Welcome to My World: Web 2.0

This class has truly made me realize how important integrating technology into the classroom setting can be.  Whenever we learned something new, I couldn't wait to go into school the next day and try it out with my students.  There has been so much positive feedback not only from the students, but from parents as well.  Blogger, web 2.0 tools, digital storytelling, Class Dojo, and the list goes on...I'm so happy that I was able to take my first teaching experience to the next level, all through technology.  I will, without a doubt, continue to implement all that I have learned in this class with my students every chance I get.  Because honestly, in today's changing world, we are responsible for making sure we teach our students as best we can - they are our future!  And not only that, Google Docs and Google Sites have provided me with an easy to use form of communication that I will be sure to share with my colleagues.  Welcome to the world of technology, where every teacher should be are aware of the importance of technology in the classroom.   

Puppet Shows for Everyone!

Looking for something fun and educational for your students?  Well if you have access to iPads, you're in luck!  Puppet Pals, a fun, free app allows your students to choose characters, backgrounds, and special effects to create a scene from Fairy Tales and beyond!!  But the best part?  Your students can animate their characters and create a story line.  Once they record their puppet show, they can even share it with the class!  If you're willing to upgrade, you can download Puppet Pals Director's Pass for just $2.99.  Director's Pass allows you access to the many different possibilities -- holiday themes, magical characters -- the possibilities are endless!  

Earth Week: Success!

Earth Week in second grade was a complete success this year!
Being able to get the students outside in 70 degree weather was perfect -- and the fact that they learned all about the history of Canton was an added bonus! Hiking the Rails to Trails path for two miles was a bit of a stretch, but it was a much deserved day that everyone got to enjoy!

Font Frenzy

So here's the thing...it seems that in ALL of my spare time ;) I like to search for new and exciting things to use in the classroom on Pinterest.  I'm not sure why it took me so long...but I've just discovered how quick and easy it is to download tons of new fonts that upload right to Microsoft Word.  Clearly, the teacher in me is pretty excited right now!!

Connecting with Teacher Bloggers is a great way to find such amazing resources!!  Who would have thought :)  An Apple a Day in First Grade provided me with some pretty basic, yet fun teacher fonts...but my favorite fonts came from Teach Junkie - I had 26 fonts to choose from!  The download process is really easy, too!  Simply click on the download button, open the file, then install the font.  As easy as 1,2,3...but if you're still having trouble, check out this tutorial on A Turn to Learn.  

In Room 20, We Have Fun!

As a way of wrapping up our second grade Poetry Unit, I decided that putting together a class poem and creating a digital story would just what the students need.  I'm so happy that my students were able to experience the art of digital storytelling because they LOVED the result.

So, here it is...I hope you enjoy it as much as my class and I did!


           

Voki in the Classroom

                                    

And...here it is!  One of many great Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom.  Voki is a tool that can be used to introduce students to a lesson, a concept, an idea...basically whatever you want!  Don't like a character?  Change it!!  Voki offers so much to choose from.  And not only that!  Voki is user friendly, too!  Students of all ages can create a character, record, type, or even call in what they want their character to say, and voila!  Voki at your fingertips!

Diigo Doozy

With technology on the fast track, Diigo's got you covered.  Great ideas, tips, news articles, and so much more...Diigo is the place to store!  Need to find something in a pinch?  Simple, just search for a key term or phrase and Diigo brings you there.  Check out my Diigo library to find many resources to use in the classroom! 

Digital Storytelling with a Prezi Twist

Simple and to the point, here's a Prezi that I created about Digital Storytelling...

             

Need more great Web 2.0 tools to help with your Digital Storytelling? Only2Clicks has your answers!

Behavior Management Problems?

Need to find a new way to keep your student's behavior on track?  Check out ClassDojo and begin creating your class list.  Students having a good day?  Reward them with positive behavior points.  Students off task?  Let them know. Check out this ClassDojo video to learn more!  

