Oops...I Only Thought I was Done! #18 Redo

ANDDDD I accidentally skipped the blog post about a technology article I recently read.  So..better late than never! 

Actually, I've read a lot of articles about technology lately while researching for my paper, but lately I have been researching a school I visited in Orlando last week- Ocoee Middle School in Orlando, Florida.  I was so amazed by this school.  The teachers were rockstars.  The kids were so sweet- I made a few friends who were equally amazing by my accent as I was with them and their school. I have been dying to know more about the school, especially since they were on Oprah doing a flash mob about reading and that Oprah got Target to completely redo their Media Center.

THE Journal published an article on 1/20/12 about the school.  During the tour, the principal told us that the original school was really old and was demolished so that a new "technology demonstration school" could be built. The goal was to prove that a new school customized to fit new technology wouldn't cost more than any other new school.  Turns out they built the school, and it came in under budget.  There are only very short hallways and students stay in one quad pretty much the whole day for math, science, social studies, and language, unless they are going to enrichments.  The enrichment classes are technology based- agriscience and video game design are just an example of the courses offered.  Each quad has 10 Macbooks, 22 iPod touches, 10 iPads, and 32 PC Computers.  The teachers plan together and share the technology among the subjects. 

At the school I heard a lot about Doceri, and this article talks about it too.  Doceri is like a slate, but you can see what you have on your Smartboard on the iPad, so for $30 it eliminates the need for a slate.  They had just discovered a new app called Air Serve, which allowed the kids to show their work on their iPads and then send it to the teacher who could display it on the projector. 

The school was inspiring and I can't wait to try out some of their technologies in my classroom!
the Journal Article

Pictures from my visit:
The Principal in the Media Center

Language class with iPads

Doceri/Air Server in Action

#30- 3-2-1 and I'm DONE.

Not going to lie, I have been slacking on my classroom blog to do this blog, so I know my parents/kids will be excited to have me back! :) hahah!

3 Things This Course Introduced Me To:

1.  Flipped Classroom:  I had never heard of the flipped classroom before this course, but now I can't stop hearing about it.  Videos, blogs, school visits...IT'S EVERYWHERE.  I almost feel as if it is becoming a new movement and I wonder how long it will be until it is the norm in every classroom. I'm going to discuss the flipped classroom more in the next section!

2.  Web 2.0 Tools:  I had never heard the term "Web 2.0," but had certainly heard of some of the tools we discussed in class.  I'd heard of Gloster, but had never used it until after this class.  Turns out my kids LOVE it and BEG to make glog.  They make them at home all the time and send them to me.  I had also heard of Voki, but never used it.  After the class, I used Voki to explain the objectives for the day.  I also included a Voki of Harry Wong in my presentation for Blue Ribbon.  The people there all got a kick out of it.

3.  Dropbox:  I am a Dropbox convert and LOVE it.  I saved my paper for this class in my Dropbox and worked on it in Orlando.  I love that I can access any of my files from anywhere.  It makes working on my iPad even easier. 

2 Things That Would Be Great to Use as an Administrator:

1.  Google Drive:  I wish we would've had more time to discuss Google Drive because I see it as a wonderful tool for administrators.  I think using an online calender from Google Drive would help to keep everyone aware of things that are scheduled so that events are not booked at the same time.  It would also be helpful to have a sub calender done this way so that teachers could see when subs are taken.  I think using Google Drive to collect survey results would save a lot of time because the results are already tabulated.  I can see this being a huge benefit for data collection.  You can also save important documents in the drive and have easy access to them.  I need to do some more reading/exploring to really see how much Google Drive can be used as an administrator.  Believe it or not, there is a Moodle course titled "Using Google Drive in Education."

2.  Edcanvas:  I LOVED Haley's Cool Tools Duel tool called Edcanvas.  I think it is a great tool for teachers and administrators.  An administrator could use it for a virtural faculty meeting.  The notes, videos, recordings, etc could all be included into the canvas for the staff to view.  It could also be used for professional development- I think it would be a great program to teach at a tech tools PD or for the admin to incorporate different files on a PD topic.

1 Idea I am Going to Incorporate:

1.  I am planning to try a modified flipped classroom.  I'm not sure if you can call it a flipped classroom per say, but it will be similar!  After watching the videos and writing the blog post about it, I became intrigued.  This past week at the Blue Ribbon Conference, I visited a middle school in Florida that is technology rich.  The teachers all record videos using Doceri and post them on their Moodles.  The kids are usually involved in a project based assignment where they can refer back to the video to answer any questions they have.  While they are working, the teacher is circulating the room assisting students.  In my classroom, I'm not sure so that would work since many of my kids cannot preview the video at home, but I think it would be beneficial for the kids to have videos of skills so that they can watch them while working during math groups or at home while doing homework.  It might help the parents too, as many of them say these new Go Math! strategies are blowing their minds.  I actually think that I am going to start with my advanced kids by filming videos and inserting them into an Edcanvas with the work attached.  The kids can view the video, practice, and then create some type of technology based project from the teaching.  Hopefully the Enrichment 2.0 that Kellie talked about in her presentation will have some good ideas.  Wish me luck! :)

#29- Student Choice- Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I've always been blessed to be able to spend it with my extended family.  This year we had even more reason to be thankful as Lilah, my cousin's baby, had her first Thanksgiving.  Below are some pictures from our day!

