This has been a whirlwind of a month! I have learned so much in such a short time! I am actually happy that school is right around the corner, so I can begin using some of these things. It's the only way I won't forget them! I really wish this class had been during the school year so that I could have immediately implemented things that I learned.
Hands down, the most useful skill I have learned is creating and managing a blog. I will keep this blog up and continue to learn how to improve it. I love knowing how to embed things- it makes me feel like the techie teacher that I strive to be! The other programs, apps, websites, ect. that will be beneficial to me as a teacher are Skitch, Tellegami, Soundcloud, Youtube, Animoto, Screencast-o-matic, and the use of QR codes.
I will be able to use them for my teacher web, communicating with parents and students, and for activities with the kids as well. The students will also benefit from the use Biblionasium and ToonDoo. Those are websites I know they will use and enjoy during the year.
I struggled the most with creating infographics and the use of social media. I, personally, am just not that into social media and any use on my part is forced. As a teacher I feel it is better suited to those teaching middle schoolers and high schoolers. I struggled with the infographics because I felt like I had to find content to match the infographic rather than the infographic being a tool I could use with any content. I am sure that is due to my novice ability, and I will continue to try to learn more about them.
I appreciate all I have learned in this class and I look forward to implementing it in my classroom and other course work at Sam Houston.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Instagram and Vine
I don't use Instagram (or any social media) much, but I know that kids do. My 4th graders talked about Instagram all of the time. On the last day of school, I let the kids take pictures with me on their phones on the condition that they would not post them anywhere. Of course, the next day a parent told me I was all over Instagram and that the kids were posting sweet things about me. I really didn't care because it was just the kids and I smiling, but that is kids for you! Putting pictures of their teacher on Instagram when I asked them not to! :)
I could possibly see using Instagram in the classroom, but I would not use Vine (not with the kids anyways). It isn't protected enough and I will be with the little guys next year. I would be a nervous wreck using it. I could see using it in this way that I did on here. Getting snippets of videos and embedding them on a classroom blog for the kids and parents to see.
One of the blogs I read had the idea of the kids creating an alphabet book by taking pictures of words around them. I like that idea. We do a lot of alphabet books in the beginning of the year and this would be a fun way for them to make their own.
These are the sad three little pictures that are on my instagram account. I added text the Chase one using Pic O Gram (ipad app). It was very easy. That is definitely something 1st graders would be able to do.
Here is a brief clip (don't worry that you're seeing the brief version, the extended is more of the same:) ) of the delightful "Dinosaur and the Boy" play that my 5 year old created.
I could possibly see using Instagram in the classroom, but I would not use Vine (not with the kids anyways). It isn't protected enough and I will be with the little guys next year. I would be a nervous wreck using it. I could see using it in this way that I did on here. Getting snippets of videos and embedding them on a classroom blog for the kids and parents to see.
One of the blogs I read had the idea of the kids creating an alphabet book by taking pictures of words around them. I like that idea. We do a lot of alphabet books in the beginning of the year and this would be a fun way for them to make their own.
These are the sad three little pictures that are on my instagram account. I added text the Chase one using Pic O Gram (ipad app). It was very easy. That is definitely something 1st graders would be able to do.
Here is a brief clip (don't worry that you're seeing the brief version, the extended is more of the same:) ) of the delightful "Dinosaur and the Boy" play that my 5 year old created.
Mining PEW
Zickuhr, K., Rainie, L., & Purcell, K. (2013, June 25). Younger Americans' Library Habits and Expectations. Pew Internet Libraries RSS. Retrieved July 29, 2014, from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/06/25/younger-americans-library-services/
Younger Americans Library Habits and Expectations
My initial impression would be that libraries would most likely be used by parents of young children. This is when I really began using our public library. Although, I know this to not be the case, from having done other research within the PEW internet project. The teen group is a prominent user of public libraries, and not in the old fashioned sense of just browsing and checking out books. They are users of library resources that I think many older adults (30+) do not even know about.
In reality this makes sense if you think about it. This generation has been raised in a technological age. They know about resources that older adults may not know about. They have also been raised in an age where they were taught to question. So it shouldn't be surprising that they would use librarians and a wide range of resources to help them find their answers.
I am an avid reader, and until my grad school course work, I did not use the library for anything except checking out children's books. I have now become well versed in the San Antonio Public Library's online system and I use the library more than ever. Without my course work though, I would not know any of this existed. I have even discovered the wonderful world of checking out e-books!
This article states that young Americans don't view libraries as a crucial part of their lives or communities, but they are using them. And as you can see from the image above, they are using libraries in a variety of ways.
