts, activities, title of reading materials, suggestions, etc. This could save valuable time.
I don't want to forget about this tool. And at the same time, I need to work on my time management and be sure to use it!
We can also use this in place of meetings. Members can meet with Wikis and share their input and ideas. These can be ongoing through out the year and reflected upon the next year (I.E. minutes). Even the PTA could use it for areas they want teacher and/or parent input. The uses are HUGE!
A few sites I enjoyed:
A great resource wiki http://21ctools.wikispaces.com/space/xmla?v=rss_2_0
Many things to assist you here: http://teachwiki.wikispaces.com/
Salute to Seuss is a must for everyone to tour: http://salutetoseuss.wikispaces.com/
Wikis, I'm happy to say, will become a part of my routine. Wikis will be introduced this year within my class...for students, parents, and colleagues. I may have to educate many to use, but I feel it will be worth the time.

My Podcast: Is Your TeacherWeb Page Working For You?

2008-07-04T02:19:00.004-05:00

Each year, many hours are invested into my TeacherWeb page. What works one year may not work the next needs change. Using the TeacherWeb Response Page to create a survey is the beginning of our classroom communication. What information is considered most valuable? Will this communication benefit the success of my students?

Podcasts...Getting Started, Ways to use, Definition, and so on...

2008-07-01T22:58:00.006-05:00

WOW! Last Wednesday about 4:30AM I couldn't sleep. I anxiously checked the new assignment. Reading through everything, I decided to get started as it would be a pack week as family began arriving the day before. (During week 1, all 4 grandchildren were here with more family.) My sister and her husband came with Axel (the dog) while her 87 year old mother-in-law was delivered by ambulance for open heart surgery. The very day of this new assignment, my mother brought Dude, my father's best friend-his 8 year old poodle. Dude was scheduled for cataract removal bright and early the next morning. As crazy as it sounds, we were happy to serve these seven adults, their dogs as well as our own dog and two cats. Everyone was blessed through the surgeries and are currently regaining strength. My mother had to return home to work. I agreed to keep Dude through the week for his follow up appointment because at 74, we rather she not be driving alone back and forth to Austin. Little did I know, Dude would require much attention for he is HOMESICKand DEPRESSED!!! Almost everyday, we have ventured back to the vet to have his eye pressure checked and body fluids for he doesn't want to eat or drink. The idea of my getting ahead...didn't happen! And through all this...I'm still deciding the topic of my podcast. However, I'd better post my reflections to the readings I have been working on. I still need to upload. Being a visual learning...I'm grateful for all the tutorials!!!

Professional Development for Teachers and Staff

New teachers can use a podcast/video to begin their webpage prior to the beginning of school. Parents and students would be able to learn a bit of their new teacher prior to their first meeting. Sometimes this helps to reduce stress for the children.
Principals can relate information to their staff and lessen meetings allowing teachers to have less meetings and focus on areas they need for guiding instruction.
Nurses can use Podcast for sharing important health information for parents, staff , and students as well as steps to assist in hand washing during cold/flu season, during break outs of head lice, procedures for returning to school after an illness, etc.
Registrars can update parents on procedures for absences.
Principal and/or teachers can share procedures for checking grades on line.

Teachers Create Content for Students

Literacy Log Responses
Practice spelling words for students
Essay and art contest announcements
Home practice quizzes
Blogging instructions

Students Create Content for Real-World Audiences

Poetry Teas
Book Talks
Reading Responses
Writing-Ideas/Brainstorming
Science experiments

What is a Podcast?

Podcast are audio/video files that can go where you go either by computer, iPods, MP3 players, etc. You can subscribe to the feeds for updates when they are available. Podcast allow us to learn as we go. There's no need to miss a thing! Podcast have no limits as their topics are endless. With a bit of practice, they become easier to create and easier to use.

What qualities/features do you find common among the best podcast?

I'd like the qualities and features to be of interest to me or catch my attention. Humor is a good source to add. I'd like to be able to hear all as sometimes the volumes were low or music distracted the content.

Does my podcast share any of these features?

The music was too loud and I've had to play with the volume so my voice is heard. My new microphone still comes across with a nasal sound which I'd like to correct this for better clarity.

How might Podcasts be useful in my classroom or my place in education?

I hope to use podcast in my classroom to enhance instructions and directions, assist a homework practice helper especially for children who are absent to not fall behind, for parent information, and I plan on having students use for sharing their stories, poetry, creative ideas, etc. I particularly enjoyed the many ways Mr. Coley, http://www.mrcoley.com/, used Podcast. I sure hope to follow his examples.

Week 2: RSS and RSS readers

2008-06-22T01:59:00.004-05:00

I consider myself a fast learner, and I understand the connections you can make through setting up the RSS links. Needless to say, I am bit befuddled this week. After viewing the readers, I decided to go with Netvibes. However, I am not sure that I really understand if I did it right. I liked the many options you could have as I usually enjoy having bells and whistles. But I'm wondering if I shouldn't have gone with the "Strait Forward" option until I get it down better. I subscribed to my classmates, and added them to the Netvibes page. However, I am not sure where their names should show up and the list. I'm still working on this more. Or if there's another list???

