As a teacher, I have had to face the fact that there are just those kids you can't help. You can try, get sad, get mad, try more, and get intervention. So these are my failures:
The kid who two weeks ago threatened to "shoot me between the eyes like he did his neighbor's dog" if I did not pass him. This kid is 15. He had a 48 in my class at the time. A peek at his grades showed he was failing almost every class. This kid has pestered, called me names, called his classmates names, and generally been a pill, besaides not doing his work. The sad thing to me is: just the week before, he had come up to my desk and asked if I could give hime "easier work" because these assignments were "too hard". I asked why he thought they were too hard and it boiled down to he couldn't really read. I went through a project step by step with him, he did it, and he got an 80. This kid isn't coded learning disabled, and he is in 10th grade and couldn't read me simple directions. Then the next week he threatens me. I wrote him up, cops came and took him away, and I haven't seen him again. Today I got his withdraw notice. Did I just doom this kid? Did I help this kid? I don't know. I may not ever know. That's a failure.
The girl, smart girl, with the lip piercings, tatoos, and gutter mouth that I have vowed to turn into a lady if it kills me. It may yet kill me. Today I had a substitute and she made the very young substitute cry because she was trying to help her and the girl called her a bitch. If I leave them with a substitute and they turn into animals, what does that say about me as a teacher? A failure.
The boy who won't do any work. Ever. He got a 5% in my class last six weeks. You have to try very hard not to do any work to get a 5%. He can spend an entire class period doing nothing. I have six pages of notes on him that basically say "nothing works". How can he get to be 16 years old and sit for hours in a class and do nothing? I have 27 other kids in that class and can't give this kid the one on one attention he needs to do his work. That's a failure.
So, today my team mates and I spent the whole day doing curriculum planning while our classes had subs. 8 hours of arguing and arguing more and actually getting SOMETHING accomplished, but when you are in a team of four, there is always some discord. At 3:15 I go back to my now empty room and read the notes from the sub about how LITTLE my students had actually done today. Okay, in all fairness--4 out of the 6 classes actually worked. The other two acted like idiots. This is enough to make anyone depressed. So at 4:00 (early for me) I have decided I had enough and troop downstairs to sign out. I am greated by the Principal and School Improvement Facilitator. Remember, I am depressed and I am a failure this week.
The principal writes a Monday newsletter to staff, which curiously we get on Tuesdays, but is still called the Monday newsletter by all. The Monday/Tuesday Newsletter this week mentioned a teacher who, when faced with a student who did not turn ina major project, said "we both missed the boat here" interpretted to mean when my students don't turn in projects, I AM TO BLAME. Remember--I am a FAILURE.
Therefore, I mention to the principal that he had added another degree of guilt to my already heightened degree of FAILURE. He got very quiet. Then I asked him for help on suggestions for getting students MOTIVATED, see story of "boy who will do no work" above, to actually do projects.
Thirty minutes later, I was still in his office. Actually, I was getting a lesson on how to teach English and break a research report into managable steps instead of just assigning "write a research a paper". But in the midst of that, I finally realized--I am NOT a failure. I am NOT the only teacher these kids have ever or will ever have. I will NOT always have good teaching days. Some days I will be a FAILURE. I am not a good teacher unless I have those failures and change because of it, and learn from others. I can't do this if I don't continually change and learn from my mistakes.
So tomorrow, I will sign that withdraw notice and try not to dwell, I will still try to turn Ms. Lip Piercing/Tatoo/Gutter Mouth into a lady, and MAYBE that "I won't do anything" boy will come back from being suspended yet again and miraciously sit down and do some work. Or maybe he won't. But I will still keep trying.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Connections in High School-or how important they still are 30 years later
Wow-has it really been August 9 since I last posted? Time flies when you are having fun, or in my case, when you roldest leaves for college, your youngest starts driving, and you begin your first full year of teaching and SIX CLASSES that are your own, from start to finish. One of them I would like to trade in, but that is for another post.
I was inspired this week by another event--my birthday. What was so unusual--maybe not so anymore--I received only ONE birthday card in the mail and TWO phone calls (my mother and my mother in law); TWO e-cards.....and FIFTY-SEVEN birthday wishes on Facebook! Wow-I've never ever received fifty seven birthday cards. But 57 people stopped to tell me happy birthday on Facebook! Some of them I haven't even seen for 30 years--since high school.
This got me thinking--the relationships we form in high school are so important to us that we are now 30 years later "friending" them on Facebook. So the students sitting in my classroom fliritng with the cute girl acroos from them while I am trying to teach and making them BE QUIET will maybe in 30 years still be communicating with each other--on some sequel to Facebook; probably something implanted in their ears.
At the six week mark this year I decided my students were getting a little TOO comfortable with their seatmates and switched everyone around. Okay teachers--we really know this is so you can move the bad kids right up next to you, but you have to move EVERYONE to make it fair.
Today I did my first group assignment in a while and let them choose a partner or a group of three. Almost without fail, they all went BACK to their original seats and whomever was sitting next to them at the start of school. Hmm. Should I have left them? Evidently they formed a bond.
So I look at my Facebook friend list--specifically the growing group from my high school days. Oh yes--I sat next to him in Geometry. And I sat next to her in English-10th grade. Meistersingers--the singing group I was in 11th and 12th--don't even get me started. I can still tell you who sat on BOTH sides of me, both years. All boys(maybe that is why I remember). Two of them--still my good buddies today (Kelly and Chester)--and my Facebook friends!
So here's to ALL of the people we sit next to in high school, who 30 years later remember to tell us Happy Birthday. Maybe I won't move my kids around so much!
I was inspired this week by another event--my birthday. What was so unusual--maybe not so anymore--I received only ONE birthday card in the mail and TWO phone calls (my mother and my mother in law); TWO e-cards.....and FIFTY-SEVEN birthday wishes on Facebook! Wow-I've never ever received fifty seven birthday cards. But 57 people stopped to tell me happy birthday on Facebook! Some of them I haven't even seen for 30 years--since high school.
This got me thinking--the relationships we form in high school are so important to us that we are now 30 years later "friending" them on Facebook. So the students sitting in my classroom fliritng with the cute girl acroos from them while I am trying to teach and making them BE QUIET will maybe in 30 years still be communicating with each other--on some sequel to Facebook; probably something implanted in their ears.