My cousins Brittany and Jenna and Lilah.

Blake shaking the pecans from the tree!

Just a few of the pecans we picked up- Thanksgiving traditions!

#28- Student Choice- Gray Thursday

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays- spending time with family, eating wonderful food, and of course  Black Friday shopping all add to the joy of the day.  This year, the retail industry started the sales early on what people are calling "Gray Thursday."  Although I felt bad for the employees of the stores that opened on Thanksgiving, I took advantage of sales!  I started at Wal-Mart and arrived at 7:00 for the 8:00 sales.  They opened the items early and I had my purchases back at my house by 8:30.  Then we went to Target and Belk.   Belk was a mad house.  After waiting outside in line for 30 minutes, customers were running into the store to grab the deals.  Lines were long and it was crowded.  I was home and in the bed by 2:30 a.m. instead of getting up at 3:00 to go shopping.  I'd say it was a successful night! 

#27- Bring Your Own Device

Bring your own device has some definite pros and cons.  Some of these are presented in the article "Should Schools Embrace 'Bring Your Own Device'?" by T. Walker and posted on the NEA Today website.  For schools that are already budget strapped, bring your own device seems to be a viable option.  Students can still receive the benefits of using a smartphone or tablet, and the school is not responsible for the cost.  Bring your own device can also help teachers utilize the flipped classroom model because the students can view videos on their own device at home.

In order for bring your own device to be utilized, the school must have the correct infrastructure.  Students must be able to log on to a network so guest passwords have to be available.  If the students know the password, then they can log on and search the web and use other applications when needed, but that also means that students can abuse this privilege.  The article recommends having the students sign a contract to avoid/limit this type of situation.  The article also encourages teacher training on how to implement bring your own device programs before being thrown into the program.

The article also suggests that bring your own device can increase the digital divide.  Not all students will have access to a smartphone or tablet to use.  The article states that "students who need to borrow a device should be able to do so without facing any stigma."  It says that more teasing could occur because students who cannot afford the newest technology could be targeted.

http://neatoday.org/2012/07/19/should-schools-embrace-bring-your-own-device/

#26- Student Choice- Glogster with Third Graders

I first heard about Glogster several years ago at my first technology conference in Birmingham.  I thought the concept was very neat, but I never had an opportunity to try it out.  The other day in class we discussed Glogster again, and I decided that I would give it a try with my third graders.  I was pleasantly surprised at how fast the students caught on and how well they did! 

The students were instructed to create a Gloster about the presidential election.  They were told to add at least two pictures and three facts about things they had learned related to the election.  Instead of making each student their own username and password, I made one for our class and it worked out great!! I also uploaded the pictures so that they did not have to scour the internet looking for images. 

Here are some examples of their wonderful work!

#25- Digital Citizenship

When discussing internet manners and digital citizenship with my students, I first like to show a BrainPop video featuring Tim and Moby called Digital Etiquette.  Tim and Moby do an excellent job of explaining what is appropriate online in a kid friendly fashion..  They explain that "netiquette" is a set of rules for how to behave online.  The also explain that sometimes people may say things online that they would never say in real life which can be harmful. 

BrainPop: Digital Etiquette

I ran across the following poster which sums up digital citizenship perfectly:  THINK before you click!  Decide if what you are typing are the following things before posting them online.

#24- Techology in Special Education

Technology can play an intragural role in special education.  In our class this summer, Sarah and me did a study and wrote a reasearch paper about how iPads can open a door for students with autism.  We read several articles and watched videos of students who had never been able to communicate with anyone and through the use of speically designed apps, such as Proloquo2go were able to finally tell their caregivers what they wanted and needed.  The clip below shows a child who is finally able to order at a restraunt and talk to his parents all because of an iPad app.  Students who have been nonverbal have had other devices to communicate with, but none as affordable as the iPad.  The affordability of the iPad makes it possible for more students with disabilities to learn and communicate.

Because iPads are the new and fun to use, there is not a stigma attached to the fact that a student may be using one.  In fact, the rest of the students may ne jealous that they don't have one to use all of the time.

iPads are one of the only resources that are already loaded with features that can be used by individuals with disabilities.  You can make the text larger and sound louder as well as many other things.

Click the link to watch the video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7414970n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

#23- Student Choice- Boosterthon Raised More than Money

Did you know that teaching is a dangerous business?  On Thursday I had my first (and hopefully last) on the job injury. 

For the past week, the Boosterthon team has been pumping up the students to run the fun run.  Yesterday morning the 2nd and 3rd grade students were excited to run their laps and earn their money.  The teachers were lined up with Sharpies in hand ready to mark off the laps on the students' shirts.

