Discouraged…

One problem I find discouraging is that many websites that have super cool activities on them require an email address in order to use them. I have some very tech-savvy 5th graders who would enjoy places like animoto.com but the email address thing stops me.

Next year I’d love to try to have every 5th grader come to school with an email address already in place, or permission so that I can get them one, in order to have more freedom. Of course, along with freedom comes responsibility and appropriateness. I wouldn’t mind teaching either of those things if we could just have access to more areas on the web!

Home sick? No biggie!

This is such a cool thing! A teacher was home with a sick little boy today. She had a specific lesson in mind for her class to do in the computer lab. I said, “Go on your web cam and teach the class.”

Her comment: I haven’t showered yet.

That cracked me up…like how would we know? So I told her when the class was ready and she came on. Her class was so happy to see her! She had been out for the second day so to them, it was forever! She taught her class, the kids got the job done, they responded to her questions using their epals account.

We both felt good. I think about 17 kids did, too!

Nutrition

I was just perusing one of the nings to which I belong and I came across this article on nutrition: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/. I am quite excited because the link in the article, as well as the information, will enable me to support our PE teacher who is beginning her unit on nutrition very soon! I am quite excited. THIS is why I poke my nose into every available educational/teaching/technology area that I can!

Here is the link to the game: http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html

Cyberbullying

Just saw on Twitter- http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/

It’s not just about safety with unknown people! It could be a neighbor or classmate that we need to be concerned with.

A fun search engine to try

This lady has some fun actions while she waits for your questions!

http://www.msdewey.com/

Podcasting

I videod my granddaughter read a couple of books and posted them to youtube. Then when I saw her kindergarten teacher from three years ago, I could show her how successful her teaching was!

Today she came into my lab and I was excited to share the videos with her. It was during one of my fifth grade classes and they were FASCINATED that I had actually put stuff up on you tube. All of a sudden, I think they thought that (1) I wasn’t as dumb as they thought, and (2) that it was pretty cool stuff that I did!

Then the kids started asking each other how you did such a thing. They began to offer not so good ways that you post such things. I said I would show them. I took out my Flip camera and started to video kids from the neck down. That started to seem lame so I said whoever can get their parents’ permission can be on the video. Two kids went to the office and obtained said permission. I videoed them and showed them how the Flip is inserted into the USB port and then uploaded to youtube. They were amazed!

Now they know one of the ways to do it. I hope I did a good thing…

Scratch MIT and November Conferences- Boston, MA July 2008

I will be talking to many people with whom I tweet all day long. How cool is that!! July 14th to July 18th is the November conference and then the MIT conference with Scratch from the 24th to the 26th. I will get to know Boston fairly well!

this is kinda fun!

http://metaatem.net/words/

Enjoy!

Kerpoof! Where ya been all my life?

I think the greatest tool to come along in recent months is Kerpoof! It is so versatile! I tried it out yesterday with my first graders to see how it would be. The non readers had a little trouble but once I showed how the words repeated in every scene they were able to feel more successful. Some completed silly movies in a half hour span of time.  Now THAT’S success! I am going to try it out with second graders this afternoon. I bet it will be even easier for them. I think I will get their log in accounts ready now!

wow…another neat online cool application…

This one is a collaborative online whiteboard. It’s too cool for school! Check it out here!

skrbl.com