                                                                                                                                

Digital Celebration

It's been quite the experience putting together my first digital story...and I have to say, I LOVE it!! I can't believe that I've had such an amazing tool, Windows Movie Maker, stored on my computer since the day I bought it!  Now...for anyone who's ever thought of how hard it must be to put together a movie, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  There are many great programs to use, and from what I've heard, they're all user friendly.  MovieMaker, Photostory 3, and iMovie, - just to name a few - provide the opportunity to combine photos and/or videos along with music and voice-over...a combination anyone can get used to!  Actually, the hardest part of this entire experience is finding the perfect pictures and videos to use!

Next month, the entire second grade team and I will set on our next journey to teaching our students about the History of Canton, Connecticut.  So clearly, I thought it would be very fitting to create an introductory video to prepare the students for what is to come :)

Here it is...any thoughts?



After creating my first copy, my rough draft, if you will, I used Google Docs and created a survey form.  Consisting of a few simple questions, I wanted to get an idea for what others thought of my creation.  The feedback I received was very helpful...and very much appreciated as I finalized my video :)

I'm very happy to say that I am proud of the way my digital story turned out, and I CAN'T wait to share it with my students!!  However, the next time that I put together a digital story, I want to see how it will turn out with some actual video in there.

Once Upon a Time...

Once Upon a Time there was a second grade teacher who couldn't wait to begin the Fairy Tale unit.  So happy to say that that our unit has finally begun!!

Just thought that I'd share a couple of posters that I created to use with my students.  Yes- I found the ideas for these posters on Pinterest, but here's what I came up with :)  You can also find more resources posted to my Once Upon a Time board on my Pinterest account.

The History of Canton, Connecticut

Since the next topic in our Social Studies unit will be on the History of Canton, I figured it would be very fitting to create a video to introduce my students to the History of Canton, Connecticut.  I'm very happy with the way my digital story came out, and I can't wait to show it to my students!! Let me know what you think!
                                                                                                        

Microsoft Movie Maker

Who would have thought...such an amazing tool has been living on my computer for the past few years, and I JUST discovered it.  Microsoft has put out some pretty great programs, and yes...this absolutely is one of them!!  Not only is it user friendly, it also offers many great features too!  After playing around with the program for a bit, I discovered how to include voice over, even with music playing in the background!  Uploading the video was as easy as clicking the YouTube icon. Burning a DVD or saving an HD version of the video were also options offered to me.  I can't wait to create more videos using Microsoft Movie Maker!

Technology, Technology...Where do we Begin?

"Keeping up with the latest technologies isn't as nearly as important as keeping up with with the latest literacies," said no teacher ever...well, I would hope not. With technological advances rapidly becoming "the norm" for our students, it's about time that teachers step up their game and begin teaching their students with what they learn best.  You guessed it...technology.  Many teachers are already on board with immersing their students with relevant information through technology...both inside and outside of the classroom.  Manchester Kidblog and Iowa Grade 8 Kidbloggers are just two examples of how effective blogging can be when applied in the classroom setting.  But how do technology and literacy relate?  Have you ever noticed how much time we spend reading while surfing the web?  Ever come across a great blog with wonderful lesson plan ideas...aligned to the Common Core?  Or how about professional journals; a type of professional development, I would say.  Well, just like we spend a great amount of time reading online, it's easy for our students to do the same.  How about taking the time that our students already spend online just one step further.  That's where blogging comes into play.  Instead of just throwing a question out there for your students to ponder, what if they were given the chance to answer that question in a blog post?  I'll have to admit - it is pretty great having a blog that I can call my own...what's not to love.  I've personalized it just the way I like, and your students can do the same!  Using a program such as Kidblog allows teachers to create a class blog where each and every student can personalize a blog page and respond to questions.  Pencil and paper?  Not any more! 

Diigo what!?

