I know many people and companies have pages up talking about the lunar eclipse, but I wanted to let you in what I experienced. I sent out a question on Plurk (here) wondering who was going to stay up and watch it.
If you went to the link, you saw many people respond. The question also went out on twitter and facebook and I had more people respond there too. At last count, I had 10 people across the continent watching it with me that I "know" and were talking to me about what they were seeing.
I believe this experience is something that many people need to replicate more often...in other areas of life.
Sometimes, as a teacher I feel alone and struggling by myself and I know in my head that others are doing the same thing and yet, I don't feel it. I don't sense the willingness to let go and open up to others and let them be a witness to my life experiences. Sure, I'm married and all but, it doesn't stop there. Other people are doing similar things and want to share what they are doing.
With that said, I guess I will be sharing more. I can't care any longer who is listening or if any one is listening. I'm talking and if you are listening, thanks. If not, that is okay. I will listen to you speak.
BTW, here are the links I collected through out the night.
Enjoy!
Eclipse notes:
December 21, 2010
December 20, 2010
QR codes
I know I'm a bit late on these but they are cool!
I saw @demacisaac's profile picture and I had to make one!
Here is what I did:
1) Went to Google
2) Typed in "qr code generator"
3) Sifted through the first page of results
4) Center-click on 2 of them and used one of them
a)http://delivr.com/qr-code-generator
b)http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
5) I clicked on a)
6) Realized I had to find a URL to link to
7) Copied and pasted in the URL for this site
8) Clicked on "Generate"
9) Clicked on Download PNG
10) Went to my Twitter profile
11) Changed the image to the QR code.
12) Done!
That was pretty simple to do.
Now, I have to read up on it and why it might be a good thing to use in the classroom.
Wait! I don't need to create QR codes because cellphones are hidden and unseen in my school. And 4th graders don't carry the latest ones with cameras or are smartphones.
Well, I'll read up on them anyway.
Here is a good start:
nharm Simple but powerful QR Generators: http://bit.ly/JEvnB http://bit.ly/BA6d & how to use them blog- thanks Steve! http://bit.ly/gZKNzQ #edtech
Anymore posts/articles, I should read while I'm at it?
I saw @demacisaac's profile picture and I had to make one!
Here is what I did:
1) Went to Google
2) Typed in "qr code generator"
3) Sifted through the first page of results
4) Center-click on 2 of them and used one of them
a)http://delivr.com/qr-code-generator
b)http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
5) I clicked on a)
6) Realized I had to find a URL to link to
7) Copied and pasted in the URL for this site
8) Clicked on "Generate"
9) Clicked on Download PNG
10) Went to my Twitter profile
11) Changed the image to the QR code.
12) Done!
That was pretty simple to do.
Now, I have to read up on it and why it might be a good thing to use in the classroom.
Wait! I don't need to create QR codes because cellphones are hidden and unseen in my school. And 4th graders don't carry the latest ones with cameras or are smartphones.
Well, I'll read up on them anyway.
Here is a good start:
nharm Simple but powerful QR Generators: http://bit.ly/JEvnB http://bit.ly/BA6d & how to use them blog- thanks Steve! http://bit.ly/gZKNzQ #edtech
Anymore posts/articles, I should read while I'm at it?
November 11, 2010
4th Grade Paper Blogs
Today I tried the Paper Blogs with my fourth grade class. I will share what happened and what the results were. There will be pictures and comments about the activity from the students.
The first thing I did was explain the process of paper blogging and why we are doing it. I showed @mcteach's post and its pictures. They thought it was pretty neat and it looked hard but they could do it.
Next, I gave them the task of choosing their favorite thing to do/say/go/play/eat and then tell me why. We spent 30 minutes choosing a topic and writing about it. Many had a hard time focusing on it, but they pressed through it.
After each one was finished, I read the entry for several details that someone could comment on when they read it. If there was enough I gave them the A5 white paper to write the final copy on.
When they finished rewriting the final copy they could select a background (12x12in scrapbooking pages) and paste the copy on to it. Then they were able to decorate the background with the materials I provided. I gave them several hole punches with each one being a different size and shape and scissors to cut paper into designs and paste on the edges.