About 32 laps in, I was bent over marking on a child's shirt when a student, running full speed ahead accidentally ran into me.  His head hit the corner of mine.  At first, it hurt so bad that I couldn't tell that it hurt. I asked the student if he was ok, he said yes, and kept on running.  A minute or so later I asked Kim if she could see anything above my eye because I felt weird.  By the time the race was over, I was in intense pain and couldn't hold back the tears. 

I went straight to the nurse and the math coach took my class.  In a time span of five minutes, the part of my face above my eyebrow was the size of half of a lemon.  Needless to say, my mom had to come get me.  I felt like I was 10 all over again!  I had to keep ice on my face all day and night and sleep sitting up.  By this morning, my eye was swelled shut and a lovely shade of purple.  Now I can open it more, but blood has started to pool in the corner.  Its just too bad that Halloween is already over!

Thursday Night

Today!

#22- Discuss the Flipped Classroom

This is a topic that I had to do some research on before writing about.  I'd heard about Kahn Academy and other programs like it, and I'd herd the term the flipped classroom, but didn't really know what it was.

So I decided to watch a few videos to learn more. 

Little did I know that the flipped classroom has a video component to it.  The flipped classroom is a model that some teachers use to differentiate and deliver instruction.  The instructors film a video with the daily lesson.  Students can watch the lecture where ever and whenever.  Students come in to class with questions to help guide instruction the next day.  The flipped classroom allows students to engage and promote their own learning. 

The first video is interesting because it explains what the flipped video isn't.  I was surprised to learn that the Kahn Academy is NOT like the flipped classroom because classroom teachers are the ones who are the creators of the videos. 

The goal of the flipped classroom is for students to come to class with prior knowledge of the content already established.  While in the classroom, the teacher provides meaningful learning opportunities for the students to go further with the content presented in the videos.  It allows the teacher to assist students where needed, to clear up any misconceptions, and it allows the students to play the "learner" instead of playing "school."

#21- Student Choice- Plant Update!



Our classroom must be full of "green thumbs" because our Brassica rapas are already growing!  We planted our seeds on Tuesday, and by Wednesday night when I left school, our plants were sprouting. The picture below shows the seed coat splitting open and the plant sprouting from the seed.

October 17 (evening)

On Thursday morning, the students where surprised to see leaves!  Some of the students said that our plants looked like four leaf clovers.  The class learned that the leaves that they saw are the plant's seed leaves.  They thought it was cool that the leaves that first emerge were actually contained inside tiny seeds!

Today the students noticed that our plants are growing taller and taller!  They also noticed that true leaves are starting to emerge from the stem.  They even noticed that some of the seed coats were still attached to the true leaves.  CJ compared the seed coat spitting open to a caterpillar busting out of its chrysalis to become a butterfly.  The students are all curious as to when we will begin to see buds and yellow petals!

We hope that you will come by and see our Brassica rapas and all of the things we have been learning about plants at Open House tomorrow night!

October 22:

#20- Barriers of Technology in Education

There are several barriers to using technology in education.  Some of these include funding, infrastructure of the schools, and teacher attitudes toward using new technology.

Before technology can be introduced in the school, it must be purchased.  Unfortunately we are in the days of proration, so schools must be creative in acquiring technology.  If the school is Title 1, funds can be allocated to the use of technology.  Schools can hold fundraisers such as 10 for Technology to earn funding.  Our school is currently using the Boosterthon Fun Run fundraiser to earn money for new technology such as additional iPads in our school.  Funding can also acquired through grants and asking local legislatures for money. 

At our school, infrastructure is a problem.  It seems like the wireless in our school is not working every other day.  We also just got wireless access to the portables.  I spent two years in my portable with Ethernet cords spanning the floors. In my classroom, I only have two outlets that are hidden in the back corner of my classroom.  In order to use the technology I have, I had to purchase a 50 foot extension cord and have the janitors run it through the ceiling and drop it down in to the middle of my classroom. It is hard to use the technology when the buildings do not support the technology.

Another barrier that can be faced when using technology in education are the educator's feelings toward the technology.  I feel that with adequate on going and relevant professional development, teachers feelings can be positive.  When teachers are unsure how to use the technology and feel overwhelmed with the burden of teaching themselves to use the technology, their attitudes can be negative.  Also with someone like a technology coach to provide individualized technology assistance and to help troubleshoot problems, resistance by the teacher can be minimal.

#19- Does Technology Help or Harm Literacy?

Does technology help or harm literacy?  The answer is simple, in my experience, technology defiantly helps literacy.  Does technology replace reading instruction?  NO, but technology can enhance reading and language instruction through the use of apps, computer programs, and Web 2.0 tools.

