Thoughts from Third: An Introductory Website

I'm a little hesitant to post the link for my website, considering that many of my colleagues have created some pretty fantastic examples that they've already put to work in their classroom.  My website is a very rudimentary start at a future classroom "hub," complete with access to daily homework assignments, pictures, blog posts, policies and procedures, and helpful links for students and parents.  

If it sounds daunting to you, trust me, the feeling's mutual.  Hence, my website is still a work in progress.  I don't know where exactly I'll be teaching next year, so I used this website a s a general template for information I might want to include.  I plan to expand upon it further in my next class, Computers in the Classroom.  Depending on how ambitious I feel, I may even want to try out a Google Site, considering that West Hartford supports Google apps.  If only there were more hours on the day!  

Nevertheless, maintaining a weekly [professional] blog and website are two tasks on my teacher "bucket list," so it's time to make those dreams a reality. 

Introducing the Newest Contestants on Cupcake Wars!

Just try to keep yourself from drooling when you take a peak at my little one's tasty submissions for The Food Network's sinfully delicious show, Cupcake Wars!  We've been hard at work since mid March, trying to sneak in any time we can find in the "kitchen."  How I wish I could actually bring my little one's cupcake creations to fruition :)  For now, we'll just have to settle on our crafty representations.  Or, maybe I'll just have to sneak in a special treat. Shhh!

Please keep in mind that this is a work in progress. I intended to have each student supply at least one comment for a peer's cupcake, but time has gotten the best of us.  Not to worry!  We will revisit our Voice Thread ASAP, and practice how to give appropriate feedback, such as providing a compliment, asking a question, or offering constructive feedback (i.e. a suggestion).

For now, I am thrilled that we've completed at least the initial phase of this digitally based project.  Anything involving food (and sweet treats, at that!) gives my littles the perfect opportunity to try their hand at descriptive writing, chock full of sensory details. With all of this CMT testing, complete with structured narrative writing, they need an opportunity to spice things up a bit!  You'll notice that some of us will benefit from a review of transition words and sensory vocabulary.  Yep, that's on the agenda too :)

Lucky for us teachers, instruction and assessment go hand-in-hand, with one driving the other.  

Final Reflections

I can't believe that another semester has come to an end.  I went ahead and designed another Popplet (I can't seem to get enough of 'em!) to take stock of all the projects, applications, and concepts we've discussed to date.  And, let me assure you, I've done and learned a LOT!  From creating Wikis to crafting a digital story, this course has challenged me to experiment with new technologies in purposeful ways.  Again, it's not about simply using the tools.

The goal of these applications is to further drive instruction, to challenge our kiddos to think independently and creatively, to take ownership for their learning, to enable choice, to prepare our students for a digitally based world that relies on successful collaboration, innovation, and communication.    

My Love Affair With Popplet

Y'all best be popping on over to Popplet because I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from this snazzy, super easy graphic organizing application.  I started this blog by admitting that I am a self-professed organizing junkie. Did I mention that I want my little guys to be equally as organized?  (We even have a desk fairy, table fairy, and  a bin fairy who comes for surprise visits and leaves treats for those who keep their areas extra tidy!)  You can imagine, then, that I like to present notes in an equally as organized fashion :)

My kiddos have been hard at work learning about animal adaptations. However, there is SO much vocabulary that comes with this unit, and I find that simply copying definitions from the board leaves my little ones with fragmented bits of knowledge.  What's the solution to my predicament, you wonder?  Well, let me introduce you to Popplet.  Take a peak at my animal adaptations themed web.  At first glance, it does look overwhelming.  Yep, there's a whole web of lines connecting boxes, terms, definitions, and visuals.  The beauty of this application is that I can zoom in and out depending on the areas I want to focus on.  We're tackling animal families this week, so I can steer my students over to that particular section.

My absolute favorite part of this application is that it is so darn easy to use! Anyone ever try Kidspiration?  I thought I liked it.  Hate to break it to you, but Popplet puts that program to shame...the navigation on this application is easier (almost has a Prezi type feel), making adjustments to the web is far simpler, and the look is uber sophisticated.  The drawback is that a free version only gets you 5 popplets.  I may have to look into investing a few dollars into this handy app!

Avatars and Adaptations...Shark Attack!

Check out this simple Voki with a scary looking shark, yet a surprisingly cheerful voice, ready to share the definition of "adaptation."  Can you imagine the kiddos trying their hand at these handy Vokis?  Sure, the ones I've produced are sweet and to the point, but isn't that the goal?!  This is a tool that gives children a voice in the classroom, while demonstrating their understanding of content/skills in a creative and succinct manner.  I can only imagine the inevitable squeals of delight...

Let's Vocalize this Voki!

In prior classes, I'd seen several colleagues try out Voki, but I had no idea how to go about creating these neat little avatars. As always, it's not until I try something and realize that it is, in fact, easy-to-use, do I begin to envision the classroom possibilities.  Maybe you'd call me lazy, or just plain practical, but I can't sacrifice any more of my personal time than I already do.  (Sleep is mighty important!)

So, I created a *FREE* account with Voki (isn't "free" the golden word among educators), and started to play.  I customized the character, tweaked the color/ facial features, and added my own narration.  I'm introducing a new science unit on animal adaptations, so I'm sure that my kiddos will get a kick out of this bear posing the unit's overarching question, "How do plants and animals survive in their environment?"

Be on the look out for several more Vokis that I'm in the process of creating, each targeting a different vocabulary term that my littles will have to know.  Maybe, I'll try out one of the pre-programmed British or Australian accents.  I have a sneaking suspicion that these avatars will be more compelling than vocab written out on the SmartBoard.  Oh the beauty of technology...

Introducing Go Animate!

Chocolate Pie Pieces by jmlife on GoAnimate

Video Maker - Powered by GoAnimate.

Familiar with Go Animate?  If not, I highly recommend signing up for a free account.  Upon logging in, I took a few minutes to watch a quick and simple tutorial, outlining some video design basics: character selection, setting, narration, gestures, facial expression, transitions, etc.  You want to know what's even better? If you don't want to worry about all of those decisions, Go Animate offers two different video making platforms:

1. Try out Quick Video if you're in a pinch for time.  Simply choose a theme and characters, select a setting, and type in your narration. Nope, you don't even have to record your voice.  Save yourself the cringe :)  The rest is all done for you!  I'd say this is like the animated companion to Animoto.  As always, you have a limited selection of templates to choose from with a free account.
• Note: I tried out this feature a few months back when Judy blogged about it in this post.  Literally, took 2-3 minutes to design a mini digital story.  Might be a powerful (yet easy!) way to introduce the art of digital storytelling to your kiddos.
2.  Full Video Maker boasts many more design features and lends itself to greater "artistic freedom," if you will.  I decided try this out when I designed the above video.  Still, so simple to use.  I'm all about functionality.  The interface is very intuitive -- the program held my hand walked me through each step of the design process.