51 pages towards the Mining PEW
Younger Americans Library Habits and Expectations
My initial impression would be that libraries would most likely be used by parents of young children. This is when I really began using our public library. Although, I know this to not be the case, from having done other research within the PEW internet project. The teen group is a prominent user of public libraries, and not in the old fashioned sense of just browsing and checking out books. They are users of library resources that I think many older adults (30+) do not even know about.
In reality this makes sense if you think about it. This generation has been raised in a technological age. They know about resources that older adults may not know about. They have also been raised in an age where they were taught to question. So it shouldn't be surprising that they would use librarians and a wide range of resources to help them find their answers.
I am an avid reader, and until my grad school course work, I did not use the library for anything except checking out children's books. I have now become well versed in the San Antonio Public Library's online system and I use the library more than ever. Without my course work though, I would not know any of this existed. I have even discovered the wonderful world of checking out e-books!
This article states that young Americans don't view libraries as a crucial part of their lives or communities, but they are using them. And as you can see from the image above, they are using libraries in a variety of ways.
51 pages towards the Mining PEW
Monday, July 28, 2014
Mining PEW
Rainie, L. (2014, April 9). Millennials and Libraries. Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Retrieved July 28, 2014, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/09/millennials-and-libraries/
Millennials and Libraries
This was the most interesting presentation I have viewed so far. It looks into the habits and uses of teens involving technology, reading, researching and library use. The conclusions drawn from the research were:
.PNG)
The only thing I found bothersome about this article was #3 "Teens reading efforts match/ exceed adult levels." This bothered me because the slide with the data which supports that students read more, shows that this is heavily due to reading for work or school. I don't think you can come to the conclusion that they are more avid readers when they are reading because they must for school work. The teens do exceed adults though in research for interest.
In general, I cannot image being a "technology native." It's such an awesome benefit to this age group, but it is the responsibility of teachers, parents, librarians, and other adults involved in their lives to teach them how to balance and harness this new power.
I created an infographic to go along with this mining PEW. For the last project, I used Easel.ly because it was fairly open ended- but maybe to open ended for me. For this one, I used Infogr.am. I thought this website lent itself well the the PEWs because of the easy use of graphs and data organization (since that is the basic heart of the Internet PEW). I liked working with Infogr.am better, but I still don't feel entirely comfortable. Infographics are something that I will continue to have to play with in the future.
Millennials and Libraries
This was the most interesting presentation I have viewed so far. It looks into the habits and uses of teens involving technology, reading, researching and library use. The conclusions drawn from the research were:
The only thing I found bothersome about this article was #3 "Teens reading efforts match/ exceed adult levels." This bothered me because the slide with the data which supports that students read more, shows that this is heavily due to reading for work or school. I don't think you can come to the conclusion that they are more avid readers when they are reading because they must for school work. The teens do exceed adults though in research for interest.In general, I cannot image being a "technology native." It's such an awesome benefit to this age group, but it is the responsibility of teachers, parents, librarians, and other adults involved in their lives to teach them how to balance and harness this new power.
I created an infographic to go along with this mining PEW. For the last project, I used Easel.ly because it was fairly open ended- but maybe to open ended for me. For this one, I used Infogr.am. I thought this website lent itself well the the PEWs because of the easy use of graphs and data organization (since that is the basic heart of the Internet PEW). I liked working with Infogr.am better, but I still don't feel entirely comfortable. Infographics are something that I will continue to have to play with in the future.
Screencasts
I love the world of screencasts. Out of all that I have learned, I could see myself getting the most use out of this. Teaching 1st grade, many of the parents are still new to the whole world of school, and being able to post tutorials is a great resource. I found these two programs to basically be identical. I had problems loading both (I had to use a different computer for each), but once I got through my loading problems, they were both very easy to use, save and post. I find the look of Screenr to be more appealing once it's embedded. I like the circle that follows the mouse in Screencast-o-matic.
Screencast-o-matic: Student tutorial on Tumblebooks
Screenr: Parent information on student account in Biblionasium
I general, I would probably continue to use Screencast-o-matic. I downloaded the application for it to my computer, so it's just a click away! I have also used it before, so I am more comfortable with it (but only slightly, since the 2 are so similar!) It is also so cheap, I would probably download the Pro version once the school year starts.
I went ahead and downloaded Jing as well. It was a bit different from the other 2. It allows you to quickly share screen images or videos, but as far as I can tell, you just get a link, not a code to embed. Jing is always on and has an icon that stays on the top right corner of your screen so you can record at a moment's notice. My icon would not show up though, unless I had the internet screen maximized though. I did not like that. Even after using Jing, Screencast-o-matic is still my preferred tool.
Amanda's Jing Screencast
Screencast-o-matic: Student tutorial on Tumblebooks
Screenr: Parent information on student account in Biblionasium
I general, I would probably continue to use Screencast-o-matic. I downloaded the application for it to my computer, so it's just a click away! I have also used it before, so I am more comfortable with it (but only slightly, since the 2 are so similar!) It is also so cheap, I would probably download the Pro version once the school year starts.
