Well, I am pondering once again, but in a totally different direction than my last blog. My background in teaching includes 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade contained classrooms as well as junior high and high school math. I had a meeting last Friday with the High School Principal of the private school where I teach, and I will be teaching math next year anywhere from Pre-algebra through Algebra II. Much different than my last blog indicated.
It's OK! I love teaching math and I really hope I can teach geometry, but now I need to change gears quite a bit regarding the Web 2.0 ideas I was putting together, since they were all for what I thought would be my 3rd grade contained classroom.
I've already been searching the internet for sites that look helpful for my new assignment!
Well, I hope before school starts I get a good handle on what I want to do regarding technology in the classroom now that I am back teaching math. I want to have a chance to jump to the practice stage before August!
Oh, by the way, I have been using www.portaportal.com to keep track of all my links. If you have been putting off organizing your bookmarks, try it. It is really easy to set up. You can categorize your links, and if you give a friend your user name they can get on as a guest and check out your links without the ability to change anything. I know there are other bookmark management sites out there, but this one is really easy to use.
Pat
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Some Tech Ideas for the New School Year
OK, it is now 2:57 AM. Can't sleep so I will share some thoughts about this next school year and invite any ideas you might have to help me tweek it up. I'm pondering again.
I made a list, after two weeks and many hours of following links that might have anything to do with Web 2.0 uses in the classroom. I now have a list of some ideas that I think I can handle. Time will tell.
1. I will set up a ning or wiki and ask my students a question each week and they will respond to the question at least once. I would like it to turn into a real discussion. It will be on any subject at all. It is just to get them thinking and using the computer to communicate with each other.
2. Use www.lauriefowler.com/esheet.html. These are worksheets that included a url that can be used to research the questions on the worksheet. Check each worksheet out, some sites they refer to are no longer valid.
3. Use www.ourstory.com and www.xtimeline.com to make up timelines of projects we will work on in class.
4. With www.turtlepondpublications.com/videomaker the students can create story boards with short movies on the site as well as music, similar to MovieMaker. They will also add text slides to work on their writing skills.
5. Make narrated slideshows of class activities, etc. with sites like www.qlipmedia.com.
6. Make videos of weather, news, and sports at least once a week. The students will research the weather, etc. on the computer then there will be the camerman, weatherman, news reporter and sports reporter sharing what they found. I need to find some reliable kid-friendly sites to research the news and sports.
7. I want to search out some virtual field trips, which I haven't really done yet.
I do have a concern in that mine is a one computer classroom which will probably keep us from doing much of anything at any one time. I have a projector which helps with that, but I want the students involved, I don't want to be showing them what I am doing. I have access to the computer lab once a week. I might be able to get more as I present these ideas to the Tech Department supervisor. He wants us to get involved in technology.
I also need to check with him and administration to find out about any security, parent issues they may have. That could squash it all!
Thanks for listening.
Pat
I made a list, after two weeks and many hours of following links that might have anything to do with Web 2.0 uses in the classroom. I now have a list of some ideas that I think I can handle. Time will tell.
1. I will set up a ning or wiki and ask my students a question each week and they will respond to the question at least once. I would like it to turn into a real discussion. It will be on any subject at all. It is just to get them thinking and using the computer to communicate with each other.
2. Use www.lauriefowler.com/esheet.html. These are worksheets that included a url that can be used to research the questions on the worksheet. Check each worksheet out, some sites they refer to are no longer valid.
3. Use www.ourstory.com and www.xtimeline.com to make up timelines of projects we will work on in class.
4. With www.turtlepondpublications.com/videomaker the students can create story boards with short movies on the site as well as music, similar to MovieMaker. They will also add text slides to work on their writing skills.
5. Make narrated slideshows of class activities, etc. with sites like www.qlipmedia.com.
6. Make videos of weather, news, and sports at least once a week. The students will research the weather, etc. on the computer then there will be the camerman, weatherman, news reporter and sports reporter sharing what they found. I need to find some reliable kid-friendly sites to research the news and sports.
7. I want to search out some virtual field trips, which I haven't really done yet.
I do have a concern in that mine is a one computer classroom which will probably keep us from doing much of anything at any one time. I have a projector which helps with that, but I want the students involved, I don't want to be showing them what I am doing. I have access to the computer lab once a week. I might be able to get more as I present these ideas to the Tech Department supervisor. He wants us to get involved in technology.
I also need to check with him and administration to find out about any security, parent issues they may have. That could squash it all!
Thanks for listening.
Pat
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Introduction to Blog
Hello,
This my first entry into my first blog. Needless to say it is exciting but a little stressful since, as I said, 'it is my first entry ... first blog.'
I hope the title makes sense. It seems pretty straight-forward to me. I first see or hear of some new idea from a source (people, articles, online, etc.) and, if it catches my educational fancy, I start to ponder. Can I use it? Would I know how? How can I find more information?
However, although I am always excited to read about some new ideas, theories, or activities I will dump it fast if I cannot use it in my classroom. There is where the practice and produce enters the process. I immediately want to start setting it up and practice to see if it is profitable for my students. I practice on them all the time, but not so much as to send them around the bend.
My shining moments come when I find that idea that then begins to produce learning in my students.
We all try many things in our classrooms with our students. Some work and some don't, but those shining moments are what keep us all willing to keep on looking and keep on trying.
May I never stop looking and learning.
Pat
This my first entry into my first blog. Needless to say it is exciting but a little stressful since, as I said, 'it is my first entry ... first blog.'
I hope the title makes sense. It seems pretty straight-forward to me. I first see or hear of some new idea from a source (people, articles, online, etc.) and, if it catches my educational fancy, I start to ponder. Can I use it? Would I know how? How can I find more information?
However, although I am always excited to read about some new ideas, theories, or activities I will dump it fast if I cannot use it in my classroom. There is where the practice and produce enters the process. I immediately want to start setting it up and practice to see if it is profitable for my students. I practice on them all the time, but not so much as to send them around the bend.
My shining moments come when I find that idea that then begins to produce learning in my students.
We all try many things in our classrooms with our students. Some work and some don't, but those shining moments are what keep us all willing to keep on looking and keep on trying.
May I never stop looking and learning.
Pat
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