They did a great job. I took pictures of each one and have included them in a photo album to share.
During the process, I took pictures of two of the first ones done and posted them to twitpic here and here. Then I had the owners refresh the page to see how many people had looked at their pictures. Talk about excitement! All the class was "ahhing" over how many people looked at the pictures. I explained that many people follow me and want to know what I do in my class. The students wanted to know who they were, but I told them we would talk about that later.
I had so much fun to day. The next step will be discussing what is respectful commenting and then write some comments on each others blogs.
A short movie of what we did the first day.
November 5th - Today we commented on each other's paper blogs. I explained that we are applying the character trait of respect by commenting on what classmates wrote on their paper blogs. The instructions were such:
1) They had to write a compliment. (Being positive)
2) They had to find something they had in common with the blogger's content and write it. (Paying attention to the content)
3) They had to ask a question about the content. (Wanting more information, trying to start a conversation)
4) They had to write their name. (Telling the blogger, "You deserve to know who wrote this so you can respond to the comment")
5) They had to comment on three blogs. (Get a better picture of our classmates' lives)
The results were outstanding. I had several children who are normally not participatory, actually write more comments than required. The comments were clear and came from the heart.
I really enjoyed doing this activity with them. Now on to web-based blogs, soon.
PS. Here are a few pictures from a later day.
The first thing I did was explain the process of paper blogging and why we are doing it. I showed @mcteach's post and its pictures. They thought it was pretty neat and it looked hard but they could do it.
Next, I gave them the task of choosing their favorite thing to do/say/go/play/eat and then tell me why. We spent 30 minutes choosing a topic and writing about it. Many had a hard time focusing on it, but they pressed through it.
After each one was finished, I read the entry for several details that someone could comment on when they read it. If there was enough I gave them the A5 white paper to write the final copy on.
When they finished rewriting the final copy they could select a background (12x12in scrapbooking pages) and paste the copy on to it. Then they were able to decorate the background with the materials I provided. I gave them several hole punches with each one being a different size and shape and scissors to cut paper into designs and paste on the edges.
They did a great job. I took pictures of each one and have included them in a photo album to share.
During the process, I took pictures of two of the first ones done and posted them to twitpic here and here. Then I had the owners refresh the page to see how many people had looked at their pictures. Talk about excitement! All the class was "ahhing" over how many people looked at the pictures. I explained that many people follow me and want to know what I do in my class. The students wanted to know who they were, but I told them we would talk about that later.
I had so much fun to day. The next step will be discussing what is respectful commenting and then write some comments on each others blogs.
A short movie of what we did the first day.
 |
| From Paper Blogging |
November 5th - Today we commented on each other's paper blogs. I explained that we are applying the character trait of respect by commenting on what classmates wrote on their paper blogs. The instructions were such:
1) They had to write a compliment. (Being positive)
2) They had to find something they had in common with the blogger's content and write it. (Paying attention to the content)
3) They had to ask a question about the content. (Wanting more information, trying to start a conversation)
4) They had to write their name. (Telling the blogger, "You deserve to know who wrote this so you can respond to the comment")
5) They had to comment on three blogs. (Get a better picture of our classmates' lives)
The results were outstanding. I had several children who are normally not participatory, actually write more comments than required. The comments were clear and came from the heart.
I really enjoyed doing this activity with them. Now on to web-based blogs, soon.
PS. Here are a few pictures from a later day.
September 16, 2010
Reflections on Podcasting
This post is about my reflections thus far on my podcast station: Techyturner's Podcast.
I'm trying new things because I know I will get better at them and the experience will help me think of new and different ways to integrate more technology into my classes.
As always, comments are greatly appreciated.
Reflections on Podcasting #1
Show notes:
Re-introduction to what I am doing with podcasting in my class
Issues I've faced and how I'm working on fixing them
Sound quality - Movement of mic
Background noise - Noise reduction effect
Changed to use of Adobe Audition 1.0 -
Worked with 4-8 graders
4th, 5th - More outgoing willing to do it.
