There are several ways I could use my blog to support my students and the library program. Simple reasons would include publicizing upcoming book fairs, conducting booktalks, and showing photos of students and staff members reading. (Karen W. brought up the legal implications of using student pictures. We'd have to do that appropriately.) Teen Read Week and other literacy promotions can be conducted on a blog.
Student work can also be showcased on a blog. For instance, during National Poetry Month, my library and English department holds a poetry contest. Poems have always been voted on by a committee. Perhaps students could vote as well, just like the reality shows! (Only not via text messaging!)
I have considered starting a book club for my students, but the majority of our kids ride a bus; therefore, afterschool meetings are impossible. Mornings are so hectic, that I'm afraid I'd have too many interruptions to make a discussion feasible. Book clubs by blogging might be the best option for middle school students.
I keep a binder for students to recommend books and rate them for other students to consider. This could now be done on a blog. The SAT Vocabulary words promoted by the Future Quest program can be listed, defined, and posted on the blog. Maybe students can comment about how and when they encountered these words outside a vocabulary lesson. These are just a few of the ways to start out using my blog in a public way.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Thing #2
The hardest thing about learning new technology for me is making it a habit! I often don't utilize "the next new thing" often enough to make it a habit. Therefore, I think my greatest weakness in the 7 1/2 Habits is #4, having confidence in myself as a confident and effective learner. It has been said that it takes doing something 21 times in order to make it a habit. 21 times!?!?!?! Maybe once my confidence rises, I'll be able to eliminate some of those !?!?!? signs.
Being a former classroom teacher, I think I will find Habit #7 a strength. I can remember having to teach grammar rules that I was never taught, and only by explaining them over and over and through different strategies and methods did I finally understand the "what" and "why" of the concepts. Who will be the subject of my mentoring? I don't have a clue. I can start out by showing my daughters and husband what I am doing. Maybe when I feel more confident, I will share with others. If anyone dares to ask for my help, the test will begin. :)
Being a former classroom teacher, I think I will find Habit #7 a strength. I can remember having to teach grammar rules that I was never taught, and only by explaining them over and over and through different strategies and methods did I finally understand the "what" and "why" of the concepts. Who will be the subject of my mentoring? I don't have a clue. I can start out by showing my daughters and husband what I am doing. Maybe when I feel more confident, I will share with others. If anyone dares to ask for my help, the test will begin. :)
Thing #1
Okay. True confession time! I'll admit that I have been dreading this whole 2.0 project as much as a root canal because I always feel inadequate when it comes to new technology. I barely know how to use the main remote control of the three that sit on my coffee table, and I feel victorious by the fact that I can successfully warm a Hot Pocket in my microwave!
After reading the information in Thing #1, however, I realize how far behind I will be if I don't jump in and make the new technology available to me part of my daily life--on campus and off. I will give myself permission to make errors and to be less than stellar since I, too, am emerging. By putting myself in my mother's shoes, I realize that if I don't keep up with current ways to communicate, I'll have to rely on somone else to do the very least of everyday tasks such as paying bills, ordering prescriptions, etc.
Putting aside my apprehension and "old dog" mentality, I am thankful for the opportunity the MISD is providing to learn these skills...on school time, earning PGH credit, and receiving PFK dollars! My daughters will be excited, and somewhat freaked out, about their mom getting an iPod! Will they be surprised I will use it for listening to downloaded books? Definitely not. :)
After reading the information in Thing #1, however, I realize how far behind I will be if I don't jump in and make the new technology available to me part of my daily life--on campus and off. I will give myself permission to make errors and to be less than stellar since I, too, am emerging. By putting myself in my mother's shoes, I realize that if I don't keep up with current ways to communicate, I'll have to rely on somone else to do the very least of everyday tasks such as paying bills, ordering prescriptions, etc.
Putting aside my apprehension and "old dog" mentality, I am thankful for the opportunity the MISD is providing to learn these skills...on school time, earning PGH credit, and receiving PFK dollars! My daughters will be excited, and somewhat freaked out, about their mom getting an iPod! Will they be surprised I will use it for listening to downloaded books? Definitely not. :)
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