Thing 15

It's amazing to me how far the internet has come! I can remember back to when I was young and my father was teaching me how write programs so that I can make a "game". Now I am collaborating with people that are miles away from me and I can see exactly what they have done. Sometimes I wonder if I have the training needed to even teach today's children. I need to educate myself more on Web 2.0 applications. My students should be using blogs, wikis, webcasts, and google docs as part of their lessons. I have just scratched the surface when it comes to what is on the web. I am excited to see how all of this can be used in the classroom as well as in the library.

Thing 12

I just posted to two totally different types of blogs. I first started looking at baseball blogs, then I went to scrapbooking, teacher, people from back home, and other people starting their masters. It was amazing how easy it was to respond to what others had been saying. It was similar to writing a blog entry. Say what you want to say and make sure that it doesn't offend anyone. (Hopefully I would NEVER say anything to anyone that would offend them...that's not my style)

Thing 14

Technorati Profile

thing 13

(created by Presta Dec. 2007)
Del.icio.us is amazing! As I was watching the video telling more about the site, it hit me that I need to get my entire team together and save our favorite sites. Then we wouldn't have to keep sending the individual link out in an email. It would be right there for all of us! What will they think of next?! I have one friend who lives to find new websites for school. She will have a hayday! Especially when she finds out that she can then see those same sites AT SCHOOL!!!

Thing 11

This was a fun and easy way to document what books I have read recently. I have found within the past year that I haven't had time for recreational reading. I really need to make time for that again. Maybe a good time would be while my students are doing their silent reading. Then at least I would get 20 min. in each day. Creating a LibraryThing would be a great way for students to record and keep a list of what they have been reading. They could even write a small review of what they thought about the book. It also looks like we could create our own group as long as the students all have an email account. My concern would be if we would be able to keep others out of our group and make it "by invitation only". Maybe that's when a wiki would work out better for us.

I am an Ombudsman! (thing 10)

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender
(this was created with Poetry Blender from ImageChef.com)
This is what I am talking about!!! I love taking pictures and creating new ways to display them! Thing 10 is way more fun that Thing 8&9! I was very frustrated with Custom Sign Generator. I had this great idea and could never get it to work. First I found what I wanted...then I couldn't upload a picture. The directions are very clear once you find what you are looking for. I never did get anything created! Very disappointed!

I can see how a lot of this could be used in the classroom. I am excited about trading cards. I may have each student create one and use it as a display this year instead of the same old thing I have done in the past. I would have to say that the sites I had the most fun with were ImageChef and BigHugeLabs. I will definitely be using them again.

Thing 9

So, the assignment this time was to "explore some of the search tools noted above that can help you locate some RSS feeds." I looked at all of the sites that were listed and became overwhelmed with information. There was so much out there for me to read, I went into overload and couldn't read any of it. I know that may sound wierd, but sometimes too much information isn't good for me! My statement still stands from thing 8. I have not found ny niche when it comes to RSS feeds. I will come back to it as needed.

Thing 8

Here is the scoop on me....plain and simple....I don't read the news. I don't watch it on tv...I don't discuss it with friends and family. I know as an educator I need to keep up on what is going on around me, but unfortunately it doesn't interest me much. Now, I'm not saying that I NEVER see the news. I just don't go out of my way to check on it. I have set up my RSS, but honestly will probably never use it. It was easy to set up. It's linked to other accounts that I have. It would be great in the library because you can set one up to fit the needs of the students in your school and they can go there for information on their level.

Thing 7

I have really enjoyed looking at all of the amazing things that google has to offer. I have used Picasa Web albums to share photos with family and friends and I have recently downloaded Google Earth. After my husband got back from his deployment, he was able to show me where he was at and where everything was around him. When I drive, I am more of a landmark person than being able to read street signs, and Google Earth can sometimes show me what is around the location I am looking for. You have to remember though, that it is not "live time" and there may be things that are there now that weren't there when the photo was taken. I have also found that Google Earth isn't 100% acurate on pinpoint locations, although it gets you within approx. 100 feet.

Thing 6

There are SO many things to play with out there! I like trading cards, mosaic, puzzle...and the list goes on and on!
Students can use mashups when creating their Texas Reader books reports. As a classroom teacher we used to do "brown bag" book reports. Now I can have them work on those in a different way! Very excited to see what they come up with!

Thing 5

I remember the days when my brother and I would go to our public library and have to look through the card catalog to find a book that we were looking for. Have times changed!!!

Thing 3

I was going back to look at my list of 23 things and realized that I didn't comment on thing three. It was amazing just how easy it has been so far to set up my own blog!! The avatar was something that I already used, so all I had to do was update what I was wearing and my background. I didn't realize that you could use her elsewhere, so I will be moving her to another site as well. I noticed that Yahoo puts their logo at the bottom showing where it came from! YEAH!
Now what I consider the "hard part" is looming overhead. My blog is up and running, but now I have to go out and get other stuff!! Here is where the "fun" begins!

Easiest of the 7 1/2 Habits

Habit 3: View problems as challenges is an area that I have had to work on over time. As I was first starting out my teaching career as a Kindergaten aide I came across situations that I considered problems and would fly off the handle (not in front of the students of course) and had to learn how to deal with what came my way. My cooperating teacher said it best when she siad that you have to go with the flow and not let the little things upset you. Take everything as a learning experience and use your previous problems as a way to avoid the situation in the future. Learn from your mistakes and keep a watchful eye out for challenges that may come your way and try to figure out how to solve them.

Hardest thing about 7 1/2 Habits

Here I am sitting in front of my computer wondering about which of the 7 1/2 habits is really the hardest for me to get a grip on.

I would say that Habit 6: Use Technology to your advantage has probably been my biggest struggle. You would think that with a father and a husband both working in the technology industry it would come easier for me. I have always wanted instant gratification and when it comes to searching the web, it can take sometimes what feels like FOREVER to find what I am looking for. I don't always have the patience to sit and look through all of the sites. That just isn't fun for me....now give me a cool site any time and I will use it over and over and over again.

My goal through all of this is to gain a better understanding of what is out there in the web and how to better utilize my time in order to experience it.