I Made My Own Website!

I had a lot of fun creating my own website for my classroom. Now that I've got it up and running, I plan to utilize this for my students as well as their parents next year! I can post weekly schedules, spelling and sight words for tests, homework assignments........ooh the possibilities are endless. Please check out my site. If you have any other ideas on what to post, please share!

http://ntorlando.webs.com/

Media Manipulation-Fotoflexer

After attempting to post this photo onto my blog 5 times, I finally was successful. I think this would be fun to do with my students and have them pick and choose what they would like. This would be especially fun after we do certain assignments. I did have fun with it once it worked.

Education Podcasts

After listening to some of the Podcasts on The Education Podcast Network, I found them to be very entertaining. I found some adorable sights of First Graders reading their stories and sharing information about themselves. As I get more familiar with all of this “technology,” I really do hope to apply some of these things in my own classroom.

I particularly love how it’s the voices of the children sharing what they have learned or what they are interested in. From experience, I have seen the reaction of the children when they just “see” themselves on the television or computer screen. Now to put their voices online, this could lead to a whole new eruption of excitement in our classroom! Can’t wait to try it out!

First Grade Snowman Pictures

Voice Threads

After viewing the Voice Thread website, I was able to listen to many different examples of specific first grade projects. For example, one of the threads was titled "If this Rock Could Talk". Another one was called, "Thanksgiving Turkey Project". I have embedded the actual website as well as a specific one called "First Grade Snowman". I loved how they used KidPix on the computer and then named and described what the snowman was doing. A great link for new ideas!

http://voicethread.com/q+first+grade

Final Project Video Revised!

I played around with my video, picked a new song and tried out the different options. I liked this one better.....

http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=134624020

Video I Made For My Final Project

After learning about the different types of clouds, my students created them by using cotton balls. We got a little sticky, but had lots of fun labeling and constructing the clouds.

Here is the link to my video.

http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=134622275

Using Social Bookmarking

Most of the sites that I have composed consist of information for our science units. They can be useful when I want to further extend the lessons. Many of the sites offer craft ideas and other "fun facts" about the things we are learning in these units. I also found a site for igloos and the Inuits. I do a separate unit about the Inuits and how they build igloos. The link to my Delicious Account is: http://delicious.com/norlando

Using Google Docs in My Classroom

Some ways I could use this type of program would be to work with the students on creating stories and building from each students' own ideas. I could also make a slide show presentation using pictures of different projects we've done and the students can work on their own page. For example, when we learn about the different types of clouds or about the water cycle, or when we grow plants, I could post pictures of their individual projects and have the kids write about what they learned.

Digital Story about Clouds

In first grade we teach a weather unit. One of the things we focus on is the 3 different types of clouds. After viewing actual photos of the clouds and sorting them accordingly in class, students will also get to make and sort their own clouds using cotton balls. I thought I would take pictures of their work and post them in with the video of the clouds.

A friend of mine is a local meteorologist for Channel 5 and he visits the kids every year and presents a lesson on the water cycle. I thought I could take pictures or video the presentation and post it alongside their actual water cycle projects that I do with them.

Types of Clouds Video

After watching the video on how to “Wiki” and reading the articles that were posted, I now have a much better feel as to how to use a “wiki”. I understand how it can be much easier than an email going back and forth about something specific. I also can see the advantages of getting different feedback from people on a certain topic. One teacher posted how her first graders are learning to write and offered others to help edit it. Now that my students are beginning to understand what a “sentence” is, I think we might be able to try some creative writing activities as well. I just have to figure out how to go about the whole process.

I also do a unit on making igloos. I wonder if I could create an assignment where the kids have to come up with all the items/materials they need to do this. I could split them in groups and work together on “editing” the page as it gets written on. Another idea I had was to use it with my colleagues during team teaching. For example, if we were working on a Character Education lesson, we could go back and forth on a Wiki page on different items to discuss or materials we would need for the presentation. I could also make a page for planning class plays with colleagues listing again the characters, props, etc. It seems as though the possibilities are endless......

Summer Is Calling!

Week 2 Assignments Cont.

Assignment 3: Here is my link from 2 Cents Worth http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=1673#comments

Week 2 Assignments

Assignment Part 1-My Reflection:
The articles that were provided for us helped pull things together a little bit for me. I am getting a better idea as to how this whole “blogging” thing works. Being that it’s an online diary or journal that can be set up in many different formats. I have been really trying to see how my little first graders can have access to the whole idea and use it successfully. Obviously, it can work because there are teachers out there that are doing it. Safety is an issue, but it seems as though that area is covered as well. Once we dive in a little bit more in this course, I’m sure I’ll be more confident.

After reading-Panelists: Blogs are Changing Education, I was able to really get a good picture of how other educators are using blogging as part of their curriculum. I have more of an understanding as to how teachers can use them within their own classroom and really extend specific units. The emphasis on having students’ work reviewed by their peers rather than just their teacher, and how this makes them better writers, seems extremely beneficial.

The other article I read was-Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson! It explained the range of people that can “easily” access and publish information online. Being a first grade teacher, this gave me even more hope that I can successfully pull this off. J I teach a lesson on Igloos and the Lives of the Inuits and have often wondered if I could somehow reach people that live this livelihood and have my students be in contact with them and ask/post their own questions or inquiries. Maybe blogging is the answer. However, I still wonder how I would be able to post their thoughts. Would it be something I would have to do for them? Are they capable of doing this on their own? How long will it take? At this time of the year, many of my students are beginning to learn how to properly begin a sentence and how to use proper punctuation. Run-on sentences are pretty popular at the moment. J So publishing their own thoughts and ideas seems to be quite an undertaking. It will be interesting to see how this type of activity can be done correctly and efficiently. I’m looking forward to trying all of this out!