For starters, not all students learn the same way.  Some students thrive on lecture based instruction, but the majority need hands on experience to truly gain the knowledge needed to succeed.  Technology gives students hands on practice in a fun, motivational way.  There are many apps available to practice basic literacy skills.  My students have used apps such as My Story and Storyrobe to create their own stories and present them in a digital storytelling format.

Computer programs such as Earobics allow students who need additional phonemic awareness experience to practice hearing and identifying sounds.  This can be very helpful to students with IEPs as this program is tailored to their instructional needs and increases and decreases the difficultly level based on the students responses to the questions. 

The are hundreds of Web 2.0 tools that can be used to increase literacy skills.  Sites such as Wordle, Glogster, and others encourage vocabulary development. 

The bottom line is that students today learn differently than they used to.  They are a generation of digital learners and any time we as teachers can use technology tools to help aid in instruction, the more the students will learn. 

#18- Planting Day!

The temperatures may be falling outside, but it's planting time in Miss Powers' classroom!  Yesterday we began a unit on plants provided by AMSTI.  My students were excited to observe a dry bean seed and a soaked bean seed and compare the two.  They were shocked to find out what the inside of a seed looks like, and that each seed contains an embryo which has all of the plant parts enclosed in it.  They were thrilled to learn that they were going to become botanists and observe their own plants grow over the next few weeks!

The students were divided into pairs to partner read about the plant that we are growing- the Brassica rapa, also called the Wisconsin Fast Plant.  They learned that these seeds were specially developed to grow very quickly, and that they would be able to watch their entire life cycle.  While they were discussing and learning about their plant, two pairs of students visited me at the teacher table to plant their seeds.  The students did a wonderful job following directions while planting. 

The students have already added many wonderful questions to our "Wonder Wall" about their plants.  They are wondering how they will grow without sunlight?  They are wondering how a flower will grow without something to pollinate it, and they are wondering how many days it will take to see their own plant sprout?  I am so excited to watch my little botanists observe their plants as they develop. :)

Here are pictures of our planter quads and watering mats underneath our grow light!

#17- What Do You Do With Old Technology?

What do you do with old technology?  Well, if you are a teacher in Alabama during proration you use it.  The computers in my classroom are as old as dinosaurs.  Today one of my students had to progress monitor using the STAR program.  It literally look 20 minutes for the computer to turn on.  While he was taking the test, the computer froze multiple times and he ran out of time to answer some of the questions and hurt is final score.  The students can't use the computers to research because the Internet is so slow and they get frustrated while trying to complete activities. 

As far as outdated technology such as overhead projectors, they are stored in our library at school or they are picked up by central office staff.  Before you can move any outdated technology out of a classroom, you must fill out a request to move form.  This form keeps track of all of the technology and where it should be located.  It is important as an administrator to have a paper trail for each piece of technology so that you can be aware of the hardware and where it is located at all times.

#15- Student Choice- Emperor Penguins

It is true, that as a teacher, you are a lifelong learner.  This week our reading selection was called Penguin Chick.  I've always loved this selection because it is nonfiction and tells so many interesting things about Emperor Penguins.  My kids really got into the selection this week; they all came back from the library with books about either penguins or Native Americans (our social studies topic) and couldn't wait to show me all that they found.

Here are some interesting things my kids and me learned this week about Emperor Penguins.  There are seventeen different species of penguins.  The Emperor Penguin lives in the cold continent of Antarctica.  The female penguin lays one egg at time.  After she lays the egg, she is starved and must go look for food.  The father stays with the egg because he is fatter and can live longer without nourishment.  The father keeps the egg warm in his brood patch.  For seventy days, the mother journeys to the sea to look for fish, shrimp, and krill that she swallows whole.  The journey is not easy; it is cold and long.  It is winter in Antarctica during this time and the ocean is frozen for miles and miles.  The mother penguin marches until she reaches the water and eats until full, then she begins the journey back to the rookery.  In the meantime, the father keeps the egg in his brood patch, balanced on his feet.  The father penguins huddle together to keep warm.  The eggs eventually hatch.  It takes three days for the baby penguins to emerge.  The father keeps the baby in his brood patch, as the frigid temperatures will kill the baby quickly.  Finally the mother returns.  She feeds the baby by regurgitating her food (my kids thought this was the grossest thing ever).  The very hungry father then leaves to find food.  The mother ate enough to keep her, and the baby alive for weeks.

The baby penguin grows and grows.  Soon, he is big enough to venture from his mother's brood patch.  He and the other baby penguins huddle together in the rookery to keep warm.  They also enjoy tobogganing on their bellies.  At five months old, the baby penguin is old enough to take his own journey to the sea to find food.  At five years old, the penguin will find a mate and have a baby egg to take care of, too. 

Our reading project this week was to use multiple nonfiction texts to collect facts about penguins.  Here is an example of one below:

#14- Helpful Website

I'm always on the lookout for a good website to use with my students or to make my job easier.  One of my favorite ways to find new sites is on Pinterest.  I recently ran across Remind101 on Pinterest and had to check it out.

