Thing #12

I tried out several different tools. I really enjoyed working with Blabberize and Wordle. I think Wordle could be very useful in the class. The way I think this would work best would be in literacy. There are several ways to use Wordle. The first way could be brainstorming or word association. I could say the word Ocean and students could create a Wordle with the word that come to mind. Also students could use short phrases at the end of a lesson on things they learned. Students could also use this at the beginning of the year to use words that describe them. The other students could try and guess which Wordle goes with each student. The possibilities are endless with Wordle. How do you think Wordle could be used for in the classroom?

Thing #11

I used bead art to create this picture. I am drinking frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity's.





Create your own Rubik's Cube

Cat and Dog photo from Flickr by Johnbullas

This was so much fun. I had so many ideas of things I wanted to do. I created many others but just posted a few. This would be great to help students use their creative side. It took me a while to find quotes that I wanted to use. Vocabulary could be used with the motivation posters. Students could put the vocabulary word then the definition below. It would be interesting to see what pictures the students would come up with. I really enjoy funny teacher quotes. That is why I picked made the bumper sticker I did. Do you have any good teacher quotes to share?

Thing #10

New York

Photo Credits:
Bank of NY Building- wallyg
Lady Liberty at Sunset- Grufnik
Not Lost in New York- Stuck in Customs
NYC: Bryant Park and NYC Public Library- wallgy
A Tribute for New York- Storm Crypt
Renzo Piano: The New York Times Building- Dom dada
New York Subway- adrimcm
Three NYC Stereotypes- andrewfallon
Rockafeller Center- teemas

This is the Thing I have enjoyed the most. I loved looking at pictures of NY on Flickr. I also loved listening to Frank Sinatra sing New York. It brings back memories when I went to New York this past Spring Break. I also added my own pictures at the end of my trip. I hope to go back soon.

Thing #9

The theme I picked for my Flickr photos was Travel. I picked my favorite places I have been and search for photos from those places. In my class this year, I had many students who had never been on vacation or traveled out of Texas. With Flickr photos students can see many images of other places they might like to visit one day. I have included a picture of Mexico by Arkansas Shutterbug . I also included a picture of New York City from the top of Rockefeller Center by vteen
The third picture I chose was from the Hill Country in Leaky Texas at Laity Lodge. The photographer was laitylodgefamilycamp
The last picture I chose is from San Diego. I am going there in August for a mission trip. The picture was taken by San Diego Shooter.

Thing #8

Creative Commons

I love creating technology in my classroom from Powerpoint slideshows to using Activstudio to create flip charts for my Promethean Board. I have taken pictures off of google images many times and placed them in my slideshows or flip charts. I have posted some of my flip charts I have created on Promethean Planet. I do not recall any of the flip charts I posted having copyrighted images. I usually use pictures from Activstudio.

With more website using creative commons, it will be easier for teachers to create lesson, flip charts or slideshow and share them with other on the internet. Students will also be able to create work and show it on the internet with creative copyright rules. I think this will open up a whole new way of learning for students. A down side might be people taking your work and placing their name on it.

Are there any lessons you have placed on the internet before?

Thing #7

Creating Community Through Commenting

I have really enjoyed commenting on other people’s blogs and receiving comments on my own blog. I was dreading writing comments but I realized after reading a blog I always have a comment or an opinion.

It is important to give and receive comments on blogs. One reason is to encourage other people who blog. I have discovered 23 things has taken up a lot of my time. It is encouraging to get a comment on my blog about some of the things I have written. I am going to try some techniques to receive more comments on my blog. I really enjoyed reading 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog. One technique suggests being controversial. I don’t think I will be able to do that because I am not a controversial person at all. I will try the others and see if the techniques lead to more comments.

What is the hardest thing for you when commenting on other people’s blogs?

Thing #6

Feed your reader

One blog that I subscribed to was a blog by Tammy Worcester. She has been an educator for over 25 years. The first thing that made me more interested in her blog was her Tip of the Week section. She has created many different tips and ideas to help classroom teachers. She alos has lesson ideas and internet resources. I think it will be very benefical to receive weekly tips about using technology in the class.

Another blog I am following is Literacy Is Priceless. This is a blog to help teachers with teaching literacy. The thing that grabbed me in this blog was the videos that were potsed. There are videos of stories, educators speaking and even Flocabulary. I was intrigued by Flocabulary that I watched the video several times and even visited the website. I hope you will go and check out the video.

One I added Crosswalk which is a daily devotional This will be encouragement for me that I can check each day. I encourage you to browse this blog and maybe see if it is something you would like to subscribe to also.