Moving Right Along...Tool #4

I've worked with Google Docs for a couple of years now. I used it daily while I was the secretary in the Special Education program at Northbrook High School. I really think it is a useful tool...very similar to Dropbox, but I'm thinking maybe a little different. I think within my departments (I teach ELA & W GEO) this tool help in planning, roadmapping, even creating tests and quizzes for the classes.

I thought this VIDEO would be appropriate for my TOOLS PROGRESS!! MOVING RIGHT ALONG Foot Loose and Fancy Free!!!!

In all Seriousness Tool #3

VIDEO # 1 Be a Good Digital Citizen
I actually used this video in my World Geography class when we discussed how to be a good citizen. It was important for them to know that they don't just need to be a good citizen in their community or at school, but also on the web. All of them are students of the digital age and they need to know how to   not only protect themselves, but know that what they do on the web is out there for all to see. 

VIDEO#2 School Rock Adjectives
I used this video last week to help remind my kids that they need to add more detail to their expository descriptive writing. It is a bit old school, but they seemed to enjoy it and were very attentive. 

I've always known about copyright laws and the sort, but didn't quite understand the seriousness of it until now. I actually am planning to do a lesson on plagiarism this week, because my students will doing a research project. This will actually be the perfect time to go over copyright laws as well. I think the video with the dude signing would be good to show my 6th graders...even the cartoon compilation might me appropriate...BTWI loved it!

The Dropbox tool can be very helpful in the classroom. Although, I think I may stick with Google Docs. The two are very similar. I will have to navigate through Dropbox more to see which one I would prefer. It would be a great help in the classroom, especially when it comes to using Turnitin.com as well. 

Generation Tool#2

In this day and age, I think it is important to be apart of an online community. This generation of kids is all about technology and getting the news here and now. It is all we can do to keep up with them and make ourselves more online community savvy in every aspect that we can. I did comment on a colleagues Blog and it felt just fine. I've had experience with putting myself out there publicly by what I think through Twitter and Facebook. So, this wasn't such a big deal to comment on someones Blog. I subscribed to different RSS Feeds through Google Reader including the three below. I love quotes and I think I can use them as motivational tools with myself as well as with my students. Sometimes it is our words that stick in our students mind and a good quote now and then wouldn't hurt. I subscribed to the Psychology Blog, because my major in college was psychology and the human mind just fascinates me. The education Blog...well that's just a given. Talking about My Generation...on to Tool #3!

Quotes Famous Quotes - Famous Sayings

http://quotes.wordpress.com/feed/

PsyBlog

http://feeds.feedburner.com/PsychologyBlog

Education: News & Videos about Education - CNN.com

http://rss.cnn.com/rss/cnn_education.rss

Be about it...

So, here I am another week later or so and I still haven't completed this 11 tools stuff. I have to, no excuses get it done before I return to work on Monday. Why not do it now while I'm watching The Crow...seems like a perfect time. Turkey day was Great, even though I forgot to turn the oven on and the turkey was wasting its time in a cold oven for an hour and a half or so. Still blessed that I have an oven to put it in and an actual bird to munch on. Spent the day with my parents and my cats, listened to a little DMB...always puts me in a Happy Mood. I truly enjoy this 5 day break...it was well needed. I still have lots of work to do. I need to grade papers, work on lesson plans, and well finish this 11 tools stuff. Tired of talking about it; I need to be about it. Man, I had forgotten how much I love The Crow and its soundtrack...Awesome. Off to be about it.

Focus...

One week later...I still can't seem to finish this 11 tools thing and its driving me crazy. I think I have issues with focusing. I need to finish for sure before we return from Thanksgiving break (can't wait for that little breaky break), because my kids will be doing research and I need the technology in the classroom to accommodate their needs. I should be completing another section, but here I am thinking out loud instead. I am LOVING my new job as a teacher, more than I originally thought I would. I have so much to learn and am grateful for the mentors I have in my life helping guide me along my journey through my first year. I do have fears that maybe I'm not good enough, maybe I'm not teaching them anything, or maybe I'm not making learning fun. I'm sure I'm not the first one to ever think this way...whatever the outcome I know deep down that those fears are meaningless...I try to remain positive, happy, and receptive to help uphold my sanity. DYNAMO just scored!!!!! Focus Mari, Focus.

Better late than never...

It's 10:30 at night, and I should be in bed by now. It's taken me longer than I intended to begin this 11 Tools training...but I know that I can't wait any longer. It seems like the days are flying by and most of the time it feels like there are not enough hours in the day to prepare what I need to. I think the Blogger "look" has changed since the directions were given to help...so I'm having a little bit of trouble navigating around. I should know how to do this stuff...but I don't. Wishing myself luck that I get through the next 10 steps...I know I can do it!