6th-8th graders - Want to make sure they can sound cool but not dorky worried about the way they sound. Once over the vanity phase, they are great producers.
No mic=loud, almost obnoxious
Mic=quiet, almost shy and unsure of what to say
Activities - Create a late breaking story. Answer the 5 W's and how. Turned out very good after...
Segments used from RadioWillowWeb program.
Time frame to complete each podcast
4th graders v. 5th-8th graders
Music/Sound effects
Moving to completely student created and I just publish it.
I'm trying new things because I know I will get better at them and the experience will help me think of new and different ways to integrate more technology into my classes.
As always, comments are greatly appreciated.
Reflections on Podcasting #1
Show notes:
Re-introduction to what I am doing with podcasting in my class
Issues I've faced and how I'm working on fixing them
Sound quality - Movement of mic
Background noise - Noise reduction effect
Changed to use of Adobe Audition 1.0 -
Worked with 4-8 graders
4th, 5th - More outgoing willing to do it.
6th-8th graders - Want to make sure they can sound cool but not dorky worried about the way they sound. Once over the vanity phase, they are great producers.
No mic=loud, almost obnoxious
Mic=quiet, almost shy and unsure of what to say
Activities - Create a late breaking story. Answer the 5 W's and how. Turned out very good after...
Segments used from RadioWillowWeb program.
Time frame to complete each podcast
4th graders v. 5th-8th graders
Music/Sound effects
Moving to completely student created and I just publish it.
August 31, 2010
Podcasting with students
For those of you who have started this journey before me, you know what I'm talking about. What an adventure! I am having so much fun doing this. I know I do this to help students become better at multiple skill sets, but I really love doing this. I am podcasting with two groups:
Group 1) With students who are in need of extra help in reading, math, and writing. I work with 10 students 3 days a week after school and we create detailed announcements with interesting segments. This takes time as we go more in-depth with procedures, skill sets, and actual performance assessments of podcasting. One podcast takes 3 hours to plan, record, edit, and publish.
Group 2) With my homeroom students during lunch. I choose two students and we have a "working lunch" in which we edit the basic announcements needed for the school and then record them. This takes 40 minutes in total. That includes the editing and publishing to the web!
Podcasting group 2 came from an idea I grew after I read about Mr. Flick's podcasting at Bethke Elementary. I really enjoyed it. Simple, clear, and free of extra features. I love it. I even shared it with my two podcasting groups. They thought the hosts were older, but were amazed that they were in the 5th grade. I think all of them thought, "I can do that, too!"
I KNOW they can.
Thank you, Mr. Flick and KBOB Studios Podcasting and Web Show for sharing your announcements with us.
You can hear our podcasts/reflections/musings here. I try to update them every day with the latest episode.
We love followers! Thank you @pgeorge for the follow.
Please leave a comment either here or on the podcast station itself to let us know what you think of them.
Group 1) With students who are in need of extra help in reading, math, and writing. I work with 10 students 3 days a week after school and we create detailed announcements with interesting segments. This takes time as we go more in-depth with procedures, skill sets, and actual performance assessments of podcasting. One podcast takes 3 hours to plan, record, edit, and publish.
Group 2) With my homeroom students during lunch. I choose two students and we have a "working lunch" in which we edit the basic announcements needed for the school and then record them. This takes 40 minutes in total. That includes the editing and publishing to the web!
Podcasting group 2 came from an idea I grew after I read about Mr. Flick's podcasting at Bethke Elementary. I really enjoyed it. Simple, clear, and free of extra features. I love it. I even shared it with my two podcasting groups. They thought the hosts were older, but were amazed that they were in the 5th grade. I think all of them thought, "I can do that, too!"
I KNOW they can.
Thank you, Mr. Flick and KBOB Studios Podcasting and Web Show for sharing your announcements with us.
You can hear our podcasts/reflections/musings here. I try to update them every day with the latest episode.
We love followers! Thank you @pgeorge for the follow.
Please leave a comment either here or on the podcast station itself to let us know what you think of them.
