Still confused about what to do during IT time with Grade 4 - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T09:14:40Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:179891?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A184207&feed=yes&xn_auth=noDear Silvia,
I am responding…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-01-04:649749:Comment:2534112009-01-04T19:11:55.457ZHeather Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/HeatherDavis
Dear Silvia,<br />
<br />
I am responding to an email that is very old but I need your help. One of your Grade four teachers did contact me and we were beginning discussions when there was a bit of a stop in communication due to an illness in her family. When I was preparing to respond back I got very ill and was out of school for almost 2 weeks and during that time my school computer had a glitch and I lost all my emails including our conversations. Then one day while at home recovering i decided to clean…
Dear Silvia,<br />
<br />
I am responding to an email that is very old but I need your help. One of your Grade four teachers did contact me and we were beginning discussions when there was a bit of a stop in communication due to an illness in her family. When I was preparing to respond back I got very ill and was out of school for almost 2 weeks and during that time my school computer had a glitch and I lost all my emails including our conversations. Then one day while at home recovering i decided to clean my home emails out and dumped everything only realizing afterwards that I had also got rid of the discussions with your teacher, who's name I have forgotten.<br />
<br />
I was wondering if you could put us back in touch with each other? I know it is probably too late to work together but I would like to apologize for seeming to have disappeared and to touch base with her. At the very least I would be able to send pictures etc from China.<br />
<br />
I appreciate your help and your leadership.<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
<br />
Heather Davis Hi Silvia,
Sorry for the del…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-09-02:649749:Comment:1846842008-09-02T13:20:51.844ZHeather Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/HeatherDavis
Hi Silvia,<br />
<br />
Sorry for the delay in answering. I am certainly open to collaborating on a project. One of the goals I made for my class this year was to participate in a project as well as learn to podcast with my class.<br />
<br />
My school email is heatherd@bj.ycef.com or you can reach me at toadie1951@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
I look forward to hearing more.<br />
<br />
Heather
Hi Silvia,<br />
<br />
Sorry for the delay in answering. I am certainly open to collaborating on a project. One of the goals I made for my class this year was to participate in a project as well as learn to podcast with my class.<br />
<br />
My school email is heatherd@bj.ycef.com or you can reach me at toadie1951@gmail.com.<br />
<br />
I look forward to hearing more.<br />
<br />
Heather Take a look at "inspired clas…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-09-01:649749:Comment:1844932008-09-01T17:04:11.082Zkchttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/kc9
Take a look at "inspired classrooms", it is a great source for a new way to integrate technology and provide a "student-driven" learning environment. Also, <a href="http://www.becybersmart.org">www.becybersmart.org</a> has some great lessons for digital citizenship.<br />
<br />
As for technology curriculum, the NETS has recently released standards for technology (for students and teachers).