Remind101 is a safe and easy way to communicate with parents and students.  As a teacher, you can set up an account for free.  You name your class and print off a sheet that has an access code for parents.  Parents can then text your class code to a number and join the group.  The teacher can send text message reminders to parents about important reminders or upcoming events.  The text message comes from another number, not yours, so the parents will not know your personal number.  You can type the message online, or use the Remind101 iPhone App.  Parents cannot respond to the text message. You will want to let your parents know that standard text message rates apply.  High school teachers could have students join the group and could message them reminders about homework and tests.

So far, I have had eleven parents sign up and have received very positive feedback from them.  I hope that this service continues to be free, as I think it is a wonderful way to communicate with parents and keep them up to date!

 https://www.remind101.com/

Student Choice #13- Itchy, Itchy, Scratchy, Scratchy

About two weeks ago, one of my kids shouted out in the middle of a science experiment that a bug just jumped off of his head.  I immediately sent him to the nurse, and my fears were confirmed- a bad case of head lice.  After lunch the same day, another student said he was very itchy and his sister had lice.  Once again, the nurse confirmed that he had a case of lice, too.  My head itched the entire rest of the day!

The students have seen the nurse several times since their diagnosis, and have been cleared.  I thought our outbreak of lice was over, until I got a report of another child with a case of lice, and my itchy has started all over again!

I never had lice as a child, and I don't remember any of my friends having it either.  Mama said when she was in school, a note would be sent home with every child if a case of lice was spotted.  In my four years teaching, I've never had such an outbreak before!

I decided to do a little research to find out what lice is and how it can be spread.  According to kidshealth.org, lice isn't harmful and is more common in boys than girls.  The louse actually feed on tiny amounts of blood that they suck from the child's head.  When the kids are itchy, it is due to the reaction of the lice's saliva.  Gross.

Louse lay eggs on the child's scalp.  The eggs, called nits, attach to the hair shaft and take around two weeks to hatch.  It is more common to spot the nits as the hair grows longer than it is to see the louse, as they are the size of a sesame seed. 

Lice is very contagious.  Lice cannot jump from head to head, but are spread through close contact in school, slumber parties, or sports.  Sharing personal items like brushes and combs can contribute to their infestation. 

Bottom line is that lice need to be spotted quickly so that treatment can be applied.  Over the counter shampoos or prescription treatments can kill the lice.  As teachers, we can help prevent the spread of lice by discouraging head to head contact and not letting children share personal items such as brushes, scarves, hats, or ponytail holders.  We can also ensure the parents that lice are not a sign of being unclean and we can have the school nurse check their child's scalp regularly until the lice is gone.

And now my head is itching....more than ever.  Guess I need to stop by the school nurse, too!  :)

Information from:  http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html#

#12- Resistance to the Use of Technology in the Classroom

Technology is a wonderful thing, if it is actually being utilized.  I know that in the school where I teach, thousands of dollars worth of equipment is collecting dust.  The Smartbord in the classroom I moved in to still have Styrofoam on the outside of it.  If the school is going to make such a big financial investment then the technology should be used to its full potential.

The first step I would take to help curb resistance is to poll the staff to see what is actually needed/wanted.  The technology committee, which I would establish to help create a technology plan for the school would collect and review the results.  Having the staff help choose the new technology may encourage the use of it because the staff will feel that they have a say in what is being purchased.

Before the new equipment arrives, I would schedule on-going professional development for the staff to attend.  The staff needs to become familiar with how the technology works, how to set it up, and also how to troubleshoot problems.  I would bring the professional development to their classrooms as well and be sure that the teachers got their equipment installed and operational.

Next I would have the technology coach (if I am lucky enough to have one) to create lessons integrating the new technology.  The coach would go from classroom to classroom teaching the lesson and showing the teachers how easy it is to use.  After that, the technology coach could help the teachers plan lessons integrating the technology and come and assist while they are teaching it. 

Unfortunately, resistance will always be faced when changes occurs.  Hopefully through polling the staff about new technology, on-going professional development, and helping the teachers plan lessons using the new technology, the resistance from teachers will be limited. 

#11- Student Choice- Football Saturdays

Like the song ESPN plays when heading to a commercial break during College Gameday coverage.... "God Bless Saturdays."  I love nothing more than waking up to College Gameday, watching the predictions, and spending my entire day watching football, eating football food, and working on my forever long school to do list. 

As usual, today was a crazy football day in the SEC.  The Auburn game was painful to watch.  The Gators showed everyone what kind of team LSU really is, and South Carolina dominated Georgia.  I really missed watching AJ, Kenny Bell, Lacy, and my favorite, TJ Yeldon, but thankfully Alabama's bye week is over for the season.  I can't wait to watch them play Missouri next week!

