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!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
#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.
My cousins Brittany and Jenna and Lilah.
#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/
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/
Monday, November 12, 2012
#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!
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.
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.
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.
Friday, November 2, 2012
#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
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!
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!
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