If I haven't bored you already, please do take a peak at my short (and rather silly!) video introducing yet another fraction conundrum!  This Common Core math is tricky stuff, so we've been encouraged by the district to use technology as a means of hooking students' interests at the onset of a lesson, while setting a problem to guide our inquiry. It's all about application and analysis of those mathematical principles.  My video targets comparing fractions with different denominators, and the notion that  the more pieces you separate the whole into, the smaller each piece is. (Of course, I had to use the classic pie example in this video, particularly because I have a student who is a major pie aficionado.)  We'll see how the kiddos do with this problem!

Cupcake Wars: A Competition in Progress

I seem to have a thing for baked goods, or maybe just a really big sweet tooth.  I know, we're supposed  to encourage healthy, balanced eating in the classroom, but I've got to infuse a little sweetness into our day.  Plus, it's the perfect platform to discuss descriptive writing and sensory details.  No, I did not bring in cupcakes for my kiddos to sample :(  I try to stick to our healthy snack policy, but I may have to slightly bend the rules when it comes time to celebrate the culmination of this project.  Shhhh, don't tell!

I'm sure you're all wondering, What exactly is she doing for her literacy project? Well, I took some inspiration from The Food Network's hit show, "Cupcake Wars."  I already gave a shout out to TLC's "Cake Boss" in my digital story, so why not give some attention to one of my other guilty pleasures?!  The show is all about four different bakers competing to design the best tasting and most attractive cupcake.  They are provided with a theme and a list of required ingredients to work with.  After sharing several short clips from this series, I asked my kiddos to imagine themselves as bakers, faced with the task of designing a cupcake to fit a particular theme:

• Saint Patrick's Day (We started back in March, so the theme fit at the time!)
• Spring has Sprung!
• A 9 year-old's Birthday Party (I figured this would open up many possibilities...)

Currently, we're in the midst of writing a detailed description of our cupcake.  Then, we're going to get crafty and design a visual representation of our tasty  oh-so-decadent treat.  Finally, I'm going to post our cupcakes onto Voice Thread, and let the kiddos narrate their cupcake creation, just as the contestants do on the show.  Yep, their peers will have a chance to respond!  I can't wait to share the finished product :)  Keep your fingers crossed for me that all goes well!


photo credit: yvestown via photopin cc

Literacy Centers in the Primary Grades: Make Way for Freebies!

Credit: Serenade to Second Grade

I had to share a little something I found during one of my all-to-frequent Pinterest sprees.  Yep, I can spend hours on this site, oogling at some pretty incredible classroom inspiration.  This handy find literally had me grinning from ear to ear...a blog post with *FREE* links to everything you might need to set-up literacy work stations in your classroom.  Head on over to Serenade to Second Grade to snatch all of these incredible resources.

My loyal readers out there know that I am a Daily 5 girl, but I am confident that most, if not all, of these materials can be adapted to fit the program's goals.  These centers are aligned to Harcourt's Story Town which is the program I use in my school, so I'm eager to try 'em out.

 In case you don't want to scour through all of her resources (even though they are BEAUTIFULLY organized), I figured that I'd include some of the highlights.

• Some adorable basket labels for each of the different centers (see picture to the left).  And, you'll find some more labels here. 
• Directions to Post at each center:
• Adventures in Vocabulary 
• Handwriting Heroes
• Jump into Writing
• Listening Center
• Nonfiction News
• Poetry Pals
• Post Office Center
• Reference Round-Up
• Word Detective

• Then, she includes all of the materials, or recommendations for materials, that she uses at each center. I'll let you pop on over to her blog post to read more :)  Yes, she goes through each of the previously aforementioned centers, step-by-step.  Do I hear some rejoicing?? 

You will find that many of the links included in her blog post are from this *FREE* and fabulous site, The Teaching Oasis.  Just to wet your palate a bit, here's a few more links to explore...

Reading Strategies:

• Fiction Reading Menus
• Nonfiction Reading Response Questions

Reading Skills:

• Reading Response Cards 
• Partner Response Questions

Seriously, you need to take some time to uncover all of the amazing freebies at The Teaching Oasis.  Did I mention that there are materials housed for every subject area as well!?  This sounds like a nice "I'll pin it/ Diigo it now, and explore more in the summer activity!"  

Swoon-Worthy Classroom Organization!

By now, you should have a pretty good understanding of my love for all things organized.  Since I've finally got a classroom to call my own, I've been busy tweaking various management systems to create an efficient, clutter-free classroom (Think - homework, daily lesson plans, homework collection, work supplies)

I couldn't resist sharing the following *FREE* resources that will enable some of my organizational visions to come to fruition.  And, they're adorable to boot!

Please check out these swoon-worthy Google Doc links, courtesy of First Grade Garden, hosting some pretty incredible labels to make clean-up a stream-lined process in your classroom.

1.  Art Supply Labels
2. Classroom Library Book Tub Labels
3. Monthly Supply Bin Labels
4. "Ketchup and Pickle" Schedule Cards - Or, "catch-up" time and "pick a quiet activity"

Don't ya just love Google Docs...I sure do!

photo credit: Rubbermaid Products via photopin cc

Got some Webspiration?

As I prepare to tackle my own website (Yep, I'm taking the plunge!) I thought it best to "borrow" some inspiration from several of my colleagues.  And, I couldn't resist snagging the equally as beautiful, luck enabling, springtime calling photograph included above.  I keep reminding myself that it's all about capturing those quiet, little moments, amidst all of the hustle and bustle that is my daily life!

To date, I've found Google Sites to be incredibly user-friendly, yet I'm not quite as impressed with the overall "look."  My friends and fellow teachers insist that Weebly is uber easy to use once you master the basics [I'll believe it when I see it!], offering an endless supply of goodies, like neat backgrounds, drop-down menus, and adorable fonts/titles/headers.  What can I say?  I like to go the extra mile and make things pretty :)

If you're looking for some inspiration, hop on over to Drama Academic to take a look at how one USJ graduate student designed a  website with a variety of science and social studies resources for teachers.  It's still a work in progress, but I'm loving the organization and drop-down menus.  I'd also recommend having a look see at Learn with Team Van Pelt, another USJ graduate student who is in the midst of creating an online portfolio and "portal" to house resources for parents.  Again, the layout is clean, simple, and professional.  