I selected a few non-classmate bloggers as such as one with classroom management ideas. This blog has several ideas to assist with elementary children using positive reinforcement. I also selected a friend of mine for many years. Jeff McMahon is the keyboard player for Tim McGraw. While he is quite busy with Tim and the Dancehall Doctors, Jeff has his hands in a variety of events from running marathons, to acting in plays, interviews, and actively involved with cancer drives and patients. (Just to mention a few.) Although we don't see each as often as we once did many years ago, we do stay in touch. And it's a joy to read the many ways he reaches out to others. Jeff is an encouragement to many and a desire to serve others.

What did I learn? I've learned an easy way to view changes as they occur to blogs and websites within one page.
How will you use what you have learned? I shall continue to further investigate these tools as I'm still unclear about them. I'm not sure I've made the connections.
How did you feel about this tool? I feel as though this tool will be fabulous, as soon as I see things moving and updating.
What do you not want to forget about this tool? Linking to the page, as when I signed off and camp back to check it out some more...the site was updating and I couldn't access it at that time.
How can this be useful in the classroom or in your educational role? This will be a fabulous way for children to check on particular sites and alert them to updates. This can be a true time saver as well. I look forward to implementing this activity in the upcoming year.
Should you use this in your classroom or you educational role? This can be used in both!
What questions to you still have about this tool? I like to know if I did it correctly. And I'd like to know how William put all those links on his blog page too!

Food for thought...

2008-06-20T10:34:00.001-05:00

When you choose to be pleasant and positive in a way you treat others, you have also chosen, in most cases, how you are going to be treated by others.

Zig Ziglar

Week 1...on going

2008-06-16T22:55:00.009-05:00

Question #1: What did I learn?
Blogging opens a great deal of learning in different forms. For me, it's a way to learn new information, stay in (distant touch) with friends and colleagues, as well as discover new avenues and doorways to the world. I have friends who express themselves during good times and troubling times while receiving some sound advise or just simple encouraging words. I am learning new ways to see information, listen to other's opinions, process and share. Who knows...maybe even get involved too...

Question #2: How will I you use what I've learned?
I use the TeacherWeb through our district on a daily basis during our school year. I'd to integrate these experiences into my classroom routine and see my students use them as well. I find our webpage is simple and time saving.

Question #3: How did you feel about this tool?
I love technology and sharing. It was terrific setting the Blog up as I refreshed my mind searching and working to add pictures, etc. I want it to be useful and something that will be beneficial and not require double time or double work.

Question #4: What do you not want to forget about this tool?
I don't want to forget how simple it can be. I also want to remember when there are answers when you need them....just search. (I didn't like the text over the sunflower picture... entering the html to adjust to the left...I needed help. Using help, I was able to find the text to add to accomplish the task! But...where did I put the print out...OH MY!)

Question #5: How can this be used in the classroom or your educational role?
Within our classroom, students can use their writing skills through a class publication or even a newsletter. Perhaps they can even share their literacy refections where the children and their parents can even comment sharing their reflections.

Question #6: Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Yes, I do believe this is a worthy project and opportunity to share what's going on with a child's learning. I have seen the more one communicates with parents, the smoother things come together. I can't wait to discover more ways to use them in my educational role. But I don't want to see myself working even more hours that already. I'd like to see it simplify some areas to leave open the room of teaching!

Question #7: What questions do you still have about this tool?
What else can it do? Can I add a calendar to this blogspot page? I'd like to try the edublog and link the two together.

During my time with KellerISD, it was an honor to be facilitator through Intel Teach To The Future with support of Microsoft. RRISD was just beginning this program with I moved here. Once again, I was invited to facilitate with colleagues. What an opportunity to learn technology! Now I find a golden opportunity, and I jumped at the chance to learn more!!

For me, I feel like we should just "say it." I feel like, Blogs in Plan English, did just that! The video stated things and demonstrated it. This video was very good and to the point. Dan Meyer has a fabulous and energetic BLOG! He uses it with many lessons! This was of interest to me! Thanks!

Week 1 Reflection...still working

2008-06-16T00:29:00.012-05:00

Excitement grew since learning of the Web2.0 class. I've always wanted to participate in online classes. How quickly the time arrived. This week, just before week 1 was announced, four extra sets of feet arrived...running up and down the stairs calling, "Meme...can I have....?" or "Meme...I need something to drink." (These feet that range from 3 to 11 years of age. ) Running about in my mind...How did I do this when my three were this age and attend college at the same time? The neighbors marveled at their energy.

The days begin early as they are up with the crack of dawn ready for a day of fun and hours at the swimming pool. I've been reading the assignments after all have gone to bed and things have been clean for the next day, generally after 12am.

Waiting until the last minute to complete a task, is simple not me.

But, for the first assignment, I find...I'm still plugging away. This blog, on Blogger.com, was one I opened over a year ago hadn't been touched since. I decided this would be a perfect place to begin. So... tweaking it some, I shall resurrect this blog.

As for tonight, I shall complete tomorrow...my Week 1 Reflection...as deadline is but a blink away. I ask myself: What would I do different this week? I know...without a doubt...I change nothing! I'd do it all again...just the same...for these little angels ...are truly are a gift from God!

A gift I don't want to miss out on for a moment...because I know they will be grown too soon.