Tool #10

Just like you keep children safe on the playground, and go over rules and expectations, digital safety is a must in every classroom.  I love Brain Pop so I will use the Digital Safety movie to help my students learn.  I think it is important that they learn to keep all passwords and personal information private, be kind to others, and not to post anything that they don't want the whole world to read or see.  I also liked the Cyber Safe THINK reminder.  Digital Citizenship could also be tied to our other citizenship lessons as we discuss the many places and ways we practice good citizenship.  As far as parents go, I  would make this a topic at Open House and also include some information in my blog or newsletters for parents.

Tool #8

After watching the videos/tutorials, I learned that my netbook has a microphone port, projector connection port, a webcam, and a SD card reader.  Yahoo.  We used netbooks last year for reseach in the library, and my students loved them.  In my classroom, they can be used in small groups with one per group.  They will also be utilized for work stations.  Each I -Touch will need a name.  I will have to make that easy to remember.  There are many apps for the kids to use.  Last year my kids loved the facts practice one that gave them a minute.  I know that app helped them to improve on the Facts Tests.  There are lots of fun apps to be utilized during work stations.  Rules and expectations for use will have to be explained and practiced in the beginning.  Student managers will be in charge of getting them out each day and putting them back.  We will also have a couple of student experts to help trouble shoot as needed.  I know I will notice who the first two should be quickly just by observing them with the I -Touches.  I am so excited to have this new technology in the classroom.  Thank you SBISD!

Tool # 7

I think I am going to have to take a tip from Karen and set a timer.  I spent way too much time looking at all the sites that are posted, and then I went to even more links from there.  I looked at iEarn.com, GlobalSchoolNet.org, Class2class-Math Projects, EducationWorld, and Projectsbyjen.com.  I learned about key pals instead of pen pals.  I really want to utilize that next year with my cousin who teaches in Florida.  I am also interested in online expeditions.  I will do some more research with Weekend Explorer to learn more about that one.  I tried Edmodo, but I need to get a password for that one.  There were several projects that you can sign up to participate on Projects by Jen.  The Oreo Project, The Pumpkin Seed Project, and the Holiday Card Exchange Project seemed appropriate for my students.  I also got another idea for Wordles from her site.  Guess My Wordle can be used at the beginning of the year after students share to put one up and have students guess who.  You can put different facts and information about a state and have Name that State.  Well, you get the general idea.  I am really excited about using Skype in the classroom. To get my feet wet, I thought it would be fun to have a Mystery Reader skype with us.  I also love that there are some authors that will skype for free for 15 to 20 minutes.  I could also send out a survey to parents to find experts that would be willing to skype with us.  I know Karen the Magnificent has also made connections for us in this area.  Yea, Karen  at RCE!  I am also blessed to have Theresa on my team who did several skype sessions last year, and I know that she will share her expertise as well.  I would also like to do a math lesson with another class at my school in the spring tying facts and probability.  Students would first predict which sum would come up the most when rolling two dice and finding the sum.  Students would roll a certain number of times and record their sums.  We would put our results together and create a graph.  We could also skype with the class and talk about the results and our conclusions.  There are so many great things to do with technology, and I know the kids will teach me even more.

Tool #4

Google Docs can be quite a time saver for teams.  Documents can be started and shared with your team.  Each person can edit the document, too.  You can use it for creating rubrics for projects. There are many ways to use Google Docs to support communication and collaboration.  It is not always possible to meet face to face, and Google Docs can help in completing tasks together without meeting.  Directions for projects for students can be emailed to them.  That would help cut down on paper, and lost directions. Power Point projects can be saved in Google Docs for family to see.  The voting aspect can be utilized with math and making graphs.  I think the kids would really enjoy that.

Tool # 3

One of the major assets of Discovery Education is that you can use a whole video or just a minute of a video. I have used the videos from this site with my fifth graders and second graders with great success. Great videos for science are very easy to find, and the kids love them!

Here is a link to a segment of a video on American Symbols. This segment is about the Liberty Bell. The second link is to a segment on Characteristics of Birds.

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=BE0F507A-EF4F-4532-864F-E4DAB942D684

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=424E470E-CBA7-4706-8DA1-58A31D099496&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

As far as copyright and fair use, you have quite a bit of freedom to use things in class for educational purposes. Secure locations give you more freedom, and don't copy the whole thing. Pieces and parts would be better. Our librarian does a great job reminding our kids of this, too.

Picasa Web Album would be a great way to show off your pictures that you take all year long. I found some great pictures of birds there too.

Tool # 5

I like the idea of digital posters for my second graders.  Okay, maybe I really like that it doesn't require glue, scissors,  poster board, markers.... etc.... I can see it tied to research, reading responses, Number of the Day etc....I just played around with it for  a flyer about our fabulous Bugz play!




Trading cards from Big Huge Labs was a big hit with my students. They made trading cards on symbols of America and birds. You could also use them for reading responses, and information about themselves at the beginning of the year.

Tool # 2

     I have looked at many blogs now, and I have commented on at least 5 of them.  There is so much information out there for us teachers.  I do love that teachers are so willing to share their thoughts, ideas, and pictures.  A visual always helps.  I already registered for Glogster because I saw it on someone's blog, and it has so many applications in the classroom for research and presentation. 
     I am still a little new at posting on other blogs, but I know it will get easier the more I do it. Of course, I felt more comfortable posting on blogs of people that I knew.   
     Blogs will be a new place to check for ideas and suggestions throughout the year.  It is  easy to get caught up in going from one blog to another for different ideas.  I love that I was getting ideas from teachers from all over the world.