Yep, I'm swooning.  Luckily for me, teaching is all about stealing swapping ideas from fellow educators, so I hope to adapt some of these handy ideas in my upcoming website.  Stay tuned...  

photo credit: Tc Morgan via photopin cc

Time to Take an Official "First Bite!"

I'm SUPER excited to share this mouth watering, makes-your-tummy-rumble, lip smacking-ly good digital story!  Just a forewarning: the dessert I concocted might just land you in a baking frenzy!  Nope, I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, especially considering that this is the first video I've ever made.  To say I was slightly intimidated at the thought of creating one of these digital stories is the understatement of the century ;)

And, then there came Photo Story 3.  I rejoiced.  This platform may lack some of the bells and whistles that Windows Movie Maker or iMovie has to offer (namely, video!), but it was just fine for this video-making novice.  I appreciate it's user-friendly, step-by-step design that took all of the guesswork out of editing.  I'm a practical kind of gal with a limited amount of time, so I am absolutely thrilled with how the final product turned out.  Thank you for all of the helpful feedback -- I did add written words to accompany the audio!

I plan on using this with my littles as we tackle the next Common Core math unit.  You guessed it, fractions!  As I'm sure many of you can attest, CCSS are all about applying, analyzing, and reasoning with mathematics.  Memorizing and regurgitating computations is no longer sufficient, so I have to ensure that my kiddos develop a strong conceptual understanding of fractions.  One of our upcoming in-class projects will challenge students to compare the size of two fractions with different denominators.

It almost seems intuitive that the larger the denominator, the greater the fractional piece....right?  It certainly makes sense with what they've learned thus far.  To help students understand that the the larger the denominator, the smaller each piece is (When comparing "wholes" of the same size, that is!) I whipped up this digital story.

First, I described my culinary techniques.  Next, I introduced a problem courtesy of Buddy -- the owner of Carlos' Bakery and the host of the Next Great Baker!  Lucky for us, Buddy serves his treats in fractions, so my kiddos will have to decide which fraction is larger: 2/4 or 2/8.  For the sake of this activity, we'll have to assume that the baking dish, or the whole, is the same size for each.  Afterwards, my kiddos will be invited to use a variety of baking tools, such as measuring cups, butter, or muffins,  OR our collection of hands-on fraction manipulatives, to visually justify their selection.  West Hartford curriculum specialists recommended that we try out this type of exercise to provide our students with a tangible representation of fraction.  I absolutely love inquiry learning, so I'm hopeful that this digital story will be the perfect way to set the scene!

Some Precious Keepsakes: Class Books!

Last year, my TK'ers published a class book at least monthly, if not bi-monthly.  Each of my littles had his/her own page, complete with his/her writing (You have to love the phonetic spelling :) and some darling illustrations. We authored books for the holidays, re-created some of our most cherished story books, and structured our writing around a variety of thematic learning topics. For each book, I laminated the pages and bound them with spiral rings.

My kiddos each had a turn to take the books home, and families shared comments in an accompanying journal.  Their little hearts swelled with pride as soon as they hopped on board the teacher chair and read their mom's/dad's/grandparent's/sibling's comments to their peers.  On many occasions, students forgot to bring their books back on-time which frustrated the other students who were eagerly awaiting their turn.  Suffice it to say, these class books were quite an undertaking, not to mention pricey. Yep, you guessed it...I had another light bulb moment from none other than Troy Hicks!  This brings me to Wikis...a collaborative platform that I never thought I'd attempt in my own classroom.

I'm going to be blunt, I think that many of the Wikis I've seen to date are highly disorganized, often over-stuffed with text, links, and pictures.  For this organized gal, I'd much rather have a few tried and true resources than a hodge podge of random information that may or may not be applicable.  If it's not visually appealing to the eyes, I tend to stray away... But, I've now noted a practical use for Wikis: class anthologies!

Just as Hicks (2009) suggests, Wikis allow students to share and comment on their work, along with parents, educators, and special friends, too!  In this case, Wikis can be re-purposed as digital class books.  I would also recommend easy-to-use platforms like LittleBirdTales, StoryJumper  or Kerpoof for the younger guys who may struggle navigating the Wiki interface, but I want to stress the benefit of a discussion tab which is unique to Wikis.  Even if my littles aren't able to physically upload their written/digital work to Wikispaces, it might be the ideal "gallery" for parents to view their children's work and maintain a timeless token of their learning experience.

Did I mention that I had to hold a class book "lottery" at the conclusion of the school year, such that each child randomly received one of our class books? Might it be a little nicer if parents could have access to all of their children's work!?  I think Wikis may be the answer ;)  



photo credit: champagne.chic via photopin cc

Take a Bite Out of Fractions: One "Sweet" Digital Story!

Please take a peak at the above draft of my digital story!  I took some inspiration from TLC's The Next Great Baker, and designed a mock entry video to submit for this one-of-a-kind baking competition.  I whipped up a delicious batch of 7 Layer Mint Chocolate Chip Bars (Yes, they are divine!), and set the stage for an upcoming problem set that my third graders will have to tackle...comparing fractions with different denominators!  I need to help my littles understand that the larger the denominator, the  smaller each piece of the "pie" is!  I figured that this video might set the stage for a tasty and engaging exploration...

 Please use the following form to share your feedback.  Thank you in advance!

 

How Audacious are YOU?

Sorry, I couldn't resist!  I've been busy researching up on this handy tool called Audacity, a free audio-editor and recorder.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be drafting a blog post on podcasting.  Heck, I didn't even know what it was until a few weeks ago, so this a "I'm just getting my feet wet" kind of day. As with many other platforms I've come across recently, I'm giving some careful consideration as to how I can imbed said tools with meaningful instruction in order to (1) bring my pedagogy into the 21st century and (2) instill the fundamentals of digital literacy.

Hicks (2009) is just chock full of innovative ways to better contextualize these digital platforms within the classroom.  How about some "book talks," podcast style?  Ingenious, I know!  Consider the old fashioned, we've all done it a million times, book report.  Sure, we need to have our kiddos reading, comprehending, and reflecting, but might it be more engaging for them to verbalize their thoughts using a tool like Audacity? I'm thinking book reviews for same-age or younger peers.  Trust me when I say podcasts take just as much (if not more...) preparation than a hand-written book report or dare I say, diorama.

