3 ~ 2 ~ 1

3 things I was introduced to in the class.....

1 - Google Docs - I had never played around with Google Docs prior to this class.  I think it is a great tool.  In fact, I have used it some when typing up information for my Samford classes.  Since my home printer doesn't always work well, I've saved my work in Google Docs, opened it at school, and then printed it out.  I loved learning about the forms you can make on Google Docs for teacher walk-throughs as well as surveys.  This will be very helpful whenever I become an administrator.

2 - Dropbox - I absolutely love Dropbox and had never heard of it prior to this class.  I have saved many important documents in Dropbox for my research paper.  If I found an article, I would simply save it to Dropbox and then read it later on my computer or iPad.  Dropbox was extremely helpful when I went to my parents for a few days.  They live in the dark ages and don't have Internet.  I was able to take my iPad to their house and pull up my documents in Dropbox and work on my paper.  This is a tool that I will definitely continue using.

3 - Wordle - Wordle is a great tool that is easy to use.  I had never heard of or used Wordle prior to class.  I enjoyed using it in class as we introduced ourselves with words that described us!  I can definitely see how this would be a great tool for the classroom. I hope to incorporate it with my students in the area of reading.

2 questions about how tech tools fit into he classroom.....

I have two questions about a couple of tools that were used in class.  First, I would like to learn more about the logistics of using podcasting in the classroom.  I think it would be great and beneficial for students to write a script, practice reading it, and then record themselves.  I can see how this would be a great tool to use in the classroom.  I'm just concerned about the time factor as well as the access to necessary technology.  I would like to learn more in the future about podcasting in the classroom.  I think it would be helpful to do podcasting with a buddy teacher.

Another question I have is how to use Google + effectively whether in the classroom setting or out of the classroom setting.  Is there a better mode for communicating with others outside of school?  Does Skype work better?  My computer kept kicking me out of our Google Hangout tonight.  It was really frustrating because I heard bits and pieces of what we were supposed to be doing.  I'm thankful for the PowerPoint that Mrs. Sullivan provided with the pertinent information that I needed to know.  I definitely think Google + is a cool tool, but I wonder if there is something more effective (and less aggravating).

1 thing I will incorporate in the classroom or use as an administrator.....

It's hard to pick just one thing that I have taken from this class and will incorporate in my classroom.  I guess my top pick will be blogging.  Having to post a blog topic each week has helped me to learn a lot about blogging.  Prior to the beginning of the school year, I had a friend help me set up a blog for my classroom.  I was excited about updating it weekly regarding things that were happening in the classroom.  However, when my Samford classes started, I put my classroom blog on the backburner.  I'm excited about starting it back up soon. I think it is something that parents will enjoy reading as well as students.  I want to include events that are occurring in the classroom as well as personal stories.  I have found that parents and students like to hear about things that are happening in their teacher's daily life....it makes them seem more human. 

If God's plan is for me to be an administrator, I would love to keep a blog for the school.  This would hopefully help me to stay in touch with parents and students even though I won't have a classroom. I really have enjoyed blogging during this class and I look forward to going further in my classroom blog.

Thanks, Mrs. Sullivan, for all that you have taught us this semester!!!  We are blessed to have you in our system!!

A Christmas Tradition

My friends and I have started a Christmas tradition that is so much fun.  Last year, we decided to have a progressive dinner at each other's houses so that we could visit and see each other's Christmas decorations.  This past Sunday night, we had our annual progressive dinner and it was so much fun!!

We started out at my friend Kandess's house with appetizers.  She made a cheese ring with crackers and had some awesome cherry punch.  We then went to Whitney's house and had chicken tortilla soup.  My house was the next stop.  I made a tossed salad with strawberries and apples (it looked very Christmasy).  Leah's house was the main course.  She made chicken cordon bleu, green beans, and cream corn.  Dessert was at Rebekah's house.  She fixed a cute snowflake cake from Southern Living.

We had so much fun doing this.  We hope the tradition continues!!!

Kandess's House

Whitney's House

My House

Leah's House

Rebekah's House

Portfolio is Finished.....YAY!!!

