Hello!!
It is Saturday and I am praying away the rain and praying in the customers as I am hoping to make a few more big sales at my garage sale today.
Whew!! Having your own garage sale is hard work!! I think I am going to stick to attending garage sales from now on.... last night I dreamt of price stickers and hangers!! :)
Anyway, since it is a slow Saturday, I decided to jump into my third assignment, Digital Story Telling. I explored StoryBird as I worked through this process. There are a couple of things I really liked about this tool!! First, I LOVE that the pre-entered art is the inspiration for the story!!! We write stories in Language Arts during the year, but they are simply typed out, without illustrations, etc. due to time constraints. StoryBird is a great way to get around that!! There are two ways to search the art, first, is to just look at it (all categorized by the same artist), the other is to choose a theme word and all sorts of pictures with that word come up. The process of creating the story was quick and easy, although, I was a little disappointed at the lack of choices as far as font, picture placement, etc. I think that this could be much more personalized (maybe I will trade in my day job!! Ha!). Anyway, I see a lot of uses for this in the classroom and am excited to work it into my curriculum next year. This is a simple process that would work great for getting kids inspired to create stories. PLUS, I totally loved the fact that you can publish or print these.... honestly, we all have a few parents that would jump at the chance to order a printed, softcover book of their kids' creation.
One obstacle to get over, however, is the class size. StoryBird is educator friendly in that they have class accounts, where one email address can cover up to 30 accounts, HOWEVER, in middle school not only do we have more than 30 kids per class, but we also have 6 classes... I guess kids with their own email address could create their own account and then the ones without an email address could be grouped into the class account... I am not sure.
Anyway, I created my StoryBird as just something silly, not curriculum related, but just to use as an example and an opportunity to get used to the program.
Enjoy!!
Liquid Gold - StoryBird
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Knockin' em Outta the Park!
That's right folks! It's my second post of the day!! :)
Today, after realizing just how much there is to do this summer (including a garage sale that I am preparing for this weekend), I attempted to step out of my comfort zone and make a TimeToast presentation.
I like TimeToast because of the fact that it is an interactive timeline. I can see the benefit of using this timeline during class and especially having students use it! I created my presentation as if I would be presenting it to the kids, however, it would be great to have them create a timeline after researching some event (Social Studies) or to trace a timeline of events in a novel or other piece of literature (Language Arts). I keep getting hung up on the fact the students will need to constantly create new accounts, etc. but ultimately, I see alot of value in this activity.
My timeline is something that, with some more editing, could be used to discuss Minnesota's impact on the American Civil War. I found that the timeline creator was very easy to use, and the word limit on each event description helped me keep it brief (I bet you are wishing their was a word limit on my blog)!!! Anyway, I also liked that you could link your brief description with an outside resource (I linked to videos and other websites). Adding pictures to the timeline is of course a great way to keep people engaged but it would involve teaching students to save pictures to their computer and then upload them into the presentation.
My TimeToast Presentation
Okay so here it goes, my pros and cons for TimeToast:
Pros:
- Easy to Use
- Short and Sweet (nothing too confusing)
- Logical presentation of ideas
- Quick and painless!
- Student Use would make the most sense!
Cons:
- No "bells and whistles"
- Not alot of room for creativity and personalization
- Some pre-teaching and account creating
- Not for whole-class presentations
That's all folks!! I am headed home to finish pricing clothes and setting up my FIRST EVER garage sale!! If you are looking for something to do this weekend, feel free to stop by!
Friday and Saturday from 8-5
8444 Yates Ave N, Brooklyn Park MN
Enjoy your week!
Stacey
Today, after realizing just how much there is to do this summer (including a garage sale that I am preparing for this weekend), I attempted to step out of my comfort zone and make a TimeToast presentation.
I like TimeToast because of the fact that it is an interactive timeline. I can see the benefit of using this timeline during class and especially having students use it! I created my presentation as if I would be presenting it to the kids, however, it would be great to have them create a timeline after researching some event (Social Studies) or to trace a timeline of events in a novel or other piece of literature (Language Arts). I keep getting hung up on the fact the students will need to constantly create new accounts, etc. but ultimately, I see alot of value in this activity.