You see, students will still be doing plenty of writing because time/storage space is limited.  In order for these podcasts to be effective, students need to hook their audience, maybe add music to the intro, vary the tone, pacing, and pitch of their voices, all while delivering a clear, compelling message!  See, our students really are digital composers!

I found this helpful how-to video on YouTube, targeting Audacity's fundamental features.  First, make sure to download this *FREE* program.  Then, this tutorial will visually walk you through each step.



For another neat take on how podcasts have surfaced in the classroom, I recommend reading and listening to Dawn Reed's students' responses to their This I Believe assignment here.  Each student identified one of his/her key beliefs and included personal stories and reflections to bolster his/her position.  While it looks like the project has not been updated since 2008, I found many of the writing samples and accompanying "speeches" to be highly moving.  I really liked this response, A Walk in her Shoes, sharing just how crucial it is to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Personally, I think there's an interesting sense of reciprocity between the written word and speech. The way in which one writes a formal paper might be drastically different from how/she speaks in everyday conversations.  So, when students are given the task of designing a podcast, they will have to give some real thought on how to appropriately structure their writing and delivery to make a compelling argument.

Am I off my rocker here, or do you see the potential for podcasting in the classroom?

photo credit: _Hadock_ via photopin cc

Digitizing Student Portfolios

I don't know about you, but when I was a youngster [just a few years back, that is...] I absolutely relished in the the annual time-to-make-your-writing-portfolio, middle school assignment.  I really shouldn't divulge what I'm about to, given that I am a professional who genuinely loves to learn, but my affinity for said portfolios might have been less than sincere.  OK, I liked them because they were a joke easy.

All I had to do was select a few of my best writing pieces, whip up a short reflection on the "process" I undertook, and stash everything in a neatly organized binder.  Sure, I attached a professional looking table of contents and snazzied up my cover with some sparkly embellishments.  Tada!  Unfortunately, this isn't the sort of scholarly approach I'd like my own kiddos to take, which brings me to Hicks (2009) recommendation of using a blog as a digital portfolio.  Hold the presses...presenting the blogfolio!

Blogs afford a certain sense of permanency, longevity, and continuity that just can't be replicated by the common binder.  As you can imagine, the previously aforementioned portfolios ended up in the far corner of my closet to be forgotten (I haven't always been clutter free!).  Blogfolios, on the other hand, take up no physical space and provide quite an impressive looking, customized, and carefully sequenced compilation of writing pieces.  These writing pieces can and should encompass more than students' routine blog posts.  How about lengthier writing samples, videos, podcasts, or photo compilations?

I found this YouTube video on how to create a portfolio using Blogger to be especially informative.  Yes, it is rather lengthy, but it provides a thorough review of blogging basics, including how to import GoogleDocs into Blogger and how to create additional pages to serve as dividers within the portfolio.  Personally, I like the ease of Blogger more so than Wordpress, which is the platform Hicks details in his book.



For additional insight on how to structure the portfolio process, this is a link to how one teacher facilitates digital portfolios with her six year-old students.  She shares an example, discusses the contents of the portfolio, and reiterates how crucial it is for students to have a say in which work samples are included.

photo credit: Childrens Book Review via photopin cc

Attention: Time to Nab Some Incredible Math and Literacy FREEBIES!

I'm pretty confident that all of you can relate to the following scenario:  It's far past your bedtime on a school night (try 10pm!) and you're still up tweaking a lesson, finalizing an upcoming unit, or *GASP* tackling a mounting pile of those pesky "need-to-be-graded" papers.  Cue the crickets!

Well, I just stumbled upon a new favorite blog of mine late last evening, Welcome to the Teacher Trap! Ramblings of a Third Grade Teacher, and she gave me THE golden ticket to language arts planning and instruction.  I know there's plenty of elementary teachers out there, so I urge you to stop by the Austin Independent School District Language Arts Instructional Resources.  Here, you'll find topics ranging from author's purpose to trusted reading intervention lessons, text structure and Daily 5 Management.  Trust me, the list goes on!  I was thrilled to pieces to find a very comprehensive poetry unit, chock full of writing samples, explanations, sample student portfolios, and a healthy dose of lesson inspiration.  I've been scouring TeachersPayTeachers for resources, but this site gave me exactly what I envisioned without the price tag :)

For any teachers getting ready to tackle the Common Core's spin on fractions (it's my next unit with my 3rd graders!), I also thought I'd share these handy resources that I plan on using to introduce and reinforce the topic in a fun and tangible way:

• Fraction War Cards
• Fraction FlipChart for the SmartBoard
• Fraction Flower "Craftivity"...What a fabulous intro lesson, especially considering that my little guys will still be taking the CMTs next week and will need to execute some creativity!
• Fraction Avenue: Try your hand at designing a street with different fractions...

These are FREE lessons from TpT that simply require a quick download.  If you're interested in exploring even more resources that I've found, please feel free to check out my Diigo account with some recent additions. Hope to have saved you some precious minutes of sleep tonight :)

photo credit: ShutterSparks via photopin cc

Ready to Get Crafty?

All I need is an assortment of glitter, some freshly sharpened pencils, a stash of sweet smelling markers, and a few sheets of glossy paper (maybe some embellishments too...) and I'm ready to get crafty!  Our students, though, are more than just your typical "crafters;" try authors and composers, too!  Hicks (2009) encourages educators to view students as multimedia authors who must consider how text, images, audio, and video  come together to leave a lasting impression.  And, yes, students are creating said digital products for genuine audiences!

Consider the sweet "MAPS" heuristic that Hicks shares with his readers -- mode/media, audience, purpose, and situation.  These are the elements that our kiddos must reflect upon as they navigate new texts, select a presentation form, identify the needs/ characteristics of their audience, determine the underlying purpose of their piece, and examine the needs/strengths/weaknesses of the writer (themselves!) and any demands necessitated by the digital platform.  Gets a little tricky, huh?

How I wish I could call this art closet mine...

Now, let's move onto the real goodies of this little post: Photo-Essays!  Remember, I'm an aspiring scrapbooker, so I can't help but get giddy at the thought of using photographs to depict stories :)  With the modern convenience of smartphones, tablets, screenshots, and affordable digital cameras, students can begin to ponder over how meaning is derived from images.  Consider the function of light, angle, focus, staging, and movement.  Sometimes it's all about capturing the small moments that have the potential to elicit a very strong emotional response.  Didn't I hear somewhere that a picture is often worth a 1,000 words?

I had such fun exploring Flickr's Tell a Story in 5 Frames, in which participants are instructed to depict a story in 5 frames with only a title to aid in the interpretation.  Group members might respond with poetry, suggestions on how to improve the ordering of photos, tips to support stylistic choices, or any other sort of constructive feedback.  I got a good giggle out of this one, "The Daily Grind," with 5 different beverages documenting the course of one's day.  A must see for any adult!

