#11.5

1. My favorite discoveries were how to implement many of the new facets that I learned during this session. First of all, I loved Skype. I saw Oprah use Skype to interview people for her program. I must add that Video Resources is something that I will use this coming year. Many times I am working on my lesson plans, and I just need that small video to make my delivery of the subject area more enjoyable. Lastly, I will certainly implement the digital citizenship at the beginning of this year.

2. This session of libary2play2 has given me an opportunity to keep up with the latest nuances. I use to scared to get on the internet and to try new things, but now this session/course has given me experiences that are guided but yet fun! With my busy schedule this summer, I can enjoy and take to my classroom the many things that I learned.

3. With each new topic, I knew that I was going to enjoy and learn something new. Usually in staff developments for teachers, someone is talking to us(we are sitting down for hours), or someone is telling us what we will need to do in our classrooms. Not with library2play2! I loved the fact that I could experiment, play and be able to use many of the topics that were covered this summer. Moreover, I knew that with each task I was going to learn something new, or I was going to learn more in depth about how to use certain tools.

4. I really don't think you need to change anything right now. For the future, you might give options for assignments. For example, give assignments for the savvy/expert, and an assignment for the rookie. This gives the assignment the lilt and the novelty to do the more challenging assignment.

Thing #11

As I began to read my two blogs about digital citizenship, I agree with Coolcat Teacher because our curriculum lacks the rigor or the bold thrust of digital citizenship. As a bilingual teacher, I am bombarded with keeping to the minutes that I teach each subject. Think about it--my plate is full with one way dual language, Singapore math, activ board, and so forth. My point is where is the digital citizenship that our students needs?

I hope it isn't up to me to institute and guide my students through this sector of technology. There needs to be a part in our curriculum that cover this area that coolcat teacher beautifully illustrated in her blog. I know that I will implement and cover areas of digital citizenship, but there needs to be more for our students.

In addition, the Ning on digital citizenship and Rhonddas Reflections that I read support Coolcat's blog. I think that every teacher should have a book study on digital citizenship and add to the road map this ever increasing importance of making sure our students are literate in this area. Moreover, every teacher should have a copy of this document to read.

What gets me is when I take my students on a guided website and----WHAM! There's horrible, vulgar, ugly, stuff that I have to quickly egress to another site. Our children need to be able to read and do research on the web and be savvy as to know that there are creepy and vile people out there to harm them.

I could go on and on, but digital citizenship is as important as our classroom citizenship(extension to the library). Being good stewards of our land and internet terrain must be taught and practiced. We have so much training on being good citizens, but we need to venture into the world of connectivity with our children and give them tools to use while in the digital world.

With the flexible scheduling of our school libraries, teachers need to make digital citizenship a priority!

Thing 10

Last week I attended a session about using interactive websites for a different subjects via the activ board. During that session, the instructor introduced the Second Life to us by letting us enter her house. She took us to visit one of her friends from New York, and allowed us to talk to her about what she was doing. I was fascinated with the magnitude of being able to speak to experts about certain topics.

For the classroom this would be a great adventure to take students to watch and speak to experts in any subject area. This would make science very interesting to see how a volcano looks like under the ocean! What a better way to teach or facilitate a learning experience by making it fun and real!

Thing 9

First of all, I believe that Slideshare can be utilized by students have. For one thing, I know that students are given an assignment on a particular topic, and WHAM! Students bring in posters with pictures that have been printed, cut, and pasted on posterboard. The point being is that grading all these beauties can be a chore. Why not let them design their report presentation on powerpoint and then use Slideshare to show their masterpieces!

This is a much better form of sharing with the class than carrying around a whole bunch of posters. This is not to mention the mess of glue running all over the posterboard. I think guiding students through the steps can really make projects interesting.

As a teacher, I really would love to have my powerpoint presentation on Slideshare to show my parents during Meet the Teacher Night. I think I will do this!

Thing 8

Aha! I have been stumped with this assignment;however, I will come back to this and complete it. Now, I have returned to complete this assignment. I ran into the problem of uploading Jing to my computer. Anyhow, my intent was to screencast a session of how to have my 3rd grade bilingual students to access an e-book and write a summary of it on microsoft office word and to either print a copy or email it me. In this manner, I do not have to repeat the directions over and over. Moreover, with the new One Way Dual Language program, I can create this screencast in English or Spanish depending on the "language of instruction" for the week.

I have been asked continuously what is CCP? Let me explain. CCP(Consume, Critique, Produce) is a new writing program or system that I have to implement this year with my 3rd grade bilingual students. This assignment will allow my students to select an e-book and write a summary of this book.(which, by the way, is a TAKS skill that the student must achieve). CCP is a wonderful way to introduce reading and writing in a way that is nonthreatening.

Thing 7

For my first video, I chose from the google video search "What Is Science" from Youtube.com. This video is actually for secondary students;however the pictures are astounding! The music is alittle weird for me, but students will love it. The video is short but very interesting. I know it will make my science introduction much more worthwhile.