I'm very excited to say that my portfolio is finished before Thanksgiving and is getting turned in today!!!  Yay!  My goal was to have it finished before Thanksgiving so I could enjoy my time with my family and not have it hanging over my head.  I appreciate Scott organizing our brainstorming session on Sunday.  This helped me to get more ideas and it reassured me that I'm on the right track! 

I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  I'm thankful to be in the Samford Cohort program and for the opportunity to learn with all my fellow classmates!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

BYOD and Mobile Learning

Since I'm an elementary teacher, I had not heard much about BYOD until this summer in Dr. Minskey's class.  At the time that I heard about it, I thought that it was a great idea.  Several of my students have iPods and Nintendo D.S.'s and I thought that I could come up with a way for them to bring them in for a technology lesson.  However, since students are unable to connect to the Internet, this poses a problem for me.  At the elementary level, I'm thinking that students could bring in their own device as a show and tell project and share with the class how they use their device at home.  I would love to integrate them into a lesson somehow, but it would be hard at the elementary level where not all kids have access to a device.  Also, many parents are unwilling to trust their kids to bring technology in the school because of the risk that they might lose it.

I do believe a BYOD day would be great at the high school level.  Today, most all high schoolers have cell phones and many are "Smart" cell phones.  So much can be done with these such as voting or answering questions via texting.  I'm anxious to see what the future has in store for BYOD and mobile learning!!!

Texas A&M Loss.....A Heartbreaker

Well….it sure was fun while it lasted.  Alabama, the defending National Champions, were defeated during a heartbreaking loss Saturday evening.  The last game we had lost was last season against LSU in the regular season.  My hope was that Alabama could play for the National Championship again, but those hopes have were diminished after Saturday’s loss.  Although Alabama didn’t play their best and probably didn’t deserve to win, I still had hope throughout the game that the number 1 team would prevail and win!  Oh well, hopefully we will play for and win the SEC championship game and possibly play Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.  Roll Tide…No Matter What!!

Digital Citizenship

I believe it is important to teach students about digital citizenship and safety as well as practice digital citizenship ourselves.  Students need to understand that they don’t need to put any personal information on the Internet in order to keep them safe.  Students also need to be taught what is appropriate and inappropriate to post on social media sites.  Many conflicts at school occur because of comments that students have posted on social media sites.  Therefore, it is our job as teachers to educate them about digital citizenship.  We should also teach them to think before they post comments that could adversely affect them in their personal lives and at school.  Many schools conduct a “Cyber Safety Week” in order to bring awareness to students about digital citizenship and safety.  I believe this is a worthy program that every school should consider especially as technology becomes even more a part of students’ lives.

As a future school administrator, I believe it is important to set expectations for school staff regarding things that may be posted on the Internet.  Many teachers are on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media networks and they need to be careful about what is posted on the Internet and how it may be perceived by parents or students.  For example, a teacher at my school posted something on Facebook that she thought was harmless but was taken in a negative way by other teachers and parents.  My principal asked her to remove it from Facebook and she did.  I don’t believe that teachers should be restricted from social media sites or for posting comments on the sites.  However, I do believe that they should be cautioned to review their comments before posting them.  My principal always tells our staff that if you are in doubt about something you probably shouldn’t do it.  The same could be applied to posting comments on social media sites.

iPads and their Role in Special Education

My sister has the privilege of being a nurse for this sweet little girl pictured above.  Reagan has a rare disease called osteogenesis (brittle bone disease).  She has a tracheotomy which requires her to have 24 hour care.  My sister gets to go to school with her everyday and be her personal nurse.  Reagan is a very smart girl, but due to being in a wheelchair she cannot participate in all the same activities as her peers.  Reagan uses an iPad to help her with assignments in class.  She also uses it during recess and p.e. time to play games.  The iPad has been a very helpful tool for Reagan in school and at home.

I believe iPads have provided a needed change in education for students with special needs.  The iPad is easy to operate and it helps students who have a variety of disabilities perform tasks in school and throughout life.  This past summer I even learned of an app that can help students with autism communicate with others.  I'm sure that more and more apps will be created to make tasks easier for all students and I think this is very exciting!