I'd imagine that our kiddos would have a blast creating said projects, but I think we'd really have to emphasize the underlying purpose.  After all, it's not about choosing any random picture and tacking it up onto a story board for future publication.  And just like other forms of online publication, the conversation only begins once the story is published.  As authors, we can only seek to improve our craft by engaging in some peer feedback and self-reflection.  Speaking of commentary, I highly recommend that anyone interested in annotating photos via recorded messages, heads on over to VoiceThread.  For a helpful tutorial, make sure to read Judy Arzt's post on what makes  VoiceThread unique!  She has some fabulous examples of how this tool can be implemented in the classroom...

Here's the million dollar question: Can you see yourself making time in the classroom for a project of this nature?  Or, is there even any extra time to be had?

photo credit: theperplexingparadox via photopin cc

photo credit: AForestFrolic via photopin cc

Google Docs in the Classroom

Are you swooning yet?  I'm simply envisioning the potential of GoogleDocs in my future (soon-to-be) classroom.  Some of you may already be GoogleDoc experts, so I welcome any suggestions, please!  I've used this collaborative, auto-saving, commenting enabled, eliminates-the-need-for-a-flash-drive platform, when tackling graduate level projects with peers who head from all areas of CT.  I *heart* working from the comfort from my own home and relish not having to send email revisions back and fourth.  No email clutter = one very happy girl!

Yet again, Hicks (2009) has brought me to a startling, but crucial realization...Google Docs can transform the way in which I manage, respond to, and create an audience for students' writing.  I'd like to take a moment to consider how just how powerful this tool can be:

A) I won't have to hear, "But I left my paper at home."  Or how about, "Miss Rosenfield, I can't find my journal."  And, an oldie but a goody, "I forgot to save my last draft on the computer.  It's gone!"  Yep, Google Docs eliminates any of these common problems because everything is auto-saved, accessible from any computer, and revision history can be tracked in the event kiddos need a look back at their work.

B) Peer editing can be taken to the next level.  Students can leave comments (or even participate in a chat), regarding their peer's work.  Obviously, plenty of modeling will be necessary for students to understand what sort of feedback is the most constructive.  Check out this blog post on using Google Docs to facilitate writer's workshop, where you'll find a variety of  editing-related skills that might become the basis for small group instruction.  How about "word smiths," "description detectives," "big picture person," or "tense tracker?" All of the specifics are outlined if you follow the above link.

C) Can you say "clutter free classroom?"  Well, maybe this won't drastically cut-down on all things paper, but I'm confident that it will make a difference.  And, I won't have to fret when my literacy block ends and I haven't had a chance to confer with all of my students.  Instead,  I can jump aboard their Google Doc and leave some comments to get the juices moving.  While I don't think written comments can replace the beauty of face-to-face conferring, it at least gives me an option to deliver more immediate feedback.  Just as Hicks emphasizes, it's not about grabbing the trusted red pen -- err font --- and conducting surgery on students' work.  Instead, the goal is to be strategic and focus on one or two areas/skills for the student(s) to really focus in on.

Want some more Google Docs inspiration?  You MUST look at this fabulous, interactive Glogster (almost like a virtual poster board) with some pretty spectacular uses for Google Docs in the classroom.  I'll wet your palette just a little bit :) You'll learn about designing templates, utilizing Google Form to create an "assignment tracker," creating mind maps with Google Draw and so much more!  I'm off to do some exploring of my own :)


photo credit: NedraI via photopin cc

My Teacher Tool Box...Is Your's Chock Full 'O Goodies?

I've already professed my obsession passion for school supplies, including my admitted Staples snobbery, but I also have amassed quite a collection of  Web 2.0 applications/digital platforms/online-collaborative learning spaces, all neatly filed away by "genre," in my LiveBinder.  Sure, my organizational tactics infiltrate my web presence as well ;)

It wasn't until I started reading Troy Hicks' The Digital Writing Workshop, did I realize how I'd become a bit of a "tool hoarder," if you will.  I seem to always be on the prowl for said tools that will make learning more engaging, digitize the traditional paper-and-pencil tasks, and afford my students the opportunity to extend their Web 2.0 repertoire.  Luckily, I received a welcome reminder: successful implementation of any digital application requires instruction purposefully suited for these tools, where learning is transformed into a reciprocal and relevant process.  Contrary to popular opinion, we do a disservice to our students if technology is simply used to re-package those "old school" teaching methods.

Case in point: A teacher establishes a classroom blog (*Applause*), but uses it strictly with the intention of posting questions for students to then respond to (So yesterday...).  While blogs can and should be used as a platform to inspire conversation, connection, and publication among educators and students, the previously aforementioned scenario fails to give students genuine opportunities for self-directed authorship.  As a newbie teacher, Hicks has forced me to re-examine several of my assumptions about blogging, namely their potential as "living" writing journals.

Just as many of my colleagues will attest, I have read Lucky Calkin's...I know she is the guru when it comes to writer's workshop.  She espouses choice in student writing, recognizes that students may be at different points in the writing process, and reminds us that "seeds," those little idea nuggets, can (and often, should) become the basis of a published piece.  Hicks (2009) takes Calkin's vision and brings it into a 21st century classroom where writing must be a living, dynamic, and collaborative progress.

Student blogs, in fact, seem to be the ideal strategy for jotting down ideas and generating drafts, all while receiving suggestions/comments/reflections from teachers and peers.  This seeks to extend and bolster students' writing as they create with an audience in mind.  Blogging as one entry point to writer's workshop.....now, that's innovative!  Another good point Hicks makes, and I have to adopt, is that not everything we post to a blog needs to be a beautifully polished, finalized product.  In fact, students who may be less comfortable posting their initial ideas can be invited to save their work to their blog, prior to publishing for a wider audience. And keep in mind, RSS feeds and Diigo work in tandem with blogging, helping students pull-in potential writing topics and organizing them by topic, respectfully.  Pretty effective implementation, huh?

Another resource I highly recommend peaking at is Youth Voices.  Hicks (2009) makes mention of this incredible website in his book, but I decided to do some further investigation.  In a nutshell, this is a platform for students to share their opinions/arguments/book reviews/gaming experiences through writing and audio. There are different virtual spaces for elementary, middle, and high school students, and a variety of student-generated guides can be found here, to help budding bloggers identify their voice, topic, and perspective, with respect to the "genre" they've selected.