At the six week mark this year I decided my students were getting a little TOO comfortable with their seatmates and switched everyone around. Okay teachers--we really know this is so you can move the bad kids right up next to you, but you have to move EVERYONE to make it fair.
Today I did my first group assignment in a while and let them choose a partner or a group of three. Almost without fail, they all went BACK to their original seats and whomever was sitting next to them at the start of school. Hmm. Should I have left them? Evidently they formed a bond.
So I look at my Facebook friend list--specifically the growing group from my high school days. Oh yes--I sat next to him in Geometry. And I sat next to her in English-10th grade. Meistersingers--the singing group I was in 11th and 12th--don't even get me started. I can still tell you who sat on BOTH sides of me, both years. All boys(maybe that is why I remember). Two of them--still my good buddies today (Kelly and Chester)--and my Facebook friends!
So here's to ALL of the people we sit next to in high school, who 30 years later remember to tell us Happy Birthday. Maybe I won't move my kids around so much!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Thing 11.5 Evaluation
Wow-I am all done and have learned some amazing new tools for my classroom. I have enjoyed "playing" with all of you in this exercise and have gained valuable insight from the other blog posts I have read and all your experiences. As an HISD teacher, there are so many resources that are out there that I don't have access to, and I am so happy to find some alternatives that I that will work in my classroom.
The one tool I will put to immediate use is Screencasting. This was by far my favorite "Thing" and I was thinking last night how I could use this with my ESL students who need visuals to fully understand many of the concepts I teach in BCIS.
Second Life still intimidates me of all of the "Things" I have learned, but I guess one out of 11 isn't too bad!
The one tool I will put to immediate use is Screencasting. This was by far my favorite "Thing" and I was thinking last night how I could use this with my ESL students who need visuals to fully understand many of the concepts I teach in BCIS.
Second Life still intimidates me of all of the "Things" I have learned, but I guess one out of 11 isn't too bad!
Thing #11 Digital Citizenship
The last, and possibily the easiest, THING for me to do!
I taught an entire until on Digital Citizenship last year and own the book. I also had two classrooms of ninth graders participate in the Digiteen Project which is an online collaboration project with 20 schools all over the world participating in a study of digital citizenship.
So here is a SHORT synopsis of my unit, as taught to 9th grade:
-Introduction to the idea of Video Citizenship by watching Frontline PBS Special "Growing Up Online" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
-Look at website and discover 9 elements of digital citizenship http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
-Creating a Wiki Dictionary with digital citizenship vocabulary http://whswega.wikispaces.com
-Powerpoint Presentations on one vocabulary word of their choice
-Ongoing participation in Digiteen Project (this was a 6 week project), which was the "meat" of the unit
-"Elluminate" discussion with author Mike Ribble (yes, we really got to speak to him virtually).
This was by far the coolest unit I taught last Spring, but it got an interesting reaction from my students. Because they are all digital citizens and I am a digital immigrant, they thought all of this was "just common sense". Their parents, on the other hand, were pretty amazed--I actually had a mother come in for a conference so I could give her a hands on demonstration of a wiki, which she was trying to learn at work!
I taught an entire until on Digital Citizenship last year and own the book. I also had two classrooms of ninth graders participate in the Digiteen Project which is an online collaboration project with 20 schools all over the world participating in a study of digital citizenship.
So here is a SHORT synopsis of my unit, as taught to 9th grade:
-Introduction to the idea of Video Citizenship by watching Frontline PBS Special "Growing Up Online" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
-Look at website and discover 9 elements of digital citizenship http://www.digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html
-Creating a Wiki Dictionary with digital citizenship vocabulary http://whswega.wikispaces.com
-Powerpoint Presentations on one vocabulary word of their choice
-Ongoing participation in Digiteen Project (this was a 6 week project), which was the "meat" of the unit
-"Elluminate" discussion with author Mike Ribble (yes, we really got to speak to him virtually).
This was by far the coolest unit I taught last Spring, but it got an interesting reaction from my students. Because they are all digital citizens and I am a digital immigrant, they thought all of this was "just common sense". Their parents, on the other hand, were pretty amazed--I actually had a mother come in for a conference so I could give her a hands on demonstration of a wiki, which she was trying to learn at work!
Thing #10 Second Life
I have a 16 year old son who is a major gamer. When I told him this assignment was to create an avatar and explore Second Life he rolled his eyes at me. Mom--it is a VIDEO GAME-and you HATE VIDEO GAMES. So I trudged in expecting to hate it!
It is now 5 hours later and I can't stop exploring. Weirdly, my name is Dean Jestyr. I tried to pick my real first name and it told me all the last names are taken (lot of Kims, I guess). Don't tell anybody but Dean is my high school boyfriend's name. Then it gave me a list of last names I could pick!
I initially had a difficult time with the commands and I am still pretty slow with it. So I have not had a lot of communication with others in Second Life today because I am still figuring it out. Mostly have been a passive observer, which is not the point, but a good start. I am enjoying reading others postings about this expereince, becasue htere is so much to see and do--and I need to figure out how to find it all! There is an amazing body of work out there, and I can see endless possibilities for the classroom. I go back to work tomorrow--I am assumming Second Life is blocked like everything else so I am going ot have to try and figure out how I can use it.
It is now 5 hours later and I can't stop exploring. Weirdly, my name is Dean Jestyr. I tried to pick my real first name and it told me all the last names are taken (lot of Kims, I guess). Don't tell anybody but Dean is my high school boyfriend's name. Then it gave me a list of last names I could pick!
I initially had a difficult time with the commands and I am still pretty slow with it. So I have not had a lot of communication with others in Second Life today because I am still figuring it out. Mostly have been a passive observer, which is not the point, but a good start. I am enjoying reading others postings about this expereince, becasue htere is so much to see and do--and I need to figure out how to find it all! There is an amazing body of work out there, and I can see endless possibilities for the classroom. I go back to work tomorrow--I am assumming Second Life is blocked like everything else so I am going ot have to try and figure out how I can use it.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Thing #9 Slideshare
Here is a slideshow I created to introduce myself to my classes at the beginning of the year:
Once you upload your slideshow to Slideshare, you can then make it into a Slidecast by adding an mp3 file. I tried this, but had technical difficulties with the mp3 file. For one; slideshare does not host audio files, so you have to upload your audio file from somewhere else. I think it would make it much easier if slideshare hosted audio files or allowed you to create one right from its website.
