Tool #5 Social Bookmarking

Well, I like that now I have a space where coworkers and I can keep sites bookmarked and let those be seen so that ideas are more easily shared. I think this will allow us to be more forward-thinking in terms of what we want the kids to do and how, since social bookmarking sites allow us to see the same information, discuss it, and then share a common language with the students.

I used special education as a tag to look up a few sites, and I went to a few that deal with differentiated instruction (http://toolsfordifferentiation.pbworks.com/) and media help for all teachers (http://www.readwritethink.org/). This could easily become overwhelming, but if one puts in time on the front end to get some sites up that one visits frequently, then they are neatly organized an easily located in one place, as opposed to, say, typing in the name of a site each time you want to go to it, or messaging a friend to ask about a site that he/she thinks might help you with whatever.

I know that functionality is a big plus for Diigo and delicious, but I am still not exactly sure how I will use them in the classroom, especially since our reading program is pretty tight and doesn't allow much time for exploring outside of it. Anyone...?

Alrighty, then...

टूल #4

So, I did tool #4 (well, and also realized I could change some of the print on the blog to Hindi if I wanted...ha, ha) and it was really nice to be able to create a document and share it with my coworkers (they haven't started the tools yet, so I'm not sure when they will collaborate); it is just the preliminaries of the resource/inclusion schedule that we will be using for this coming school year. I agree with several of those who have already used this: it is wonderful to just be working with one document that we can each update as needed (especially in our case, since our schedule changes frequently, depending on the students that we see, their time allotments, new students entering sp. ed., etc.). Additionally, this same document will be shared with our administrators so that they will always have an updataed schedule that will allow them to find us with ease if they need us.

Google Reader is also a nice tool to keep everything that you want to see frequently conveniently located in one place. Unlike favorites or bookmarks, this allows you to get the updates without actually needing to go to individual sites.

I do now feel a little behind the times since these tools have been around for a while and I didn't even know, but then, knowing requires that either someone has told you or you have done some independent investigation, and neither has been the case for me regarding any of this. While doing this does eat up a good amount of my time, I can honestly say that it will be a good thing to assist teachers in the classroom and out. Google docs could allow students to edit each others' work (don't we ask them to do this anyway?), as well as allow teachers to collaborate with students in, perhaps, a more kid-friendly atmosphere, on student work. Google reader might be anotehr way to keep up with teacher and student-selected sites that host information important for the students (other blogs, content area-specific sites, etc.). I'd like to see what others are thinking with regard to how these tools/apps could be used...

Tool #3

Alrighty, then, for this I went to Animoto (had seen several slideshows but never done one), Big Huge Labs (to use the map maker; had seen maps on others' blogs and thought that would be cool to have), and Comic Strip Generator. They were all easy to use and fun, and that is just with me knocking something out really quickly. I am sure the kids would get a kick out of using these applications for things like setting up a problem of the day, monitoring where students in the class go during vacations, putting together a slideshow of a field trip or the process involved in creating something (say, a science or social studies project), etc. Again, it is just another way to get some excitement out of what we request them to do in order to further the skills they already have or maybe even have them discover something in themselves that they didn't even know was there (or at least WE didn't know...). While most of the ones I used are pretty image heavy, I am sure that they could still be used to assess skills in all of the subject areas, and for students who struggle with written assignments, these could be another way to accommodate their learning and still be able to assess what they know. I decided to post my creations directly into my blog as opposed to attaching them in this post.

Tool #2

I think being a part of an online learning community is just a natural part of what we should be doing at this point...it is where everything is going anyway. Everything can be done online now, from finding a home remedy for tonsilitis to completing coursework for a doctorate, so it would only make sense that educators use this tool as a way to stay abreast of current educational issues and weigh in on these as well as others' thoughts with regards to them.

I think of the commenting advice, Coolcatteacher is right is saying that you should be aware of Darth Commentor (however that is written)...there are those out there who are just waiting for someone to devour, and it's pretty easy when you are not face to face with the person, isn't it. Of the other advice, I think we should invite others to comment on what we post (don't you think so?), either by being open-ended or by asking leading questions.

Blogs I selected to comment on...? Well, I just looked down at who commented on the Tool #2 information and picked people from there (Eric, Lisa, Marisela, Solana, Mrs. Peterson)...probably not the most original way to do it, but certainly cost-effective with regard to my time (I have two elementary schoolers upstairs and they could need me at any minute...to pry them away from each other!!!).

Who did you (if you happen to be reading this) pick to stalk? Just kidding...but really...?

Tool #1 -- How I can use this in the classroom

Gee...I am figuring that I could probably allow my students to access this from a computer and that way force them to read (cue malicious, witch-like, sinister laughter) and give assignments this way...it is somewhat more exciting than getting it straight from me, I would imagine.

I could also see this as a way to keep communicating with them, allow them access to certain articles, books, etc., that we might not have time to discuss in class, etc. I think the more I think about it, the more applications I would see for this in terms of using it with my students.

It was interesting getting it all done, but it wasn't so difficult...just time consuming. But it is nice to have this thing out there now...!

The kids...

...are just so interesting. I mean, I do remember having all of those off and on moments with my brothers as we were growing up, sometimes fighting, sometimes walking about the house arm-in-arm, but the perspective is entirely different as a parent...especially as a part-time stay-home parent. They get along just fine for a while, then someone wants to control the other, and the other doesn't give in; that is all it takes. I try to stay out of it...and typcially I do... ... ... ...until the thing escalates and my sanity dangerously approaches being compromised. At this point, each is sent to his/her own room to reflect on his/her actions, and when they are ready to return to some normalcy (ahem... ...and "tee hee"), they may exit their rooms and find some common ground. This is what I have come up with in lieu of abusive screaming and corporal punishment, so I am wondering when we get to the point where they actually become proactive so they don't have to go to their rooms... ... ...? Sure, they are pretty young (5 and nearly 7), I was kinda hoping that if they had to think about what they did and respond to it afterwards, perhaps they would get to the thinking about it part before taking the wrong turn. Am I expecting too much...?

Never blogged before...

So, yeah, Facebook is about it so far, along with the occasional friend's blog, so this is entirely new. Not entirely sure what I should be talking about just yet, since this is, I think, supposed to be all educational, but I guess once I really get started (and that would be now, right?) then I'll get used to it. It just feels strange starting out...not really knowing in what direction this is supposed to go or what is expected of me...and then, of course, I am wondering how many of my coworkers have already done this (I can think of a few who would have already moved along quite rapidly). Anyway, this is just going to be it for now, since we are on "vacation"...uh huh...as I sit here in the living room listening to the kids arguing over a toy upstairs... ... ...oh, boy...