"Meme: Passion Quilt"

"Meme: Passion Quilt" was a completely new concept to me, so I was happy and excited to be tagged by Allison Miller.

If you would like to read more about "Meme: Passion Quilt", here are some great websites!

First of all, I never do chain-letters but I found this quite easy and enjoyable. Plus I was honored by Allison's choosing to tag me. I plan to keep this social networking chain-blog letter going.

So, to follow the rules I have posted a picture from flickr and added a caption!

Presenting Class Blogmeister to My Students!

Now, to answer the question: What am I passionate in 'teaching' my students?

I am passionate in teaching my students to think and create. I have been having my students blog this year to improve writing skills as well as letting the students find their voices. They are encouraged to write their opinions, ideas, and concerns. They are just starting to realize that they can have opinions too. We spend time working on numerous short stories that had been fun to create.

Now for the fourth part of the rules, I now have officially tagged the following people.

Lauren

Kate

Josephine

Joyce

Rachel

If you choose to participate, please follow these rules:

Meme: Passion Quilt rules:

1. Think about what you are passionate about teaching your students.
2. Post a picture from a source like FlickrCC or Flickr Creative Commons or make/take your own that captures what YOU are most passionate about for kids to learn about…and give your picture a short title.
3. Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt” and link back to this blog entry.
4. Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network or whom you follow on Twitter/Pownce.

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Social Networking

I sat here this morning reading Twitter messages and viewing the Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/educon-channel-1

and was amazed and excited about what I was learning through an educational conference called Educon 2.0

While multi-tasking during the morning by reading tweets at twitter, reading/watching a live chat and Ustream, and writing notes for this blog, I realized I wanted to shared what educators at this conference were saying:

* Web 2.0 tools such as social networks, twitter, blogging, wikis, Voicethread, podcasting, and skype (just to name a few) are being used in many schools around the world.

* The use of these tools are increasing in schools across this country.

* One of the problems was that teachers and students were not using these Web 2.0 tools in their classrooms. (Note: It is assumed here that Web 2.0 tools are available for use, but teachers are choosing not to use them and therefore; students cannot use them).

* Web 2.0 tools promote reading and writing just like the pencil and paper has promoted reading and writing.

All of this made me think of my students and realize that they are using critical thinking and higher order thinking skills while trying to use Web 2.0 tools. For example, the students create stories, post them to their wiki pages at school, then when at home at night, they copy and paste their stories onto their blog at Classblogmeister

What a great experience for kids if they were allowed to blog at school! There is no doubt that Blogging promotes their creativity, writing, and communication skills.
In fact, students need audiences that will read and comment directly to their creative stories or informational articles. Students need to feel their articles are being read by an audience of people. This motivates students to write more. One child told me that “I didn’t think I was a writer until I started writing in here, Mrs. Pritchard”……..He was referring to his blog articles!

Learn more at http://educon20.wikispaces.com/EduConTV


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Listen to this article

Exciting news for Whittier School!

We have been invited to participate in the Springfield Technology 2008 http://www.springfieldtech2000.org day held at the capitol building in Springfield, Illinois. My class along with Ms. Esparza’s class will be going on May 7 to this event.

What will we be exhibiting? Blogs, wikis, and podcasting!

About Blogs:

Through The Landmark Project and David Warlick http://classblogmeister.com/ a blog engine provides us with a safe environment for students to work with blogs. My students have created various stories and articles to place on their blog spot. If you are interested in reading more about my students visit us at http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=141343

About Wikis:

Our wikis are at http://pritchardpress.wikispaces.com and http://fantasticfifth5.wikispaces.com
Unfortunately, our blogs are private and can only be viewed through our presentation at Springfield. Otherwise, you will need to come to visit us at school.

About Podcasting:

We have used Audacity to create podcasts for various projects throughout this school year. Our podcasts have been placed on our Classblogmeister homepage. Unfortunately, they are private and you will need to come to school so we can show them to you.


As you can see, we are keeping our Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasting safe for kids!

Class Blogmeister!

Podcasts, Screencasts, and Avatars are part of the new Web 2.0 tools that are used in my classroom. The students are so excited now that they have a real audience to write to and they can use the Avatars and podcasts to record their stories.

Friday, I brought a lamp into my classroom to use with the Webcam camera because we didn't have enough light. It worked. The avatar started moving with every word the student spoke. The student stated that, "I was a wonderful teacher because I brought the lamp." What am I saying???? My students loved the Avatar and podcasting.

My students are excited because they can use a Webcam camera and they can use digital audio to record their voices. THEY ARE EXCITED AND WILLING TO WORK ON CREATIVE WRITING AND MORE!

Is it worth it to find ways around the blocked pictures, movies, slideshows, podcasts, and more? Yes, because when you get kids excited they will go home and try out what they are shown at school.

1. We use audacity to record podcasts!
2. We use podomatic to house our podcasts!
3. We use an Avatar!
4. I use Screencast-o-matic to prerecord blocked sites so I can show my students Web 2.0 tools.