June

I'm really trying. I think about writing all the time but I guess that doesn't get the words on the page does it? Well I keep coming back and when I do I try to bring something to share.
We started our third year for our Teacher Tech Camp in the diocese. Today seemed to go well. I don't think we lost anyone. We introduced them to Rubistar. Rubistar is part of 4teachers.org and you can create or find some wonderful rubrics to use. I really love rubrics and this site makes it super easy to make them.
We also shared what we called "talking tools". There was Voki and Blabberize. Both seemed well liked, especially Voki. And we made everyone create a wikispace to use in their classrooms. I worry about this one because we had them all create a K-12 account but they need to verify their emails to go on. I am afraid most of them won't remember to do that. We will know tomorrow when we try to embed something in their wiki. Hmmmm....
Okay, one more cool thing. I have been playing with the magazine covers on BigHugeLabs.com. Fun fun fun! We got a new golden retriever recently so I used a really cute picture of her and created a cover. Again, another fun site.

Edomodo and May

Blogging does not come easily and time is very hard to find. Thinking of things to say is not so hard, but the time issue is a challenge. I keep trying.

So I noticed some new highlights on other blogs about Edmodo and I am thrilled that others are finding this FREE tool. I have been using Edmodo for 3 years now and really love it for many reasons. Always on the top of my list when evaluating tech tools is the ease of use and the ease of the learning curve. I find Edmodo extremely easy and friendly to use. It does not take very long for even the less tech savvy to navigate through some very basic use of Edmodo. And students also find it very easy to use. There are five teachers on my campus that now use it and I would like to see all of our teachers on board by next year. I think it would offer them a great place to interact with families and their students. A teacher on another blog has suggested and reminded readers that you are able to embed many other web tools into Edmodo, such as wallwisher (which I love but is still blocked at my school) and fotobabble (another that is surely blocked) which I do not have much experience in but looks promising and fun. Simply put, if you have not looked into using Edmodo for your class, put double stars next to it and check it out. You will not be disappointed.

Speaking of blocked sites at school, my own blog here is blocked. Which makes writing all the more difficult as I am then only to write after hours or weekends. No brain storming during the day.

Trying a little fotobabble here with my dog Remi.

April mid month

The end of the school year is looming before me and I am trying to get it all in before I run out of time. It happens every year. You would think after 29 years in teaching that I would get it by now. Which actually brings me to my topic for the day- time.

I've written in papers and posts about the evil enemy of teachers. Time. Every teacher I know works far more hours than anyone would ever guess. They certainly spend far more than the usual 40 hours a week. Teaching is not a 40 hour week job. If they didn't have families they would probably spend 80 hours a week at their job. Some of them nearly do. And so because of this, finding time to try new things is so very difficult.

I've worked with countless teachers to introduce them to amazing technology tools. They are all so excited when they begin but then that tick of the clock gets louder in their heads and they revert back to the tried and true methods in their classrooms. Please don't think I feel that this is wrong. What they have been doing has worked well for them and children learn. I mostly feel sad that they find it time challenging to use something new and to offer their students a new and engaging way to learn.

This is what I hope to do someday. To help teachers create those lessons that use the "cool tools" of the web. Use those Smart Boards, make a podcast, develop a wiki. There is so much that is just too easy but time time time steals away those opportunities.

24 hours in a day? Never enough.

Out like a Lion and a little Mouse Mischief

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dtchristner/

I seem to recall a phrase that if March comes in like a lamb it goes out like a lion. Not really lion-like weather but it is a rather chilly end to the month here. Feels more like fall than heralding in the warm Texas spring.

Remember that commercial where the man hits the end of the internet? I feel a bit like that today. I attended a really nice tech conference on Saturday and, other than one very cool thing (which I will review here shortly), I really didn't walk away with anything that earth shattering. Makes you think if now that we have all these amazing web 2.0 tools, just how are we going to use them that is different from all the other ways? A definite challenge. I'm weary of hearing about how "fun Wordle is" (and it is!), or "use Wallwisher as an exit ticket from your class" (would love to but it is blocked at our school) or "everyone knows about wikis"(I know, I have one!). So now what? Our challenge is take these great web tools and get our kids to do something wonderful. I still think we are too focused on teacher centered use of these tools and not enough on what can you do with your students.

Okay- so the really cool idea I did learn about:
Mouse Mischief
This is a free download from Microsoft. All you need are wireless mice and the software. Now there are a few conditions and you'll need to read about this on their site, but if you have ever wanted to use the clicker response systems in your classroom, well, well now is your chance. Someone put it as the economical clicker response system (or the poor man's crs!). One of the presenters was a first grade teacher from our diocese and her students absolutely love using Mouse Mischief. They can be used individually or as team response. So even if you can't afford enough wireless mice for a whole class set, you can buy enough to make teams and that would cut your costs considerably. Looks like a very do-able thing to do. I think I am going to recommend this to our teams at my school. I suggest if you are reading this you take a look too!