Final Pause and Ponder

Personally, this class has been a window of opportunity for learning new skills related to recent technologies that will enable me to become a more effective teacher in this digital world. I set a goal at the beginning of the year to become more fluent with the newest technologies and this class was a challenging but attainable way to meet that goal. What I used to believe as hard or uninteresting, I now see as an opportunity and a possibility.

I want to develop in the integration of technology with 5th grade curriculum standards.

There are many ways that I can find resources now that I have been introduced to these technologies. For example, I will continue to live the life as a blogger and I will collaborate in educational social networks.

Even though I am tired due to the end of the year hussle and bussle, I remain eager to seek out more information related to the newest technologies. My plans for the future include taking more classes related to technology and making the time to grow and develop in digital teaching and learning.

At this point in the class, my professional abilities have been enhanced with the knowledge of the digital world including social networking, peer collaboration through digital means, and improvement of student engagement using the instrument of technology.

Thus far I have applied what I have learned in the digital writing class in my own class. I am currently working on a photo story about our field trip. It is almost complete. I have a few more narrations to record and I may put in music if it does not take away from the voices in the photo story. It has been fun. When I finish the final touches, I will give each student a copy.

Panic Mode

I have spent hours, I mean hours on the digital story and it is still unfinished to my expectation. This ocd is a pain in the you know what sometimes. I am having the most difficulties with converting i-tunes to mp3 files. I am also having difficulties with photo story three. It keeps telling me that my mp3 files aren't valid. It is very frustrating. I will not give up. I've come too far to back out now.

A Powerful Moment

Thursday during science, the children were setting up their stream tables which are rubbermaid containers with soil and water to represent land and water. One of the groups lost their stopper which plugs the whole in the container. It looks sort of like a black rubbery cork. The group members looked high and low for it and could not find it. Several other students tried to help them find it and were not successful.

In the past, I would have told the group not to worry and join another group to continue with the experiment. But, I decided that the class would not complete the experiment until the stopper was found. I wanted the students to understand the importance of taking care of the materials, even a small stopper, as well as each other. Plus, the science kit company would have sent me a bill for like $4.58 because we lost it. One student offerred to pay for it. I thanked him for his generosity, but I explained that was not the point I was trying to make. If I would have not made a big deal over a small stopper, then most likely other groups would have the mentality that it's not big deal if we loose or break the materials and we can just join another group.

Well, surprisingly we had a CSI episode in room 506. The students began talking about all the possible places it could have fallen or any possible motivations for someone taking the stopper. They were asking questions like: If it was knocked down accidently, would it bounce or roll. Also, could someone have kicked it while walking by not realizing it? One student asked, Can we take our stopper out and drop it to see what it would do? Then, we can get an idea of where it might be. Still in shock, I told the student to continue with the wonderful idea.

One part of me was wanting to panic because I was off schedule. The other part of me was wanting someone to come in and see what was happening. The students were actively engaged in the scientific method without even realizing it.

Anyway, the students observed the stopper would not have rolled or bounced. It was also observed, that if the stopper would have been kicked, it would have tripped someone. The children concluded based on their experiments and observations that the stopper is some where around their desks.

And then it happened. A student walked over with confidence because he knew the stopper was around their somewhere. After about 45 seconds of diligently looking, he found the stopper in a side netted pocket of a bookbag that had been sitting in a chair the whole time. It was unforgetable. This child is normally shy and serious. He is not one to show emotion normally. This day, he shouted with joy. Although, his face turned apple red, I don't think he was embarrased. The students were amazed and impressed. We were all proud of him. The students rewarded him with r-cards. It was powerful!!!!!!!!

The students wanted to get immediately to work. They worked very hard and cooperatively. It was one of the best days of my teaching career.

Writing into the Day

I learn by first, a purpose and then, by doing.

The last time I learned something was how to play "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" on the violin. The music director at church gave me the music to practice for the "Old Time Christmas Musical". I went home and began to play it. But, I wanted to hear it in a fiddle style. So, I searched you-tube and found a video that was exactly what I was looking for.

I know that I learned something when I can do it independently with automaticity. For example, I played "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" without the music. My fingers knew exactly where to go and what to do. I am confident that I could play it again at the drop of a hat. It may take a few times to get it right, but I will eventually.

I know when my students have learned something when they can do it independently, engage in conversation about it, and teach it to someone else.

