Mrs. DeWeerd’s News

It was very nice to have the video review on how to set up a delicious account.  I did find my account from last years technology class however.  I did go back and play with it a little bit, and added some bookmarks.  It is incredible how much information and resources are right there for you to use.  I would have loved this when I first started teaching, it is such a great tool.  I will go back and reuse this more often now especially with all the new curriculum coming back around especially in the area of social studies.

Well, like usual when it comes to this class, I asked my children if they knew of this “social bookmarking”, I thought I could use their background knowledge and schema that we as educators ask our learners to use.  And yes, the answer to my question was, “Yes!”  They are both part of Facebook and they check it weekly depending on how busy they are in their lives.  I do not have a Facebook,I think in part that  I don’t want to be that connected and I may not have much to share because I am very private with some aspects of my life.  Yes, that is a shock for some! 

 I feel I would use the tagging for my new interest of artist especially in the Saugatuck, Michigan area.  I would also like to use tagging for my older music interests especially older groups like Journey, ACDC, Kansas, and Boston. 

I do believe the big problem for me in tagging would be making sure to be specific and direct, and to be very  careful and pay attention to detail especially with focusing on when to  not space and underline.  I do like the idea of using others’ tags to help me with my searching.  This is new, and I am a little excited to try it.

I really did enjoy the articles about how and what to post.  I do agree I have read some comments and wondered what benefit if any did they have to the conversation at hand.  I also liked the reminders of when not to comment, if you have been drinking or if you are upset, that is great advice in any situation.  I have also seen comments that I know some people wish they could take back before others have read them.  It is a little bit of a pressure to comment at times, because I do want to make sure what I have to say will add to the conversation and is well thought out. We teach our children to “think before the speak”, well we should think before we blog. 

It was very easy to set up my Google account.  I did have one from the Oakridge Technology Integration class.  I did make a new one however for this class.  I did enjoy playing with the maps on Google.  My own children have each shown me this feature, again it is nice that I have some background knowledge.  I like the idea of using this feature in second grade to show our community of Egelston. It  can give them an idea of how close our school is to Wolf Lake as well as other landmarks they will need to learn in social studies.

This is a picture of my son Aaron. 

 He is an 8th grader.  He plays football for Allendale Middle School.  They went undefeated this year.  He is also an “A” student.  I love that he is a student athlete.  It is important to be well rounded. 

My favorite educational link is Starfall.  I love that I could link this to my web-site so my children can practice reading at home, with little or no parental support.  It is very user friendly. 

The one thing I liked about this Thing 3 assignment was the review from the class I took last fall. I also appreciate that Kelly Fuller, Janice Niles and myself can do this together before or after school (our time of course) and bounce ideas off from each other. Also if I get stuck one of them can gently nudge me along. Once I got going on this I was fine and again more comfortable with the tasks at hand. I also like the feedback from Diane.

I liked the “Welcome to Room 8″ blog.  I liked this format because it reminds me of my newsletter that I send home weekly( a hard copy for all, especially those without computers at home), as well as the newsletter that I have on my Web-Site through Oakridge Lower Elementary. Communication with parents is so essential to student and teacher success. This blog also really stood out because it outlined what was being taught and then examples were shown with either pictures or videos to show the children in action.  A picture is worth a thousand words, especially on this blog.  I liked that pictures and videos were used for a variety of topics.  I also like how parents can see and read what is being done in the room and what a parent can do to support the teaching and learning happening at school.  I feel the blog is like my web-site, but more interactive.  I also like that comments can be made about what has been posted, it is great feedback for teachers.  It is also a great tool for parents to communicate with each other.  I also like that the students are such an active part in this process, and would be motivated to share this information with parents; What did you do at school today?” , would have a different answer than “Nothing”.  My only concern in my district would be the parents that would be left out because they do not have access to technology/computers.

In my life right now, I have heard Blog more frequently and not just because I am taking this class.  Our principal asked us to give our advice on a common problem in our reading instruction especially when using AR (acclerated reader).  She wanted us to post what we do when we have children get 85% or lower on a quiz.  I believe she did this so many could tell of their problem solving and strategies when coming upon this problem.   It was interesting to see how other teachers at other grade levels did respond and what they are using.  I also have a son in middle school who is encouraged in his computer class to blog and give his ideas on different books and units of study.  He also told me he did a pod-cast!!!!  My daughter who is at Grand Valley State University this year as a freshman must also use blogs in her studies.  Her professor just used this after he assigned them to visit the Grand Rapids Art Museum.   He wanted them all to discuss which pieces of art they were drawn to, and then had to write a paper.  These blogs are giving students who are not as vocal and outgoing a voice, and a chance to participate where they may not participate in a classroom.  I really like the blogging concept for junior high, high school, and college settings.  I am not so sure about it at my level of teaching 2nd grade).

The video was overwhelming for an elementary teacher.  I am so thankful I have teenage children to explain the new language of this technology.  I do believe we need to move forward and change, but also remember that some old school tricks/expectations are also necessary. I do believe we need to still have face to face conversations so we get the whole effect of language, tone, facial expressions, and body language.  I have often read a text and thought, “How should I take this?  Are they happy?  Are they upset?  Are they kidding?”   I once read in the Grand Rapids Press (yes, hard copy) that stated even though we think we can multi-task( answer a cell phone, email, do bills, etc.) and think we do many things well, it is in fact, we do many things mediocre and should put more effort into doing a few things well.  I am hopeful that I will become more comfortable with all this newer technology.  I do believe it has a lot to offer.