In today's technologically expanding world, it seems as though there's not a day that goes by without a new technological wonder making its way to the desktop, laptop, tablet, or smart phone of just about every human being grazing this earth.  Sure, that's great and all, but wait...just one thing.  Pretty much anywhere we look online, there's always something that catches our eye.  Whether it's an article, a video, a book, an idea, a craft, a...well, you get the idea, there's always so much to look at.  But that's not the problem.  How about remembering where you saw that article, or what it was about.  Or how about that video...where was it again? Oh yeah, that craft!  So exciting, couldn't wait to do it, right?  Let's face it, who writes down every site that offers anything of interest, anyways?  Oh, bookmarking the page?  Sure that's a great idea, but how many bookmarks do we really want to sit at the top of our homepage?  Luckily, there's a solution for that. Yes, you heard right...a solution.  Ready for it?  Diigo.  Yup, Diigo; a powerful research tool and a knowledge sharing community.  Use sticky notes and highlighters when you're reading your textbooks?  Diigo has that, too.  Create a library, collaborate with groups, follow people in different networks...all a part of Diigo.  The best part? Invite friends to add to a library dedicated to a certain something special...oh, say lesson plan ideas for the Fairy Tale unit?  Seem simple enough?  I'm not done.  Diigo allows you to tag your bookmarks to make searching for them easier.  So that article that you read about relating the Common Core to your math lesson...just tag it with Common Core and Math. Need to search for it?  Just type in Common Core or Math into your search bar and guess what comes up...yup, the article that you bookmarked using Diigo!

Blogging Newbies...Welcome to the World of RSS!

Even though it's been a couple of weeks since I started my blog, I think it would be safe to say that the world of blogging is something that many of us are still getting used to.  And with each passing day, it seems as though there's something new to be learned.  But that's just it...we live in an ever changing world, so we can't help but keep up with all of the latest trends.  Well, I'm not sure if you would call RSS a trend, but whatever you call it, it's pretty amazing! RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is just that...simple!  RSS allows you to subscribe to content from various weblogs so that you can save the time of having to visit each individual blog, but still have access to all of the information that interests you.

It's pretty simple to set up, too!  Although there are many RSS feeds to subscribe to, I've chosen to use Google.  Many people use Google for the convenience it offers as a search engine, but there's so much more behind searching for key words.  Google offers many options to anyone who is willing to learn.  With access to Blogger, Google Drive, Gmail, and yes, you guessed it, Google Reader, the World Wide Web is offering more convenience than ever before.  

And the best part...it's easy to use!  Since Google Reader is attached to your Google account, there's no need to create any more usernames or try to come up with anymore catchy passwords.  It's all in the same place.  But, where do you start?  After creating a Google account, you can begin to subscribe to all of the blogs you want.  Blogs that interest you of course.  So say, for example, you want to keep up on all things related to the Common Core State Standards.  Once you find blogs that will help you keep up with all things Common Core, all you do is subscribe to that blog.  Just look for the subscribe button, and voilà!  Your Google Reader will automatically feed anything related to the Common Core into your account.  This way, there's no more time wasted clicking from blog to blog trying to find what you're looking for.  

The Magic of Animoto

After taking the time to watch many different Animoto projects, I finally came up with a video that I'm very excited to show my students.  But before I introduce my Animoto to the blogging world, I would like to point out a great Animoto that I discovered on The Life of a Civil War Soldier.  The way that Elena was able to incorporate all of the necessary information about the life of a Civil War soldier was incredible!  Make sure to check it out!

With so much to offer, I just couldn't wait to put together some videos using Animoto.  So clearly, I did just that.  Using the many pictures that I have saved on my computer, I put together my very first Animoto...one that showcased my Parent's 25th Anniversary Party. As easy as it was, I had caught the Animoto Bug!

With the Fairy Tale Unit starting in a few short weeks, this Animoto will be a great way to introduce my students to the elements of Fairy Tales.  Although this is just a basic overview of the elements, I feel that my students will truly enjoy it.  Actually, creating an Animoto dedicated to each element of Fairy Tales might not be a bad idea :)

So...here it is.  Let me know what you think!

Animoto

Who would have thought...using personalized videos to help students learn?  Genius!  With the help of Animoto, it's clear that there are so many new and exciting ways to integrate technology into the classroom.  From what I've seen, Animoto is such a great place to start!  With the Poetry unit right around the corner, I'm already thinking of ways to use Animoto to help my students learn all there is to know about poetry.  But how about the Fairy Tale unit...Animoto will also be a great way to organize all of the elements of Fairy Tales, too!  

Blogs, Blogs, Blogs

Blogging:

Communicating.

Creating.

Sharing.