#10- Guiding Principles for Technology Integration

As an administrator, I would ask myself the following questions to guide technology integration:

1.  Is the school equipped to handle the additional technology?  Technology is a wonderful thing, and needs to be used whenever possible...but if your school doesn't have the infrastructure to support the technology, it simply cannot be used.  As you've already read, I went two years in my portable with no wireless Internet and a jungle of cords circulating my walls.  When I moved into the school building, I noticed that I had three outlets in my room.  Two of them were in a corner, one on a wall.  Of course I wanted to reconfigure my room arrangement to fit the need of my students and instruction, so I ended up having to buy a 50 foot extension cord and running it through the ceiling, dropping it down in the center of the room so that it could support my projector, Elmo, and laptop.  In older buildings, outlets are few and far between and technology needs power in order to work!

2.  Do we have appropriate on-going professional development scheduled to train teachers to use the new technology?  In order to use new technology, you must know how to operate it!  When integrating technology, it is imperative that on-going professional development is scheduled so that teachers can learn how to use the technology.  If the teachers aren't trained, chances are the new technology will collect dust in a closet somewhere.

3.  Do we have someone that can help us troubleshoot problems?  Technology is wonderful when it works, and not so great when it doesn't.  It is important to have someone in the school that is knowledge about the new technology so that they can help teachers troubleshoot problems.  As an administrator, I would be sure to attend trainings and do research on the new technology so that I could help answer questions and troubleshoot problems, too. 

#9- Student Choice- Honey Boo Boo

I can admit it.  I am an Honey Boo Boo addict.  From the first time I saw Alana on Toddlers and Tiaras I've been hooked.  When the camera crew is laughing so hard that you can hear the giggles while they are filming, you know you've found gold and TLC took full advantage of exploiting the whole family.

You can think what you want about June, Sugar Bear, and the rest of the crazy family.  They are definitely not the perfect parents, and allow their children to do things that make my skin crawl, but you can't say that they don't love their girls and don't spend time with them, because it is evident that they do.

Sometimes I wonder what Alana would be like as a student in my class. I've been impressed with her math skills at 6 years old.  While helping her mom at Piggly Wiggly with her extreme couponing, she could quickly add money in her head.  Some of my third graders can't do that.  She could also figure out how many her mom could purchase of each item, impressive once again.  In another episode she wrote "Welcome Home Kaitlin" with sidewalk chalk.  She had neat handwriting and spelled the words correctly.  She is crazy and loud, but I think she would be a hoot to laugh at all day long.

In the words of Mama June "you ride with the flow, and when its over you get off and start your next adventure."  I know I can't wait until the new season to see what kinds of crazy adventures they encounter next. 

#8- How Technology Can Affect the Learning Process

Technology is an integral part of the learning process and can be integrated at each stage. Using technology to present a lesson can address reaching the students with a variety of different learning styles.  Visual learners can see the information, while auditory learners can hear the information being presented.  Kinesthetic learners can be reached through using iPads and interactive elements to Smartboard presentations.

Videos and simulations can show students elements that otherwise they would never be able to see.  For example, last week I taught about solubility.  I found a video on YouTube that showed a grain of sugar dissolving in water.  The students could see what happens when you dissolve sugar and water on an heightened level.  The use of technology allowed this to happen.

Students can also use technology to master skills. Math facts can be one of the hardest things to learn, but is one of the most important concepts that students need to master to be successful.  With computer programs and iPad applications, students can practice the facts using technology that they enjoy using.

Technology can also be used to show mastery.  Student Response Systems are an excellent way to assess students and see what they need extra help mastering.  The SRS gives immediate feedback to the students and the teacher and the students love them because they feel like they are playing a game.  Students can also be assesses on mastery by creating a project using a piece of technology.  The teacher will be able to see whether or not the concept is assessed, but they will also get the opportunity to teach the students to use a new piece of technology.

#7- Student Choice- Portable Problems

I can never remember a time in my life when I didn't want to be a teacher.  I dreamed of the day that I would be given my own group of students and my very own classroom.  Each time I observed a classroom while pursuing my undergraduate degree, I took pictures of things that I loved and wanted to do in my own classroom.  I couldn't wait for the day that my name would be outside a big wooden door.

I graduated college in May and had a teaching job by the first week of June.  Each day I paced the floors, waiting for my classroom to be ready for me to set up and decorate. I was driving myself crazy waiting for my own set of keys to the door that opened to my teaching career.

Finally, the day came.  My principal told me that I would be in a portable.  I was fine with it-- I was so happy that I had a job, I would've taught in the hallway or the cafeteria if I had to.  She warned me that it needed a little work, but I was beaming --how bad could it be?  I walked through the school, outside the back door, and saw it.  Apparently, it was a hand-me-down portable from a high school in the district, and it looked like they had treated it a little rough.  Holes spanned the outside of the building, I wondered, did someone get shot in here?  Mud puddled at the steps.  But still, I was optimistic.  Slowly I opened the door..and immediately tears streamed down my face.  Tiles were missing all over the floor.  The walls had huge holes.  Dirt splattered the floor and the walls.  I tried to get myself together so that I could measure my windows and formulate a plan to turn this place around.  This was not how I imagined my first classroom to be.