Here is one I created last year to market our Westside Engineering and Geosciences program to 8th graders who might be interested in applying:
I think this is another very useful way for students to share their Powerpoint Presentations without having to actually insert them into an e-mail, and a good teaching tool for presentations in general. This is also useful as a research site if students and teachers are looking for examples of presentation to use for a particular topic. Like YouTube and video sources, you can organize and search by tagwords and by category.
All About Me
View more presentations from kaclayton1.
Once you upload your slideshow to Slideshare, you can then make it into a Slidecast by adding an mp3 file. I tried this, but had technical difficulties with the mp3 file. For one; slideshare does not host audio files, so you have to upload your audio file from somewhere else. I think it would make it much easier if slideshare hosted audio files or allowed you to create one right from its website.
Here is one I created last year to market our Westside Engineering and Geosciences program to 8th graders who might be interested in applying:
Westside Engineering And Geosciences Academy
View more presentations from kaclayton1.
I think this is another very useful way for students to share their Powerpoint Presentations without having to actually insert them into an e-mail, and a good teaching tool for presentations in general. This is also useful as a research site if students and teachers are looking for examples of presentation to use for a particular topic. Like YouTube and video sources, you can organize and search by tagwords and by category.
Thing #8-Screencasting
Oh boy--is this one ever fun! I could always think of lessons I could use screencasting for, but never knew it was so easy to create one! Here is a quick screencast I created (complete with errors) to show members of my neighborhood Womens Club, many of whom are older and not very computer literate, how to access and register for our new website for which I am the webmaster. I used Screencastle for this and found it VERY simple to use; I did not need to download any software or special devices, as my computer has a built in microphone.
The one problem I did have is my initial recording was about 4 minutes long and took a very long time to upload; then IE shut down my browser and the upload didn't finish. I re-recorded a "shortened version" of about 2 minutes and did not have a problem.
I would like to see students be able to do this as perhaps an assessment item to show that they know how to perform steps in creating an Excel Spreadshhet!
The one problem I did have is my initial recording was about 4 minutes long and took a very long time to upload; then IE shut down my browser and the upload didn't finish. I re-recorded a "shortened version" of about 2 minutes and did not have a problem.
I would like to see students be able to do this as perhaps an assessment item to show that they know how to perform steps in creating an Excel Spreadshhet!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Thing #7-Video Resources
Here is a link to a video I have used in my classroom http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/
This is a one hour special from PBS about safety on the internet an usuage by teenagers. I used this as part of my Digital Citizenship unit last year. It is a great video and kept the kids very engaged, as it was easy for them to relate to the scenarios presented of online predators, social networking, and indivuals who "create" online identities. I also posted a link to this video to my class Ning last year so that students could review it and parents could watch it at home.
This is a very popular "Did You Know" video about globalization that I have also shown to my business students, only about 5 minutes long and really grabs your attention. I have found this on YouTube but it is also on TeacherTube and other "school district friendly" sites it is also a great video to show at back to school night or when you are trying to convince an audience why it is important to take Business and Technology classes!
I also teach a marketing class and found that in the 2007 Super Bowl, Coca Cola had 4different advertisements each appealing to a different target market. I like to show the videos in class and ask the students to detrmine who the advertiser is trying to target:
This is a one hour special from PBS about safety on the internet an usuage by teenagers. I used this as part of my Digital Citizenship unit last year. It is a great video and kept the kids very engaged, as it was easy for them to relate to the scenarios presented of online predators, social networking, and indivuals who "create" online identities. I also posted a link to this video to my class Ning last year so that students could review it and parents could watch it at home.
This is a very popular "Did You Know" video about globalization that I have also shown to my business students, only about 5 minutes long and really grabs your attention. I have found this on YouTube but it is also on TeacherTube and other "school district friendly" sites it is also a great video to show at back to school night or when you are trying to convince an audience why it is important to take Business and Technology classes!
I also teach a marketing class and found that in the 2007 Super Bowl, Coca Cola had 4different advertisements each appealing to a different target market. I like to show the videos in class and ask the students to detrmine who the advertiser is trying to target:
Thing #6-itouch Applications
Okay, up front, I must admit--I don't own an ipod. Everyone else in my family does, and everytime I have bought one thinking it was for me, someone has taken it before I ever even get to open it. So, amazingly, even though I am pretty savvy (or think I am) on Web 2.0 technologies, this goes to Web 3.0 and I am still getting there. Hey-I am still figuring out all the things my Blackberry can do!
I am the brand new owner of an itouch, though. It came "free" with my college students new computer. So I got it out yesterday to start on this assignment. OMG. Did you know there are 208 different apps for sale on itunes just under "Education"?? And that the top selling apps are for TODDLERS? I am definitely behind the times.
So I have discovered that an itouch can hold about 140 different apps. I found a couple of really cool organizing apps--I especially like one that counts down due dates (Datewheel) , and also a schedule organizer (IstudiezPro) which would be great for my college student. Then I found the Google Apps! Google Earth! I used this last year and didn't know there was an itouch app for it. Oh, and the touch graphing calculator! How cool is that for a Math teacher! A visual that you can plug into your computer without having to have a Smart Board to demonstrate.
I was having a hard time "visioning" why it might be better to use these apps rather than the PC/WEB versions or a thumb drive, but I guess it all goes back to portability and also speed. Last year I was a floating teacher. It would have been good to have these apps all loaded in a portable device where I could just plug it into the projector rather than taking the time to have to access the computer, access the website, and wait, wait, wait burning up valuable class time. I've already made a note I need to buy that cord so I can actually DO THAT this year.
I'm interested to know "Real Life Examples" from somebody that has actually used this in the classroom!
I am the brand new owner of an itouch, though. It came "free" with my college students new computer. So I got it out yesterday to start on this assignment. OMG. Did you know there are 208 different apps for sale on itunes just under "Education"?? And that the top selling apps are for TODDLERS? I am definitely behind the times.
