Voicethread

http://voicethread.com/share/3495380/

Here's a Voicethread with a personal reflection on classroom technology.

Thanks!

Curriculum Video FINALLY uploaded!

I enjoyed making it.  I'm sure that regular classroom teachers could find a myriad of ways to apply this technology.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1s_uOMXZao&feature=plcp

Freetech4teachers-Resources of Note

True to the claim, the site freetech4teachers.com is indeed a treasure trove of resources for educators.

While I don't have a regular classroom (I'm a "permanent" sub!), there were at least two resources cited in the blog that caught my eye.

The first was "Seven Whiteboard Apps for Teachers and Students".  Most of the districts I work in use whiteboards, so this post provided me with some information that "crosses the borders" with my assignmements, so to speak.  Many tools for diagrams and drawings.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2012/10/seven-whiteboard-tools-for-teachers.html

The second post I noticed was, to my eye, a great student resource.   It's called  My Fake Wall and it's a way to make a "fake" Facebook wall.  Students can use it to make Facebook walls for historical figures and/or characters in novels or stories they read.

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/01/my-fake-wall-create-fake-facebook-wall.html

If I had a regular classroom, I'd certainly examine the possibility of employing a blog; it's a great way to impart information and I find it personally preferable to Twitter as you aren't dealing with the character limit. 

My Favorite Podcast!

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/xml/mathdude.xml
My favorite Podcast is "The Math Dude Quick and Dirty Tips to Make Math Easier"

Thus far, I've had lessons on probability-what it is, how to make probability trees, and how to calculate probability.

It's made this subject easier and relatable by using things like baseball batting average tio illustrate the lessons.  I recommend the podcast highly-anything to encourage math students is a big deal in my book!

My Life With Twitter (So Far!)

Twitter.  Phew!  I had to learn everything about it!  I am a product of my environment- we still have and read hard cover books, and even check them out from the library on occasion.  I am so blessed to be a substitute teacher!  I walk into a room with the policies and procedures in place and the lesson plans on the desk.  I enjoyed visiting on Twitter about everything all the other teachers do in their classroom, but I think my presence in the lunchroom of a new school gives me a lot of the same.  Going to a new place nearly every day is a terrific challenge, and I learn something new every day and even take a few photos in the event that I would ever teach full time.

I enjoyed following Joan Rivers on Twitter!  She gives me a giggle nearly every time.  What a stress relief to be able to laugh for a second!  For instance, Joan Rivers‏@Joan_Rivers   ‘For Season 2, the cast of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" wants a per-episode raise from 4,000 to 10,000. Absolutely! Pork rinds are expensive.’   Joan Rivers‏@Joan_Rivers  ‘ Dina Lohan's advice to Amanda Bynes’s parents is, "Just be around.” She probably should have added, “As well as sober and coherent.”’

 I don’t believe I will remain a Twitter user.  I have an addictive personality and have found myself spending way too many hours glued to my computer or phone.  I remind myself of that daughter in the funny commercial when the grown kid is talking about how boring her parents have become because they only have 5 friends online.  In reality, they are out enjoying their lives with their friends while she sits home on the computer.  That’s my plan.  Want to visit with me?  Meet me at the park bench!  

Screenr Video Demonstrating Photo Cropping For Class Presentations

Animoto for the classroom

Animoto is a free (for educators) web-based tool that can be used to create multimedia instructional videos for the classroom, with utility for still images, video and music.

It's very user-friendly and easy to navigate.

As with any teaching technology, it's use should be integrated into the overall instructional plan and not be used as a surrogate for instruction nor a diversion from instruction.

Here's a link to my project, done on the recently passed Neil Armstrong, the Apollo 11 astronaut who was the first man to walk on the moon.

http://animoto.com/play/QCHZeogqIuSe0mRLxeJeZQ