Fortunately, our wonderful janitors worked for a week fixing my new home.  They put up wood paneling, replaced the tiles, and cleaned all the dirt.  My dad and mom helped me unload all of the shelves and storage supplies I bought for my classroom.  Dad bought a load of gravel and made a walkway of large stones so that the kids wouldn't track mud in my room.  Grandmother made me curtains and helped me scrub my student's desks clean.  It took several weeks, and a lot of help, but I finally had a room I was proud to call mine. 

Being in a portable does have its perks.  You can control your own thermostat.  I always enjoyed propping my door open on pretty days for some fresh air.  The portable comes with no storage, so you can set it up any way you like.

I paid my dues- my portable got struck by lightening and I didn't have Internet at all for over a month.  I could never pick up wireless Internet, so Ethernet cords were run all the way around the sides of the room.  After a hard rain, the roof leaked....on to my new desktop computer.  It ruined it.  A family of cats decided to take up residence in the insulation underneath my portable.  One day, two of my students came in holding a new kitten.  It peed on me...twice.

After two years in my portable, I got to move inside the building.  I inherited a room, like my portable, that had immense potential.  With some fresh wall paint, a new room arrangement, and pretty decor, it is a room I absolutely LOVE, and that my kids love too. 

#6- How Can Technology Innovations Be Sustained in Schools?

Technology is a constantly changing entity that is essential in the school setting to reach today's learners.  I feel that the best way to sustain technology in our schools is to provide continuing professional development in combination with monitoring from technology coaches and administrators.

After technology is acquired at the school, it is important that professional development is administered on that piece of technology.  If the teachers do not know how to use the technology, it will be kept in a closet to collect dust.  The professional development should be easy to follow, provide teachers time to practice with their device, and be ongoing.  It is simply not enough to have one session on a technology tool, several sessions are needed throughout the duration that the technology is being used to ensure that everyone knows how to use the technology and are using the technology.  At our school, we have Technology Tuesday.  Once a month, the Technology Committee provides professional development on different technological tools.  This helps teachers stay up to date, provides them with a time to ask questions, and teaches them new ways to use the technology they have.

In a perfect world, each school would have a technology coach.  This person would help teachers troubleshoot problems with the technology and also plan lessons with the teachers integrating the technology.  The technology coach could also teach model lessons in the classrooms so that the teachers could see the technology in action.  Along with the administration, the technology coach could perform walk throughs looking for technology use. 

On going professional development, technology coaches, and walk throughs from administration all are things that could help a school sustain technology innovations. 

#5- Student Choice- I Like Big Cokes and I Cannot Lie...

With all of the problems in our country today- poverty, unemployment, the mortgage crisis, a recession, it's amusing to me that the Mayor of New York City decided to place a ban on the sale of super sized drinks.  Since when is it OK for the government to tell restaurants that the drinks they sell must be 16 ounces or smaller? Yes too many of us are overweight.  Yes sugary drinks are bad for our health.  I am in no way saying that our country does not have a serious problem with obesity, but my problem with this ban is that the government is telling citizens of New York City what they can and cannot buy and they should have the freedom to choose. I've never been to New York.  Do they allow people to have free refills like they do in the south?  If so, 16 ounces will quickly turn into 32 ounces.  I'm pretty sure refills defeat the purpose of the 16 ounce cups.

Isn't it MY decision what I put into MY body?  If you're going to ban sugary drinks please go ahead and ban cigarettes.  Aren't they worse for your health?  Drinking a sugary drink only affects MY body, where smoking a cigarette effects all of those around the smoker and their bodies.  I guess the money the government makes from taxes off of the cigarettes outweighs their health risks.

I don't know about you, but I love a Route 44 Sonic Diet Coke. There's just something about that Sonic ice.  If someone told me I couldn't buy one, I'd be fighting mad.  I'm a teacher.  I talk all day.  On the weekends, I'm horse from all the shaping of young minds.  Don't tell me I can't find some relief from a 20 ounce drink to soothe my tender throat so that by Monday I'll be ready to teach again.  Isn't it my basic right to go to a restaurant and buy whatever size drink I want without someone else telling me I can't?  What can I say?  I like big drinks and I cannot lie. 

This new ruling is just one more reason why I'm glad I live in Sweet Home Alabama.  We may be #4 on the list of most obese states, but we have the freedom to make our own drink choices, at least for now.  Let's hope that our country doesn't slide down the slippery slope of more regulations on our basic freedoms.

#4~ Technology in My Classroom

I've pretty much realized in my 3 years and 2 months of teaching that students seem to be WAYYYY more engaged when a screen, remote, or video type game is being used during instruction.  Kids learn differently than they used to, and its up to us as their teachers to change what we do to reach them.