So I have discovered that an itouch can hold about 140 different apps. I found a couple of really cool organizing apps--I especially like one that counts down due dates (Datewheel) , and also a schedule organizer (IstudiezPro) which would be great for my college student. Then I found the Google Apps! Google Earth! I used this last year and didn't know there was an itouch app for it. Oh, and the touch graphing calculator! How cool is that for a Math teacher! A visual that you can plug into your computer without having to have a Smart Board to demonstrate.
I was having a hard time "visioning" why it might be better to use these apps rather than the PC/WEB versions or a thumb drive, but I guess it all goes back to portability and also speed. Last year I was a floating teacher. It would have been good to have these apps all loaded in a portable device where I could just plug it into the projector rather than taking the time to have to access the computer, access the website, and wait, wait, wait burning up valuable class time. I've already made a note I need to buy that cord so I can actually DO THAT this year.
I'm interested to know "Real Life Examples" from somebody that has actually used this in the classroom!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Thing #5-Microblogging
This is an easy Thing to do this morning, as I already have all of these things set up and operational!
Facebook. Facebook is not the enemy in the classroom. Facebook is not the enemy period. Parents and teachers who are scared of Facebook and think it is some kind of cult have never tried it. See my earlier blog post. I am a 46 year old Facebook user and proud of it. Be my friend! Kim Covington Clayton, if you want to find me. "Facebooking" is now making e-mail a dinosaur. This is how our students communicate! You can set up a group for any purpose, and sending a message, document, or video, as well as sharing pictures, is EASIER than e-mailing an entire group.
I have seen the SBISD commentary about not communicating with students via Facebook and whether or not there is a policy. I have some former students (just a handful) that communicate with me via Facebook; I almost think this keeps them honest because if I see e-mails or pictures that are inappropriate I almost always mention it. Furthermore, if I know STUDENTS are watching me, I am not going to say or post anything inappropriate either!
We did have an issue at our school last year that involved Facebook. A student in a classroom illegally hacked into his own Facebook account during class--yes educators, it is called a proxy and just ask your students--they KNOW how to hack through the firewalls), but when the bell rang, left the classroom without logging out. The next class period, the student sitting at that computer placed a threatening message on the first student's Facebook page about a Columbine type shooting which was being planned at our school as a joke. The two students did not know each other. When the first student logged into his Facebook account, he saw the message, realized he had not put it there, and became scared. He immediately reported it to the school, which was the right thing to do, but it caused a panic among students and parents until it was found to be a hoax. The lesson is--not that Facebook is evil, but that students and teachers need to exercise caution, know who they are talking to, and use Facebook safely and ethically, just like anything else on the Internet.
An alternative to using Facebook in the classroom is a Ning. I used a classroom Ning for both student and parent communication last year and plan to also use it this year--I've just taken down the one from last year but my new one is http://whswolvesden.ning.com The kids call this "school Facebook". You can even set up a Parent group on this that the students can't have access to and the parents can chat and blog as well.
Twitter. Also not the enemy or scary. Follow me! kaclayton1 What I really like to follow on Twitter is weather reports, oddly. I follow my congressman. I follow ABC News.
Now, I manage to do all of this AT THE SAME TIME because I have an application that connects this blog, to Twitter, and then to Facebook. So this blog post will show up on my Facebook account and as a Tweet in just a few minutes. Even though Twitter is limited to 140 characters, the Tweet shows up as "Just blogged ths" and then gives a link to click on, so you can acutally tweet much more than 140 characters.
thing #5 down!
Facebook. Facebook is not the enemy in the classroom. Facebook is not the enemy period. Parents and teachers who are scared of Facebook and think it is some kind of cult have never tried it. See my earlier blog post. I am a 46 year old Facebook user and proud of it. Be my friend! Kim Covington Clayton, if you want to find me. "Facebooking" is now making e-mail a dinosaur. This is how our students communicate! You can set up a group for any purpose, and sending a message, document, or video, as well as sharing pictures, is EASIER than e-mailing an entire group.
I have seen the SBISD commentary about not communicating with students via Facebook and whether or not there is a policy. I have some former students (just a handful) that communicate with me via Facebook; I almost think this keeps them honest because if I see e-mails or pictures that are inappropriate I almost always mention it. Furthermore, if I know STUDENTS are watching me, I am not going to say or post anything inappropriate either!
We did have an issue at our school last year that involved Facebook. A student in a classroom illegally hacked into his own Facebook account during class--yes educators, it is called a proxy and just ask your students--they KNOW how to hack through the firewalls), but when the bell rang, left the classroom without logging out. The next class period, the student sitting at that computer placed a threatening message on the first student's Facebook page about a Columbine type shooting which was being planned at our school as a joke. The two students did not know each other. When the first student logged into his Facebook account, he saw the message, realized he had not put it there, and became scared. He immediately reported it to the school, which was the right thing to do, but it caused a panic among students and parents until it was found to be a hoax. The lesson is--not that Facebook is evil, but that students and teachers need to exercise caution, know who they are talking to, and use Facebook safely and ethically, just like anything else on the Internet.
An alternative to using Facebook in the classroom is a Ning. I used a classroom Ning for both student and parent communication last year and plan to also use it this year--I've just taken down the one from last year but my new one is http://whswolvesden.ning.com The kids call this "school Facebook". You can even set up a Parent group on this that the students can't have access to and the parents can chat and blog as well.
Twitter. Also not the enemy or scary. Follow me! kaclayton1 What I really like to follow on Twitter is weather reports, oddly. I follow my congressman. I follow ABC News.
Now, I manage to do all of this AT THE SAME TIME because I have an application that connects this blog, to Twitter, and then to Facebook. So this blog post will show up on my Facebook account and as a Tweet in just a few minutes. Even though Twitter is limited to 140 characters, the Tweet shows up as "Just blogged ths" and then gives a link to click on, so you can acutally tweet much more than 140 characters.
thing #5 down!
