Blog Assignment #13

Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)
For this blog assignment, I explored a miraculous teaching necessity called the Alabama Learning Exchange. ALEX has tons of resources available for teachers! They have a Courses of Study link that lists every teaching standard for each grade level. The site also has a Professional Studies link where you can find the latest teaching news, best practices, professional teaching development, and more!

My favorite part about this site was the Lesson Plans link. This takes you to a page where you can choose a subject and grade level, and then it gives you lesson plans for the subject matter you choose! It has really fun and unique lesson plans, and there are a bunch to choose from. This site also has a Podcast Treasury that allows you to view podcast on any subject and content matter that interests you! There is even a Personal Workspace that you can create an account for, and share your personal lesson plans with other educators. You can also search for other web resources on the ALEX site.

As a future teacher, I found this website very helpful and exciting! I really loved reading the lesson plans, and it offered great work for all grade levels. I will definitely use this site in my future teaching practice, as well as share it with colleagues. I think this site is a wonderful tool for all teachers, and it gives inspiration to teachers who need help or guidance from other teachers. I also love that it pulls educators from different communities together.

C4T #4

Melissa B.'s Blog "The Scholastic Scribe"
Comment #1
I read a blog post by Melissa B. titled "Shall We Dance?". This post was written to commemorate one of the victims from the Virginia Tech massacre. Melissa posted a picture of Leslie Sherman, who was a senior in her French class on the day of the shooting. The picture was of Leslie smiling at her Senior Prom. She was full of life and did not deserve to die. The day of the shooting, 10 students in the French class plus her teacher were gunned down.
I left this comment on Melissa's Blog:
Hi! My name is Skye LaDart and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post, yet I wish Leslie was still with us. I think it is great that you chose to commemorate someone instead of discuss that tragic day. What a thoughtful post, well done!
Comment #2
I read a blog post by Melissa B. Titled "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". In this post, Melissa wrote a list of ten things students these days should know. She got the idea from a writer's workshop offering. Her list was very interesting and included all kinds of information she thinks students should know. I enjoyed number 10 the most, but all of them were equally well written!
Her list:
10. You and your Mother should know that when you run into me at the grocery store that I'm shopping for my family's dinner. This is decidedly not an opportune moment for a quickie parent-teacher conference.

9. You should know that respect is a two-way street. When you say something mean or thoughtless, I often take offense. Words hurt.

8. You should know that manners matter. When I ask you how you're feeling at 7:20 a.m. on a Monday, you shouldn't say "I'm tired." Isn't that stating the obvious? You should also respond with a pleasant rejoinder. "I'm fine thank you, Mrs. Scribe. How are you?" would be a good place to start.

7. You should know that when I assign you a difficult task (paper, timed writing, multiple AP journal entries, etc.), I'm putting myself through twice as much work as I'm loading up on you. In order to be a decent teacher, I must grade all those papers, you cotton-headed ninny muggins!

6. You should know that when you do an assignment for me, you should at least pretend that you care about your work. Typing (and I use that word loosely) an assignment, printing it out, and stapling it backwards and upside down without giving it another thought is not your best effort, now, is it?

5. You should know that even though I was born when the world was very, very young, I'm not a prehistoric throwback. In other words, life did not start when you entered this blessed world, nor are you the be-all, end-all authority on everything. Sometimes a life lived long is a life well-lived.

4. You should know that when you disrespect me, you disrepect yourself.

3. You should know that personal grooming in public is disgusting. No hair-styling, makeup-applying, nor zit-popping in Room 215. Thank you.

2. You should know that when you don't listen, you're only hurting yourself.

1. You should know that I have a life, too. I just spent a week of that life in San Francisco, reading, sleeping, walking around, taking a few photos and thinking about worldly concerns that don't concern you. As it should be, I reckon. See you Monday morning, OK?

I left this comment on Melissa's Blog:
Hello again! I really enjoyed reading this post! It really spoke to me. I found everything humorous, however, I also absolutely agree with what you stated. Respect is definitely a two-way street and manners are important! Public grooming did not surprise me because I have witnessed this by former classmates and I think it should be done at home and not in the classroom!

Final Project # 16

This video was so much fun to make! For our final EDM 310 project, we had the chance to create whatever we wanted. Me and Hailey decided to make a skit/infomercial to persuade "old school" teachers to start changing their teaching styles from boring to inspirational. We absolutely support creativity and technology use in the classroom and hope this video will make a difference. I hope you enjoy!