Take a look at "inspired classrooms", it is a great source for a new way to integrate technology and provide a "student-driven" learning environment. Also, <a href="http://www.becybersmart.org">www.becybersmart.org</a> has some great lessons for digital citizenship.<br />
<br />
As for technology curriculum, the NETS has recently released standards for technology (for students and teachers). Glad I gave you some things t…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-09-01:649749:Comment:1844622008-09-01T15:38:37.334ZNancy Boschhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nbosch
Glad I gave you some things to think about! The Titanic project lasted almost the whole semester, I teach in a program for gifted kids and they are with us one day a week. I do an initial search for sites, not because I'm worried about what they will find on the internet but as a time-saver. I think free surfing is a monumental waste of time. They can use the internet but the sites I give them are the most frequently used sites on the topic.<br />
<br />
You can see the whole project including links,…
Glad I gave you some things to think about! The Titanic project lasted almost the whole semester, I teach in a program for gifted kids and they are with us one day a week. I do an initial search for sites, not because I'm worried about what they will find on the internet but as a time-saver. I think free surfing is a monumental waste of time. They can use the internet but the sites I give them are the most frequently used sites on the topic.<br />
<br />
You can see the whole project including links, <a href="http://connections.smsd.org/titanic">Titanic in the Classroom</a> here, if you didn't glance around. I bet there are a million wonderful things in Bejiing you could research, can you and your kids travel around freely? N Thanks for the suggestions. I…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-09-01:649749:Comment:1843912008-09-01T12:32:51.274ZHeather Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/HeatherDavis
Thanks for the suggestions. I checked out your Titanic podcasts and the site. They are terrific. I was wondering what kind of information you gave the children as they worked on the projects. Did you provide the list of websites etc or were they on their own?<br />
<br />
I have just had the best time trying the Rock and Roll Typing program and am definitely going to follow your suggestion on using it as homework. It has always frustrated me that we spend so much time on keyboarding. I am a great believer…
Thanks for the suggestions. I checked out your Titanic podcasts and the site. They are terrific. I was wondering what kind of information you gave the children as they worked on the projects. Did you provide the list of websites etc or were they on their own?<br />
<br />
I have just had the best time trying the Rock and Roll Typing program and am definitely going to follow your suggestion on using it as homework. It has always frustrated me that we spend so much time on keyboarding. I am a great believer in the students learning to keyboard properly and so I have always insisted they work on the program but it took away from other things I wanted to try. Now I have a better plan. Thanks.<br />
<br />
I am considering doing some sort of a Voice Thread for our Meet the Teacher Night next week though we may not have enough time.<br />
<br />
Most important - thank you for the questions I should ask myself when I am preparing a lesson. I am posting these on the wall in front of my computer at home and probably by my computer at school also.<br />
<br />
By the way, did I mention that I teach at an International School in Beijing, China. :)<br />
<br />
I also like your idea of a 2 or 3 period (45 minutes each) block. I will bring it up to someone somewhere. Interesting thought. Hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmm<br />
Thanks Thanks. I was just given a gr…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-09-01:649749:Comment:1843832008-09-01T12:22:09.280ZHeather Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/HeatherDavis
Thanks. I was just given a great Keyboarding site that the kids can use at home. I find the one we have at school is really boring and it is the same one they used last and the year before that one. I may shift keyboarding practice to homework as I only have 2 IT lab times a week.<br />
<br />
Voice Thread is great - I did one last year but wasn't totally happy with my result but you have got me thinking about what else I can do with it this year.
Thanks. I was just given a great Keyboarding site that the kids can use at home. I find the one we have at school is really boring and it is the same one they used last and the year before that one. I may shift keyboarding practice to homework as I only have 2 IT lab times a week.<br />
<br />
Voice Thread is great - I did one last year but wasn't totally happy with my result but you have got me thinking about what else I can do with it this year. Heather,
With a limited numbe…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-08-31:649749:Comment:1842312008-08-31T21:47:06.318ZNancy Boschhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nbosch
Heather,<br />
With a limited number of computers and limited time in the lab I can see your problem. Don't worry about what you can't do, think about what you can do. First of all be sure you have thought of all ways you could get more computers in your classroom--talk to the IT people, write a grant, do a fundraiser. Is the lab schedule the best it can be or would 2-3 hour blocks be better for some teachers some of the time?<br />
<br />
In the meantime schedule tech appropriate activities around your lab…