Thing #4 LibraryPlay2Play
Thing #4 is using a video uploader, specifically YouTube. Here is a video I created last year of some of my students asking questions to their teacher and 3 other students who were participating in a conference in Qatar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScadLHck3fU I shot the video using a Flip Cam, which if you don't have one is a really cool little handheld video camera that costs about $100 and hold about one hour of video. It is invaluable for student projects and plugs into a USB port right in your computer for uploading with no special software. Very easy for even young students to use and create their own videos. What was awesome about this little project was that we were able to communicate with our classmates over time zones thousands of miles away; they then filmed an answer from Qatar and sent it back and we got to view it in class the next day. Students love to create videos, and it really reinforces the topic and gives the students a creative outlet to express opinions. Most of mine (high school) have phones that can do this, so you don't even need any equipment now a days!
I have found video services such as YouTube, TeacherTube, and SchoolTube to be an invaluable resource in the classroom. You can find a video out there for ANY subject or topic you are trying to cover.
Last year I was trying to introduce my 9th grade engineering students to a Google application called GoogleSketchUp. I found a series of short hands on instructional videos posted on YouTube; by using those videos as well as verbal instructions it made the whole process of learning a new application much easier for my students who are visual learners to follow rather than reading a set of instructions from a handout. I also had the same students create videos of different class projects (mousetrap car trial runs, egg drop contest footage) and then was able to use these when recruiting students for the program for next year.
Now of course, since YouTube is blocked in my district and probably in most districts, I had to convert the file using Zamzar and save it on a flash drive when it would have been simplier to play it directly off YouTube, but a small inconvenience. I have found that Discovery Channel also has very good videos available for teachers at a very low cost and my district uses Ustream, which requires an account but is free of charge.
I have found video services such as YouTube, TeacherTube, and SchoolTube to be an invaluable resource in the classroom. You can find a video out there for ANY subject or topic you are trying to cover.
Last year I was trying to introduce my 9th grade engineering students to a Google application called GoogleSketchUp. I found a series of short hands on instructional videos posted on YouTube; by using those videos as well as verbal instructions it made the whole process of learning a new application much easier for my students who are visual learners to follow rather than reading a set of instructions from a handout. I also had the same students create videos of different class projects (mousetrap car trial runs, egg drop contest footage) and then was able to use these when recruiting students for the program for next year.
Now of course, since YouTube is blocked in my district and probably in most districts, I had to convert the file using Zamzar and save it on a flash drive when it would have been simplier to play it directly off YouTube, but a small inconvenience. I have found that Discovery Channel also has very good videos available for teachers at a very low cost and my district uses Ustream, which requires an account but is free of charge.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thing #3 Library 2 Play 2
Okay-little bit of a blogging break while Spring Branch ISD decided if I could be in the course!
Thing 3 is about video conferencing, which can be Skype or a variety of other programs that are similar. I have just downloaded Skype on my home computer; I had it on my school computer last year but didn't get an opportunity to use it because of TECHNOLOGY (always a problem) --had a very old computer that wouldn't support it--but it seems to work just fine from here.
I am very excited about Skype. Last year we had an audio conference with an author in my classroom; the author was in New York and we could hear him but not see him through a program called Elluminate. The kids could talk on mike and ask questions, even see visuals on a virtual whiteboard, but I think Skype and video conferencing would have been so much better! Also, this would be a way to conduct distance learning if you do not have podcasting capabilities, and I could call into my classroom if I am not there, and even be teaching in multiple classrooms at the same time! I have used video conferencing in my professional life; students need to be equipped with knowledge in this area to be better prepared for the working world.
The one thing I do not like about Skype--and maybe there is a solution I do not see, is that it searches for contacts only through a limited list of supported e-mail servers. Since my primary e-mail is through comcast.net and my secondary e-mail is through my school district, it is difficult if you don't already have a skype name to find someone. I have like 5 e-mail accounts but those are the two I use and have all my contacts.
Thing 3 is about video conferencing, which can be Skype or a variety of other programs that are similar. I have just downloaded Skype on my home computer; I had it on my school computer last year but didn't get an opportunity to use it because of TECHNOLOGY (always a problem) --had a very old computer that wouldn't support it--but it seems to work just fine from here.
I am very excited about Skype. Last year we had an audio conference with an author in my classroom; the author was in New York and we could hear him but not see him through a program called Elluminate. The kids could talk on mike and ask questions, even see visuals on a virtual whiteboard, but I think Skype and video conferencing would have been so much better! Also, this would be a way to conduct distance learning if you do not have podcasting capabilities, and I could call into my classroom if I am not there, and even be teaching in multiple classrooms at the same time! I have used video conferencing in my professional life; students need to be equipped with knowledge in this area to be better prepared for the working world.
The one thing I do not like about Skype--and maybe there is a solution I do not see, is that it searches for contacts only through a limited list of supported e-mail servers. Since my primary e-mail is through comcast.net and my secondary e-mail is through my school district, it is difficult if you don't already have a skype name to find someone. I have like 5 e-mail accounts but those are the two I use and have all my contacts.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Thing #2
Here is my Wordle, which is actually the text from my school's website that talks about HISD's policy about non-discrimination. Boring if you stop to read it, but cool in a Wordle. We oftne assign a collage or a word wall; this is a very cool alternative. You can be creative by rearranging the positioning an size of the words and choosing color schemes.I have used Animoto in the classroom. Last year my 9th graders used this to create video introductions of themseleves for an online collaboration project; we actually saw it first by a class from Qatar using it to do THEIR introductions. This is a very simple way to produce a video, even by very young students. My embed refused to work due to Shockwave; I am still figuring out how to add my sample, which is a video of graduation photos of my son.
I had never seen Bookr before; I found that this works better if you already have a Flickr account, which I do not. This looks suspiciously like a simple form of Powerpoint, and since I teach Powerpoint, I am a little biased. but this would be a great way to teach the concepts of storyboarding, or how to organize thoughts in a logical, sequential manner. It would also be good for young writers or non "techno" folks to create their own book.
Thing #1
I know-it's a weird title. I'm participating in an online professional development of 11.5 More Things, which you can find out about at www.library2play2.blogspot.com which discusses way to use technology more effectively in the classroom.
So my first assignment is to :
Watch this video. We want our students to be able to create videos like this. We want our teachers to facilitate this kind of learning.
The Networked Student; The Movie
( http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=64972&title=The_Networked_Student___The_Movie )
For Thing #1 - Post you thoughts about the student, the video, and the teacher and her role. Can a Librarian play the role depicted in the video?
Okay, so let me explain my experience about this simple assignment, because it gives some great examples of hurdles we come across using technology in the classroom.