I went ahead and downloaded Jing as well. It was a bit different from the other 2. It allows you to quickly share screen images or videos, but as far as I can tell, you just get a link, not a code to embed. Jing is always on and has an icon that stays on the top right corner of your screen so you can record at a moment's notice. My icon would not show up though, unless I had the internet screen maximized though. I did not like that. Even after using Jing, Screencast-o-matic is still my preferred tool.
Amanda's Jing Screencast
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Mining PEW
Zickuhr, K. (2013, November 4). Reading, writing, and research in the digital age. Pew Research Centers Internet American Life Project RSS. Retrieved July 26, 2014, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/11/04/reading-writing-and-research-in-the-digital-age/
Reading, Writing and Research in the Digital Age
"The internet makes doing research easier- easier to do well and easier to do poorly."
I thought this was a very striking quote from the presentation. It brings up the point that even though information may be more accessible, students still need instruction in properly finding and accessing information.
As far as changes go with reading in the digital age, I was pleased to see that while in many situations such as travel and in bed, people prefer an e-book, but 81% of people still prefer print when reading to a child. I feel the same way. My children have e-books on the ipads, but those are for during the day. At night before bed, we read print books. It even worries me that they don't see me reading because I read on my ipad. They can't tell the difference between me playing a game, emailing or reading.
28 pages (slides) towards the Mining PEW
Reading, Writing and Research in the Digital Age
"The internet makes doing research easier- easier to do well and easier to do poorly."
I thought this was a very striking quote from the presentation. It brings up the point that even though information may be more accessible, students still need instruction in properly finding and accessing information.
As far as changes go with reading in the digital age, I was pleased to see that while in many situations such as travel and in bed, people prefer an e-book, but 81% of people still prefer print when reading to a child. I feel the same way. My children have e-books on the ipads, but those are for during the day. At night before bed, we read print books. It even worries me that they don't see me reading because I read on my ipad. They can't tell the difference between me playing a game, emailing or reading.
I also thought this break down of social networking was interesting. On first look, I was surprised that the highest use wasn't the 12- 17 age group, but then I considered that 18- 29 age group was the first teen group exposed to social media and they are carrying it into their 20's and into their jobs. In another 10 years, the number for the 30's will probably be higher as this group gets older.
28 pages (slides) towards the Mining PEW
Cartoons and Comics
I always find the task of making things like this fairly daunting. I feel pressure to be clever and witty at the spur of the moment... which I am not. But, I know the true intention of this project is to learn the programs, not to stress over the content of my comics.
ToonDoo
I liked ToonDoo a lot. I felt like it was easy to use, had a lot of character, background and accessory options, and was easy to save, share, and embed. This is one I would feel comfortable using at the elementary level. I think students would be able to navigate it fairly easily. ToonDoo was by far may favorite.
Amanda's Tellagami
Final Thoughts
Being a 1st grade teacher, and not a particularly tech savy one at that, I prefered ToonDoo and Tellagami. They were both user friendly and had good final products. I felt that 1st graders could easily work with them both .
We had many of these apps (and of course all websites) available to us last year, but no one ever promoted them or told us about them. Had I known more, I would have used them. It's important for those that know, to spread the information to others. I think there was an assumption that we could play around with apps on our own, but with no direction and little time, that wasn't easy.
Something else that I do like about all of these websites and apps we have encountered through this summer session, is that everything can be emailed. With the limited projects I did do with my class last year, I would have the kids email me their final projects. After I looked at them, I would forward them on their parents. Both the kids and the parents really liked that, and now I am feeling like I have more tools at my finger tips (which I WILL share with others!)
ToonDoo
I liked ToonDoo a lot. I felt like it was easy to use, had a lot of character, background and accessory options, and was easy to save, share, and embed. This is one I would feel comfortable using at the elementary level. I think students would be able to navigate it fairly easily. ToonDoo was by far may favorite.
I could have used a tutorial from Pixton. Either it was very limited or wasn't user friendly. Either way, it wasn't as easy to navigate as ToonDoo. Pixton did allow much more detailed manipulation of the character and speech bubbles. I also noticed that it saide "beginner" on the corner of my screen, so there must be varying levels to work with. I think this program would probably be best for middle and high school students. They would probably be able to do much more with this than I was able to.
I also could not embed this comic. I tried multiple times to enter the code and I never saw any evidence through my draft or preview that it was there (maybe it will be there when I publish). I was easily able to save it as a PNG and insert it into the blog.