Exploring.

Thinking.

Welcome to the world of classrooms today.  With the many technological advances taking place within our schools, children are being provided with more ways than ever to communicate with their teachers, peers, and others from around the globe.  Evidently, teachers who spend the most time teaching their students how to properly and effectively blog, have the most success.  Blogging provides students with the opportunity to reflect on their learning by achieving curricular standards in new ways.  With creativity, students are able to showcase their best work that will reach an audience beyond the classroom setting.  Blogging allows students the opportunity to respond to blog posts, to carry a conversation, and most importantly, interact with with others.  Students are able to develop a sense of global awareness through blogging.  Many blogging sites such as The Global Read Aloud, allows students to report responses to a common text while collaborating globally with students.  Participating in a blog like this allows students to understand how students from different countries interpret a common work of literature.  

Weblogs & Wikis

Although there may be many safety concerns associated with weblogs, teachers must keep in mind that through the use of blogging, students are provided with the opportunity to communicate with peers outside of the classroom walls.  As is the case with many blogging sites, teachers are able to set privacy settings to ensure student safety.  Richardson gives many great tips to starting small and eventually evolving.  With sites like blogger.com, it's easy to create fun, attractive, and easy to navigate blogs.  Now, bring Wikis into the picture, and that's a whole new playing field.  Instead of contributing to blogs and commenting on previous posts, Wikis allow contributions from anyone.  But what about Wikipedia?  Most educators don't allow their students to rely on information from the site.  But why?  Allowing students to retrieve facts from a collaborative environment isn't completely horrible.  Actually, it's kind of great.  Because so many people are able to contribute their ideas, the information provided on a specific topic provides many points of view.  Yes, there are also safety concerns that educators must be aware of, but with proper monitoring, wikis can be great tools for students to use both in and out of the classroom!

Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts

With so many technological advances in today’s world, educators are provided with so many options.  But that’s just it…all of the options.  Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts.  Where does one even begin?  How about beginning somewhere simple?  Somewhere that provides a level of ease and comfort.  But that’s just the half of it.  How about the legalities?  Richardson brings up many good points in the first two chapters of his book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  With safety concerns, both students and teachers must be aware of what is being shared.  Richardson states that research has showed that blogs can promote critical thinking in students (20).  Through the use of blogging, students can post assignments, journals, links, etc.  Although I have not seen these types of technologies utilized in the lower grades, I'm wondering how common they might be for teachers and students in secondary education.  

Why Technology?

With the recent implementation of the Common Core StateStandards in schools across the country, technology is making a greater impact than ever before.  With school-wide changes, students are being provided with resources beyond what was once available to them.  New literacies allow students to learn by gathering information that extends outside of the classroom walls, allowing teachers to foster student’s academic achievement. 

With the use of technology, students can access an abundance of learning tools and activities.  Dreambox, an online math program, provides students with support individualized to student needs.  The National Library of VirtualManiuplatives allows both teachers and students the opportunity to solve problems with more than just a pencil and paper.  Moreover, BrainPop provides a wide variety of educational movies to promote student learning. 

As the role of technology expands within the school setting, it is no longer expected that students are simply able to use technology.  Rather, students must obtain the necessary skills in order to analyze, learn, and explore through the technological age that this world is quickly moving towards.  As with any new learning adventure, NETS forStudents are the set of standards provided to educators by means of measuring student progress in an ever changing digital world.  

When teachers are prepared to provide their students with meaningful learning opportunities, there is a greater chance that students will appropriately analyze, learn, and explore many great possibilities.  NETS for Teachers are the set of standards used to evaluate how well teachers are able to integrate the set of skills and knowledge related to technology into their current teaching style.

But, where does training for veteran teachers come into play?  In many schools today, the Common Core State Standards have caused many teachers to lash out about the many changes taking place.  Throw technology into the mix?  For many, that’s just unheard of.  When do district officials decide how all of the teachers employed in a district will effectively incorporate the use of technology into their classrooms in this ever changing digital world?      

So Happy!

Fortunately for me, after a long weekend of hard work and preparation, I was offered a long-term second grade substitute teacher position.  BEYOND excited right now!