I apologize for the length of this post...I just got so darn excited about this digital writer's workshop!  Do you think this is something you can realistically implement in the classroom?  What are your biggest concerns?

photo credit: Enokson via photopin cc

photo credit: Βethan via photopin cc

Daily 5 Diva

Well, I'm not exactly a Daily 5 diva, just yet.  Personally, I think Gail Boushey & Joan Moser, creators of Daily 5, structured their program around a very basic philosophy: position all word work and writing in the context of READING! Ingenious, I know.  If you aren't familiar with this program that seems to be taking primary classrooms around the country by storm, I encourage you explore this website, chock full of a host of friendly explanations and *FREEBIES*.

In a nutshell, students participate in 5 different activities throughout their reading block -- each that can be appropriately differentiated to suit their individual needs.  Many teachers over on Pinterest have created some pretty spectacular anchor charts, clearly depicting the expectations for each of the following:

1. Read to Self: Students are held accountable for selecting "just right" fit books.
2. Read to Someone: Students sit with a partner and practice building fluency and comprehension. 
3. Listen to Reading: Students listen to books on tape/CD, computer, iPad, or Kindle.
4. Word Work: Students play word games and manipulate letters.  These are those tried and true center activities that I've seen functioning in many an elementary classroom.  I'll admit that plenty of the worksheets/activities/exercises are a whole lot of busy work that result in a towering pile of papers, so Daily 5 limits said activities to only those that are purposeful.
5. Teacher Time: This would be your guided reading session. 

Based on my own research, many teachers pair Daily 5 with the CAFE program, an acronym for "Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary."  These crucial skills then become the focus of a minilesson that spearheads your literacy block.  Please take a peak at this website that details FAQs about this program. 

If you're interested in Daily 5"ing" your literacy block [Keep in mind. this program is well suited to support any curriculum...I've seen teachers in West Hartford implement it seamlessly with Harcourt's Storytown!], check out some of these resources:

• Daily 5, by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser
• FREE Daily 5 signs
• FREE CAFE signs 
• Daily 5 Anchor Charts -- You can "see" exactly what students should be doing at each activity. 
• 3rdGradeThoughts' Daily 5 Series:  I absolutely adore this teacher who is a Daily 5 guru.  The link will take you to a variety of resources she provides, including an explanation of the adorable, yet very  practical "Teacher Time Bin" graphic, included at the top of this blog. 

Any Daily 5 experts out there?  What are your thoughts on this popular approach?

Rolling out the Red Carpet...Digital Story Premiere!

We're right smack dab in the middle of awards season.  With the Oscars looming, I can't help but imagine what it might be like to walk one of those swanky red carpets. Cue music, cameras, couture gowns, teetering heals, sparkling diamonds, and men in pristine suits.  A girl can dream, right?

Last year, I had the good fortune of walking my very own red carpet alongside my TK celebrities!  My littles worked unbelievably hard illustrating and authoring their own pages for our digital storybook.  We found some inspiration from George Ella Lyon's Poem, I am From, and reflected on the people, places, and special memories that contribute to our unique identity.

Given minimal access to technology, I scanned and uploaded students' work into LittleBirdTales, a *FREE* Web 2.0 application that enables narration, story publication, and sharing via email.  Let me assure you, this tool is a gem!  It boasts a simple interface and captures the sweet voice of childhood...time to "ooh and ahhh!"  Obviously, I had to do something fabulous to recognize the talents of my 17 budding authors, so I invited parents and special friends to attend our Digital Story Premiere.  I rolled out a makeshift red carpet, secured red, gold and black balloons around the perimeter of the classroom, and outfitted my little ones with some celebrity inspired shades!

If you'd like to learn more about LittleBirdTales, take a peak at this short, introductory video:



I found some other incredible examples of digital storytelling, using a program called PhotoStory 3...

I was very impressed by this story, introducing Helen Keller's life.  I can imagine that it would be a powerful representation for children of all ages.



And, I absolutely *heart* this precious story: The Crayon Box That Talked.  If you haven't seen this yet, you're really missing out.  Using a crayon box as a metaphor for cultural diversity, these kiddos shared a very powerful message, retelling the original story with their own set of props.



Now, I mentioned earlier in this post about a handy program called PhotoStory 3.  I'll be the first to admit that I'm no professional videographer/producer/editor/, so I need a platform that is super simple to use, yet still creates an impressive product.  Check out this step-by-step guide to PhotoStory 3.  Based on what I've read, this program is comprehensive, allowing users to import photos, add narration, customize motion and transitions, and add background music.  Best of all, it looks like this video making novice will be able to tackle it successfully.  Has anyone else experimented with PhotoStory 3?  Or, do you have another favorite video making tool?

photo credit: Out Of Chicago via photopin cc

Pleased to Tweet Ya!

Err meet ya?  For the longest time I've been a Twitter "lurker," if you could even call it that.  I've sat in on a few teacher chats, perused some Twitter pages/ archives, checked out the latest gossip on several of my favorite celebs (Sorry, I'm not sorry!), but I just haven't been able to muster the strength to jump aboard the Twitter Revolution.  Tweets seem to come flying in and out of cyberspace, appearing for a few brief moments and then disappearing into the dark abyss. Being the organized, methodical, and seemingly conservative girl I am, I really didn't find this tool to be practical in my day-to-day life.

But...I just secured an interim 3rd grade position at my alma mater [Yep, I am THRILLED to pieces!], and the wheels have started to spin at full force.  While I know that my position as a long-term substitute is to continue with the procedures already put in place by the current teacher, I can't help but fantasize about my future classroom.  Mhm I feel one HUGE step closer to my dream, so it's only fitting that I begin to contemplate the possibilities.

And, that brings me to Twitter.  I've mentioned in previous posts just how much I love the idea of shooting a quick tweet out to parents periodically throughout the school day.  Right now, I'm comfortable with this potential use of Twitter, given support from administration and parents.  I have to be honest, though, as an elementary school teacher, I would not be comfortable with my students using Twitter directly.  For example, the recommendations put fourth in this article: 60 Inspiring Examples of Twitter in the Classroom, are just that...truly inspiring, yet, perhaps, more applicable in a secondary classroom or college setting.