Learning Voice Thread

Learning voice thread was simple. First, signed up for an account. Second, I jumped in the Digital Writing Workshop conversations. The most difficult part was figuring out what was wrong with the microphone. Luckily, my husband came to the rescue--or that is what he thinks. Once the microphone was working, it was smooth sailing. There is one more thing...I knew that I had a southern accent, but I didn't know it was that bad. I sound like I'm from the sticks. It's a good thing I teach in Loris because we all kinda sound the same.

Pause and Ponder #2

Camping at Playcard was very exciting! I do not know who overcame the most fears; my students or me. I went zooming down a zip-line 35 feet in the air with only a helmet, a harness, and a prayer.

While reading The Digital Writing Workshop by Troy Hicks, I learned that teaching in a digital workshop means that we teach students to compose new literacies and technologies. Hicks also writes that we need to teach digital writers to assess their own work based on authentic audiences and purposes, various genres, and self reflection. I realized that in order for me to guide, assist, and or faciliate digital writing, I am going to have to be a digital writer. That is a scarry thought! It is necessary for me to assess my own work the same way. For example, living the life as a blogger keeps me writing for real audiences and purposes. It is my desire to communicate my thoughts in a way that is captivating and comprehensible. With that being said, I am on the right track. I just need to put it in a higher gear.

While reading The Tech-Savvy English Classroom by Sara Kajder, I found the section called Ending Points very true. Kadjer admits that she believes strongly in using computers as tools in writing, but not for all writing. She continues to honor the power of pen and paper as well. It is important to choose the right tool paired with the right student and the right task. Keeping in mind, with an engaging and rigorous writing task, technology can enhance and empower our student writers. This means, building relationships and using multiple intelligences appropriate for each individual must be a priority in order to plan accordingly in my classroom.

So far, I have tinkered with various technologies that were both challenging and invitational. Being able to actually use these tools purposefully has enhanced my learning significantly. After this course, I will continue to use Photo Story 3, iPadio, Wall Wisher, and live the life as a blogger. Blogging has made sense to me as a teacher, writer, and social butterfly. The other technologies we have used did not make as much sense to me at this point in my life. This is most likely due to the information overload and complex interpretation my brain is balancing. For the most part, the majority of the technologies explored in this course are relevant and accessible in the classroom at some degree, either directly or indirectly.

Class discussion has influenced my thinking in several ways. Collaboration, support, providing and gaining information were and are the most influential.

Where I'm From

6 Days Until PASS Writing!

Ummmm...I don't know where to begin. I am feeling just a LIT-TLE FRUST-RATED! I want to be better at technology so I can share the knowledge with others. The problem I am facing is that I do not have enough time and energy to study and grow technologically while I am trying to keep my head above water. My thoughts are drowning in ideas, expectations, duties, meetings, chores, paper work, and field trip preparation. I must be crazy because I am taking my 5th graders camping the Thursday and Friday after PASS Writing. We are looking foward to that. I also need to be concentrating on the assignments for the digital writing course. On a better note, I am blessed to be healthy, alive, and employed.

Phlog #1- "The See Through View"

This story was written by a fifth grade student. This was a Pass Writing practice prompt. Pay attention to the descriptions.

MStephens_Pause and Ponder February 7, 2010

It has been an overwhelming 2 weeks. We have had Core Reading Specialists visit our school. I have had a sinus infection with a touch of bronchitis. I have had a data conference with my principal. I have had to turn in 10 explicit guided reading lesson plans in addition to the other curriculum requirements. I have had to organize and plan 2 field trips. I have had to make time to work on our new house. I have had a lot to do......So with great-a-do, I am pleased to take this time to pause and ponder on writing in the digital classroom!

I agree with Sara Kajder that through modeling and close monitoring of student thinking, teachers need to ensure that students have strategies for assembling knowledge and understanding content. She suggested that graphic organizers and structured reading activities were great ways to monitor student understanding hypertext. Kadjer emphasized that too much discovery can lead to wasted instructional time if teachers are not tightly controlling the outcome of student work.

It seems like yesterday when I started living the life as a blogger. I have enjoyed the purpose, invititation, and audience that blogging gives me. It is evident that teaching is a passion and a work of art. It has been inspiring to read how my classmates are growing as a tech-savy teacher. I have gotten several ideas from reading other posts. Blogging is like a reality show as well. I get into the teacher drama, stress, and frustrations too.

I am presently using moderate technology in my classroom. I use the internet a lot for various reasons during the day. I like SC Streamline, MS Powerpoint, Interwrite Pad software, and MS Word most of all. In the picture, I was happy to receive an external hard drive for my birthday. My loving husband proudly purchased this for me. Luck for me he has a keen interest in Populat Mechanics Magazine. The biggest hinderance in my classroom is that I have a smart board that is on a stand that I can not use. The projector light shines in our face and we trip over the legs on the stand. So the smartboard sits in the back of my room. I am supposed to be getting the smartboard mounted on the whiteboard and the projector mounted in the ceiling. Yay!!!

