ITEC Workshop :)

Reflections

2009-03-23T18:19:00.001-07:00

Wow!!!!! What a great class. I have learned so much that I will currently use and a few more things that I will save for next year. For example, I'm now using Blogs with my 10th grade English and ELD Reading 3-4 class. The kids write creative, reflective, and entertaining posts that match up with the activities or themes discussed in class. In addition to all the great things I have learned, the ITEC class has been extremely entertaining and informative. The professor is funny and has a great understanding of the material. The combination of an entertaining and informative class has made ITEC 814 one of the best classes/workshops I have taken in a while.
Click on the links below to see the works I am currently or have used with students:
Lord of the Flies Blog
Site
Silent Reading Book Blog

Website

2009-03-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hello world!
This is the last blog for the ITEC 814 class, but before I go I would like to tell you about my website.
Titled English 3-4 CP, the site is designed to provide my students with basic information on class requirements/expectations and important information they will need during the school year.

Click on site url in order to access my website.

http://sites.google.com/site/msjenglish/

Silent Reading Book Blogs

2009-03-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

I recently started using blogs in my ELD Reading 3-4 class. I designed the activity as a way for kids to show their understanding of their independent reading books.
Since it is an ELD class and some of the students have a difficult time composing paragraphs on the spot, I ask them to brainstorm responses using a Spider Map. Two days before blogging, they write out the paragraph on binder paper. The day before the blog post is due, I ask students to peer-edit each other's paragraph. The whole process, which takes only a few minutes of class time, is a week-long process.
Blogging has been great for me and the students. They are able to show their understanding of their independent reading book and use technology in the classroom. As for me, I have less papers to manage and find the paragraphs and pictures they add to the blog post entertaining and creative.

2009-03-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dgc7jkbc_3dpgmf7cc

Voice Thread

2009-02-23T18:34:00.001-08:00

Carnaval Faces

2009-02-23T18:09:00.001-08:00

Pics--Carnval Faces

2009-02-23T17:02:00.000-08:00

Carnaval faces from all over the world.

2009-02-21T10:25:00.001-08:00

Blogs...They are such a entertaining and creative way for kids to express themselves. This school year, kids have used blogs to connect with works covered in class. They composed personal and fictional stories that connected with themes in Lord of the Flies and will soon post their poem and comments on the poem writing process we have undergone in the last 2 weeks.

We didn't stop with just writing. To always bring a different twist to the activity, I had kids write plus take on a technology based task. For examples, for the second Lord of the Flies blog, kids had to add an image from the Internet that related to their story. For the third entry, kids changed their profile photo and so on. This gave the technology savvy kids a chance to help around the class room and struggling kids has a comfortable place to learn more about the Internet and computers.

However, it was not always easy. I say this because I used blogs last year and it was difficult at times! I was not sure how to navigate through the blog page and found "New Post" a little confusing. This year, however, I have gotten loads better at guiding the students and the tasks they should complete. As a result, the kids look forward to writing their blogs. During our Lord of the Flies unit, I would often have kids ask, "Are we blogging today?" It was music to my ears
:)

2009-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

This is great!