Summary of 23 Things

Wow!!!  I finished!!!  I learned so much.  I heard people talk about Facebook, Myspace, blogging, podcasting and the list goes on.  I would always say "I want to do that"  but never took the time to do it.  This class made you take the time.  Sometimes it was a lot of time.  I wish there were a few more instructions in some areas.  For instance, getting utube to post on my blog.  Even with all of the frustration I know far more than 23 things.  I always say that Mesquite ISD has the best continuing education for teachers than any other district.  We have some amazing staff development people.  I appreciate the opportunity to have learn so much over the summer.  I can't imagine taking this class during the school year.  

Thing #23

At first I thought the site was a little dry. I listened to the tour and the woman that was speaking had a monotone voice. I thought I would never make it through the introduction. Then I started searching the site. I found a first grade group that had wonderful ideas. Once I found a group that I could relate I found the value in the Ning site. I will definitely give this site more time. I can use the resources that I find with others to improve my students success in the classroom. At times it was frustrating because I wanted to see sights immediately and I would have to sign in each time. This was very time consuming. I do like this site and it warrants more exploration time.

Thing #22

Myspace and facebook are completely different. One is defiantly more professional than the other. Myspace is very cute. It reminds me more of a blog. Facebook is a place to network with other people. 

I have such wonderful co-workers. I must be the last one on our campus to get a Facebook. But I got on and those that were online quickly came to my aid. My daughter helped me with a few tricks and I was off and running. 

I like Facebook because I don't have to decorate. Facebook is more interactive.  It seems to be more useful. I like the chatting and I don't have to wait for a response, it's instantaneous.  My daughter whom is 17 likes Myspace better.  I think she likes it more because of the music and the graphics that all the kids like to add.

It's important to know how social networking works because that's what kids are doing. They are networking every chance they get. I don't see that much in first grade but teen and tweens are networking hourly. It's good to be where the kids are so that I know what trends, music and insight into their personal life. Teachers need to be very careful with what they put on their Myspace or Facebook. Students are watching what we are doing and teachers should always be seen as role models.

Thing #21

I discovered Picasa and love it.  I can easily download video and pictures to my blog right off my computer.  I think it's easier than Flickr.  I never knew that Google had so much to offer.  My igoogle page is convenient and was easy to make.  Google is very user friendly.

Thing #20

I was real excited to use this program.  I got my document together and then I had a problem being able to view my document online that I had made in excel.  I copied and pasted the same document on a new document in google docs and I can view it without any problems.  I made a testing data sheet for rigby for the 09-10 school year.  I like the online option for documents but I wonder if I have to save all of documents into google doc before it is able to be viewed.  My team at Thompson is awesome about sharing documents it would be nice to keep the documents that we use year after year on the web.

Thing #19

How many times I wanted to set my students in a corner and let them talk to the tape recorder or tell a story to a tape recorder because they need to be heard and sometimes you have to cut them off because their stories go on and on forever or because of time, not everyone gets to be heard. It would be nice for them to tell a story to the computer as a station. Or have them type the words to practice their writing/typing skills. This is a really neat program. I look forward to using this next year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAjnFGgkIo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAjnFGgkIo

Thing #18

Utube my favorite. I have a seventeen year old daughter who got me interested in Utube last year. There are some funny things out there on the web. I shocked sometimes that people put their most embarrassing moments on a public sight. I learned how to tile and make a shower pan out of concrete. I learned how to do the Thriller dance by watching educational dance videos.

Thing #7b

This week my positive blog was about stepping out in faith not just stepping out of our comfort zone.  The past is the past and a person should always look forward to opportunities.  People should be excited about new opportunities.  It reminded me of this class.  This class was very time consuming but well worth the effort.  I was blessed to have taken this class.  I feel like it is going to make me a better educator.  There is always something new to learn if one is willing.

Thing #17

Last year we had a teacher that avidly worked with his students on podcasting. The students really enjoyed making the podcasts. They were very creative. For 23 things I previewed Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips. I loved the title. There is something about titles that draw the attention of the reader. LOL I like words so I thought the word of the day was fun. I also thought that it was interesting that a word can be dated. Like today's word is The Word of the Day for July 14, 2009 is grudging from the 1500's.