Grammar 911

My students wrote a pass like writing the other day. I have been using a checklist based on SC standards and the writing rubric to keep record of what each student knows or does not know. Surprisingly, the largest weakness was grammar. I have students in 5th grade who do not write in complete sentences. If they can't do that, you can forget varied sentence structure. They also do not understand subject verb agreement and commonly misspelled/ misused words like homonyms. I have a lot of wor to do to prepare my students for the assessment and more importantly for the world. It is my desire to teach them how to write grammatically correct. I am not so worried about the other aspects of the writing. I need some ideas beside skill and drill to teach grammar in a meaningful, engaging way. I did get an idea of using video clips with captions as mentor text examples. I could also model a podcast using the grammar skill and then have the students complete a podcast applying the skill in their writing. That is the only idea I have at this time. If you are looking for mentor text examples that are read aloud and animated visit this website http://http://www.storylineonline.net/.
I am also very excited about taking my students on a camping trip at Playcard Environmental Center. For more information, visit their website http://http://www.horrycountyschools.net/departments/learningservices/playcard_center/.

Pass Writing is 7 Weeks Away!!!

I am trying to think of ways to prepare, review, teach, reteach... Sarah Kajder suggests using interactive multimedia mini-lessons to review writing or content skills to customize student instruction and as an effective differentiation tool. Samples are posted on the web site for her book The Tech-Savvy English Classroom. It will take me a while to get one of those going because I teach all subjects. As for now, I can use the resources I have like Compass Odyssey which is a differentiated multimedia online program that is aligned with map data. I am very interested in building a class website. I have scanned over chapter 9 in the same text. I plan on coming back to this chapter in a few days to get started with a class website. I am sure it is not hard. I am aware that it does require upkeep and management just like my class room. In the mean time I will be thinking of ways to prepare, review, teach, reteach .....

Lesson Planning

I wish I had a penny for every minute I have spent planning lessons! Some times I feel that is all I do. If I am not planning, then I am thinking, talking, sleeping, or worrying about it. Although, I am lucky that my grade level works together to share the load of planning. Each person on my grade level plans a different subject and shares the plans. I am happy to report that I am responsible for the writing plans for fifth grade. :)

Currently, we are writing a newsletter article from a muckraker point of view from the progressive era. This will be published in their writing portfolio that is required by the district. The next requirement for their portfolio is for them to write a response to literary text with a focus on understanding figurative language. I was very excited when I found this lesson plan- Book Report Alternative: Comic Strips and Cartoon Squares. Students are invited to think symbolically to provide evidence of comprehension in a unique way. I am sooooo excited!!!! I think the children will enjoy the novelty of this assignment.

If any of you bloggers out there have any ideas, suggestions, or comments, please let me know.

Living my life as a blogger...

Great news! I have been living the life as a blogger for the past few days. I also live the life as a christian, wife, teacher, daughter, sister, friend, and student. In addition to the required reading for EDPD547 and the reading necessary to implement standards at school, I am reading Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah. He brings a message of hope and confidence that with God, we can live with confidence in this chaotic world. I am excited about reading this book and learning how to integrate the newest technologies in my lesson plans.

I will admit that I have struggled with some of the technological requirements for EDPD 547. It took me several times to get the hyperlink to work. I have not tried the skype thing yet. This is the second post I've written since the first class. I have commented on other blogs, but not my own. What won't kill me, will only make me stronger!

I have found the course reading very beneficial. I am already thinking of ways I can use the information in my classroom. I can not hardly wait to hear what other teachers are doing with the newest technologies in thier classroom.

Biographical Essay

Do any of you have trouble sleeping right before school starts especially after lengthy breaks? If so, we have more in common than you think?

My family consists of a husband named Jonathan and a cat named Bootsie. Jonathan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. He is a showroom consultant. Bootsie likes to fetch and take naps on her heated blanket. She also had to be put in a squeezing cage the last time she was taken to the vet.

I enjoy spending time with family by playing games, camping, learning about history, football games, and eating wherever. It is fun helping with the Girls in Action (mission program) at church. We support local missionaries and local organizations through projects. I also take pleasure in anything therapeutic like shopping, crossword puzzles, cooking, and decorating.

My goals are to become the best educator I can be and become more technologically fluent.