C4K Summary Post

C4K #7
World Language Festival
I visited Mr. McClung's class blog. I watched a video of students in Ms. Leffler's and Ms. Barron's Spanish class. They sang a song by Enrique Iglesias titled "Hero". They were participating in the World Language Festival.
I left this comment:
Hi!
I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama! A World Heritage Day is such a great idea and I think it is wonderful so many students participated. I love creativity and I believe students learn the best by having fun and enjoying new knowledge. I watched the video of Ms. Lefler and Ms. Barron’s Spanish students singing Hero by Enrique Inglesias. This was very entertaining and made me want to be there. I love that song and I think it was perfectly done! I also left a link to my class blog.
C4K #8
Seb's Blog
I visited Ms. Thompson's 6/7 grade class blog from Adelaide, Australia. I read Seb's first ever edublog post! Seb talked about being really excited to start making posts, and wants frequent visitors because they will be posting often. Seb will also be cooperating in the Student Blogging Challenge and will be making lots of posts for that as well!
I left this comment:
Hi Seb!
I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama! I also just started my journey into the blogging world! I love to blog and I am sure you will love it too! I cannot wait to read more of your posts! You are doing a wonderful job and I’m sure you will do great on your Student Blogging Challenge! Good Luck! I also left a link to my class blog.
C4K#9
Ms. Yollis' Class Blog
I visited Ms. Yollis' Classroom Blog. She is a 3rd Grade Teacher from California. I really enjoyed her class blog. Her blog motto is "~Third graders learning and sharing together~". I think this saying really fits her blog. She has a list of wonderful books her class is reading and has read. I also visited many posts, and it seems like her passion for teaching and using technology has really rubbed off on her students. Her third-graders are very smart and are having fun learning and discovering on their own! Ms. Yollis has been teaching for 24 years and still considers herself a learner. She is so passionate about teaching and learning, and I found this extremely inspirational. She has a link to her class picture, and she talks about their hobbies and their passion for learning. I love how involved she is with her students. She even has a Time Zone of friends, which means she thinks of everyone around the world also. She is a very caring person. She includes a link to learn about their great state of California as well. She also has a link to learn HTML code. I read this many months ago, and I have to say it actually helped me a great deal with this class and my technology literacy! Ms. Yollis proofreads everything and considers grammar VERY important! She even includes a checklist to read before you post a comment! I also think this is important, so I hope I am up to her standards! Her class blog has won many awards and I definitely think they deserve it!
Family Blogging Month
I also commented on Mrs. Yollis' Blog under "Family Blogging Month" for April 6th. This is the comment I left for Mrs. Yollis and her class:
My name is Skye LaDart, and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama! I love your class blog! We are going to have to work hard to compete with such a great blog! You seem like a wonderful teacher who cares tremendously about your students! I hope I can promote a fun learning environment in my future second grade classroom one day just like yours! Great job!
C4K#10
Adia's Class Blog
I visited Adia's Blog. She is a third grade student in Mrs. Yollis' class. She wrote about a recent experience she had with her Girl Scout Troop. They learned about Japan's wonderful culture. They were taught about kanzaans, kimonos, sushi, and Japan's beautiful dolls. At the end of her post, she asked questions about your culture, other facts about Japan's culture, and if you have ever been a Girl Scout.
I left this comment:
Hi Adia!
I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I read the thank-you letter that you and two other classmates wrote, and I wanted to let you know that I will have a class blog when I become a teacher! Your class is very inspiring! I love your post, and I think it is very important to learn about other cultures! I also enjoy sushi and eat it very often! Keep up the amazing work! I also left a link to my class blog for her to visit.

Project #15

For this project, I made a Book Trailer. The title of the book is "The Rainbabies",by Laura Krauss Melmed and illustrated by Jim LaMarche. I hope this encourages you to read the story, because this book was amazing! Enjoy!

Progress Report For Final Project

Taking EDM 310 this semester has opened my mind to so many possibilities. I have learned more about technology in the past 3 months than I have learned my whole life! I want to incorporate my new-found knowledge in my future second grade classroom to encourage independent learning that is fun and enjoyable for all students. For the Final Project for this class, I would like to make a video, perhaps using the Smart Board, to encourage future teachers to use technology in the classroom to promote a fun and creative learning environment. I am hoping a teacher will view my video and change their teaching practices for the better. School is about the children, and we need to start changing the way they are learning!

Special Assignment--- Mr. McClung

This is a special assignment for EDM 310. I explored Mr. McClung's Blog and this is my reflection. I hope you enjoy reading this post!

***Mr. McClung's World***

1. What do you know (or have you found out) about Mr. McClung that is reflected in the way he has constructed his class blog?
He is very dedicated to his class as well as his community. He is a lifelong learner, and this is definitely reflected in his blog. He also considers his school important and includes his school in his blog as well.