My second video was from PBS--many to choose from! I loved all the animals that I watched from mammals to reptiles. This is what I am going to do after the hectic week of August 24th: work with my grade level team to coordinate the videos and the topics of study for grade 3 and include these items to our lesson plans and road maps. There are many times that we have topics that are too abstract for our students to comprehend, but with these sources, I have a plethora of things to use!

I will also plan with my librarian to include these videos as part of my library time or when my students are assigned a short science topic,

Thing #6

I did a google search on scholar and found several journals(articles) that were detailing the many features and ways to use the iTouch.

Ways to Use iTouch
1. Teachers can download a specific activity, for example, a research project on a historical figure. Step by step instructions can be given for students to do: abstract page(that lists purpose, statement of the problems, delimitations, and summary/recommendations/), review of the selected literature, summary and recommendations.

2. Teachers can also have a guided format for students to use when working on book reports, book reviews, and comparing/contrasting books or authors.

3. Teachers can also download a series of directions to follow like a scavenger hunt to learn about the different areas of the library. This can include the fiction, nonficture, and so forth. This is a great way to have the students work as a team and learn about the library.

4. Teachers can create or download on specific skills in a particular subject like reading, math, social studies, or science for a group of students to use in the library. For me, GT students can be given independent projects to work on at their own pace.

4.

Thing #5

As for Facebook, I was abit more skeptical to use earlier this June, but with the 3 day staff development course CCP, I had to join! Now, I am more comfortable and at peace with using Facebook. Found one of my cousins waiting to talk to me there.

For the classroom, I am glad there is Facebook. With CCP, there will be plenty of times that Facebook will be used to share ideas, as I will be implementing CCP. If I need extra resources, help, or more guidance, I can get first hand knowledge via Facebook. Students or former students can communicate with me if needed at anytime. Facebook can also be utilized when groups of students need to discuss a particular assigned topic. Moreover, if students are having trouble during an assigned topic, the teacher can offer guidance, as well as, make recommendations.

As for twitter, this tool can be used also for teachers that need updates on staff developments or during inclement weather.

Backchanneling will be most helpful for me because during the school year. Let me explain. Usually around TAKS time, I am tutoring students, and staff meetings are held. Many times I do not receive all of the items that were discussed at staff meetings, which leave me feeling yuk! Sure I get some of the items that were discussed during the meeting, but I feel there are important issues that were left out. Since I am a detail person, I feel a mere here are major points aren't going to do it for me---here is where Backchanneling can be a real blessing!

Thing #4

Using teaching/learning videos in the classroom can be an introductory tool for presenting a unit or can be utilized as a center for students to reinforce objectives that were covered. Imagine not having to toil for hours to find that magical way of presenting a new unit or an objective.

At the beginning of the year, I know that teachers need to have work stations available for students to use throughout the day. This tool would be a wonderful work station for students to see, hear, and understand concepts that were not mastered.

As far as uploading students' work, I know this tool can open a new world! Instead of assigning the usual book review or character study, students can create their projects and share with other students.(this certainly beats grading stacks of papers!)I think that sharing these videos with other students can bring the enthusiasm back to the classrom.

Library2Play 2: Thing #3

Skype is a great tool to use to complete team planning road maps! Every teacher knows that team planning is essential to sharing ideas and completing the nine weeks road maps for each subject. There are many times during the year that these road maps need to be turned in to the administrator, and the team has had to plan too quickly.

Skype can help ease the pressure by offering time to discuss, share ideas, and get feedback from team members when the element of time is crucial. Skype can also be utilized when those agenda items have not been discussed. This is also a great tool to use with ACP Interns and their mentors for feedback and/or planning.

Remember IKE? Skype would have been an excellent tool to contact each other! I know that I had my computer with me during Ike as I made my journey to my sister's house in Austin. Moreover, I could have contacted other family members all over the country.

As a side note: teachers can use Skype during the school day to communicate with students who are researching in the library(if the Skype is available), or think about having meetings with parents to share about your classroom, TAKS prep, and other important information.

Thing #2

Wordle
Students can use this to reflect on TAKS vocabulary, CCP genre features, science words that were acquired,and high frequency words for reading. Wordle brings lilt and vitality to any subject area. Students will find Wordle to be easy and students can pair/share their work. In addition, Wordle can be utilized to help students find the main idea, context clues, "right there" answers to any TAKS passage.

Voicethread
For the struggling reader, Voicethread can assist this type of student to retell a story or answer comprehension questions about a given story. Students will feel empowered and not threatened. Students reading at a lower DRA level can succeed and make gains with confidence. This is also true for stuggling writers. Students who dread to write can take a step by step approach and use Voicethread to produce, share, and receive feedback--great to use with CCP.

Voki
I really liked Voki because emailing can be more personal and add a little something extra to the recipients. For students, Voki can be personalized and students can practice their writing skills by emailing each other or the teacher. As a teacher, I know that receiving an email from my student(s)is a wonderful form of expression.