I could not save or embed this comic. Again, the fault could be mine, but if it is, it wasn't easy for me to figure out. This website was in between the other two for me in it's likableness. I felt like it was easier to use than Pixton, but didn't have as much selection as ToonDoo. I did like all of the resources that accompanied this site though. I think it is a great tool for teachers and is a great starting place for someone that hasn't used websites like this before. I appreciated and watched the tutorial at the beginning. It made me feel more comfortable with the process.
Amanda's MakeBeliefsComix- this is a link to my comic
Tellagami
Tellagami was a fun and easy app to use. It would be a great final project that even the littlest guys could use. It reminds me a lot of a podcast, but with a picture and "storyteller". I would actually have liked to have had an account with them, so that I could have messed around with it a little more.
Final Thoughts
Being a 1st grade teacher, and not a particularly tech savy one at that, I prefered ToonDoo and Tellagami. They were both user friendly and had good final products. I felt that 1st graders could easily work with them both .
We had many of these apps (and of course all websites) available to us last year, but no one ever promoted them or told us about them. Had I known more, I would have used them. It's important for those that know, to spread the information to others. I think there was an assumption that we could play around with apps on our own, but with no direction and little time, that wasn't easy.
Something else that I do like about all of these websites and apps we have encountered through this summer session, is that everything can be emailed. With the limited projects I did do with my class last year, I would have the kids email me their final projects. After I looked at them, I would forward them on their parents. Both the kids and the parents really liked that, and now I am feeling like I have more tools at my finger tips (which I WILL share with others!)
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Online Book Communities
Because I am an avid reader, I have used several of these forums before, but never to their full potential. I have always just passed through them looking for books to read, either personally or for my class.
I found this experience overwhelming at first. Because I have never used any of these sites in their true intention, it took some trial and error and fumbling around to figure them out and to then remember the distinctions between them as I moved from one to the other. Now that I have been working with them for a few days, I feel more comfortable and definitely have my favorites. Now that I have figured out my personal preferences, I can see the merit in using them as a teacher and as a librarian.
Book Communities Offer:
* a place to share
* a place to browse
* a place to sort and organize (in a techie way with so much more information available to you than you would have in a spread sheet you created to organize titles)
This last bullet is the most important to me. I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. Floating around in my head are good lower grade read alouds, good upper grade read alouds, good books for the lower grades to read to themselves, good books for the upper grades to read to them selves, good mentor texts, not to mention the books I use with units. No wonder my mind is muddled all the time! I have all of this information floating around in my brain. I have considered making a spread sheet of all of this, but these Online Book Communities far surpass what I could do with a spread sheet. It is on my to-do list very soon, so really start sorting my years of knowledge into these websites.
Book Communities are also easy to access, free, and easy to use once you're familiar with them.
The title of each online book community is a hyper link and will take you to the website.
And then, I have to mention Skitch! What an amazing and easy to use app! I loved marking up the screen shots. I can think of a million ways to us that in the classroom and in my communications. Loved, loved, loved Skitch!
I really liked good reads. It was very user friendly. I was able to add multiple books with just a few clicks, and the program would generate books for me to look at instead of me having to try to think of books. Their generations were right on.
shelfari
LibraryThing
Biblionasium
After the long process of finding and adding books to the last three websites, I found Biblionasium to be refreshing! The look and layout was much less cluttered that the others. And of course it has classroom engagement features that the others do not. I found it to be very easy to navigate and use. I will most definitely use this website with my class next year. I think the parents will really like the "recommendations" section. I also love that there is goal tracking, parent communication forms, and reports in addition to the friendly book organizing.
And my Favorites are...
For My Own Personal Use: Goodreads
For School Use: Biblionasium
They were the most user friendly for me and they had the features I liked (like specific and tailored recommendations), and less of the things I wouldn't use as much (like blogging and social media).
I found this experience overwhelming at first. Because I have never used any of these sites in their true intention, it took some trial and error and fumbling around to figure them out and to then remember the distinctions between them as I moved from one to the other. Now that I have been working with them for a few days, I feel more comfortable and definitely have my favorites. Now that I have figured out my personal preferences, I can see the merit in using them as a teacher and as a librarian.
Book Communities Offer:
* a place to share
* a place to browse
* a place to sort and organize (in a techie way with so much more information available to you than you would have in a spread sheet you created to organize titles)
This last bullet is the most important to me. I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade. Floating around in my head are good lower grade read alouds, good upper grade read alouds, good books for the lower grades to read to themselves, good books for the upper grades to read to them selves, good mentor texts, not to mention the books I use with units. No wonder my mind is muddled all the time! I have all of this information floating around in my brain. I have considered making a spread sheet of all of this, but these Online Book Communities far surpass what I could do with a spread sheet. It is on my to-do list very soon, so really start sorting my years of knowledge into these websites.
Book Communities are also easy to access, free, and easy to use once you're familiar with them.
The title of each online book community is a hyper link and will take you to the website.