I am sitting at my home computer; it is Saturday morning. I click on the link, through Internet Explorer, and my computer immediately shuts down and closes Internet Explorer because it thinks TeacherTube has a virus. Does this 3 times. Being the savvy technology teacher that I am, I also have Firefox. So I open the website with Firefox, and am told I don't have the most current version of Adobe Flash. I click to download, but must close everything else to download, then open it back up again, in Firefox. Only then do I finally get to watch the video.
This is an example of what both teachers and students often go through in the classroom when trying to use technology, mainly because school districts often block video sites and downloads of recent technology for safety purposes. Teachers often have to work hard to find ways around hurdles; many teachers just give up. That is why it is so much easier for teachers to "lecture".
I am in full agreement with the video--students want to be more active participants in learning, and become much more excited about learning when they get to structure how it is and what it is (within guidelines and curriculum, of course) what they learn. The role of a teacher (or librarian) should be that of a facilitator. This is harder on the teacher, but much more rewarding for the students. Also-this is a fairly simple video in terms of production--this could be used in any type of classroom, for any subject, and doesn't require sophisticated equipment to produce. Still, there are so many hurdles to use this technology effectively in our classrooms.
Easier said than done, as most of the non technology classrooms in my school don't have computers for student use, and many non technology teachers are intimidated by their teacher computer, still in 2009. Will we ever get there as educators?
So my first assignment is to :
Watch this video. We want our students to be able to create videos like this. We want our teachers to facilitate this kind of learning.
The Networked Student; The Movie
( http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=64972&title=The_Networked_Student___The_Movie )
For Thing #1 - Post you thoughts about the student, the video, and the teacher and her role. Can a Librarian play the role depicted in the video?
Okay, so let me explain my experience about this simple assignment, because it gives some great examples of hurdles we come across using technology in the classroom.
I am sitting at my home computer; it is Saturday morning. I click on the link, through Internet Explorer, and my computer immediately shuts down and closes Internet Explorer because it thinks TeacherTube has a virus. Does this 3 times. Being the savvy technology teacher that I am, I also have Firefox. So I open the website with Firefox, and am told I don't have the most current version of Adobe Flash. I click to download, but must close everything else to download, then open it back up again, in Firefox. Only then do I finally get to watch the video.
This is an example of what both teachers and students often go through in the classroom when trying to use technology, mainly because school districts often block video sites and downloads of recent technology for safety purposes. Teachers often have to work hard to find ways around hurdles; many teachers just give up. That is why it is so much easier for teachers to "lecture".
I am in full agreement with the video--students want to be more active participants in learning, and become much more excited about learning when they get to structure how it is and what it is (within guidelines and curriculum, of course) what they learn. The role of a teacher (or librarian) should be that of a facilitator. This is harder on the teacher, but much more rewarding for the students. Also-this is a fairly simple video in terms of production--this could be used in any type of classroom, for any subject, and doesn't require sophisticated equipment to produce. Still, there are so many hurdles to use this technology effectively in our classrooms.
Easier said than done, as most of the non technology classrooms in my school don't have computers for student use, and many non technology teachers are intimidated by their teacher computer, still in 2009. Will we ever get there as educators?
Friday, May 8, 2009
The end of the year? Already?
Haven't blogged in a long time! Feel compelled today. Not a good several days. After TAKS testing, students seem to think school is over. This is very difficult for a teacher, who is charged with preparing students for final exams and finishing up coursework, especially in a year with a hurricane disruption. Top this with the fact that I am a first year teacher and started after mid year and you get---stressed. I have to compose a final exam for classes where I am not even sure what was covered between Janaury and March.
My second period class is--lets put this in teacher speak--a CHALLENGE (capitals intended). I co-teach this class with a teacher who will not be returning next year due to--some interesting classroom mangement techniques. Enough said. The behavior in this class has escalated to the point of complete lack of respect for peers and for teachers. The class was giving Powerpoint presentations yesterday; students repeatedly interrupted to heckle and would not remain respectful or even ask appropriate questions. I warned them several times. On the fourth warning (and I shouldn't have even given THAT many) I assigned the entire class an essay on respect as punishment for homework. Complete "screaming meemies" resulted along with several choice comments about my unfairness. I told them if they did not submit it, they would get a nice pass to detention. Today--the day it was due--I got 5 essays turned in out of a class of 23. Of course, the 5 that submitted the essay were NOT the students who were being disrespectful. Eighteen detention passes were handed out, three were immediately in front of me crumpled up and ONE was thrown back at me (she got to go to the dean).
There is a point. This class has been allowed to act disrespectfully all year with no consequences prior to my arrival and therefore, it seems I am in a no win situation. Also, the co-teacher in the room did not back me up. This has possibly been the BEST lesson in classroom mangement for a first year teacher--as to how you have to lay down the law at the beginning of the year, and not now. My supervising teacher Estie TOLD me this. It was--okay--not GREAT to see this in action, but certainly a lesson.
Happy almost end of the year? Glad it is Friday!
My second period class is--lets put this in teacher speak--a CHALLENGE (capitals intended). I co-teach this class with a teacher who will not be returning next year due to--some interesting classroom mangement techniques. Enough said. The behavior in this class has escalated to the point of complete lack of respect for peers and for teachers. The class was giving Powerpoint presentations yesterday; students repeatedly interrupted to heckle and would not remain respectful or even ask appropriate questions. I warned them several times. On the fourth warning (and I shouldn't have even given THAT many) I assigned the entire class an essay on respect as punishment for homework. Complete "screaming meemies" resulted along with several choice comments about my unfairness. I told them if they did not submit it, they would get a nice pass to detention. Today--the day it was due--I got 5 essays turned in out of a class of 23. Of course, the 5 that submitted the essay were NOT the students who were being disrespectful. Eighteen detention passes were handed out, three were immediately in front of me crumpled up and ONE was thrown back at me (she got to go to the dean).
There is a point. This class has been allowed to act disrespectfully all year with no consequences prior to my arrival and therefore, it seems I am in a no win situation. Also, the co-teacher in the room did not back me up. This has possibly been the BEST lesson in classroom mangement for a first year teacher--as to how you have to lay down the law at the beginning of the year, and not now. My supervising teacher Estie TOLD me this. It was--okay--not GREAT to see this in action, but certainly a lesson.