Bookr
This can be utilized by the students as a sort of prewriting tool. Bookr offers the students an opportunity to "picture" their form of writing--be it essay, q&a, book review, or personal story. Moreover, Bookr can be used as a story arc for certain stories that were read independently, during guided reading, or for TAKS practice. Students can visualize their products for reading or writing with ease. Think about it, this is a great tool to use for summarizing a story, or for making a story map via pictures. For the teacher, Bookr offers many opportunities to see where the student has progressed, having problems, or has made improvements.

Library2Play 2: Thing #1

Wow! The video displayed a whole new world of information for students to ascertain, and yet the student has the teacher to provide guidance, proper etiquette, and how to generate feedback. The world of blogging brings knowledge to the student, and this knowledge is generated to many people. It's amazing how one question or a search for knowledge is just a click away.

Sara The Belles

Today I have said good-bye to my beautful black Havana rabbit named Sara The Belles. Some people may think it silly, but I don't. She gave me joy when I was sad, and jump around the house with such zest. She was the pet I always wanted. Yes, I cried very hard because she has been a blessing to me for several years.

I will miss her very much, and I am so glad that she was a part of my life. Now she will hop in heaven and run through the gardens without barriers or pain.

Thing #23 - Summary of my Journey to the Wizard of Blog

I have finally reached the Land of Blog, and most importantly, I have seen the Great Wizard of Blog! My journey started late due to summer school, and I took each step and followed the yellow brick road until I arrived to the Great Wizard of Blog.

My favorite discovery was 2.0 Award List which gave oodles of tools to experiment, select, and download. This list is something every teacher should try and use in her classroom. I spent countless hours with this list. I enjoyed the different categories that were formulated, and I did not even know that this list existed.

I had to get out of my box in order to work on library2play, and build my confidence in the world of technology. Yes, I was afraid, but with each completed task, I had to enthusiasm to go forth and reach the Land of Blog.

This program was formulated with "the end in mind". Library2play planted a seed and it is up to us to nurture our journey by continuing to blog and write. Imagine if every teacher had the experience to work with library2play, our classrooms would be booming with students learning and enjoying coming to school.

The only improvement I would make is to allow more time to play and experiment with 2.0 Award List. As I said before, this part brings together all of the steps and tasks that were experienced before this step.

I would certainly take library2play again and again! I learned so much by doing and built a wealth of knowledge as I moved from step to step. This sure does beat sitting in a large room with oodles of people on Saturday morning. I was able to take my time and enjoy the learning.

Library2play allows teachers to learn via hands-on while building a wealth of knowledge to use in the classroom! Kuddos!

Thing #22 Nings

Nings are tools that would be great for teachers. Several things I liked about TeacherLingo: share photos, connect with other in a teaching community, it is also divided into categorical levels: elementary, middle, high school, and college. Of course there are other areas.

I like TeacherLingo because it's a community that I can feel comfortable and partake of the advice and ideas. I have joined this community, and I will visit it freguently!

Thing #21 Vidcast

This project took some time and muscle grease to go step at a time. This vidcast did have music when I did this. I know somewhere in the Land of Blog the music plays softly--"Theme from a summer place".

Thing #20 Teachertube

I selected this video because pictures are worth so much to students. This video and others that I have seen are so important in linking concepts to the "real thing". This video will show the processes involved in a lunar eclipse. I know I will hear the "wows and cool" from my students.

In science, or many other subjects, there are so many times that introducing the concept and letting the children watch a short video will make learning fun. Imagine letting the students watch this short video and allowing them to jot downa few notes. Presto, you have an anticipatory set!

Thing #19 2.0 Awards List

Wow! What a list to choose from! There were so many to play with; however, I chose Lulu. Why? With teaching as a profession, I have so many stories to write and publish to show to my students how writing is fun and a form of sharing thoughts. For schools, Lulu offers many parts to publish, sell, or buy.

Someday I would like for the school that I work for to have each teacher contribute a special story about their lives and make a compliation of these stories--a calvacade of experiences! The students would be able to see how creative teachers are, and yes, teachers do write. This would be a perfect "kick off" to fourth grade students who will take the TAKS writing portion. Wow! This would open up the perfect way to see leads, endings, and most importantly the content.

For me this is a way to allow my students to see the different genres that I have composed. This is a point of departure---a way to "open" the eyes of my student. I wish I could have had Lulu three years ago! Well, this will allow me to write and publish!

Thing #18 Google Docs

Google Docs were interesting to me because of the many templates, ideas, or how it can be used. For example, I would say that team meetings would be an advantage to using Google Docs. Why? When an agenda is made, everyone can look at the agenda, make corrections, or add items to the meeting.

Another advantage of using Google Docs is to make schedules for Specials or in lesson planning for library use or research. Google Docs are portable and very easy to use. I am glad that I had the opportunity to look at the different uses.

The only disadvantage I can see is that the teacher/student is limited to the middle or high school. I know I can use a spread sheet for other things that elementary teachers have to keep up with. I would like to see the templates for DRA, OS, ARLAS, and other forms.