Merry Christmas to all! May you have a wonderful Christmas break with family and friends, and return to school happy and rested and ready to learn with your students!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Point to Ponder
Ever have one of these moments? This video expresses what many of us, and our students, feel about sharing our thoughts and ideas!
I have struggled with this for a while now - wondering if a topic I'd like to bring to the table is worth mentioning. After all, who likes having their ideas put under the microscope? I'm going to have to work on this! My students deserve knowing that I, too, struggle. Sometimes it's hard to bring up worthy ideas if there is resistance to change. And in some places, bringing up a great idea that may cost time or effort is met with silence. Does that mean we shouldn't keep trying?
I have struggled with this for a while now - wondering if a topic I'd like to bring to the table is worth mentioning. After all, who likes having their ideas put under the microscope? I'm going to have to work on this! My students deserve knowing that I, too, struggle. Sometimes it's hard to bring up worthy ideas if there is resistance to change. And in some places, bringing up a great idea that may cost time or effort is met with silence. Does that mean we shouldn't keep trying?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
I Love School! Do you?
I've spent most of my non-working mussing time this summer listening, not writing. I have felt for some time that I was missing the mark with my writing, so I quit for a while to listen. I've listened to some great books, read many great blogs, but the best lessons I've had came from the children. Now I want to share a couple of their stories with you.
We had our eight-year-old grandson a good deal of the summer, and one day he went to the office with me. It is in an old school building. After using the boy's room, he washed at the Kindergarten sink there in the hallway, and noted that after using a paper towel, his hands weren't dry yet.
"So," I said, "Get another one."
"Is it OK to do that?" he asked, quite seriously.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
Rowan, matter of fact as ever, explained that at his school, taking more than one paper towel resulted in pulling a card, the standard disciplinary device of many elementary schools. That short casual conversation told me why after just finishing second grade, my grandson already dislikes school.
Another charming young five-year-old I know just started Kindergarten at another school. On his third day, the music teacher pulled a card for him. Why? T. is a shy child, and he didn't want to dance but sat scared with his arms crossed, afraid to dance in front of his new classmates. Another child already disliking something about school, on his third day. He's usually obedient and he will likely never cross that music teacher again, so if obedience is what she is after, she will get that. But will she instill a love and joy in music in this child? Maybe not. T. won't forget being embarrassed.
I go from one school to another, every day a different location. The one universal difference I see? Between those schools and those educators that sow a love for learning across the way, and those that sow obstacles to that love for learning.
Which one will you be?
I love this video, which came from the ISTE 2011 Conference. Hope you do, too!
We had our eight-year-old grandson a good deal of the summer, and one day he went to the office with me. It is in an old school building. After using the boy's room, he washed at the Kindergarten sink there in the hallway, and noted that after using a paper towel, his hands weren't dry yet.
"So," I said, "Get another one."
"Is it OK to do that?" he asked, quite seriously.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
Rowan, matter of fact as ever, explained that at his school, taking more than one paper towel resulted in pulling a card, the standard disciplinary device of many elementary schools. That short casual conversation told me why after just finishing second grade, my grandson already dislikes school.
Another charming young five-year-old I know just started Kindergarten at another school. On his third day, the music teacher pulled a card for him. Why? T. is a shy child, and he didn't want to dance but sat scared with his arms crossed, afraid to dance in front of his new classmates. Another child already disliking something about school, on his third day. He's usually obedient and he will likely never cross that music teacher again, so if obedience is what she is after, she will get that. But will she instill a love and joy in music in this child? Maybe not. T. won't forget being embarrassed.
I go from one school to another, every day a different location. The one universal difference I see? Between those schools and those educators that sow a love for learning across the way, and those that sow obstacles to that love for learning.
Which one will you be?
I love this video, which came from the ISTE 2011 Conference. Hope you do, too!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Using MyFakeWall to Mimic Facebook
I've seen several teachers come up with templates to mimic Facebook in the classroom. Here's a website that does the same thing! Take a look at My Fake Wall. A cute example - a mimic wall for Cinderella - can be found here: http://www.myfakewall.com/w/Cinderella_2
Monday, March 28, 2011
Social Networking History
Here's a fun way to look at messaging from the 1930s to now!
PeopleBrowsr Presents A Brief Cartoon History of Social Networking 1930-2011
View more presentations from PeopleBrowsr
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Trying Popplet
On first try, the site had issues (see letter on the site). This time, it seems to work great.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Fancy it up with Wondersay
Cute! Add some flair to make a point - send it out or embed it.
made on Wondersay - Animate text with style
made on Wondersay - Animate text with style
made on Wondersay - Animate text with style
made on Wondersay - Animate text with style
Monday, February 28, 2011
Embed Plus
This is the most useful site I've found in a while for embedding video. Embed Plus lets you add controls to the YouTube videos you want to show on your blog, wiki - wherever you can use embed codes. You can edit the embed code easily to add marks that allow these features: Sceen Skipping, Real Time Reactions (which I disabled as I did NOT want), Crop to the part you want to show, Zoom In and Out, add Annotations (very nice), Slow Motion on Demand, and Instant Replay. A very neat and easy tool!
While you're examining the buttons here, notice the video! From the historyteacher's channel on YouTube, the History for Music Lovers series is terrific! Go here to check them out:
history teachers' channel
While you're examining the buttons here, notice the video! From the historyteacher's channel on YouTube, the History for Music Lovers series is terrific! Go here to check them out:
history teachers' channel
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Fun Factor
I've been out of commission for a few weeks, and I'm still typing with one hand while the other arm sports a stylish red cast. But I'm on the mend and trying to move back into my real world activities. Yesterday, I spent the morning with about fifty teachers and we had a good time exploring ways to use some Web 2.0 sites to put some fun into second semester learning with our students.
We all know the Fun Factor is important. Why, then are we so reluctant to use it? My New Year's resolution is to put the smile back into everything I do! I think I can count on that making a huge difference for me, my family and everyone I come in contact with.
In 2009 and 2010, Volkswagen Corporation hosted world-wide competitions. The premise was that it is more likely that people will do the right thing when encouraged to do so if there is fun involved. You can view a lot of the entries on the website, The Fun Theory. Here is one for you to enjoy!
Now, go insert some FUN into your life!
We all know the Fun Factor is important. Why, then are we so reluctant to use it? My New Year's resolution is to put the smile back into everything I do! I think I can count on that making a huge difference for me, my family and everyone I come in contact with.
In 2009 and 2010, Volkswagen Corporation hosted world-wide competitions. The premise was that it is more likely that people will do the right thing when encouraged to do so if there is fun involved. You can view a lot of the entries on the website, The Fun Theory. Here is one for you to enjoy!
Now, go insert some FUN into your life!
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