Sure, it would be great to post bulletin board-"esque" updates on Twitter, or invite students to share questions, generate concise synopses of classroom topics, or track their adventures on a field trip, but said tasks would warrant (I believe...) individual Twitter accounts for students.  I just don't think I can go there yet.  Nevertheless, I'm really liking how teachers use a single classroom Twitter account to connect with students and teachers from around the globe.  If nothing else, will ya please take a peak at this kindergarten teacher's implementation of Twitter with her students?  These littles are tweeting with another classroom in Texas!  Students are given a voice on Twitter by using sentence strips to  record potential tweets, followed by a Twitter bird to signify their intent to post.  The tweets are then secured to a classroom bulletin board for the teacher to push out onto Twitter.  I can't help but smile at all of that sharing and connecting :)

Do you think any of the uses I've mentioned are realistic to implement in your own classroom?

Animoto with a Flair for Fashion: What's in Miss Rosenfield's Purse?

Miss Rosenfield's rather unwieldy purse!

I'm thrilled to pieces with how this little video turned out.  Although, I certainly cannot take full credit...Babbling Abbey over at The Inspired Apple (her posts are FABULOUS!) shared this lesson with a rather unique take on inferring.  I have a slight addiction to purses - a collection of sorts if you will - so I couldn't resist taking some inspiration from my fellow bloggers as I designed my newest Animto.

Please take a peak at the Animoto below.  Keep in mind that it will serve as an introduction to the concept of inferring.  Together, we will attempt to generate inferences about ME based on the contents of my bag.  Ladies out there, wouldn't you concur that the state contents of your purse say a mighty lot about yourself!?  I sure do :)




I find that my kiddos are awfully eager to learn more about me, so this might be an ideal hook for introducing the crucial, yet complex skill of inferring.  Here's how I envision the lesson to play out...I hook the little one's interest by sharing this video, and then bring out the real deal!  We review the contents of my purse and create an anchor chart detailing specific items and corresponding inferences.  For example, I am a faithful carrier of Wet Wipes.  A likely inference might be: "Miss Rosenfield likes to keep clean."  [Or, she's totally a germaphobe!]  Both would be accurate.

Afterwards, I'm going to try out this adorable writing activity courtesy of Abbey, where the kiddos have to use all of the clues from my bag to draw conclusions. I'm anticipating some pretty cute responses.  For another take on this activity, perhaps for any male teachers out there, take a look at this FREE resource, What's in My Teacher's Trash? I think this lesson would be a perfect fit for a first, second, or third grade classroom...a strong follow-up lesson might include this impressive "Inferring Investigation" from Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT), in which students sort through a pile of clues to determine how each character in a mini-story, spent his/her snow day.   Personally, I don't mind investing in high quality resources that I can strategically implement in the classroom.

As for Animoto, I've already shared just how much I *heart* this resource.  It's so simple to use and offers tons of neat backgrounds and music to select from.  I slowed down the pace of the video, so that my littles will have an opportunity to really investigate each "clue" from my purse.  I can confidently say that Animoto vidoes are engaging for viewers of any age and can serve as the perfect way to set the scene for a lesson.

My Personal Diigo Library

Here's a snapshot of my desk drawer.  I *heart* all things Post-its.

By this point, you should already know that more often than not I find myself in an organizing frenzy  (that is, tweaking previously organized systems) and I absolutely love school supplies, particularly Post-its of any shape, color, or size :)  Given my obsession with these handy notes, it should come as no surprise that Diigo continues to be one of my closest companions.  The highlighting and notes feature is just so darn useful!

The beauty of Diigo, which I mentioned previously in this post, is the simplicity of its organizational scheme and its universal accessibility from any computer.  No matter where I go or if my current computer comes to a crashing halt, my favorite articles/websites/cooking projects/lesson plans/ Google Docs will always have a library to call home.  In addition to some of the other features I've mentioned, Diigo allows you to take a screenshot of the webpage, or share the page  via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or just plain old email.  Talk about convenience.

It's most ideal feature (as if there could possibly be one that outshines the rest :) may very well be "tagging," or organizing your library schematic by topic.  For example, say you find an especially helpful link re: classroom design.  If I were you, I'd create a tag for "classroom design" - simply type it into the "tag" box and you're on your way to establishing a Dewey Decimal-esque classification for your links.  Next time you want to retrieve this link, just type "Classroom Organization" into your search browser, located  in your Diigo library, and only those links with that particular tag will pop up.  Ingenious, right?

For now, I'm going to share this link to my Diigo account.  I can't guarantee that you'll find everything there applicable.  After all, it is my own personal, customized library!  Nevertheless, you'll certainly find some worthwhile resources, organized by tags, on digital etiquette, Wikis, transitional kindergarten, and classroom organization, among other educationally related topics.  So, if you're still interested, go take a peak!  How have you found Diigo to be useful or, perhaps, not so useful in your personal/ professional lives?  We're all entitled to our own opinion, so make sure to share 'em!

Screencasting for Dummies

If you're like me, you may have raised an eyebrow [or two] at the thought of screencasting.  And, if we're being truly honest, you might not even be familiar with the term...Let me re-introduce you to Jing, a handy little application I mentioned in this earlier post.  If I were you, I'd go download it pronto :)

Take a peak at the graphic to the left.  This adorable sun lingers at the top of your screen, waiting patiently to capture the perfect image.  Each of the three descending bubbles has a unique job.  From left to right (1) Capture, (2) History, and (3) More.  For the sake of simplicity, let's stick with the first [and most exciting!] bubble...can you say CHEESE?

Step 1: Click on bubble 1.  An adjustable grid will appear for you to set the parameters of  your picture.  Once you have secured the appropriate area, simply click on the grid.  Voila!  You've just taken a screenshot!

Step 2:    Now, another set of bubbles will appear in the lower left-hand corner of your screen.  Click on the "Capture Video" bubble (second one from the left).  A pretty snazzy "3, 2, 1" warning will appear and then you and your kiddos are on the air!  As Richardson (2009) recommends, try developing some sort of script/guideline for what you'd like to say in order to keep your screencast under 5 minutes.  Not to worry, you can pause and/or delete if necessary.

Step 3: If you're pleased with the final product, go ahead and save it to your computer. You may also share your screencast via Screencast.com - simply follow the prompts.  Easy as 1-2-3!

To sum up in the event I lost you, screencasting allows you to capture any image of interest on your screen and then add audio narrations....

Now if we're still on the same wave length, you're probably left wondering how this application can be used strategically in the classroom.  I'm envisioning myself sharing "tutorials" on any number of tricky concepts.  How about a multi-step math problem?  It would be pretty advantageous for my kiddos to have a link to a screencast where they can review directions and/or prompting directly from the horse's mouth! Or, what about having the students attempt to annotate their own work?  Could be a fantastic platform for self-reflection and peer feedback.  Are you seeing the possibilities?  