I think that the students love to hear themselves and watch themselves. They all want to be stars like icarly. Icarly is a tv show about a online podcasting show on Nick. If the students are given something to learn about then talk about they would love to make a podcast.

Thing #16

Wow, that librarything is huge. It is a impressive to say the least. I'm not surprised that there is a website like Librarything. Avid readers love to talk about books and share books. I don't think that they missed anything. Everything you ever wanted know about a book is there. Even the opinions of others. I thought it was interesting that books have a popularity rating. I liked how it gave other recommendations. You can just read all day on this website. It's amazing that I can put my whole library on the web, just like a real library.

Has anyone put their whole personal or classroom on librarything.com?

Thing #15

Wiki's have been then hardest for me to understand yet. The reason why I like a MAC is that I don't have to write in code. Wikis remind of the program writing class that I took in the late 80's. I'm lazy I like the computer to do it for me. I'm not sure it's laziness or just plan confused at times. Chatterbox is the name of my wiki and I still haven't figured out my anchor code to get on the 23things wiki site. I feel like breaking down into a major whine session. Something so easy should not be this difficult. If anyone has any suggestions on how to get it working let me know.

Thing #14

Wiki's are very informative for classroom application. I really liked the Salute to Dr. Suess wiki. We teach about Dr. Suess during the week of his birthday. Usually I have to go round up the information from all different websites. Now I can just go to the Salute to Dr. Suess wiki and all the information and links that I need are there.

I also like the Primary Math wiki. I can see how my class as young as they are would love to see their application of what they have learned on a wiki.

The Kindergarten Counting Book shows that something so simple as a counting book could be created on the internet. Students just need the opportunity to shine and a teacher to take the time to publish students work.

Thing #13

Wow!!! How many times I have looked for websites and couldn't remember exactly what it was called. The time that I spent looking for fun learning tools for my students to play on the Promethean board. This is a time saver. It was amazing how many people are on the web and are subscibing to the same sites that I am interested in also. There are many feelings about just being open on the web and knowing that others are peeking into my world. In some ways it is exciting, all of the possibilities that it offers me. But I have to give up little of the privacy not only to my friends but strangers. Delicious is a great tool.

Thing 7a

I subscribed to Joel Osteen's blog. He is such a motivator. He stated "Our words have creative power. With our words, we can either bless or curse our future. If you want to know what you're going to be like 5 years from now, listen to what you're saying about yourself; even the small things you say over your life from "I'll never get that promotion" to "I'm just so tired all the time." The moment we verbalize a thought, whether positive or negative, we give that thought the right to come to pass." Joel Osteen is such a motivator. He says things that we all know but it's good to hear it over again. Life is what you make it.

I wanted to RSS Joel Osteen's wife's blog but I couldn't find the right URL to make it work. Listening to positive motivating words can only make one stronger.

Thing #12

I love the calendar. It will helpful next year. Some parents get so frustrated with their children because they never know what is going on at school. I think the children like to drive their parents over the edge. This calendar will stop the "I didn't know what learned at school today". All the information will come home in two forms, paper and over the Internet. Also, this is another conversation starter for the parents. Instead of asking what did you do today they will be able to ask specific questions about their day. I just have to make daily time to keep up with this blog. Hopefully, this summer I can create a new blogging habit.

thing #11

When I get proficient at online image generators I can quickly decorate the blog with a purpose. Sometimes parents don't like to read. Signs are a quick way to focus attention to important details or directions that I need for parents read. I do need to practice if I am going to be able to use this because it was time consuming. During the school year time is definitely precious. There are so many online generators it was hard to choose what to do first. I wanted to make a comic picture of myself but it wasn't compatible with mac. I like my mac but sometimes it's frustrating.

Thing #10

This was so much fun. I felt very confused at first but everything just fell into place. I could use this application in so many different ways. Not only family use but school use. I love the Brown Bear application. I teach first grade and we use this story at the beginning of the year. I'm going to have to see if I can make Mary Wore a Red Dress slide show.

Thing #9

My Sweet Sam
Originally uploaded by schoolchatter

Fun!! I can just imagine the great blog sight that I can have using students work visually, digitally. Being able to promote my students success on the web for their parents to see. This could start an amazing dialog between the child and the student. The students will have another opportunity to practice reading and writing by commenting on the blog.

