Activity 6 Second Try!

For Quizlet, I'm giving up on trying to embed it and just providing the link to my flashcards.  Here we go:  

 Learning about the World Wide Web - Click Here!

Activity 6 - Study Aids

For this activity, I decided to create one study aid for my Technology position and one for my HP Math position.

In Technology, we spend a lot of time talking about what the internet is, how to maneuver around while on it, and being safe.  I decided to create flashcards based on some of what we talk about.  I used Quizlet and found it incredibly easy.  The challenge was in embedding it in my blog.  For some reason, I had a number of issues getting Quizlet to confirm my account.  Then it wouldn't let me paste HTML code.  I was able to copy but not paste.   I think I have it figured out though (hopefully) below:

<iframe src="http://quizlet.com/24752582/familiarize/embedv2/" height="410" width="100%" style="border:0;"></iframe>


For HP Math, I chose to make a word cloud using Tagxedo.  This was easy and fun for me.  I can see it having some creative applications for my Technology students.   Kids could create one and embed it in their website.  I think they'd love it!

Activity 5 - Youtube Channel

This week's assignment posed a slight dilemma for me.  Two years ago, I set up my own professional Youtube channel (msjoanwolf) and began posting educational podcasts.  This was before we became a google district with gmail.  I have used this channel a lot, have a number of "followers," and have built a bit of an audience over the past few years.   Since I've already spent a lot of time and effort on this channel, I'm not sure I want to create a new one through gmail.  Youtube will not let you upload the same videos to two different channels so I would have to start over again.   So for this assignment, and at this point, I kept my "old" professional channel and uploaded new videos (below.)

I volunteer at the Raptor Center and have seen some amazing, cool, and yes, educational, things.  This year, I plan to integrate some fun math facts from the Raptor Center into my HP math classes.  The two videos below are of one of our American Bald Eagles enjoying a bath.  The other is a very rare chance to hear a Boreal Owl hooting.  Boreal Owls are not in this area. They are very far north.  So this is something you will not hear in the Twin Cities.  I was excited to catch it on tape one day.


Bald Eagle Taking a Bath


Boreal Owl Saying Hello


These are just links to the videos as I am unable to insert videos while being logged in through gmail.  Long, complicated story that I haven't figured out the answer to yet.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the videos!

Calling All Webmasters! - Activity 4

What perfect timing this activity was.  Last year, when I worked with 2nd graders in Technology, they created their own websites using their gmail accounts.  Many of them wanted to do more from home and I provided paper "blueprints" for the kids to help them.  The blueprints were step by step screen shots that I took on my computer and then copied with directions for the kids.  They worked well, but as you can imagine - some kids lost them, they didn't work for all of the learning styles of my students, and various other glitches came up.   I wanted to do a screencasting type of tutorial but I was too overwhelmed learning new things in a new position to add this to my list.   But here it is - and it is SO easy!  I used Screen-O-Matic.  

The one that you see below is a tutorial for kids about how to create the homepage of their own website.  I can't wait to put this to use with my second graders this year.   Woo hoo!  Technology, bring it on!  :)

Activity 3 - Storybird

I love love love writing so I loved loved loved playing with Storybird this week!  I have been looking for different creative ways to expand Technology with my students and this has incredible potential.  

As much as I loved playing around with pictures and text, I did find it challenging to have to stay within the parameters of one artist and the predesigned format of a book.  So with students, I would definitely start by creating a class story.  I think it would be too overwhelming for primary kids to do on their own.  But (like everything), I can see some kids loving this and doing it on their own at home with a parent.  I think it even has potential for use with older struggling readers.  The ideas are endless!   And here we go........

Activity 2: Pimp My Presentation (Or: Feed Your Math Brain #1)

Well here we are in week two.  Part of my position next year will be teaching HP Math to first and second graders (the other part will be teaching Technology, Grades One and Two).  I have wanted to play with the "flipped classroom" idea and thought it would be fun to post math challenges on my website that kids can view at home and bring in answers (or questions) to school.   I played a little bit with Prezi for this idea but found that its format would not work for what I envisioned.  Animoto did the trick and I created my first (rough - still learning!) math "brain food" challenge about Turkey Vultures.   Here it is:

Make your own photo slideshow at Animoto.


As I said, my plan is to post regular math challenges that utilize "real life" examples for kids to use.  I call them "brain food" for the kids' math brain.  Originally, I had thought of creating Youtube videos using Imovie and Garageband but Animoto is quick and easy for some of the simpler math concepts and ideas I will use in the fall.  What fun!

Blog Bling - Activity One

Woo hoo!  The first week of summer camp.  It has been fun to explore some of the features within Blogger.  I can tell already I will be playing with colors, fonts, designs, etc. as we go.  This is one of the aspects I find very fun about blogging and websites.    As for classroom applications...  Last year, I taught Technology to grades one and two and will do the same for part of my position next year.  I felt like I was kind of stumbling around in the dark much of the time as everything was new - being a specialist (as opposed to a classroom teacher), working with first graders, teaching on a cart, etc. etc.   I can't wait for a second year of Technology to refine what I did.  As for which blog site I will utilize, I will probably stick with Blogger since it is already connected with my gmail account.  Last year, I had a technology blog (through Blogger) and posted "think about" types of questions once a week.  Kids could respond online and earn "CARES" incentive coupons.   I plan to continue this next year and would also like to figure out a way that second graders can create their own blogs.  Blogger was blocked on kids' gmail accounts so I want to explore other blog opportunities this summer that primary kids can utilize.  Ideally, I would like kids to be able to connect this with curriculum from their classrooms and help them create a space where they can learn in a different way.

Here is a video about internet safety for kids.  It is a great way to get them to understand how "anybody" can be "anybody" on the web.  There is a picture book that goes along with the video.  Faux Paw was one of our favorite characters last year!