2. Comment on what you would say about Mr. McClung as an educator.
I would say that Mr. McClung is a perfect educator. He guides his students to a world of knowledge, yet never forgets he is learning also. He incorporates technology wonderfully into his classroom, yet I think he would still say he has much to learn, as we all do. His form of teaching is contagious and inspiring.

3. I asked above that you read Mr. McClung's "rules" and think about them. What do they say about Mr. McClung, his teaching, and his connection with his students? What is your reaction to these rules (and guides) as a student and as an aspiring teacher?
Mr. McClung is very involved in his teaching. He has a strong connection with his students, and he wants them to be able to count on each other as well. I think his rules are different in a positive way, and I think having similar rules in my own classroom would promote a great learning environment.

4. What was the first thing under Everyone needs? Why do you suppose that is the first requirement?
A Day Planner. I also think this is the first thing everyone needs! Life is hectic, and a day planner is a great way to stay organized and remember important things that need to get done. Organization is a very important skill needed in the classroom, and I bet Mr. McClung would be lost without his!

5. Note the penalties for being late (under Homework). Compare them with my penalties for being late. Comment.
Mr. McClung allows late work, but you do not receive full credit. This is much the same in EDM 310. I think allowing late work is a must, because something will always happen and even good students are late. I think allowing late work encourages students to still complete their work instead of just not doing it because it is not on time.

6. Read carefully his paragraph about what he hopes to accomplish with his blog. Comment and apply to your own aspirations as a teacher.
He uses his blog to connect and learn with the world around him. I want to use technology in my classroom in the same way. I think technology opens up endless possibilities for learning, and it encourages students to learn on their own.

7. I asked you to review at least two Useful Links in depth after reviewing all of them. Which two did you review in depth? Describe each of the two. How might each be used? Why do you think each made Mr. McClung's list.

8. Under Internet Safety I asked you to read carefully the rules Mr. McClung sets forth for safely using the internet. Comment on these rules. Are there any you would add or subtract.
I think his rules are necessary and straightforward. I think keeping children's identification a secret is what parents are most concerned about. The internet can be a scary place if all of your information is exposed, and I like that Mr. McClung is concerned with this. I think all of his rules should be kept and I think he covered pretty much everything.

9. In the C4K part of this blog I asked that you look carefully at one of the categories under which you assigned post was filed. What did you find? Select one of the posts in the category and review it for me.
I watched a video from World Language Festival. The group sang the song "Hero" by Enrique Inglesias. They have SO much fun at their school!

10. Mr. McClung uses Edublog as his blog host. In some ways it may seem more "advanced." But Blogger has many abilities that we have not covered in EDM310. This leads to this question: Is there anything (or things) that Mr. McClung can do with his blog that you would like to do in Blogger?
I like the way his blog is set up. I do not know if I could set mine up in the same way, because we have not covered everything in EDM 310. If we cannot, then I think EduBlog would be better to use.

11. In what ways does Mr. McClung make his blog useful to parents, teachers, administrators, students like you, and others?
He links everyone together and includes tons of link that would interest just about anyone. Everyone can connect on his page and share comments and feelings and ideas. His classroom can be viewed by anyone from anywhere!

12. How does Mr. McClung's 8th grade blog differs from other blogs you have visited including other 8th grade blogs? Why the differences do you think?
His blog is very dedicated to his classroom and his school. I love all of the blogs I have visited, but his seems more school-oriented. I enjoy his passion for involving everyone and creating a huge learning community.

13. Add any additional comments you think would be useful in analyzing Mr. McClung's World in depth.
I would love to have a conversation with Mr. McClung over Skype. He has a lot of wisdom and creativity to be shared!

Blog Assignment #12

For Blog Post #12, Watch the video "Old vs. New" (1:05). Then, write two or more paragraphs about your reaction to this video.

Old vs. New
This video was short, yet very much to the point. In this video, there is a newspaper and a computer arguing. The newspaper seems very grumpy and agitated, while the computer speaks like a nerd and is timid and nice. They are going back and forth arguing about their accomplishments.
I think this video is a great representation of attitudes today. I know a lot of older people who are mad and refuse to even try out technology because they were born in a completely different era. The computer mentions having many accomplishments before the computer was even here. I think we need to convince older adults that technology is great, it is simply improving old ways and making them easier and more proficient for us. The computers role is also stereotypical. The computer is a geek, but is very timid compared to the newspaper. The computer also seems to display an attitude of being the best.
At the end of the video, the computer and newspaper stop arguing and eventually ask each other for something. The newspaper asks the computer for news and the computer asks the newspaper for money. I think this was a really important part of the video, because even though we think we have perfected some things everything still needs something further. The newspaper has lost stories to the computer and the computer is not making money because news and most everything is free on the internet. In the end, I think I would vote on the computer. Wouldn't you?