Blogging with Students
I have been frustrated lately. I guess it has to be with myself since I SHOULD know better. With all the hype about increasing student test scores on high stakes tests, getting a better AYP label than last year, and not to forget the disappearance of tenure, I have to create a document which explains why blogging is a great activity to include in the evermore rigorously structure curriculum.
Let me be clear (Thanks Mr. President). I have brought this upon myself to introduce blogging to my school because the value of having an audience wider than the teacher and classmates. I want students to write so that they will have a voice, be heard, and have meaningful conversations with others who are interested in what they have to say.
It astounds me that so many of my students have never been to more than a few states or countries and have a narrow view of the world. I want to change this.
Last year, I introduced my classes to other teachers, classes and cultures. They loved it. I want to do the same this year but on a slightly smaller, focused scale.
I enlisted the help of @suewaters, @wfryer, @jdeyenberg, @zbpipe, @plnaugle, @web20classroom, @shellterrell, and @pgeorge with this cry for help:
I received answers that will keep me swimming for days. Here is what they shared.
jdeyenberg
My best blogging summary - with some great examples of student work and change over the year http://bit.ly/aBOCST
wfryer
this is a bit old but some of these links might help http://teachdigital.pbworks.com/blogging
I forgot this one - great classroom blogging resources http://supportblogging.com
ShellTerrell
This may help! Blogging with your classes! http://bit.ly/9GnSr7 & www.suewaters.com
pgeorge
More great rationale for blogging and letter to parents: http://bit.ly/azSuCe
Outstanding info in this online book/wiki: Teaching Writing Using Blogs, Wikis and other Digital tools http://bit.ly/bBMKfH
Pick some good examples to share: http://bit.ly/5eONpr Sue Waters has great resources to support blogging. http://bit.ly/bGM9C0
I have tons of resources on topic of blogging-start here: http://bit.ly/dxBwt4 then use links in this CR20LIVE show: http://bit.ly/9tDcFy
web20classroom
Take a look here: http://bit.ly/91L2TM The first couple are on why to blog with students. Should help you out.
Even @suewaters sent something when she was very sick:
"sorry currently sick :( Maybe u could grab some info from my class series here http://bit.ly/cUsncL"
I am going through the materials now to glean and create a document to support my use of a classroom blog and individual student blogs in my classroom.
I hope to accomplish this within the year but as a step in that direction, we are doing a weekly reflection time and sharing our summaries with each other. I have posted some of the reflections on our blog, Room 16 Bloggers.
I also would like some currently used ideas in how to structure blogging time. There is the concern that using computers and its tools would take up too much time. Time that could be used for doing science and/or math. I know there are some of you who have great ideas and have yet to share them. Put them in the comments below or send me a link to your work and/or ideas.
I'll keep you updated on the progress of this project.
Let me be clear (Thanks Mr. President). I have brought this upon myself to introduce blogging to my school because the value of having an audience wider than the teacher and classmates. I want students to write so that they will have a voice, be heard, and have meaningful conversations with others who are interested in what they have to say.
It astounds me that so many of my students have never been to more than a few states or countries and have a narrow view of the world. I want to change this.
Last year, I introduced my classes to other teachers, classes and cultures. They loved it. I want to do the same this year but on a slightly smaller, focused scale.
I enlisted the help of @suewaters, @wfryer, @jdeyenberg, @zbpipe, @plnaugle, @web20classroom, @shellterrell, and @pgeorge with this cry for help:
I need some help. I want to blog in the classroom, but need more resources to create a sound case for DO. Could you help?