And then, I have to mention Skitch! What an amazing and easy to use app! I loved marking up the screen shots. I can think of a million ways to us that in the classroom and in my communications. Loved, loved, loved Skitch!
I really liked good reads. It was very user friendly. I was able to add multiple books with just a few clicks, and the program would generate books for me to look at instead of me having to try to think of books. Their generations were right on.
I found the book searching process to be tedious in booklikes, shelfari, and Librarything. I also found these three websites harder to navigate for some reason. They were very busy and had many features that I wouldn't use.
shelfari
LibraryThing
After the long process of finding and adding books to the last three websites, I found Biblionasium to be refreshing! The look and layout was much less cluttered that the others. And of course it has classroom engagement features that the others do not. I found it to be very easy to navigate and use. I will most definitely use this website with my class next year. I think the parents will really like the "recommendations" section. I also love that there is goal tracking, parent communication forms, and reports in addition to the friendly book organizing.
 |
And my Favorites are...
For My Own Personal Use: Goodreads
For School Use: Biblionasium
They were the most user friendly for me and they had the features I liked (like specific and tailored recommendations), and less of the things I wouldn't use as much (like blogging and social media).
Sunday, July 20, 2014
A Podcast about Podcasts
I love making podcasts! I think it is so much fun and such a cool tool! I use SoundCloud and learn something new every time I use it.
I do am changing schools and school district next year, so I currently don't have a school issued laptop or a teacher web page, but as soon as I do, I plan on making a podcast introducing myself to my new community. I look forward to putting my new tips into action next year!
I do am changing schools and school district next year, so I currently don't have a school issued laptop or a teacher web page, but as soon as I do, I plan on making a podcast introducing myself to my new community. I look forward to putting my new tips into action next year!
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Videos and QR Codes in the Library
I am having to change my thinking about YouTube. I have always thought of YouTube as a "toy," something that people play with to watch funny videos. I know it's more than that. My husband watches How-To videos all the time, that's just not where my mind is. I liked seeing the videos that the different libraries created. Kids love YouTube and I know that just having a video on there would entice them. YouTube could be used to publish book trailers, advertise fundraisers, give how to's to teachers, students, and parents, and to assist both students and their parents with assignments.
I am very interested in the book trailer aspect of all of this. I wanted to make book trailers with my 4th graders last year and I just didn't ever get it together. That is part of why I started following Watch. Connect. Read. I wish I'd known then, what I know now.
The Unquiet Library
1. Most helpful- Finding and Using Wikimedia Commons
Any of Buffy Hamilton's instructional videos would be helpful to students... I found them helpful for me. I liked this one because it was something I was unfamiliar with.
2. Most appealing- The Importance of Choice for Igniting Student Passion and Learning Through Research Projects
I think students will like this video because it showcases one of their peers and her creativity. I think students would find it inspirational and motivational to see an amazing project that one of their peers was able to create and be recognized for.
BBMS Media
1. Most Helpful- BBMS Integration Poem
This is a moving piece that has many student collaborators and could be used in many different ways. It could be used to promote the school on the inside or on the outside. It is also a great example of what the students' capabilities are.
2. Most Appealing- Taylor Swift Hates Overdue Library Books
Students would enjoy any of the parodies that these students made reminding them to get their library books turned in. I thought students would particularly like this one because it parodies many of Taylor Swift's songs.
This school's video's were my favorite (not just the ones linked here, all of them!) You can tell the kids had fun making these.
Pikesville HS Library
1. Most helpful- The Pikesville Library in Action- Fall 2013
It looks like the librarian makes an updates video each year. This video is very visually appealing and is a great overview of the vision that the librarian has for the library.
2. Most appealing- Wii Like to Party @ the Panther's Library
I think this would appeal to students because the graphics are almost cell phone like, and it is showing a large number of students using and having fun in the library. It makes the library look like a welcoming place.
2. Most appealing- Norman High School Library Rocks
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mr. Popper painted and papered houses in the pretty little city of Stillwater. To look at him with his vacant expression and paint-spattered clothes and hair, one would never imagine that he would one day be the most famous person in Stillwater.
I am very interested in the book trailer aspect of all of this. I wanted to make book trailers with my 4th graders last year and I just didn't ever get it together. That is part of why I started following Watch. Connect. Read. I wish I'd known then, what I know now.
The Unquiet Library
1. Most helpful- Finding and Using Wikimedia Commons
Any of Buffy Hamilton's instructional videos would be helpful to students... I found them helpful for me. I liked this one because it was something I was unfamiliar with.
2. Most appealing- The Importance of Choice for Igniting Student Passion and Learning Through Research Projects
I think students will like this video because it showcases one of their peers and her creativity. I think students would find it inspirational and motivational to see an amazing project that one of their peers was able to create and be recognized for.