Happy almost end of the year? Glad it is Friday!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
My First Day-Again!
It is a rare thing that you get to have TWO first days of school in the same school year, but here we are, my second first day.
At least there is no hurricane approaching this time. At least I hope not. I think the hurricane might be figurative instead of literal this time.
It was a little chaotic. I don't think the teachers I will be working with had much notice I was coming today. One of them found out I got the job by reading my blog! They were all great sports, though. I didn't have any students today. Thursday is block day; 3 long class periods and an extra period first thing for meetings and such. Don't have any keys. Don't have a parking permit. Don't have a login ID for the computer. Don't even have a classroom--I will be floating and co-teaching 3 periods in the morning and in another classroom for two periods in the afternoon. Is this sounding like a repeat? PATIENCE!
Also-a little, no a lot awkward. For the two class periods in the afternoon I am replacing a teacher who is not leaving, just giving up these two periods for some personal reasons. The students don't know. The circumstances are a little strange; she does not want to be there tomorrow to let the students know why she is leaving. Although she asked for this change, she is understandably very emotional about leaving these students mid year. I can't blame her. But still a strange thing. Might be a difficult afternoon tomorrow.
So TOMORROW day two--day two LAST TIME was the day before the storm. I hope that isn't foreshadowing.
At least there is no hurricane approaching this time. At least I hope not. I think the hurricane might be figurative instead of literal this time.
It was a little chaotic. I don't think the teachers I will be working with had much notice I was coming today. One of them found out I got the job by reading my blog! They were all great sports, though. I didn't have any students today. Thursday is block day; 3 long class periods and an extra period first thing for meetings and such. Don't have any keys. Don't have a parking permit. Don't have a login ID for the computer. Don't even have a classroom--I will be floating and co-teaching 3 periods in the morning and in another classroom for two periods in the afternoon. Is this sounding like a repeat? PATIENCE!
Also-a little, no a lot awkward. For the two class periods in the afternoon I am replacing a teacher who is not leaving, just giving up these two periods for some personal reasons. The students don't know. The circumstances are a little strange; she does not want to be there tomorrow to let the students know why she is leaving. Although she asked for this change, she is understandably very emotional about leaving these students mid year. I can't blame her. But still a strange thing. Might be a difficult afternoon tomorrow.
So TOMORROW day two--day two LAST TIME was the day before the storm. I hope that isn't foreshadowing.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Facebook is not the Enemy
I was at a "gathering" of parents last night; the conversation turned to Facebook. Now, I am a recent Facebook convert. I love it--I see so much communication potential there and besides, it is fun! Parents who have never been on Facebook think it is a cult. They were talking about getting requests from people inviting them to join Facebook and deleting them; then deleting those friends from their e-mail lists! One had the impression that if you joined Facebook, it would immediately contact your entire e-mail list and "start harrassing them". Not true, I explained, you have to physically do this, and people aren't invited to become your friends unless YOU invite them. And even then-they have to then AGREE to be your friends before you can see their profile and Wall. Untrue, they politely informed me, looking at me like I was crazy . Don't you know? You can get on Facebook and SPY on other people without them knowing! It is an invasion of privacy. FACEBOOK IS EVIL!!
Sigh. Now, what I will say is that through one of the lectures I heard given via the Flat Classroom Conference, Facebook is now taking over from MySpace as the most popular social networking site; predicted to happen by March. Texting and social networking messages are now taking over from e-mail; the 18-25 set doesn't e-mail anymore. More and more adults are getting Facebook accounts; once this happens in large numbers the youth will find some other form of communication! Facebook isn't evil. Facebook is just the new form of mass communication. Boy, is it ever effective. Much easier than typing everyone's e-mail address in if you are sending an e-mail to 25 people. Just set up a group! This isn't the future--this is the now.
Remember when we all thought--why in the world do we need an e-mail address? Now, do you know anybody that does NOT have e-mail? And do you look at them weird if they don't?
Facebook is NOT the enemy.
Sigh. Now, what I will say is that through one of the lectures I heard given via the Flat Classroom Conference, Facebook is now taking over from MySpace as the most popular social networking site; predicted to happen by March. Texting and social networking messages are now taking over from e-mail; the 18-25 set doesn't e-mail anymore. More and more adults are getting Facebook accounts; once this happens in large numbers the youth will find some other form of communication! Facebook isn't evil. Facebook is just the new form of mass communication. Boy, is it ever effective. Much easier than typing everyone's e-mail address in if you are sending an e-mail to 25 people. Just set up a group! This isn't the future--this is the now.
Remember when we all thought--why in the world do we need an e-mail address? Now, do you know anybody that does NOT have e-mail? And do you look at them weird if they don't?
Facebook is NOT the enemy.
I got the job!
I got a teaching job! I really, really, did! Well, I am almost there. I just have to get cleared through Human Resources before it is official. Westside High School, here I come! I will be teaching in the Westside Engineering and GeoSciences Academy; two classes of Freshman Technology; three Business Electives yet to be determined.
Flat Classroom Project got me this job. It has gotten me so enthused about emerging technologies in the classroom and how to use them. The team that interviewed me hired me based on my energy level and enthusiasm. I hope I don't let them down! Thank you, Julie Lindsay, Vicki Davis, and Estie, of course, for letting me be involved. Next year, one of these projects will hopefully be a part of my curriculum.
I spent 3 days at Spring Woods this week on sub jobs; I am really going to miss those kids. But it is time to step out on my own and start putting everything I have learned into practice.
Flat Classroom Project got me this job. It has gotten me so enthused about emerging technologies in the classroom and how to use them. The team that interviewed me hired me based on my energy level and enthusiasm. I hope I don't let them down! Thank you, Julie Lindsay, Vicki Davis, and Estie, of course, for letting me be involved. Next year, one of these projects will hopefully be a part of my curriculum.