I use a lot of technology in my classroom.  Smartboards, Student Response Systems, and iPads are used when possible.  Smartboards, when used correctly, are a wonderful tool that can reach a variety of different types of learners.  They present information as well as allow for interactive elements that cannot be used with other presentation software.  According to Homes (see citation below)  Glover, Miller, Averis, and Door conducted a study examining fifty lessons using an interactive wipe board.  Of those fifty lessons, 28% were teacher centered, 30% were considered interactive, but on a basic level, and 42% were using the interactive capabilities to their full potential.  By examining this data, it should be noted that fewer than half of the teachers studied were not using the technology including interactive elements to their full potential.  If interactive features are not used in the presentations, the interactive wipe board has been compared to an updated chalkboard of sorts, simply another clear area in the classroom to project information on.  My goal is always to teach a lesson using many different learning styles and the Smartboard allows for that if it is used how it is intended to be used.

Want to make taking a quiz the most exciting thing ever? Easy!  Type up the quiz using Student Response System Software.  Not only do the kids LOVE and BEG to use the SRS, I like the fact that I don't have to grade the quiz, and the kids and the teacher get immediate feedback.  At the conclusion of the quiz, I always go back through each question with my students and we discuss the answers together.  If a large number of students answer the question correctly, then I know I can move on.  If a large number of students miss a question, I know I need to reteach the concept. And I love the fact that my classroom erupts in cheers when they see that 100% of them answered the question correctly.   

Technology also makes it easier for me to help my students build background knowledge and understand difficult concepts.  Videos, simulations, virtual field trips, models, songs, and others make so many hard concepts easier to understand.  Some days I don't know what I would do without Annie and Moby from Brain Pop Jr. and their easy to understand videos. 

Technology is a wonderful thing! :)

Holmes, K. (2009). Planning to teach with digital tools: introducing the interactive wipeboard to pre-service secondary mathematics teachers. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(3), 351-365.

#3- Student Choice- The 90s

I recently saw a pin on Pinterest that said "am I the only one that when someone says 10 years ago, I think about 90s instead of 2002?"  No, pin writer, you are not the only one.  I ALWAYS think that 10 years ago we were still living the good life in the 90s, with boy bands, Pogs, Lisa Frank supplies, Full House, instant messenger, Oregon Trail, inflatable furniture, slap bracelets, Beanie Babies, and the Spice Girls. 

It is amazing to me how different our world is now than what it was in the 90s.  Just this week I had to explain to my third graders what a phone booth was because many of them had never seen one before.  Let's hope I never have to explain the point of a beeper.  It is crazy to think that my 3rd graders weren't alive when September 11th happened. One of them actually acted shocked the other day when I told them I could swim and said "WHAT Miss Powers people went swimming in the 80s?"  How old do these kids think I am?  I feel old at 25, but seriously, not THAT old.  It almost makes me sad that this generation is missing out on becoming expert note passers. At least before cell phones and texting we took the time to write out before instead of b4. 

I miss the 90s.  I miss my Bunny Surprise and my Easy Bake Oven.  I miss watching Clueless and the fact that my Yak Bak said "whatever" and "you go girl."  I miss signing Backstreet Boys on the playground with my 5th grade classmates.  I miss collecting my 50 States pogs and thinking it was the best day ever when you got to play Oregon Trail and Gizmos and Gadgets in the computer lab.  I even miss AIM and every one's dumb screen names (mine was Annabug12 ahaha).  Mom says I have the "Peter Pan Syndrome" and that I never want to grow up.  I think it's a good thing. 

For now, I'll laugh as trends of the 90s appear again.  My boys at school are starting to bring Pokemon cards and now with the success of One Direction, boy bands are sure to come back.  I'll listen to Journey 93.3 and belt out Spice Girls and N'SYNC in the car, I'll watch my seasons of Boys Meets World and Saved by the Bell and I'll be sure to never grow out of the things that made life in the 90s fun. 

Post 2: Why Do I Want to be an Administrator?

Why do I want to be an administrator?  That is a loaded question.  For now, I am happy being a third grade teacher.  I think learning about being an instructional leader, however, will help me be a better teacher because I can begin to understand why our administrators make the choices that they do and it will help me become a better teacher leader.  I feel that I need several more years of experience in the classroom before I will be ready to manage a school. 

I know that I have potential to be a great in a leadership position outside of the classroom. I am interested in school improvement as well, and I feel that this desire to improve our schools and the leadership potential I feel I possess, is the basis for my decision to be an administrator. If the opportunity presents itself, I know that I will have obtained the skills I need to manage a productive and happy school.

Picture. Day. Yuck.

Tomorrow is picture day.  As a child I dreaded picture day.  My outfit was wrong, my hair was flat, a pimple appeared.  As a teacher, I feel the same way, and I always have the pleasure of taking make up pictures.

Here's an original poem about it to the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree" by me!

Oh picture day, oh picture day
Why are you so horrible?

Oh picture day, oh picture day
My face looks like a gerbil.

After high school I thought I was done
But now, it seems I've just begun.

Oh picture day, oh picture day......
You make me DREAD tomorrow.