Thing #5- School 2.0

Professional Development and Web 2.0- Having two teenage children has taught me many things, one of which being the immense power the Internet holds. After my daughter created a facebook account for me to use, I have been able to communicate with people at the click of a mouse. Having already been introduced to this realm, I can accurately say that learning 2.0 can be a great thing. Learning is made easily accessible to those with a busy lifestyle, it is engaging for today's youth, and provides opportunities far beyond the mundane pen and paper.

New Literacies: Enrichment or Essential? I found this article to be thought-provoking and insightful. Although I am a believer in the possibilities the Internet holds, how much of it really is essential? All of the resources mentioned seem to make the process so simple. There is not much of a "thought process" behind clicking a mouse; however, it seems to be an inevitable means to future learning. Today's world is quick and simple, exactly how Learning 2.0 provides information. Overall, I believe the good outweighs the bad, and that more learning will take place because of this resource.

What does this mean for the future? It means there are limitless possibilities to look forward to. Pen and paper will be a thing of yesterday, tossed beside the record players and VHS tapes. 

Thing # 4- The Importance of Commenting

Commenting helps create a sense of community because you find out very quickly that others have the same concerns you have, share the same situations and sometimes might have a suggestion of something you might try in your classroom to make you be able to meet your objective.

I commented on many blogs some being TeddyBear / boog-phil / ictbailey/ crickets corner/ science7 / coolcatteacher


Some of the topics I have commented on with boogphil was the health site he found. With Voyager reading we cover a helath unit that talks about exercise and making good food choices. This would be a waqy to show they how they can keep up with their weight and look up information about foods and food groups.

Ictbailey and I discussed apprehension over this class. Little did I know ictbailey would be the first one finished in this class or at least one of the first ones done. ha!

Something I feel would be great for all students is crickets corners website called onesentence.org and we discussed working with descriptive words.

Another blog talked about comic strips site and sequential order and I got alot of great ideas for my class next year.

Coolcatteacher and I blogged about Second Life and how popular and fun this is and then others gave us suggestions on things we might want to check out before we jump into our Second Life.

I like reading blogs and writing blogs it is like a huge brainstorming meeting! My mother always told me two heads were better than one so in theis case you can have the knowledge of many! It makes you a better teacher and makes your classroom more ready and productive to learning for your students.

Thing # 3- Registering my Blog

Using a blog in the classroom would be great with Reading students.  We could have more in depth discussions about everything from setting and plot to character evaluations.  I could see even students from other schools debating events and reasoning of a novel with one another.  Each giving their own perspectives.

I also could see a blog being an asset when covering a poem unit or even working  on a poem written by a group or a story being written.

Thing #2- Creating My Blog

The way I came up with a posting name and blog name was my family.  It takes me forever to decide on what I want from naming my blog to choosing paint for my dining room.  So my family seeing me make a list at the kitchen table finally sat down and began giving me suggestions.

It was hard to create for me because I am not really great on the computer so I have to read everything two or three times.  Actually I almost decided that maybe I should think about going ahead and dropping this course if it was going to take me this long to choose avatar and download it.  But I didn't. :)  I will keep my thoughts toward I can do it....

 My avatar does reflect some of my personality and some things about her a different than myself.  She has green eyes which I also have and brown hair like me but she and I are not the same age.  She is standing by a plane and so implying she like to travel and I also like to travel.  

Thing # 1- 7 and a Half Habits of Life Long Learners

The easiest one for me to relate to was teaching or mentoring others, giving back.  I have taught for the past 22 years in the education so it is hard for me to remember a time I was not teaching someone or mentoring someone.  But I know once I was in this position then I knew it was for me.  The giving back part is something my parents always instilled in my sisters and I.  My parents were very interested in  the community and making it better and so as they volunteered at activities they would take us along.  Instilling a sense of not only accomplishment through helping others but also a sense of belonging and team building with others.

When thinking of the hardest thing for me to relate to it would definitely be #4 confidence in yourself as a competent,effective learner.  I tend to think others have the better idea, others can do it.  I feel at times like a follower and though there is no problem being a follower and we need followers there is a small part of me that screams out be the leader today.  You are just a smart and you are just as talented.  It depends on the day.  I can be a follower today and tomorrow your leader.