I spent 3 days at Spring Woods this week on sub jobs; I am really going to miss those kids. But it is time to step out on my own and start putting everything I have learned into practice.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Virtually in Qatar
All weekend I have been in Qatar, only virtually instead of in person. Ms. Cuellar and three of her students, Steve, Erika, and Karla finally made it to the Flat Classroom Conference 2009 after a whirlwind of fundraising and a 21 hour plane ride. I am the substitute "left behind" with the other 6 students. On Friday, we filmed a couple of videos. The first was a video asking questions that the students, most who have not travelled outside of the US, wanted to know about being in a foreign land. See it at http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/video/questions-from-us The second was a funny video showing Ms. Cuellar all of the "forbidden" things her students were doing while she was gone, like texting, talking on the phone, and listening to music. Today we got our answers back from Steve, Erika, and Karla, see it at http://flatclassroomconference.ning.com/video/2410443:Video:5627. I am so proud to hear them speak about their experiences and talk about breaking down cultural stereotypes. They have made friends with students from all over the world and the girls were very surprised at the cultural norms regarding women in a Muslim country! I'm very excited to hear all the stories when they return on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Last minute fundraising pictch for Qatar Trip
Hey-my former students made the paper today! Please see this link and help if you can. I am so excited for Ms. Cuellar and the three students chosen to attend the conference. I will attend virtually! Here's a link to the story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/memorial/news/6208820.html
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Life as a Substitute-Why it is not all bad
I liken substituting to being a grandparent. You get them for a day, rotten them, and then you get to give them back!
Yesterday I was substituting at Spring Woods-not in the classroom I student taught in. I knew a few of the kids, but not most. I had been left a note about a kid in first period being "a challenge". Well, bless this teacher, because I don't know how she gets this kid to do any work. He likes to chat and bother everyone else. Well, so we chatted for awhile and then I told him he had to get to work. He started trying to bargain with me--I'll work for 5 minutes if you...etc. Was going to resort to bribing him with candy (a substitute's best friend, even though you are not supposed to do that--but it is a GRANDPARENT thing) until he mentioned that all of his regular teachers bribe him with candy. Scratch that.
On class period told me I was the meanest sub they had ever had. One told me I was the nicest. One was surprised I knew the trick of unplugging the mouse from the computer and pretending the computer doesn't work (first thing I always check now). At the end of the day..I got to give them all back! Not all bad.
Tomorrow I go to another high school. I have shamelessly marketed myself to all of the Business Computer Information Systems Teachers in the district as "a substitute who knows how to turn on the computers". Evidently, this is in high demand, so I am busy this month!
More later!
Yesterday I was substituting at Spring Woods-not in the classroom I student taught in. I knew a few of the kids, but not most. I had been left a note about a kid in first period being "a challenge". Well, bless this teacher, because I don't know how she gets this kid to do any work. He likes to chat and bother everyone else. Well, so we chatted for awhile and then I told him he had to get to work. He started trying to bargain with me--I'll work for 5 minutes if you...etc. Was going to resort to bribing him with candy (a substitute's best friend, even though you are not supposed to do that--but it is a GRANDPARENT thing) until he mentioned that all of his regular teachers bribe him with candy. Scratch that.
On class period told me I was the meanest sub they had ever had. One told me I was the nicest. One was surprised I knew the trick of unplugging the mouse from the computer and pretending the computer doesn't work (first thing I always check now). At the end of the day..I got to give them all back! Not all bad.
Tomorrow I go to another high school. I have shamelessly marketed myself to all of the Business Computer Information Systems Teachers in the district as "a substitute who knows how to turn on the computers". Evidently, this is in high demand, so I am busy this month!
More later!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Maybe Doha is still alive...
Got a Tweet from my Teacher saying she only needed $3,000 more to get her students to Doha for the Flat Classroom Conference, follow the blog at http://springwoodsgoes2qatar.blogspot.com. I really hope she makes it! Running out of time, alas.
I miss my/Esties students. I miss Estie, too. My house is very quiet in comparison to the classroom! I went up to my son's school today and had a good conversation with one of the CATE teachers there about Junior Achievement Trade Fair (what an experience) and Flat Classroom. I also had a talk with the principal; he is trying to get me job there, but need someone certified in Tech Ed; that test looks like a bear.
Yeah! Just as I was typing Estie called and needs a sub for tomorrow--so I will get to see the kids. She also said she is definitely taking two students, and probably two more. Good news!
More sub work for me! No, that is not the good news--the fact that the kids will get to go to Qatar is!
I miss my/Esties students. I miss Estie, too. My house is very quiet in comparison to the classroom! I went up to my son's school today and had a good conversation with one of the CATE teachers there about Junior Achievement Trade Fair (what an experience) and Flat Classroom. I also had a talk with the principal; he is trying to get me job there, but need someone certified in Tech Ed; that test looks like a bear.
Yeah! Just as I was typing Estie called and needs a sub for tomorrow--so I will get to see the kids. She also said she is definitely taking two students, and probably two more. Good news!
More sub work for me! No, that is not the good news--the fact that the kids will get to go to Qatar is!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
What did she do wrong?
Just reading a blog from my cooperating teacher-she has given up on fundraising to get her students to the Flat Classroom Conference in Doha Qatar this month. Out of the $20,000 needed only $4300 came in. She tried; she really did.
She was optimisitic and idealistic; nothing wrong with either but it is a bad time of year to raise money and a bad economic environment to raise money. Also, I really think, and I could not tell her this because she was so passionate about it, that attending the conference was a luxury and the same experience could be had without spending $20,000 to fly overseas. I would have given up long before she did, actually. Will she use the $4300 and get herself to the conference? I really hope she will. She deserves it; she works very hard for her students and is very passionate about the Flat Classroom project. But the students will able to attend and participate virtually; indeed this is part of global collaoration that sometimes you may never meet your co-workers face to face.
Sorry for the lost opportunity, but a lesson learned.......
She was optimisitic and idealistic; nothing wrong with either but it is a bad time of year to raise money and a bad economic environment to raise money. Also, I really think, and I could not tell her this because she was so passionate about it, that attending the conference was a luxury and the same experience could be had without spending $20,000 to fly overseas. I would have given up long before she did, actually. Will she use the $4300 and get herself to the conference? I really hope she will. She deserves it; she works very hard for her students and is very passionate about the Flat Classroom project. But the students will able to attend and participate virtually; indeed this is part of global collaoration that sometimes you may never meet your co-workers face to face.
Sorry for the lost opportunity, but a lesson learned.......
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