My timeline is something that, with some more editing, could be used to discuss Minnesota's impact on the American Civil War. I found that the timeline creator was very easy to use, and the word limit on each event description helped me keep it brief (I bet you are wishing their was a word limit on my blog)!!! Anyway, I also liked that you could link your brief description with an outside resource (I linked to videos and other websites). Adding pictures to the timeline is of course a great way to keep people engaged but it would involve teaching students to save pictures to their computer and then upload them into the presentation.
My TimeToast Presentation
Okay so here it goes, my pros and cons for TimeToast:
Pros:
- Easy to Use
- Short and Sweet (nothing too confusing)
- Logical presentation of ideas
- Quick and painless!
- Student Use would make the most sense!
Cons:
- No "bells and whistles"
- Not alot of room for creativity and personalization
- Some pre-teaching and account creating
- Not for whole-class presentations
That's all folks!! I am headed home to finish pricing clothes and setting up my FIRST EVER garage sale!! If you are looking for something to do this weekend, feel free to stop by!
Friday and Saturday from 8-5
8444 Yates Ave N, Brooklyn Park MN
Enjoy your week!
Stacey
Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!!
Can you believe it is the middle of June? YIKES!!
I just got home from NYC late Sunday Night. What a fabulous trip I had with some girlfriends from college. It felt as if we never sat down! We walked from sun-up to sun-down and at the end of each night, dropped in to bed only to get up in a few hours and do it all again!! Diane S, it reminded me of San Francisco!!
I looked forward to so many things on this trip, one of which was seeing the Newsies on Broadway!! It was AMAZING and I can't wait for it to come to Minneapolis to see it again. As I watched, I was reminded of all the young boys we teach who are interested in things like music and theater and dance but aren't given the opportunity to pursue it because of social norms and pressures. It was pretty incredible to watch a cast of men perform a manly show on Broadway! LOVED IT!!!
We also spent time at St. Paul's Chapel and 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. We all have our stories about where we were when the events of this day took place, I was a high school freshman sitting in class and watching the events unfold on tv. The events of September 11th changed me deeply, and I have been waiting 10 years to see Ground Zero. It was incredibly moving and hopeful. Each night we would ride the Staton Island Ferry away from NYC and the new Trade Center Building would be lit up, red, white, and blue. I couldn't get enough of that sight and what it stands for. In a country WAY TOO DIVIDED, I was drawn to the hundreds around me taking in the same sight.
If you know me at all, you know that I am a middle schooler at heart and therefor was unbelievably excited to learn that Justin Bieber would be performing on the Today Show on the Friday Morning we were in NYC! My friends and I took the ferry in to the city at 3:30am and road the subway to Rockefeller Plaza. We were thrilled to be in sight distance of the stage until we realized we were actually at the back of the stage.... We stood on tip toes, eagerly trying to get a glimpse of the Biebs leg during rehearsal. Believe me, we had no shame as we stood around thousands of middle school girls doing the same thing!! :) Eventually, we used our adult brains, and found a way around to the front of the stage, although the view was virtually the same.... nothing! We listened, we screamed, we raised our cameras above our heads and snapped with fierce speed, hoping to catch a glimpse of that signature hair and angelic voice! But alas, we were not successful. The video below is what we might have seen had we not sacrificed our sleep and sanity and instead stayed home to watch it on TV.... oh well, life is about experiences!!
I suppose I should start writing about how to use blogs in my classroom!! Ha, I am easily sidetracked as you can see!!
Well, I have used blogging two different times in my classroom. My first year of teaching I used it during a Social Studies Unit on the Middle East, students responded to questions I posted each week. I felt like it was successful, but it ended up being alot of work for me as many students did not have email addresses computers at home, etc. I think that when all students have email addresses of their own, blogging will be easier to integrate into the classroom. I used blogspot last year as a replacement for my teacher webpage. If you can't tell already, I like to write and speak in narratives and blogspot was the perfect outlet for me to describe to parents and students what was going on in the classroom. I like to think that hoards of people read my blog every day, however, that is just the wishful thinking of a blogger at heart!! Either way, blogspot was an easy way for me to keep my website updated, it fit into my life and personality.
