Literacy Project

     At the beginning of this course, I was interested in flipping the classroom and in thinking how I could implement that in my room, my literacy project was born.  I wanted a place where I can store videos, either ones I created or ones that were already made like videos from Khan Academy.  My district already has a website that we must keep updated with homework assignments.  I was thinking of placing links onto that website, but I heard lots of complaints from students of it being slow or at times not working.  Then my administration shared that we will be getting Google Apps for the whole district.  At the same time as that announcement, we discussed Google Docs in the course.  Once I was signed on to Google apps in my classroom, I began to play around, which is how I learned to create Google docs and spreadsheets as well as create my Google site. 
     The site was used primarily for videos that I wanted my class to watch for homework.  Students would go to the shared site, and then click the link I assigned for homework then take notes while watching the video in their math notebooks.  Then, while conferences were going on, many students were doing poorly on their number facts and I shared that with parents.  Many parents asked what they could do to help and that flash cards were not working.  From their I decided to add resources for students onto my site.  I shared links to games students could play to help learn their number facts and math manipulatives they could use at home.  I wanted students to also learn from other students, so I began to implement student tutorials onto my site.  Students would work with Jing and the Smartboard to create videos on any topics they wanted from the year.  Students worked together with their partner to create skits, and then made their videos!  I really enjoyed working on my literacy project and can't wait to see it grow!

Stand up for education!

Yesterday I attended, with some colleagues from my district, the rally at the state capitol.  Do not mind the picture, it was the one shared throughout the district, and of course it is the one where my eyes are closed!
 I know I am getting political with this blog post, but I wanted to share my feelings and experience.  I have never attended a rally and was nervous and excited to do so!  Before I began teaching, I have to say that I was greatly uneducated and naive on politics, and always thought, "that doesn't pertain to me".  Once I was hired in September as an official certified educator, I began to listen to colleagues and my union leaders and I became interested on how the laws were and what I needed to do. 
I have such a love for teaching, that when I started hearing and researching about SB24, I was outraged and knew I could not be a bystander.  I began to write letters and emails to my local officials as well as sign up to attend this rally.  It was a great feeling being there were so many teachers who felt the same way! I even saw colleagues from other districts I worked with.
Did any of you attend the rally or know colleagues who did?  Did you see the broadcasts on the news?

Khan Academy.... Will the teacher be nonexistent???

Below is a video about the growing popular Khan Academy.  This free tutorial website is packed with videos containing laid back explanations of areas including math to science and history.  These videos are greatly popular with teachers interested in flipping.  Instead of "creating the wheel", many teachers turn to these videos.  I have also begun to use Khan Academy with my students.  I have a couple of videos linked to my class Google site.  What has been interesting, is I seem to be getting pulled in two different directions.  Many colleagues as well as administration love the idea of flipping and encourage me to explore the idea.  I also see encouragement through my grad courses and how flipping is becoming such a revolution for education.  However, I recently attended a meeting where the idea of flipping and creating videos is a scary thought, which has made me leery to the implementation in my room.  There was a concern that the concept of flipping can essentially eliminate the teacher, causing us to be useless.  I can see where this argument is coming from, and it did inspire me to blog on this topic.  When I think about myself, the use of the videos in my class are to get the main note-taking down.  I want students to spend home time instead of classroom time writing definitions and copying down basic examples.  Once the students come to class, I have them delve deeper into the topic.  I am essential to the learning process because I am coming up with the critical thinking examples.  Students just learn the basics at home.  So, personally, I do not think that flipping eliminates the role of a teacher, it just allows time in the classroom for the teacher to come up with more valuable activities and examples.  What do you think?  Do you think that flipping will eliminate the need for a teacher??

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Final DigitalStory

Currently, I am teaching one step equations in 7th grade.  When we began having to create our storyboard, I was wondering how I can incorporate creating a digitalstory into a topic that might not seem so logical.  The video I created shows, through story, that a variable has to become a certain value for the equation to be true or balanced.  This digitalstory will be used has an introduction to the idea that equations need to remain balanced, if so, we can solve equations.   

My Digital Photostory

Below is a link to my digital story.  I feel that the narration is slow at some parts, and I am unsure that it is clear that "x" became "2".  I am wondering if I can elaborate more on that part.  Please let me know what you think! Thanks!

My Digital Photostory

Feedback

I am looking for some feedback on my blog.  How does it look?  Is it appealing or too boring? Does anyone find by side widget Education World to be of any use? Is there anything you think I should add to my blog?

Let me know! I would love to hear your opinion!

Diigo Site

I have now used Diigo for a couple weeks now, and although my library is not yet too extensive, I find it easy to add bookmarks.  The Diigolet tool makes it extremely easy to bookmark a website I might be on that I would like to add to my Diigo. 

I do wish I could be more creative in the look of Diigo. It is very plan and text based.  I would have liked to include a little pop or some personality into the site.  What do you think?  Do you find diigo easy to use? Here is a link:  My Diigo