August 2010 in review

WOW! I can't believe this is the first time that I have actually sat down and blogged anything on my Blog. I have been very busy with all my new learning-learning my new kids, learning 5th Grade FOCUS material, and learning how to teach EIP to my 2nd Graders. Where have the days gone.
4th Grade is off to a slow start but we are off an running. My 4th Graders have begun working on their bridges unit as well as learning about Reader's Theater and how a presentation is put together. We just finished our Simile writings inspired by the book My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks. Great book if you have never read it. Students are working on creating their self to resemble their similes used to describe them.
5th Grade has been interesting. We started off using Similes to write about our selves: I Am Like..... and then we read the book The Quiet Place. Students have written about their quiet place using descriptive words/phrases. We have begun working on the Go With the Flow unit. We have talked about water conservation, water use in our homes as well as water and how it is treated. They kids liked doing the simulation of the dirty river. Next week we will begin talking about the oil spill and its effects.

Podcasting

Well, I ended my Web 2.0 class with a bang. My wonderful husband, DJ Wiki Wacki really came through. He helped me create my podcast welcoming the Rock Springs Students back to school. The radio station was W3.224. I love the idea of podcasting. I did have a hard time getting it changed over from wave to mp3 because I actually added music to my podcast which saves a different way. Can't wait to use this in my classroom again.

I am going to try to add my podcast to this blog. We will definitely see how it goes.

Web 2.0 Learning-REFLECTION

I must say that the only lesson I have left to complete is the actual podcast. That is this weekends goal. I have loved taking this course. Personally, I would have liked to take it inclass as well as online. I am that kind of learner and have tons of questions. Having to report back-seeing the teacher-definitely would have lit a fire under me when getting behind in my lessons. I know this will all be very beneficial to my students and know that it is always a learning experience. Thanks Kathy for exposing us to all the technology. Can't wait to use this with my students.

Personal Learning Network (PLN)

Well, I have seen this work. Kathy's example with tweeting authors about readers theater scripts involved my focus class. I first thought it was strange that Kathy was so in with the authors but when it come down to it, they are very knowledgeable and willing to share what they have. Once we published our work on kathy's blog, it was awesome for the author to acknowledge my class and their efforts to make her readers theater script come alive through pitures and voice.

Video Sharing and Digital Storytelling

This seems to be a little over my head. I was unable to see Kathy's Veteran's Day Digital Storybook. I might have had a better idea of what to expect. I would never through this idea away but would definitely need some more help with this idea. I liked the idea of teachertube and using something on youtube or teachertube to teach a lesson.

Google Docs

I could definitely see how this would be very beneficial in my FOCUS classroom. In regard to 4th grade, it would be need to see the kids us this when writing their readers theater scripts, where it can be edited by classmates and teachers (Kathy and I). I also thought I could use Google Docs for when my 5th graders do Literature Circles. Different students can respond to the chosen discussion questions. Students would beable to add their responses to the Google Docs page. That way students would be able to be informed of others thoughts and be ready to discuss. I would be able to check to see if all students responded as well as dialogue with my students in the group.

Social Bookmarking

I really like the idea of being able to share my favorite websites with friends, parents and students. I liked the fact that I can add users and by doing that, I can also be added and benefit from others work. We all know that time these days are hard to find and why reinvent the wheel. As teachers we are good at beg, borrowing and stealing ideas. Why not do it on the Internet also. I would definitely work on adding sites to my delicious account as the year progresses. I might even consider having the kids use my links in doing research this year.

Check out my delicious account: http://delicious.com/janetzawacki

SlideShare.com

WOW! This was really neat. I found this really neat slide show on SlideShare.com. It is of landscapes. I chose this slideshow because I felt I could use this in my class to help extend writing. Check out the slideshow:

Beautiful landscape 2

View more presentations from Effat Saleh.

Slide Show

Today after some long hard work, I have created a slideshow. This slide show was created so I could share my family with everyone. Using Slide.com in my class would be a great tool. I know I can use this when my class creates their readers theater or when my kids do presentations. Students could be the one responsible for taking pictures and placing them in a slideshow. What a great free tool to use in the classroom. Check out my slide show- Zawacki Family

Wiki's

This was great. First let me begin my saying that I loved reading about what Vikki Davis did with her middle school students and how far they took the basic knowledge she gave them. This basically sums up what we read about in the first articles about the importance of Web 2.0. Making the kids active participants in their learning.

I also enjoyed the educational wiki's Kathy included in our assignment. I looked at the 1st grade and 4th grade wiki. I loved how parents, grandparents, etc. could add information about when they went to school. In the past I have taught my 2nd grade FOCUS students about schools of the past and I have had parents write letters (something unheard of these days). However, I love the wiki idea even better. I really enjoyed the educational wiki relating to the 4th grade class and their use of the wiki for Tuck Everlasting. I could definitely see how this could be used in my focus classroom with the book study we will be doing next year.

Google Reader

This morning I just finished lesson 3: RSS Feeds. Though it took me some time, mostly because I had to slow down and pay attention (the same things we tell our students and our own children), I learned a lot. I added Kathy's blog suggestions into my Google Reader as well as many blogs related to gifted education. Now that I have added blogs related to my field of teacher, I can stay updated on current events as well as issues relating to gifted education. Since I will be teaching RTI this year, I plan on adding blogs that will help me professionally in that area. It's been a long time since I have documenting growth in that area.

Blogs

I loved looking at the blogs Kathy attached to our course. I think Blogging will be a great way for me to keep parents posted on what is happening in my FOCUS classroom. I loved the idea of having a student post the event for the day as well as posting pictures from different events happening in the class. Next school year, I will definitely be posting on my blog. Last year Kathy posted my classes PowerPoints to her blog and my parents loved seeing as well as hearing our presentations to other students in the school

Why Web 2.0?

As I sit here this evening, knowing that I am totally behind, I think back to the wonderful experiences not only my students had this year with the help of Mrs. Schmidt, our school's media specialist but the experience I also had. I have to say that I am not much of a risk taker especially when it comes to technology. Seeing Kathy at ease with the computer and applying some of the topics discussed in the articles and in the video, I want to be able to be confident and do the same. I do not limit my thoughts to just my FOCUS students so I am going to say that all kids need these experience with technology. We need to really dig deep and look at what skills our students bring to the table. I think we sometimes get caught up in the fact that we have so much to cover in our classes and do not make the time to have our students truly share in the learning. Reading the two articles on Web 2.0 and working with Kathy, I definitely know why I am taking this class and getting caught up at this hour. After reading the two articles on Why Web 2.0, I do feel a little overwhelmed