BBMS Media
1. Most Helpful- BBMS Integration Poem
This is a moving piece that has many student collaborators and could be used in many different ways. It could be used to promote the school on the inside or on the outside. It is also a great example of what the students' capabilities are.
2. Most Appealing- Taylor Swift Hates Overdue Library Books
Students would enjoy any of the parodies that these students made reminding them to get their library books turned in. I thought students would particularly like this one because it parodies many of Taylor Swift's songs.
This school's video's were my favorite (not just the ones linked here, all of them!) You can tell the kids had fun making these.
Pikesville HS Library
1. Most helpful- The Pikesville Library in Action- Fall 2013
It looks like the librarian makes an updates video each year. This video is very visually appealing and is a great overview of the vision that the librarian has for the library.
2. Most appealing- Wii Like to Party @ the Panther's Library
I think this would appeal to students because the graphics are almost cell phone like, and it is showing a large number of students using and having fun in the library. It makes the library look like a welcoming place.
The Norman High School Library
1. Most helpful- Poetry for Students
This video was made for a particular class, but it was thorough and in depth. Like many of the other "helpful" videos, this librarian has made many videos that I can see being useful to the students.
This video was made for a particular class, but it was thorough and in depth. Like many of the other "helpful" videos, this librarian has made many videos that I can see being useful to the students.
2. Most appealing- Norman High School Library Rocks
This video is fun and fast paced. It has extra graphics that make is fun to watch. It's a good introduction to the high school library.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
(I see on some people's blogs, pictures next to text. What am I missing? Why can't I do that?)
Mr. Popper painted and papered houses in the pretty little city of Stillwater. To look at him with his vacant expression and paint-spattered clothes and hair, one would never imagine that he would one day be the most famous person in Stillwater.
Once the house-painting season is over, Mr. Popper settles in for the winter to read his travel books. He dreams of going to Antarctica one day; in fact, he never tires of reading about the South Pole. But one day the South Pole comes to him, in the form of a penguin in a package sent from the Antarctic explorer Admiral Drake. The penguin, dubbed Captain Cook after the "gook" sound he makes, lives with the Popper family, puts a strain on their modest means, and creates quite a stir in little Stillwater. Mr. Popper and his penguin are photographed together during a stroll around town, and this sparks the interest of the national press.
Soon, Captain Cook has a companion. A penguin named Greta arrives by mail, and to keep them happy, Mr. Popper has a large freezing plant installed in his cellar, where Greta begins laying eggs, and two penguins turn into eight. What will Popper do with all these penguins? Well, teach them to perform, of course! And before long, they're a traveling act: the Popper Performing Penguins.
Synopsis is from scholastic.com
Scan the QR code for the book trailer!
Book Trailer Reflection
I know this book is an oldie, but a goodie. I am reading it to my kids right now, so I chose to do it while it was fresh in my mind. My kids love this book and enjoyed the penguin pictures that I put into the trailer.
I could not figure out how to get an account that would give me much freedom with out paying for it. (And it is a good tool, so I'm not opposed to paying for it, but I would rather see if my school would pay for it) I followed the link that was provided for us for an educator's account, but I was still limited to 30 seconds. I also couldn't change colors or add hardly an text. I really liked the simplicity of animoto and the finished products that I browsed, but I couldn't figure out how to do what I was seeing on others. I am just assuming there are a lot of limitations with the free account that I wouldn't have had with a paid subscription.
QR Codes in the Library
Our school used QR codes for several scavenger hunts during the year. In April, my class made Seussism videos with the librarian, and she linked them to QR codes and posted them around the school. Classes could use the scavenger hunt as they wanted. When students turned in completed answer sheets to the librarian they got a spirit stick. It was very fun, the kids and teachers all loved it, and it got the whole school talking Dr. Seuss!
We also did a career day scavenger hunt with QR codes. Parents emailed videos of themselves at work, and the videos were used in a scavenger hunt the same way as the Seussisms.
In the classroom, I have used them as a way of self checking answers. You could also use the QR codes for directions on an activity or in a center. I never made them though. I like that not only can I make QR codes now, but I can also make the videos behind them!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Blogs and Blog Readers
I cannot lie... looking at blogs nauseates me! It ALWAYS makes me feel inadequate, like I don't do enough in my classroom. I always wonder "who are these people? Do they really teach in addition to making amazing things for their classrooms and for others, along with having spotless classrooms ready to be photographed on a whim and blogged about?" The same is true of the librarian blogs. How do these people have time to create such elaborate and thoughtful posts, materials, and reviews, along with their job? I can barely organize their blogs, let alone imagine creating what they create. It amazes me!
