So I am basically finished with my website and I have to say I definitely liked creating a site to use for a classroom.
The only thing I found challenging (after I figured out how to save my work) was what kind of homework I should give and what books/software I should include for my lists. I think the only reason I had difficulty was because I wasn’t sure exactly what a 3rd grade science class consisted of; but I did research and was able to find material to help answer my questions.
I think having a class website is a great tool in keeping students and parents up to date on school activities, homework and readings. I can only see having a classroom website as something that gets bigger and bigger and more a part of the norm in school settings.
Since our society is becoming more and more dependent on technology I wouldn’t be surprised if in the near future websites will be the main source of getting information to students and their families. No more sending papers home solely relying on the student to inform their parents, especially because a lot of times students either forget or lose the information.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Class Web Pages Part II
Hello Class!!!
Hope everyone had a nice spring break. I did and now I am back on track and working on my class web page.
I was having a little difficulty getting my edits to save and for the life of me could not figure out what to do because there is no save button, not sure if anyone else was having this trouble but I figured out what to do! I had an ah ha moment if you will. After you make edits you have to be sure to press the continue button after you preview your page. I was not pressing the continue button and finally after 4 times of losing my work figured it out.
Hope this helps anyone (if there was anyone else) who was having the same problem.
Hope everyone had a nice spring break. I did and now I am back on track and working on my class web page.
I was having a little difficulty getting my edits to save and for the life of me could not figure out what to do because there is no save button, not sure if anyone else was having this trouble but I figured out what to do! I had an ah ha moment if you will. After you make edits you have to be sure to press the continue button after you preview your page. I was not pressing the continue button and finally after 4 times of losing my work figured it out.
Hope this helps anyone (if there was anyone else) who was having the same problem.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Resume
I have to say that I never thought about adding my blog to my resume when I start going on interviews.
I’m so happy Professor Luongo brought this point up in class because the market (especially in these crazy times) is so competitive that you need something to help you stand out.
I used to be a recruiter and I can’t tell you how many resumes I would barely look at because they all had the same opening line. It becomes tedious.
I also know quite a few people who had a hard time finding a job in the teaching field after college and now are doing something completely different. It’s scary but a reality.
I’m so happy Professor Luongo brought this point up in class because the market (especially in these crazy times) is so competitive that you need something to help you stand out.
I used to be a recruiter and I can’t tell you how many resumes I would barely look at because they all had the same opening line. It becomes tedious.
I also know quite a few people who had a hard time finding a job in the teaching field after college and now are doing something completely different. It’s scary but a reality.
Web-Based Educational Resources
In this day and age I think web-based educational resources are pretty much essential in classrooms.
Our world is becoming so technology dependent that it is important to incorporate web-based tools into lessons. Whether it’s online videos, interesting websites, or images (you name it it’s somewhere in the internet!).
And then !!! - there are websites that offer lesson plan help (fantastic!) and making worksheets for your classes. I bet teachers who began their career when you had to buy different workbooks and pick and choose which ones would or would not work in your classroom then run off x amount of copies are jumping for joy now that you can go to these sites, search for appropriate material and print them out all while sitting in your sweats having a cup of coffee or ice cream!
Using the web also expands knowledge; you don’t have to just go by what you can afford to spend or what the school provides in their library. You now can take kids to different parts of the world all while sitting in your classroom in New Jersey. It gives students who otherwise would not be able to experience these amazing faraway places a true sense of what the jungle or desert is like.
Our world is becoming so technology dependent that it is important to incorporate web-based tools into lessons. Whether it’s online videos, interesting websites, or images (you name it it’s somewhere in the internet!).
And then !!! - there are websites that offer lesson plan help (fantastic!) and making worksheets for your classes. I bet teachers who began their career when you had to buy different workbooks and pick and choose which ones would or would not work in your classroom then run off x amount of copies are jumping for joy now that you can go to these sites, search for appropriate material and print them out all while sitting in your sweats having a cup of coffee or ice cream!
Using the web also expands knowledge; you don’t have to just go by what you can afford to spend or what the school provides in their library. You now can take kids to different parts of the world all while sitting in your classroom in New Jersey. It gives students who otherwise would not be able to experience these amazing faraway places a true sense of what the jungle or desert is like.
Class Web Pages!
