Thing 5 Me and Facebook

This past Spring I was invited to be a friend on Facebook. I have an account, but no photo, yet. I'm searching for just the right one. So far I have been poked, hugged, sent a cowgirl boot, been invited to post my calendar, asked to create groups and hit with a pillow enticing me into a pillow fight. I've been sent a fish to save the rainforest and asked to be a friend by several people I do not know. I've learned that once you start accepting things like pillow fights, it is never ending. I am not a gamer and I do not have a screen addiction, nor do I want one.
I have enjoyed looking at friends photo albums, but would rather make a phone call and invite them over for dinner than send them a poke. I guess it is fun if there are long distances between folks.

Twitter is a little overboard for me. If I am falling behind in my day, I don't have time to Twitter people to let them know I am late for work or an appointment. I am a being there kind of gal, but it is good to know about these.

How can this be helpful to students? Connectivity. My nieces and nephews all have accounts and check them frequently. I am not driven by this at this time. Maybe in the future, when I retire.

Thing 4 Youtube and Teachertube

I can entertain myself for hours browsing these two sites. My Youtube favorites are watching videos with animals and young children. It is like having Americas Funniest Videos at your beckoned call.

I enjoyed browsing Teacher tube and viewing some of the learning videos available for students. I think it would be fun to create one with my class (after getting photo permission from parents, of course). Using the toddler friendly digital cameras in my class, the students would be able to choose what they want to share with the world. There are just endless possibilities for today's students.

If you've read my blogs, you know I host an annual Pink Flamingo Porch Party. I think I am going to create an Animoto and post it to share with all of the party comers and those that were not able to attend this year's festivities. Look out folks, I'm going to be armed with my digital camera this year and I've been introduced to more advanced technology!

Thing 3 Skype

I explored quite a bit in Skype. It was interesting reading how other teachers are using Skype to communicate with classrooms in other countries. I learned about proper etiquette in setting up Skype conferences and some tips on avoiding video problems during conferencing. This reminds me of the conferencing connections SBISD had years ago. I can't recall the name of the program, but I do remember my students conferencing with trainers at an oceanography zoo when we were learning about penguins and other animals that inhabited the "poles". I recall how excited my students were with the " being there" experience, able to ask questions and have them answered instantly. Now we can go from classroom to classroom. The opportunities for learning for today's students are becoming limitless!

Sweet Sammy Jo

Just to keep you all informed, Sammy Jo is no longer with us. Sammy became very ill this past Spring. I did everything in my power to help him recover from a respiratory infection he contracted. Sammy went to puppy heaven. Rusty Bojangles is adjusting to being an only dog. We take him to the dog park and on play dates with friends dogs as much as possible to keep him socialized. Sammy Jo shared his love in the short life he shared with us. We are grateful for the joy he brought to our lives.

I encourage others to adopt rescued animals. They have so much love to give. We miss you sweet Sammy Jo.

Thing 2 Continued

The Annual Pink Flamingo Prep by Ms. Bojangles

Bookr is a great tool for young ones to create books of their own. No more sitting on the floor, cutting up mom and dad's magazines, getting glue everywhere to create a book for homework. I can see my little cuties making books about all kinds of topics, and what fun to have so many photos at your fingertips. I can't wait to teach my teaching assistant about this new tool for technology.

This summer I introduced my niece to Animoto. I had seen Animoto presentations, but never made one. She created an account, as she wanted to have a video presentation for her graduation party. It turned out perfectly. There was quite a bit of picture adjusting and music selection to create this publication. She is so proud of what she learned and I was so happy I could share something new with her. You go, Jenna!

I explored with Voicethread. How great that we can add voice to photos. I can't wait to make this year's Pink Flamingo Porch Party Memories with this new technology. I am having so much fun learning about all of these tools. By playing around with them this summer, I will be more confident to teach my students how to use these.

Thing 2

This is a fabulous new find! I can see my students taking pride in their new found ability to spell their names and typing their name over and over, creating a "name cloud". What a great way for kids to see their name in a unique way, and what a fun way to practice keyboarding their names, sight words, friends names, etc.

Thing 1

It is so exciting to be learning more this year with 11.5 Things. It still makes me nervous, as I feel that I am such a novice, even after completing 23 things. This past year I wrote a grant to purchase toddler friendly cameras for my PK classroom. Last year's 23 things encouraged me to write this grant. The video prompted me to think about how my students will be able to make video clips and digital photos and share their learning, at their level. I am going to encourage them to photograph things they have constructed, as well as photographing their friends in our classroom. I will be sharing their "work" with their parents, as well as publishing on SBISD's sharing sites, including our school website. I have enjoyed modeling using the web for my students when they have asked questions that I don't have the answer for. Our librarian has been helpful with some of those information searches. I love asking the children, "Now what do we do with what we know?" This usually prompts independent writing for them. As a teacher, I see now more than ever our role being a facilitator of learning. It will be imperative, that even at the PK level for us to be knowledgable about 21st century students' learning. I look to my school librarian for guidance and support, as my students are too young to visit the library independently. I feel the librarians' role now is to be tech saavy to encourage and support teachers and students.