The school year continues with some fun with projects! Post 2

October has been a tech step focused month for me.  I spent a little over 2 weeks with my 7th grade students working on fact and fiction (our Social Studies tech steps).  I really worked on trying to take the time to truly incorporate the content with the project.  In the past, I used a very generic concept that really didn't fit in to my content.  I focused on the area of culture and used this tech step to teach it.  This tech step helped me realize that the tech steps project overall can be used to enhance content and not just an something extra for us teachers to do.

Another fantastic project that I worked on this year that seemed to take flight was my scary movie project in my 7th grade Reading class.  After the students learned about the basis elements of literature - conflict, suspense, foreshadowing, climax, the introduction and the resolution.  Students were given the task to create a scary movie plot - but only the climax was to be filmed.  The students (in small groups) had to create a written introduction that would be filmed wuith one character speaking - they were to incorporate an element of foreshadowing - as well as a written resolution which would be spoken at the end and would tie up loose ends.  Then they had to write a script for their climax which built suspense and lasted 2-3 minutes long.  This was a great way to examine whether students had understand the concepts that were introduced.  We will actually be watching the films this week and my students are extremely excited and were excited throughout the entire process.

Back to School and trying new things!!!! Post 1

Well we have been in school a few weeks now and I have decided that I am going to try to do at least a few new things with technology for myself or to help others.  Since I am a classroom teacher and not a designated TIS in my school a lot of my technology focus will be within my own classroom.  Right now I still feel technologically challenged but I feel that if I push myself to try new things it will definitely be to my benefit and the benefit of my colleagues in the future.

So some new things that I have accomplished so far this school year..........I have played around and created classroom websites on edline - to keep track of what we are working on in class as well as students being able to access QOTD's (Questions of the Day) which they are required to keep track of in their notebooks.  Parents can also see news as well as a calendar of upcoming events and also some additional links that might prove to be useful throughout the school year.  I have also tried working with responders in the classroom which I have never done before.  I figured out how to export my roster from edline so that I could do tests and quizzes using responders as well as daily reviews.  The kids seem to be enjoying using the responders so these are definitely something that I will continue to use.  I have also had other teachers ask for questions in relation to responders and since I have some experience now I have been able to be more helpful.  I have also started taking pictures of anything and everything with my new digital camera in hopes to be able to create a cool end of the year slideshow using the shots that I've been taking.

Well that's all for now in my slowly technologically-advancing world! I will keep you posted - any new classroom ideas feel free to share them!!!

Twitter!!

I then searched #CNN and found a few tweets about the Casey Anthony trial that CNN has been covering.  I just think it is interesting that after all this time - this is still a major topic of discussion across the news and online.  I have watched past of it myself in the last week.

Brooklyn

I have a five year old Chihuahua named Brooklyn.  He is a sweet little dog that will love you all day long if you let him.  Actually, he's is not really little - he weighs 7lbs! He is a little fat for a chihuahua, but I love him anyway!  He loves people - he wants your attention as soon as you enter the room and if you ignore him, he will bother you until you notice him.  He loves to go for walks and lay out in the sun.  However, he loves to sleep more than anything.  Most importantly, he will make you feel better when you are sad. :)