Using Voice Thread

I first made a presentation on PowerPoint and then uploaded it to google presentations, but I had trouble with the voice recordings so I decided to experiment with Voice Thread. VT was extremely easy to use and it was nice that you could have an audio recording straight from the site without having to upload a separate one.  I had no problem uploading my power point from the Microsoft program and then doing my voice recordings for each slide.  I would highly recommend this tool and I plan on using it in the future. This is a very useful site to create presentations for lessons.  I think upper elementary grade levels could even experiment with this because it is so easy to use.

PLN

I think developing a PLN is important for any future educator.  We are living in a world surrounded by technology and it is important we stay on top of the newest applications to integrate in our every day existence.  The positive aspect of developing this early on is being able to teach it to others and learn new advantages it has to offer.  There are so many ways to research and have communication with people all over the world without ever having to make direct contact either in person or over the phone.  Having this source of communication available in things such as twitter, facebook, blogs etc. helps us stay in contact and ask questions instantaneously.  So far I've had a little bit of trouble maintaining my PLN because is it hard to check up on all the different applications I belong to.  It is very easy to get unorganized and behind on different applications when you lose track of how many you have and how often you need to check.

Power Point Presentations

I love using Microsoft PowerPoint. I have been using this tool since middle school. Making presentations is extremely enjoyable and I plan on using this tool for many years to come in my classroom. I decided to make my 3 slides following a Kindergarten standard for recognizing sounds in the alphabet and noticing sounds the letters make in words. One of the slides is devoted to the sounds each letter of the alphabet makes. I also found a great youtube video on the sounds each letter make; the link is embedded in the slide show. After creating a draft on powerpoint I decided to upload it to google presentations to experiment with a new tool. I enjoyed using google presentations, but I am having troubling sharing it in other places such as my blog and weebly page. Other then that I don't have any complaints using it so far.

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AfqiX52Swk-hZGQycG1zdnBfMGY0ZHhiOGZt&hl=en#

Lesson Plan

I want to teach a lesson on writing fictional stories. I love imagination and I want to encourage student to use it. I will teach the basic structure for writing a story: the importance of having a beginning, middle, end, major events, and character analysis. Students will write a fictional story about going on a vacation with their family. I want students to use their creativity to make an interesting, and maybe funny story they can share with their classmates.

The GLCE I want to use is: W.GN.02.01 write a narrative piece such as realistic fiction, fantasy, or personal narrative depicting major story events, using illustrations to match mood, and containing setting, problem/solution, and sequenced events.
The technology I am thinking about using in this assignment is some sort of digital storytelling tool. I think I want to use imageloop because it will be easy to help students upload photos. I want the students to have a picture for every page in their book. I can take pictures with my digital camera and upload them onto image loop for them to use. They can read their stories from their paper as each picture appears on the screen.

The Chase

I love being in the classroom and now that I am getting more comfortable in the special ed room I am helping out in I'm realizing how rewarding of an experience it is. The kids are so loveable. One of the boys in class steers me everywhere around the room to play with him. It makes me feel really good. I love how animated all of the students are. I have always had a vivid imagination so I love making up games with them and being silly.

Though today was a little crazy. One of the little boys can't really form sentences yet and has trouble sitting still so he tends to wander a lot. Today he took it to a whole other level. Lets just say I got a work out from chasing him down the halls. He didn't understand that he can't just run out of the classroom and he thought it was a game because I would chase after him. Every time I caught up with him he would throw himself on the ground and start laughing. He was cracking me up. Though I wish he would have listened to me after I had literally chased after him four times. Regardless, he had a lot of spirit so even though it was frustrating he wouldn't stay in the classroom I enjoyed spending time with him.

Digital Story Telling

For my story I decided to talk about my dog Louis. He is a huge part of my family even though he is lacking in size. Louis is a 3lb Yorkshire Terrier with a lot of personality. I thought giving a little background on my dog would be a simple and fun little story to share. I think this would be a good example to use in class because it will show students how easy to is to make a digital story.

Imageloop is a great tool to use for digital story telling. I think it can be used for all subjects at the elementary level. This is something I would definitely consider using in my classroom. I think students at the upper elementary level could use this easily too with a little bit of help. The only disadvantage I found was that I wasn't exactly sure how to link audio to the video using this website. Though it is extremely easy to upload photos and add comments. Overall I think this is a basic tool that will be helpful to use in the classroom. My Dog Louis | Slideshow at imageloop.com

Poem

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Volunteering in the Classroom

Yesterday I started my service learning experience in the classroom.  I am assigned to an Early Childhood Development classroom that is all Special Ed.   I have never been in a Special Ed classroom so it was a very unique experience.  There are only 8 kids in the classroom with one teacher and one parapro. I can't exactly tell all the different disabilities, but most are behavioral.  All the kids are very sweet.  After being in there for only five minutes one of the little boys had already grown attached to me and would take me by the hand to do different activities with him.  My job in the room is just to help the teacher out with all the different activities.  I only go in once a week for two hours, but I know I am going to learn a lot.  I'm excited for my next visit!

Google Earth

This week i was able to explore Google Earth.  I think this website would be an awesome tool to use in the classroom.  Students would go crazy over being able to see exactly where they live on a map.  There are many different things that can be discovered while using this tool.  Smart boards are becoming extremely prevalent in the classroom and this would be a great projection to use in class.  Anyone has the option of using this to explore different cities, states, important landmarks, and even space.  This would especially be useful for a geography based lesson.  Even though there are many advantages to this tool, it is geared more for adults.  Students at the elementary level would have difficulty using it.  There are many tutorials on how to work this system but many students would bet bored or distracted.  If this would be purely used by an educator then it would definitely be beneficial in the classroom.

google earth