It took a lot of searching (I searched math, math instruction, fifth grade, etc.) on Technorati, but I finally found a blog that I really like. It is a fifth grade teacher's website at edublog called Mrs. Mercer's website.
I like it because Mrs. Mercer's school apparently uses Open Court too, so there are a lot of great links given. In fact, there are great links related to all subjects! She also has good examples on her site of how to use blogging for reflections made by students, and there are also examples of podcasts that students have made to demonstrate what they have learned as well as podcasts (or MP3s?) of class discussions!
The site hasn't been updated since last June, the end of the previous school year, so hopefully she's just building community and discussing cyber-bullying right now, and will begin a more current and updated site soon!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Technology Overload!
I just completed a two week course on how to use my Activboard, during which I spent a lot of time playing the with new hardware and software, designing new lessons, reading and posting in forums, and watching tutorials.
I've been taking this course at the same time, learning about ALL SORTS of new tools on the Read/Write web that I never knew about (aggregators, RSS, wikis, social bookmarking and MORE!).
And today I started another tech class through UCLA extension on integrating technology into the classroom.
The last two nights, I've had DREAMS about clicking here, cutting this image, copying it here, moving things on my Activboard, going to this site......I'm learning so much, and it has all become so much a part of my daily life, that I'm actually DREAMING about it.
But man am I loving all that I'm learning!!!
I've been taking this course at the same time, learning about ALL SORTS of new tools on the Read/Write web that I never knew about (aggregators, RSS, wikis, social bookmarking and MORE!).
And today I started another tech class through UCLA extension on integrating technology into the classroom.
The last two nights, I've had DREAMS about clicking here, cutting this image, copying it here, moving things on my Activboard, going to this site......I'm learning so much, and it has all become so much a part of my daily life, that I'm actually DREAMING about it.
But man am I loving all that I'm learning!!!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Here goes nothing!
Well, here you have it: my first blog.
I really enjoyed the readings for this week. I definitely think it will take a lot of practice and playing around with different blogs before I will feel comfortable starting a class blog, and more importantly, before I'll be prepared enough to defend the merit and logic behind a class blog to my principal...because I KNOW I'll have to defend it. Or maybe I'll just forward him this week's readings? Is there any research that blogging directly impacts CST scores, because I KNOW that would work? =D
As I looked through the different class blog examples, I was really impressed by how often posts were read! Some student blogs had over 800 views! As I write this, I'm excited by the thought of people reading and commenting on my words, so I can imagine the thrill that over 800 views would bring to a student. How inspired and excited they must be to write that next blog!
One thing that I'm struggling with is which blog service to use. From the readings and suggestions of our instructor, it seemed that blogmeister.com and 21classes.com are my choices. The readings suggested that blogger.com not be used for a classroom. I'd like to know more about the pros and cons of each service. I suppose this will just take some playing around. One thing I found odd was that 21classes wanted my address when I signed up???
I'm also struggling with whether I should set up a class blog for my students and parents to view and comment on, or if I should have students set up their own blogs. Again, I think it will just take more exposure to the services before I'll know which course is best. I noticed that w/ blogmeister, the students' blogs all had the same picture and color scheme...I like that.
I'm really excited by the prospect of this new and exciting writing tool, and can't wait to learn more!!
I really enjoyed the readings for this week. I definitely think it will take a lot of practice and playing around with different blogs before I will feel comfortable starting a class blog, and more importantly, before I'll be prepared enough to defend the merit and logic behind a class blog to my principal...because I KNOW I'll have to defend it. Or maybe I'll just forward him this week's readings? Is there any research that blogging directly impacts CST scores, because I KNOW that would work? =D
As I looked through the different class blog examples, I was really impressed by how often posts were read! Some student blogs had over 800 views! As I write this, I'm excited by the thought of people reading and commenting on my words, so I can imagine the thrill that over 800 views would bring to a student. How inspired and excited they must be to write that next blog!
One thing that I'm struggling with is which blog service to use. From the readings and suggestions of our instructor, it seemed that blogmeister.com and 21classes.com are my choices. The readings suggested that blogger.com not be used for a classroom. I'd like to know more about the pros and cons of each service. I suppose this will just take some playing around. One thing I found odd was that 21classes wanted my address when I signed up???
I'm also struggling with whether I should set up a class blog for my students and parents to view and comment on, or if I should have students set up their own blogs. Again, I think it will just take more exposure to the services before I'll know which course is best. I noticed that w/ blogmeister, the students' blogs all had the same picture and color scheme...I like that.
I'm really excited by the prospect of this new and exciting writing tool, and can't wait to learn more!!
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