I am still not entirely sure what Tumblr is... I even read an article called "What is Tumblr". Is it like Facebook, but without the friends? Is it more comparable to pinterest? Is it just another blog reader? Still not quite sure...
I chose Bloglovin as my blog reader. To me, it was more aesthetically appealing than the others. I also found it easier to search for blogs. It would auto populate as I was searching, which would help me find the blog I was looking for, but would also allow me to see other blogs as well. I also liked that it would recommend other similar blogs to the blog that I started following.
There are some teacher blogs that I follow, but I used this project to look for "librarian friendly" blogs. I found these blogs through pinterest. Pinterest is almost like a search engine for blogs.
I began following School Library Displays This was one of the recommendations from Dr. Perry, but was also popping up on pinterest. I like that this is a forum where librarians can post displays that can be looked at. It's a great reference tool for librarians.
I also began following The Bookfairy Goddess. Her website is a compilation of library tips. She has technology information, displays, books, lessons, ect. Her blog is cute, catchy and easy to follow. While I was looking at her items on pinterest, I came across Library Learners and realized I was looking at a blog created by the librarian at my husbands school. Her name is Cari Young and her blog was amazing! She has great ideas for centers in the library. The ideas were ones I would use in my classroom now as well. It was a great compilation of materials and ideas in one place. I had no idea that I had such a valuable resource so close to home!
I wanted to round out my blog collection, so I found one that focused on books and one that focused on technology. I found Mr. Schu Reads. His blog was a plethora of reading knowledge. I particularly liked that he had book trailers, author interviews and book reviews. Dr. Perry also had us follow him on twitter so his blog is an extension of that. The technology blog I came across was Technology Rocks. Seriously. She has posts for free apps, how to use apps, and technology tidbits. She also has free printables which don't all relate to technology, but they are cute none-the-less.
This is just a start. I know as I continue on this journey, that my followings will grow (and hopefully my followers as well) as I figure this all out. :)
I am still not entirely sure what Tumblr is... I even read an article called "What is Tumblr". Is it like Facebook, but without the friends? Is it more comparable to pinterest? Is it just another blog reader? Still not quite sure...
I chose Bloglovin as my blog reader. To me, it was more aesthetically appealing than the others. I also found it easier to search for blogs. It would auto populate as I was searching, which would help me find the blog I was looking for, but would also allow me to see other blogs as well. I also liked that it would recommend other similar blogs to the blog that I started following.
There are some teacher blogs that I follow, but I used this project to look for "librarian friendly" blogs. I found these blogs through pinterest. Pinterest is almost like a search engine for blogs.
I began following School Library Displays This was one of the recommendations from Dr. Perry, but was also popping up on pinterest. I like that this is a forum where librarians can post displays that can be looked at. It's a great reference tool for librarians.
I also began following The Bookfairy Goddess. Her website is a compilation of library tips. She has technology information, displays, books, lessons, ect. Her blog is cute, catchy and easy to follow. While I was looking at her items on pinterest, I came across Library Learners and realized I was looking at a blog created by the librarian at my husbands school. Her name is Cari Young and her blog was amazing! She has great ideas for centers in the library. The ideas were ones I would use in my classroom now as well. It was a great compilation of materials and ideas in one place. I had no idea that I had such a valuable resource so close to home!
I wanted to round out my blog collection, so I found one that focused on books and one that focused on technology. I found Mr. Schu Reads. His blog was a plethora of reading knowledge. I particularly liked that he had book trailers, author interviews and book reviews. Dr. Perry also had us follow him on twitter so his blog is an extension of that. The technology blog I came across was Technology Rocks. Seriously. She has posts for free apps, how to use apps, and technology tidbits. She also has free printables which don't all relate to technology, but they are cute none-the-less.
This is just a start. I know as I continue on this journey, that my followings will grow (and hopefully my followers as well) as I figure this all out. :)
Monday, July 14, 2014
Infographic Project
Trying to embed the infographic was an adventure in itself. I first used the code like we did for the twitter post, but the infographic came out way too big. I couldn't figure out a way to resize it without redoing the whole thing. I saved it as a PDF, but could not find a way to embed the PDF. With the help of my darling husband, we saved the PDF as a jpeg, and were able to use the jpeg. This was the biggest we could make it though, so I am also including the link and the citation if you need to see it bigger.
-page-001+(1).jpg)
https://s3.amazonaws.com/easel.ly/all_easels/457352/ParentsChildrenLibrariesandReading/image.jpg
Miller, C., Rainie, L., Purcell, K., & Zickuhr, K. (2013, May 1). Parents, Children, Libraries, and Reading.
Pew Internet Libraries RSS. Retrieved July 14, 2014,
from http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/05/01/parents-children-libraries-and-reading/
**74 pages**
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Following Others On Twitter Cont.
Well, big pat on the back to me! Thanks for the Screencast-o-matic Dr. Perry!