Last night in class we started to build our web pages which at first I didn’t totally understand how to use the Scholastic web page builder but after using it for a bit I started getting the hang of it. I’m not going to lie, I’m wishing I didn’t know about Teacher Web because the websites you can create are beyond adorable (I’m looking at this from an aspiring elementary school teacher), so much fun to work with and I really want to use that site in the future!
But whichever web page builder is used I think having a class web page is a great addition, not only for students but also for parents. Since you can post most anything ranging from pictures of the class, calendar of events, assignments and announcements it can really help get the parents more involved with their children’s school life and almost give them a sense of being there and experiencing it with them.
I loved the features that help you build book and software lists, maybe it’s because I am not yet teaching but I personally would have had no idea what books or software to recommend for 3rd grade age students (at least off the top of my head).
I think this is going to be a fun project and I hope that when I do become a teacher I am able to create a webpage for my classes - hopefully using Teacher Web ;o)
But whichever web page builder is used I think having a class web page is a great addition, not only for students but also for parents. Since you can post most anything ranging from pictures of the class, calendar of events, assignments and announcements it can really help get the parents more involved with their children’s school life and almost give them a sense of being there and experiencing it with them.
I loved the features that help you build book and software lists, maybe it’s because I am not yet teaching but I personally would have had no idea what books or software to recommend for 3rd grade age students (at least off the top of my head).
I think this is going to be a fun project and I hope that when I do become a teacher I am able to create a webpage for my classes - hopefully using Teacher Web ;o)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Kidspiration
So I know I’ve mentioned this on my blog, in papers and when commenting on classmates blogs but I am totally a visual person therefore I’m sure you can already guess that I LOVE Inspiration and Kidsperation. How much fun is this for the classroom! Not your typical writing on the blackboard in white chalk and having teachers try and make it as cool as possible for the kids with something that might be a star (but we’re not really sure). With these sites you can have a bunch of ideas all in an understandable and organized manner with different colors for different topics or themes and also different shapes to organize even more. Fantastic!
I have a question for any current teachers, have you or do you know of any colleagues who this in their classrooms?
I have a question for any current teachers, have you or do you know of any colleagues who this in their classrooms?
Blogging
I have definitely heard of blogging before but really had no idea what it was about, so I didn’t have any feelings on the subject. After getting to know what it is all about and blogging for this class, I like it. I think it’s a great form of expression in this day and age being that people are becoming so technology savvy.
It’s also great because when you are in the classroom or even with friends you may not always get all of your thoughts out or may not think of certain things at that particular time, but you can go home, write down these thoughts and share them with friends, classmates and colleagues.
Blogging for teachers can be helpful in networking with other professionals in the industry and bouncing ideas back and forth. Whether it’s different ways of communicating better with students, new lessons or even problems that might occur in the classroom.
One a little bit of a different note, it is very important for teachers to become just as knowledgeable about technology as their students are because that can be a bonding tool in the classroom.
Facebook and twitter (which was all Good Morning America was talking about this morning) are becoming insanely popular. Students spend hour’s online networking with people in their community and even in other communities across the state, country or even world.
These types of networking sites get a bad rep in the news because of the harassing that could go on but if used properly (which I feel like majority of people do use it for good) it’s a great tool. I loved the section on the website Weblogg-ed that told some great stories of kids networking and how incredibly smart children are these days, it’s was awesome to read! Things like that make me want to really become a teacher.
It’s also great because when you are in the classroom or even with friends you may not always get all of your thoughts out or may not think of certain things at that particular time, but you can go home, write down these thoughts and share them with friends, classmates and colleagues.
Blogging for teachers can be helpful in networking with other professionals in the industry and bouncing ideas back and forth. Whether it’s different ways of communicating better with students, new lessons or even problems that might occur in the classroom.
One a little bit of a different note, it is very important for teachers to become just as knowledgeable about technology as their students are because that can be a bonding tool in the classroom.
Facebook and twitter (which was all Good Morning America was talking about this morning) are becoming insanely popular. Students spend hour’s online networking with people in their community and even in other communities across the state, country or even world.
These types of networking sites get a bad rep in the news because of the harassing that could go on but if used properly (which I feel like majority of people do use it for good) it’s a great tool. I loved the section on the website Weblogg-ed that told some great stories of kids networking and how incredibly smart children are these days, it’s was awesome to read! Things like that make me want to really become a teacher.
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