Heather,<br />
With a limited number of computers and limited time in the lab I can see your problem. Don't worry about what you can't do, think about what you can do. First of all be sure you have thought of all ways you could get more computers in your classroom--talk to the IT people, write a grant, do a fundraiser. Is the lab schedule the best it can be or would 2-3 hour blocks be better for some teachers some of the time?<br />
<br />
In the meantime schedule tech appropriate activities around your lab time. Spend the hour or hour and a half before you go to the lab working on the content that will lead to your lab time, for instance---a geography lesson could easily be followed up by an activity using Google Maps; a literature discussion could be followed up by writing in the lab, and so on. The IT person could teach some mini-lessons on fundamentals of sites/software, etc.<br />
<br />
The computer in the classroom can be used by pairs for enrichment or review. I did <a href="http://connections.smsd.org/titanic/Biographies.htm">24 podcasts</a> on one computer in several hours.<br />
<br />
This is going to be hard, but harder still are the questions you ask yourself "Is this (time in lab) going to make the lesson better? will the students be helped by going to the lab? Will the lessons be understood? retained? because of computer time?<br />
<br />
All kids by 4th grade need to type well to use their computer time effciently--if you can't take your lab time for typing tutors, then assign typing for homework. <a href="http://adifferentplace.org/just4fun.htm">Here</a> are some online typing tutors, scroll down right side. Let me know if you need more ideas or if you found any new solutions. Grade 4? Keyboarding, podcast…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-08-31:649749:Comment:1842072008-08-31T18:01:33.971ZDurffhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/mrsdurff
Grade 4? Keyboarding, podcasting (start with Voicethreads), and games
Grade 4? Keyboarding, podcasting (start with Voicethreads), and games Heather,
I agree that it is s…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-08-31:649749:Comment:1841282008-08-31T12:27:47.587Zlangwitcheshttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/langwitches
Heather,<br />
I agree that it is somewhat frustrating that every two years you seem to be starting over again. But at one point EVERY 21st century teacher needs to get started in integrating. When they move on to the next school, they will bring their experiences with them and add a new perspective to the new school.<br />
Since you are a classroom teacher, you can start integrating in your own walls with your group of students. Yes, it would be nice to have 1 laptop per child available, but it is not…
Heather,<br />
I agree that it is somewhat frustrating that every two years you seem to be starting over again. But at one point EVERY 21st century teacher needs to get started in integrating. When they move on to the next school, they will bring their experiences with them and add a new perspective to the new school.<br />
Since you are a classroom teacher, you can start integrating in your own walls with your group of students. Yes, it would be nice to have 1 laptop per child available, but it is not necessary. As long as you have an internet connected machine in your classroom, add a microphone and speakers, maybe a webcam... you are ready to roll to start communicating, collaborating and connected with the rest of the world.<br />
<br />
I spoke with our 4th grade teachers and they would LOVE to collaborate with you and your students. The collaboration can be as big or as small as you want it to be.<br />
<br />
Let's e-mail for more details.<br />
<br />
Silvia<br />
blog[at]langwitches.org Silvia, I discovered your blo…tag:www.classroom20.com,2008-08-31:649749:Comment:1841232008-08-31T12:00:26.952ZHeather Davishttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/HeatherDavis
Silvia, I discovered your blog last year during the K-12 Online conference and was fascinated by your approach with virtual travel. What a fabulous idea.<br />
<br />
I am trying to sort everything out in mind and figure out how things would work in our school.<br />
<br />
While there is an definite support for technology at our school as it is part of our motto, we seem to be spending all of our time keeping up with the hardware and very little on actually adequately using what is available. We are still struggling…
Silvia, I discovered your blog last year during the K-12 Online conference and was fascinated by your approach with virtual travel. What a fabulous idea.<br />
<br />
I am trying to sort everything out in mind and figure out how things would work in our school.<br />
<br />
While there is an definite support for technology at our school as it is part of our motto, we seem to be spending all of our time keeping up with the hardware and very little on actually adequately using what is available. We are still struggling to put together a 5 year umbrella IT plan but it seems to me that it focuses mainly on hardware and not integration.<br />
<br />
I find myself frustrated that there are very few teachers at my school that are interested in actually using technology in the classroom. Everyone supports our IT classes but there doesnt' seem to be much of an interest in all the amazing things that are out in the blogesphere etc. I feel very alone.<br />
<br />
Maybe in an international school that is normal as we all are on one or two year contracts and so each year there is a turnover and you start over again.<br />
<br />
I am just rambling now.<br />
<br />
Heather