The Daring Librarian @Gwynethjones
Jim Lerman @jimlerman
Kathy Schrock @kathyschrock
The Daring Librarian @Gwynethjones
The best and worst education news of 2014--so far http://t.co/CBdlvHqzlk via @washingtonpost via @larryferlazzo #tlchat #edchat
— Joyce Valenza (@joycevalenza) June 24, 2014
This is an interesting article which was retweeted (is that a word?) by Gwyneth Jones.Jim Lerman @jimlerman
The Tech Detectives: Students Take Ownership of Technology http://t.co/tTagJ8IdPk
— Jim Lerman (@jimlerman) July 5, 2014
Stories like this make me wonder if teachers will ever get ahead of the students. In theory we should be, but in reality, will we be?Kathy Schrock @kathyschrock
Updated my online tools page with lots of new things! Added links to those with Chrome apps. http://t.co/YYx35fYQdd
— Kathy Schrock (@kathyschrock) July 4, 2014
Well, I have a sad little spread sheet with 1/100 of this information. I guess I will give up my sad little spread sheet and bookmark this site instead!Following Others on Twitter
Buffy Hamilton @Buffyjhamilton
Linda Braun @lbraun2000
Tony Vincent @tonyvincent
I am going to pause and publish here to make sure this is turning out the way I want it to! If this goes as planned, I will be giving myself a big pat on the back (if not, back to the drawing board!)
America's 10 Most Unique Libraries (PHOTOS) http://t.co/Zp7HILuQCr
— Buffy Hamilton (@buffyjhamilton) July 1, 2014
I am impressed by how many of these libraries are in Texas!Linda Braun @lbraun2000
Gr8 post RT @yalsa: From YALSABlog: Don’t Call Them Dropouts http://t.co/Abb9h1e6kC #diversityandequity #reports
— Linda W Braun (@lbraun2000) July 4, 2014
This is a really interesting article. I really liked what Linda Braun has tweeted.Tony Vincent @tonyvincent
Ever heard of Plickers, Quick Key, Kahoot, Silent Light? These + more in this infographic for teachers: http://t.co/rHOSFFl1Et #slide2learn
— Tony Vincent (@tonyvincent) July 2, 2014
What teacher couldn't use this? This is amazing!I am going to pause and publish here to make sure this is turning out the way I want it to! If this goes as planned, I will be giving myself a big pat on the back (if not, back to the drawing board!)
Friday, July 4, 2014
Hmmm... facebook for school libraries. My first thought is, who is the intended audience? Students? Parents? Community members? All of the above? (For some of the "lonely" facebook pages I visited, none of the above?)
I visited an elementary, a middle school, and a high school library facebook page. The middle school and high school pages had around 60 likes each and the elementary page had around 120 likes. I thought that was interesting, since at the elementary should only be appealing to adults since kids aren't technically supposed to have facebook accounts and both the middle and high school should have had both student and adult followers.
The elementary facebook page I visited was the most interesting. The librarian posted frequently, a few times a week, and included links and pictures of students in her posts. She also had a cool project that she was trying to get going, which I thought was so cool. (check it out at Littlefreelibrary.org)
I think at the middle school and high school level, the librarian has to decide who the target audience is, and appeal to that audience. The ones I veiwed didn't seem appealing to students, but the links that were shared wouldn't be enough to interest me as a parent or as a teacher.
As an elementary parent, I would want to see current research regarding reading, new and popular titles, activities that the library is promoting and evidence of those activities through pictures and posts.
I am not currently a librarian, and I am starting at a new school in the fall, so it would probably be stepping on toes to start a facebook page for my new school library... but maybe in the fall once I've had a chance to get to know the librarian!
I visited an elementary, a middle school, and a high school library facebook page. The middle school and high school pages had around 60 likes each and the elementary page had around 120 likes. I thought that was interesting, since at the elementary should only be appealing to adults since kids aren't technically supposed to have facebook accounts and both the middle and high school should have had both student and adult followers.
The elementary facebook page I visited was the most interesting. The librarian posted frequently, a few times a week, and included links and pictures of students in her posts. She also had a cool project that she was trying to get going, which I thought was so cool. (check it out at Littlefreelibrary.org)
I think at the middle school and high school level, the librarian has to decide who the target audience is, and appeal to that audience. The ones I veiwed didn't seem appealing to students, but the links that were shared wouldn't be enough to interest me as a parent or as a teacher.
As an elementary parent, I would want to see current research regarding reading, new and popular titles, activities that the library is promoting and evidence of those activities through pictures and posts.
I am not currently a librarian, and I am starting at a new school in the fall, so it would probably be stepping on toes to start a facebook page for my new school library... but maybe in the fall once I've had a chance to get to know the librarian!
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