Thing #9

That was FUN!! I could find all kinds of ways to spice up newsletters and class papers (even torture the kids some).  I may have to put this on my class blog.  This was made at the comic strip generator:
http://www.comicstripgenerator.com/
I also had fun making a post-it note that could be used on newsletters to make important notes stand out!! I could also see using on my blog to grab the kids attention.  Get it at: http://www.spiffytext.com/

Another fun graphic is the monopoly cards at: http://pryat.com/signs/games/monopoly/card.asp?pic=&allow=&text=NO+HOMEWORK+%0D%0A%0D%0AThis+card+gets+you+out+of+one+homework!&fontsize=14&font=pointy&move=&move2=

Another fun graphic is a birthday card for your students on the class blog.

This can be found at: http://www.customizemagnets.com/ecards/birthday/?allow=092&pic=birthday-cake-mice-party&text=+Happy%0D%0A+Happy%0D%0ABirthday!&font=signage&color=yellow&fontsize=26&x=200&y=25&move2=&move=&rot=0&offx=5&offy=5&spacing=&gradient=&tag=&watermark=&background=&border=&shade=&shadecolor=black

Thing #8

 This mosaic feature could be used with multiplication arrays in math and with social studies since I used pictures of culture.  Students could be assigned a project with parameters about size and pictures used.  I'm still unsure about privacy with flickr.  I'm not comfortable with using my students pictures (faces) but body shots, hand shots, and back of the head shots would work.  
1. 021152516ea4699a, 2. 268d5a4cefe23954, 3. 82772b69e9d3e89e, 4. 60ab6bf972ab90c4, 5. acd1c12585af6278, 6. d59d919c2dd69f56, 7. 02c2b9cc6f3d5036, 8. 07cfb470a877455a, 9. fd9ab2caf9f05c04, 10. df6c02402c1814e6, 11. de2e346e8928801a, 12. 9fdca24d98579e5c, 13. 938735f1ca69796c, 14. 2d1a785dce76bac8, 15. 07ff2adf208feffe, 16. 0223ea2c504ab8c2

Thing #7

Lunch at MY school!!  I originally took this photo to email to teachers to let them see the new salads offered for lunch that day.  Unfortunately my email did not make it out of my phone.  However, I think the picture is quite lovely and was glad I still have it on my phone. 
I enjoyed setting up my flickr account and plan to use it for school and my personal pictures.  Now that I've started a new blog for my classroom, I plan to use Flickr to post class pics (no faces though) on my blog.  I want to post Science Fair projects, winners, and other interesting photos on my new blog.   This program will make it very easy to accomplish this.
I will definitely be very careful about posting faces of students on my blog, but I will also use caution when uploading personal pictures.  I will most likely post anything with faces as private and fun, creative pictures as public.

Thing #6

My first pick is: Remember the Milk at: http://www.rememberthemilk.com/   It offers the service of creating lists and being able to access them from various medias.  You can manage tasks quickly and easily, get reminded, anywhere of tasks, organize the way you want to, locate your tasks by using the map, and add tasks wherever you are.  This application could be used as a class list of possible books for research at a library and the librarian could pull up the list. 
 My second pick is: eHow at: http://www.ehow.com/  It offers a variety of "lessons" for many areas.  It offers How-tos for culture and societies.  A simple click and students could learn the different customs of funerals, politics, and legends/folklore.  This would be very educational for social studies lessons.  Teachers stuck for ideas for party themes or need a topic for writing could click on Holidays and Celebrations.  From there you pick a specific holiday and narrow down to a simple topic.

Thing #5

The Web 2.0 means there is a more functional internet available for me and my students to view and participate in.  With either a little self motivation or a little help, there are many experiences waiting to happen in Web 2.0.  There is a lot of potential for schools and teachers to connect with each other and their students just by learning all you can.  As information continues to become available, teachers need to be ready to change and/or adapt.  We need to get our students familiar with the educational opportunities that are there, not just the games and such that are on the Internet.  Internet sponsors are making it easier and more functional to expand the classroom beyond the walls of the school building. 

Thing #4

I found the information about commenting on blogs very interesting.  I seems like all my classmates so far have been very courteous about their comments.  After reading the selections my concern focused on the huge commitment that blogging involves.  A personal blog would be much harder for me to maintain than a blog for my class.  I completely agree with all the articles that mention the importance of making relevant comments.  If you don't agree with the blogger than state your opinion and state your case with proper decorum and be prepared to receive comments about your comment.
So far, I have commented on 3 students blogs: Alex Daniels, Kate Green, and Tamika Jones.  I agreed with Alex's ideas for blogging and suggested one more.  Kate made some good points about proper etiquette and I expressed my concern about commitment.  Tamika wrote about the rude one-word comments made on a blog and I agreed with her and expressed my feelings about such comments.
I shared with a classmate, Brown Squirrel, a  podcast I also found during thing #22 that I thought he would enjoy.  Even if students only recorded their storytelling (not necessarily publish a podcast) would help with their fluency.
I commented on Molly Wilson's post and sympathized with her about Zoho.  We both had difficulty loading our Zoho document.  It always reassuring to know that when technology doesn't work it's not always you (sometimes it is :)).  That's the beauty of blogging, you get to interact more than you do with a website.

Thing #3

I could see myself using a blog with my third graders for homework assignments.  Students would complete their spelling homework and possibly document their AR time using a blog.  This would give me written record of their reading.  I could also use the blog to communicate with parents about classroom assignments and upcoming tests.  I could also post study guides for students and links to web pages that would give them practice over content done during the day.  Students could write book reviews and discuss our reading series story for the week.  They could "research" topics that go along with our story and post their findings for their classmates to look at, a sort of "show and tell".  A state standard for elementary students is learning to type with both hands, by using a blog students would be getting practice typing and using the computer.
I could also see blogs becoming more useful between teachers and administration. Evaluation forms and reflections could easily be typed up and sent to the principal.  I would also be beneficial for the new teachers to get a look at some "seasoned" teachers work.
It would be very easy for students to begin their own blog, which would be conducted during school hours, letting parents know what they did throughout their day.  They could type up the homework assignment for the blog and list the spelling words for the week.  The only draw back I see is the students who do not have computers at home to "participate" fully in the experience.  Yes, they would get a lot out of the school end of the blog, but they would still miss out on the fun stuff.  There just isn't enough time in a school day to let everyone use a computer for such an activity.

#1

I really enjoyed the 7 1/2 skills of lifelong learners.  I must admit that I am a "seasoned" student.  I've already been teaching 17 years as I go for my masters.  I feel that all 7 1/2 skills tend to come easy for me.  I already have children of my own in college and understand the importance of continuing my education and was well aware of the amount of work it would involve.  I put a lot of thought into my decision to go back, which hits both #1 and #2.  Working in public education, I get to mark off #3 and #7, although I do enjoy mentoring other APSU students.  My learning toolbox is always being added to: I love technology, reading, electronic games, and learning about new things.  Again, my age may have something to do with the fact that all 7 1/2 were listed on the easy side of my page.  I approach each of my masters classes as if they are a challenge and enjoy "winning" each time I complete an assignment.  Coming back to school has been really fun so far!