I received answers that will keep me swimming for days. Here is what they shared.
jdeyenberg
My best blogging summary - with some great examples of student work and change over the year http://bit.ly/aBOCST
wfryer
this is a bit old but some of these links might help http://teachdigital.pbworks.com/blogging
I forgot this one - great classroom blogging resources http://supportblogging.com
ShellTerrell
This may help! Blogging with your classes! http://bit.ly/9GnSr7 & www.suewaters.com
pgeorge
More great rationale for blogging and letter to parents: http://bit.ly/azSuCe
Outstanding info in this online book/wiki: Teaching Writing Using Blogs, Wikis and other Digital tools http://bit.ly/bBMKfH
Pick some good examples to share: http://bit.ly/5eONpr Sue Waters has great resources to support blogging. http://bit.ly/bGM9C0
I have tons of resources on topic of blogging-start here: http://bit.ly/dxBwt4 then use links in this CR20LIVE show: http://bit.ly/9tDcFy
web20classroom
Take a look here: http://bit.ly/91L2TM The first couple are on why to blog with students. Should help you out.
Even @suewaters sent something when she was very sick:
"sorry currently sick :( Maybe u could grab some info from my class series here http://bit.ly/cUsncL"
I am going through the materials now to glean and create a document to support my use of a classroom blog and individual student blogs in my classroom.
I hope to accomplish this within the year but as a step in that direction, we are doing a weekly reflection time and sharing our summaries with each other. I have posted some of the reflections on our blog, Room 16 Bloggers.
I also would like some currently used ideas in how to structure blogging time. There is the concern that using computers and its tools would take up too much time. Time that could be used for doing science and/or math. I know there are some of you who have great ideas and have yet to share them. Put them in the comments below or send me a link to your work and/or ideas.
I'll keep you updated on the progress of this project.
August 30, 2010
Short Photo/iPod Essay
I made this back when my iPod Touch was new and I was playing with PhotoStory3.
It is short and many of the apps you will see are already gone.
Let me know what you think of this essay.
Do you use PhotoStory 3 with your students?
If so, what is your lesson planning structure so they can create and publish photo essays?
Thanks for sharing.
It is short and many of the apps you will see are already gone.
Let me know what you think of this essay.
Do you use PhotoStory 3 with your students?
If so, what is your lesson planning structure so they can create and publish photo essays?
Thanks for sharing.
August 6, 2010
First week of school
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
I know that seems like an overkill on the WOW but I try not to exaggerate. But this week has been just an absolute adventure.
Monday - The students came in with enthusiasm that I haven't seen in a while. They were positive and eager to learn. Of course we had to go over the rules and procedures of class and of the school, but they took it well.
Tuesday - We all started getting more loose and understanding more of what was expected of us and what was coming up in the future
Wednesday and Thursday - Where did those days go? They went by so fast. We played getting to know you games, scavenger hunts of our textbooks (we won't be using them very much this year), and continued to learn the rules and procedures.
Friday - I introduced blogging in that I gave them a composition book to record their thoughts of the week. Here is the prompt: "This was the first week of school. I..."
"I like science the most because we get to discover things."
"I enjoy my days of school. School is fun and the teachers are polite and very very very funny. Even if the teachers look mean they are actly funny for all of us. Even the princible."
"And school is fun because theres cool things in the class at school and I like (school name) because it a cool school."
I think I will LOVE this year.
Anyone want to be blogging buddies with us? We will set up a blog and get started very soon.
WOW!
WOW!
WOW!
I know that seems like an overkill on the WOW but I try not to exaggerate. But this week has been just an absolute adventure.
Monday - The students came in with enthusiasm that I haven't seen in a while. They were positive and eager to learn. Of course we had to go over the rules and procedures of class and of the school, but they took it well.
Tuesday - We all started getting more loose and understanding more of what was expected of us and what was coming up in the future
Wednesday and Thursday - Where did those days go? They went by so fast. We played getting to know you games, scavenger hunts of our textbooks (we won't be using them very much this year), and continued to learn the rules and procedures.
Friday - I introduced blogging in that I gave them a composition book to record their thoughts of the week. Here is the prompt: "This was the first week of school. I..."
"I like science the most because we get to discover things."
"I enjoy my days of school. School is fun and the teachers are polite and very very very funny. Even if the teachers look mean they are actly funny for all of us. Even the princible."
"And school is fun because theres cool things in the class at school and I like (school name) because it a cool school."
I think I will LOVE this year.
Anyone want to be blogging buddies with us? We will set up a blog and get started very soon.
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