Project #14- Teach Someone Something

In this video, I am teaching you how to tie your shoe. I hope you enjoy and learn something new!!

Blog Assignment #11

Little Kids...Big Potential
Wow, this video was absolutely amazing! These first graders in Mrs. Cassidy's class in Moose Jaw, Canada represent how America should be learning. Her students write blog posts, Skype, play with Nintendo DS's, and even use WIKIs. I think this is so wonderful. I just learned to do all of this stuff and I am 22 years old! If I was taught with these materials at that young of an age, I could only imagine the knowledge I would have today!This classroom is the perfect example of how I want my future classroom to be ran. The students are learning a tremendous amount of information, and you can clearly see that they really do enjoy learning. As a future teacher, I believe there is nothing better than having students in your classroom who love learning and want to go to school. These children are inspiring and this video really made me realize why I am going to college to become an educator. We can all make a difference, we just have to strive for the best for our students!

Skype Conversation with Mrs. Cassidy
I really enjoy Mrs. Cassidy's method of teaching. She does not simply drill facts into her student's little heads, she uses technology to her advantage. I would use everything in my classroom that Mrs. Cassidy uses in her own classroom. I think a class blog is a must and I also would encourage my students to use Wikis, Skype, and other forms of technology. I am still not convinced about the importance of Twitter, but I am not totally removing the idea from my mind. I think it would be difficult for me to do something that administration does not support, however, I do think that if something is important you need to do your best to make it happen. Mrs. Cassidy discussed the unsupportive administration, but I was pleasantly surprised that the parents were delighted with her use of technology in the classroom. We did not use technology much growing up, so I think it is wonderful that so many parents are supportive of this change. Mrs. Cassidy's approaches are extremely beneficial! Her classroom consists of a creative and fun learning environment where children actually WANT to gain knowledge, and that is what we should all strive for as educators. I cannot wait to see what her first graders will be able to do by the time they are in High School!

Blog Assignment #10

Morgan Bayda "An Open Letter To Educators"
This video was very interesting. Morgan Bayda posted a video of Dan Brown. He dropped out of school because "his school was interfering with his education". Morgan wrote about how she did not agree with his decision to drop out of school, but she does agree that classrooms are largely outdated and need to be modernized. I agree with her statements. I have many classes that are extremely boring and I often feel like I could be doing something more educationally valuable. I have learned so much about technology in this class, and I could not imagine not using what I have learned in my future classroom. I think it is important to remember that teachers are still needed even with technology. I think it is our job to incorporate technology in schools because this will help the connection between teacher and student.
Don't Let Them Take Pencils Home
This was a great post! The post was about the school trying to stop students from taking pencils home because it was lowering their standardized test scores. Children in low-income areas used pencils as toys because they were not around them at home. Tom Johnson proposed incorporating the pencils with the lessons to solve the problem. The administrator asked what would keep the students from just playing with them at home. I loved one of the responses Tom gave. He said he would give them projects that kept them interested. I thought that was very clever. It is extremely important to teach children in ways that are interesting to them. If students are bored, they will not learn anything. I think when teachers make learning fun students are encouraged to seek knowledge independently.

C4T#3

Edna Sackson's Blog "What Ed Said"
Comment #1
In Edna's Post "Connecting the Dots", she comes together with teachers overwhelmed by the demand of teaching. The teachers created mind maps to connect the "disparate parts" of the puzzle. This activity yielded various results. Some teachers put themselves in the middle, some put the children in the middle, and so on. Edna said there was a great deal of trust in this project.
I commented on this post. I said that I loved how the teachers used mind maps to creatively show their struggles and challenges. I also discussed how I think it is important to include creative activities in the classroom, and that teachers should work together to solve issues. I left a link to my blog for Edna to visit. I really enjoyed reading her post!
Comment #2
In Edna's Post "Leadership Day...", she talks about a learning activity her class participated in. Edna and her colleagues sat in silence as all the students joined and formed a circle. Then, still silent, Edna drew a square on a piece of paper and her other two colleagues added a roof and a door. They stayed silent, but soon one of the students added on to the picture and the other students joined and took turns drawing something and trying to figure out what the building was. This activity demonstrated "...that one can lead by example without actually telling anyone to do anything." Edna wrote that she enjoyed listening to the student's conversations more than the actual discussion.
I commented on this post. I said that her post was a joy to read, and that the message this activity taught was very important.I also said that I loved how her class worked together and accomplished this task without getting disorderly. I told her that I could not wait to do this activity in a classroom one day. I ended by thanking her for the inspiration.