Digital Mark-Ups: Dressing up Screenshots with Skitch!

An inside look at a recent organizing project...the dreaded make-up drawer!

Yes, I know this is supposed to be an educational blog.  But, for this color loving/scrapbook aspiring/personal organizing wannabe/elementary school teacher, I just had to share my new favorite tool that has great promise in the classroom.  Don't you love it when personal hobbies and professional pursuits come together so perfectly?

Above is a pic of the make-up drawer I recently tackled (I think it's safe to say that these drawers can often be the bane of our existence, right ladies?).   To take my photo-imaging skills one step further, I jazzed up this picture with some handy labels, bright colors, arrows, and image boxes.  Welcome to Skitch! With this free download, I easily took a screen-capture of the image [I had already saved it to my Dropbox!] and began experimenting with all of the neat, yet super easy-to-use design tools.  I also downloaded Jing - a free screenshot and screencast software that enables quick photo sharing via Twitter, Flickr, email, and Blogger, to name a few.  Are your wheels beginning to turn as you envision the classroom possibilities?

I'm thinking about the perfect combination of digital-visual storytelling!  I'm imagining students diagramming historical photos and/or pictures in detail, developing online portfolios with digital images of their work and accompanying annotations, and  documenting class field trips/ special activities with all of the eye-catching tools built into Skitch.  If I was giddy using this neat application, can you even fathom the children's response?

Given the visual world with which our students are accustomed, do you see photo-sharing as a real possibility in your classroom?  

Try your Hand at QR Codes...Introducing Interactive Books!

You heard that right! Today, I'm going to convince you how interactive books (and I'm not talking about downloading titles to your Kindle or Nook!), can enrich and extend some of your more traditional texts. Just the other day, I watched as a 2 year-old buddy of mine stared rather quizzically at her hard cover, two dimensional book, attempting to enlarge the illustration with the classic iPad induced, thumb and pointer finger swipe. Yep, she can navigate any Apple product with ease :)

Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to have a 1 to 1 iPad/Kindle Fire ratio, and I doubt that any of us are willing to dismantle our classroom library in favor of going completely digital, but I do recommend that you check out Farrah Kilgo's newest post at Think*Share*Teach, where she blogs about how her fourth grade kiddos paired up with their second grade pals for some shared reading. These fourth graders created QR codes (Please see my post here re: the nuts and bolts of QR code generation) to accompany a biography about George Washington Carver. Picture this: Small groups of children reading a book...QR codes are embedded throughout to allow for easy access to video clips, primary documents, art, photographs, etc. that bolster the text and add an element of 21st century learning! Pretty neat, huh?

Now, take a breath. These interactive books are very easy to create. In fact, I tried my hand at one a few weeks ago, using Joan Sweeney's whimsical book, Me on the Map, as inspiration. This adorable book provides our youngest students with a basic understanding of location and sense of place, starting in the home and situating the home on a street, in a town, state, country, world, and universe. I decided it would be an even more meaningful read, if I affixed QR codes to each page of the book that corresponded with my students' relative location. So, when the book introduces the notion of a house, situated on a street, I created a QR code that links to Google Earth, so the kiddos can see a picture of where our school sits on the street. It's all about making learning tangible...

Here are 3 simple steps for how to craft interactive books: 1) Generate QR codes, 2) Print QR codes (simply paste them into a Word document), and 3) Attach QR codes to corresponding pages in a book. All your students need is a tablet, smartphone, or iPod to interact with these neat little codes. For more information on how to generate QR codes and/or use them in books, go to Technology Bits Bytes & Nibles where you will find directions with visual accompaniments.

Any ideas for how you might develop an interactive book?

Organization 101: Tweet, Tweet!

I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm a little bit (or a lot a bit!) of an organizing fiend. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I get such satisfaction after tackling an unweildy organizing project. Yep, I do like to admire my handiwork, so I look for boxes/containers/dividers that combine functionality with visual appeal. The pictures I've shared above are a glimpse at my newly minted "teacher supply station," located in the dungeon of my basement.

So, you can imagine how excited I was when I learned about these handy RSS Feeds and my quick, super easy-to-use Google Reader. The truth is, I stumbled upon RSS while reading Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time, but I didn't quite "get" the purpose. I do think the text assumed a certain level of digital expertise that I'm still in the process of developing...Anyways, Richardson (2009) gave me the push I needed to activate my Google Reader (if you have a Google account, you've already got this neat application!). I unsubscribed from all of those Blogger email updates that were the bane of my existence [I despise clutter, even in my inbox], and watched as the new posts came to me! Talk about productivity!

If I'm lucky enough to get my kiddos blogging individually, you better believe I'll use Google Reader to keep track of their posts. Not only that, but this is a tool our budding student researchers can try their hand at as well. Students need to learn how to be productive (and wise...) consumers of information, and I think creating RSS search feeds are the way to go. Diigo and I have been longtime buddies, particularly when I was knee deep in research articles and in dire need of a hub to store it all. I'm still learning all the ins and outs of this incredible tool, namely the "label" function that enables seamless retrieval, and I can't get enough of those handy post-it notes and digital highlighters. I love any kind of school supply, albeit digital! While I've yet to capitalize on Diigo's collaborative features, I see great potential in using this platform to collect/share resources among team teachers.

Last but not least, I have to end with some remarks on Twitter. Initially, I was a Twitter-skeptic and, perhaps, I partially still am. I'm slowly learning the rules for appropriate hashtag usage, and I recently participated in an #elemsci chat where I scored a whole slew of valuable resources. Teaching is synonymous with sharing, isn't it? I still can't seem to get myself into a habit of using this platform on a regular basis. Pinterest, on the other hand, is an addiction for this visually inclined girl who loves to see lesson strategies/organizational schemes/materials in action, yet I do acknowledge the unique benefit of real-time feedback offered through Twitter. I highly recommend Cybraryman's website, where he organizes teacher chats by subject/grades and supplies a list of helpful hashtags to reference.

One way I can realistically see myself capitalizing on Twitter is by using it as a means of keeping families up-to-date on classroom happenings. PLEASE, make sure you look at this educator's Twitter page, where she provides parents with hour-by-hour pictures, comments, and questions. I love how parents can jump aboard Twitter for just a minute or two, to read a quick post (140 characters or less!) and know exactly what their child is doing. This eliminates the dreaded, "What did you learn in school today, dear?" and the inevitable "I don't remember" response. Parents can now ask targeted questions, courtesy of this teacher's Twitter page. Could you see yourself implementing Twitter in this fashion? If so, do you think your administration and/or parents would be supportive?