My daughter is pictured and she was the photographer. Don't you love the way children take their own pictures at arms length away!

thing #8

I did not know that everything I create is automatically mine. I could have been rich!!! (jk) The sad thing is, that law has been in effect since the 80's. Where have I been? I must have been living under a rock.

I like the idea of creative commons. It's nice to know that I won't get sued for making interesting classroom material. Now I feel like I can be more creative because I have more access to others work.

If you are in the business of making money off these ideas will this person see the same returns having their worked CC? Or will they make more money because their material is assessed more?

thing #7

I think comments are very important. If there are no comments it feels like a private journal that people get to sneak a peek. It gives affirmation or opens a discussion. I do think that there are people out there that blog to feel supreme. Which is very unfortunate for all bloggers. I guess "mean" doesn't stop in high school. I do look forward to sharing my thoughts with others and them responding. It was an interesting feeling when I blogged on another blog knowing that I don't personally know them. Many questions popped in my head. Example, would they appreciate the comment or would they ever see it?

Thing #6

I've been gone for a couple of weeks and computers are like learning a foreign language.  If you don't use it you will lose it.  I learned thing #6 once and then I had to relearn it a few weeks later.  So I am learning that to be proficient at a new concept you must continue to use it over and over just like the learning of a new language.  This is not only my new language but the new language of my students.  I can't teach it unless I know it myself.

Thing #6 makes information easy to find and it comes right to me. What a convenience! I like how I can keep up with my friends blogs. I have found some very positive blogs but did have a little trouble getting a few of the blogs set up in my google account.

Thing #5

I like the way that new posting from friends are automatically sent. I can keep up with what they are working on and share what I am working on. Let me tell you they are working on some great educational resources. http://troutmannews.blogspot.com/

It did seem over whelming how much information is sent. I still need more investigation time with the google reader.

I wasn't able to put the TL Advisor Blog in my reader? I'm not sure what I was doing wrong. All of the others I easily put on my reader. Did anyone else have a problem with this?

Thing #4

Early on it seemed hard to see young students blogging. After reading A Duck with a Blog, I could visualize my first graders blogging with ease. Parents would enjoy seeing what the students have written. This may help start a dialog between students and family. I know when I ask my daughters what they did in school they almost always say "nothin'". I have to ask if I need to drive them back to school and have them go and ask their teachers what they taught in order for them to give a few short sentences about their day. Parents might become more involved in their students education if they don't have to use threats to find out what they are learning in school. It seems to me when parents are positively involved in their child's education students enjoy school a lot more. They seem to put forth more effort.

When parents or others respond positively to blogs it encourages even struggling students to improve. In the beginning of the next school year I will definitely encourage the parents of my students to take the time to positively respond to our class blog.

I sure am glad that took this class in the summer so that I can start the year off with a bang.

Thing #2

Web 2.0 learning is amazing. The data that is on the web is overwhelming. It makes a person feel so small, like a small fish in a very large ocean.

In order to be a 21st century teacher technology must be available to the students to manipulate. As more teachers become technology advanced, the more computers and other devices will be required. Schools districts must invest in non-title schools so that those students may also have the benefit of a 21st century education. Just because some students in a non-title school might have a computer in their home doesn’t mean that they are taught new technologies by their parents. School districts must provide for all students not just the schools that have a high low socio-economic student population.

I can’t wait to learn and share with my students in the years to come. I am a life-long learner. I must seek knowledge, change and adjust my knowledge and then change my teaching style in order to be a 21st century teacher.

Thing #1

The habit that will be most challenging for me is to take responsibility for my learning. I tend to let life get in the way of my learning. Taking time for one's on learning so do important. This class will hopefully focus my attention on learning.

I think the easiest will be 7 1/2 "PLAY". I want this class to be fun and playful.


The habit that is most important to me is sharing what I learned with others. My students, family and friends can all benefit from this class. It might bring me closer to friends and family far away and entertain those that live close.

I hope that all enjoy my blog and remember:

"If you woke up today, congratulations! You have another chance.

My First Blog

Have Mercy!!! This is difficult!!! To many buttons and too many choices!! But it's fun!!!