Speaking of wishful thinking, I suppose it is wishful thinking to assume that you have read this far through my blog!! So, I will leave it at that!!
Enjoy your week!
Stacey
I just got home from NYC late Sunday Night. What a fabulous trip I had with some girlfriends from college. It felt as if we never sat down! We walked from sun-up to sun-down and at the end of each night, dropped in to bed only to get up in a few hours and do it all again!! Diane S, it reminded me of San Francisco!!
I looked forward to so many things on this trip, one of which was seeing the Newsies on Broadway!! It was AMAZING and I can't wait for it to come to Minneapolis to see it again. As I watched, I was reminded of all the young boys we teach who are interested in things like music and theater and dance but aren't given the opportunity to pursue it because of social norms and pressures. It was pretty incredible to watch a cast of men perform a manly show on Broadway! LOVED IT!!!
We also spent time at St. Paul's Chapel and 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero. We all have our stories about where we were when the events of this day took place, I was a high school freshman sitting in class and watching the events unfold on tv. The events of September 11th changed me deeply, and I have been waiting 10 years to see Ground Zero. It was incredibly moving and hopeful. Each night we would ride the Staton Island Ferry away from NYC and the new Trade Center Building would be lit up, red, white, and blue. I couldn't get enough of that sight and what it stands for. In a country WAY TOO DIVIDED, I was drawn to the hundreds around me taking in the same sight.
If you know me at all, you know that I am a middle schooler at heart and therefor was unbelievably excited to learn that Justin Bieber would be performing on the Today Show on the Friday Morning we were in NYC! My friends and I took the ferry in to the city at 3:30am and road the subway to Rockefeller Plaza. We were thrilled to be in sight distance of the stage until we realized we were actually at the back of the stage.... We stood on tip toes, eagerly trying to get a glimpse of the Biebs leg during rehearsal. Believe me, we had no shame as we stood around thousands of middle school girls doing the same thing!! :) Eventually, we used our adult brains, and found a way around to the front of the stage, although the view was virtually the same.... nothing! We listened, we screamed, we raised our cameras above our heads and snapped with fierce speed, hoping to catch a glimpse of that signature hair and angelic voice! But alas, we were not successful. The video below is what we might have seen had we not sacrificed our sleep and sanity and instead stayed home to watch it on TV.... oh well, life is about experiences!!
I suppose I should start writing about how to use blogs in my classroom!! Ha, I am easily sidetracked as you can see!!
Well, I have used blogging two different times in my classroom. My first year of teaching I used it during a Social Studies Unit on the Middle East, students responded to questions I posted each week. I felt like it was successful, but it ended up being alot of work for me as many students did not have email addresses computers at home, etc. I think that when all students have email addresses of their own, blogging will be easier to integrate into the classroom. I used blogspot last year as a replacement for my teacher webpage. If you can't tell already, I like to write and speak in narratives and blogspot was the perfect outlet for me to describe to parents and students what was going on in the classroom. I like to think that hoards of people read my blog every day, however, that is just the wishful thinking of a blogger at heart!! Either way, blogspot was an easy way for me to keep my website updated, it fit into my life and personality.
Speaking of wishful thinking, I suppose it is wishful thinking to assume that you have read this far through my blog!! So, I will leave it at that!!
Enjoy your week!
Stacey
Friday, June 1, 2012
Hello!
I am excited to be doing this throughout the summer because I am always interested in finding new ways to make technology applicable and easy in my classroom. I am looking for ways to enhance my teaching with curriculum rather than having the technology be cumbersome and inefficient.
Throughout the summer I am TRAVELING!!! To NY with a group of girlfriends from college, to Boston with my family to watch my brother play baseball, to Anchorage to visit my sister, and home to Montana for a couple of weddings!! I am looking forward to taking lots of pictures, eating wonderful food, and enjoying my time off!!
Enjoy your day!!
- Stacey
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