Generational Differences

In rereading the readings for this discussion I reflected on my own interactions with technology and that of my students interactions with technology.
I was born in the early 80's and my father being a software engineer believed strongly in always having a computer in the home. My siblings and I say that we were raised on Apple products. Though we had games and software that would help us with math facts, teach us typing or how to plan for a wagon trip across the plains I was forced to learn how to use the basic suite software (word, excel, powerpoint) at school. I struggled with the differences between a Mac and a PC and spent a lot of time trying to reconcile those differences. My father's insentience of learning computer skills instilled in me the desire to work hard to understand technology.
I worked for 5 years as a ELL (English Language Learner) assistant and one thing we would do every year was work with refugees who didn't have any technology at home. One group we worked with would donate computers to the students who needed them in their homes and as we worked with these families we quickly realized that these computers did no good to families who had no access to the internet. The teacher I worked with would scrounge up software for the families to install and use in the hopes that the computers would have some educational benefit. Looking at my classes now, many of them still do not have personal computers in their homes. However, almost all of my students have access to a tablet or smartphone that has internet capabilities. I have found that similar to my experience, students in my classes need to be taught how to use technology in a classroom setting. Many students need to be taught how to do research and how to look for reliable sources for their research.
I believe that as educators it is our job to help the digital natives understand and develop new ways to access information and use technology to further their education. This last year I gave some of my 2nd graders the opportunity to ask a question they did not know the answer to and do research to find the answer. They were asked to present the information they had researched in a Prezi. When the students presented their information I was amazed at the interest and excitement the rest of the class had for the topics researched. It was a great experiment for me to let loose on the way I usually teach and see how the students were able to use the technology to further their understand. I believe that as teachers push themselves to become more and more fluent students will become more and more engaged in what we are teaching.
One more example, this last weekend I was in a wedding and the bride asked me to edit and cut some music for her. When one of the other bridesmaids asked me, with an astonished look on her face how I had done it, I simply stated that I knew it was possible so I googled it and did it. I think that is the beauty of technology and the internet. It makes the seemingly impossible, possible.

Podcasts - A Commentary Entry

I'm just going to say it, podcasts have changed my life. I love to listen to a good podcast! I have been casually listening to podcasts for the last couple of years. I'm sure my friends and family are tired of hearing me say "This one podcast I was listening to..." or I interject "That reminds me of this one podcast I was listening to..." Listening to podcasts has made horrible tasks more bearable. I actually want to mow the lawn or do the dishes. The entertainment value that comes from downloading and listening makes my commute enjoyable and welcome. Sadly, my commute is only 10 minutes long so, typically, I end up listening as I set up my classroom in the morning.
Not only has listening to podcasts made me more of a morning person (for the first time in my life I like getting up in the morning), it's made me smarter. Teaching me things that I would have never learned anywhere else. I first got hooked listening to HowStuffWorks podcasts. My favorites are Stuff You Missed in History Class and Stuff You Should Know. I had no idea that learning about how grass works would be fascinating to me.
Serial was amazing! I would wake up extra early on Thursdays to download and listen to the most recent episode. I talked about it so much that I convinced my entire family to listen as well. I even listened to it again with a friend to participate in the discussions and debate whether or not Adnan was really guilty or not. I called everyone I knew in the greater Baltimore area to ask if they knew where Leakin Park was. I can't wait for the new season to start.
I discovered teacher podcasts and found that I could listen to other teachers across the country talk about many of the same issues that I face. I found that listening to their voices I was able to connect in ways that I hadn't in the past.
TED radio hour and TED talks are awesome! Along with NPR podcasts, I have discovered that listening to people arguing about random topics makes me happy. I have even found a political podcast that I can tolerate.
The longer I listen to podcasts, the more I notice how different episodes inspire different projects, approaches, and considerations in both my professional and personal life. And, if nothing else, I now have a wealth of random knowledge stored in my brain.

Discussion Question: Incorporating Technology In Writing

I have been thinking about ways to incorporate technology into my students writing. My goal for students is to have them writing daily, weekly, and monthly. I have some routines set up for my classroom and I have been thinking about ways to encourage writing through a digital means. In my classroom I have access to 5 iPads and 3 Chrome-books and a cart of Chrome-books once a week. Obviously I don't have enough devices for every student to have access every day. I know that incorporation technology into writing routines would engage my students further in their writing. However, I want to find the most effective/efficient way to have my students using technology to write. I appreciate your input and ideas about how you use technology to increase writing in your classroom.

My Book List - A List Entry

It happens every year, about March or April I start making a list of books to read over the summer. Some of them are books I want to read for pleasure, however, most are books that I want to read or reread for school. I pack these books up and take them home to read over the summer. These books usually spend a week in my car, a week in my living room and eventually they end up in my bedroom. These are some of the books I have sitting and waiting to be read.

The Daily 5 by Gail Bushy & Joan Moser - I read the first edition once and this will be my second time through the 2nd edition. Primarily Inspired is doing a Daily 5 book study and I am reading along with her. I love the growth and excitement for reading that I see with my students doing Daily 5. 

The CAFE Book by Gail Bushy & Joan Moser - This book goes along with the Daily 5 book. Staff at my school did a book study on this book last year and I plan to review it before starting the school year up again. 

Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites and Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate - I had the opportunity to see Marcia L. Tate years ago and have had these books collecting dust in my classroom. I pulled them off the shelf when I saw that the ladies at Blog Hoppin' were doing a book study on the worksheets book. I will be reading Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites next. 

Next Steps in Literacy Instruction Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions by Susan M. Smart and Deborah R. Glaser - Deb Glaser is a former Boise School District employee who comes back often (I've been to 4+ trainings in the last 2 years) and the book has great ideas on ways to implement effective strategies for literacy instruction. My copy is full of post it notes and papers. I plan to flip through it again as the school year begins and once I see the reading level of the students I have this year. 

Core Teaching Reading Sourcebook by Bill Honig, Linda Diamond and Linda Gutlohn - This is an old textbook that I have pulled out this year and am wanting to read/skim through this summer. Last year I moved grades from teaching 3rd to teaching 2nd and I was most surprised by the increased need of phonic/phonemic support the students in my classroom needed. 

Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics Developmentally Appropriate Instruction for Grades Pre-K-2 by John A. Van de Walle, LouAnn H. Lovin, Karen S. Karp and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams - Another book that I pulled out this last year due to the need that my students had for more hands on math instruction that would aid my students to develop number concepts and number sense. I have this book tabbed and full of post it notes as well. My plan is to read it again and add to the post it notes inside. 

The First Six Weeks of School by Paula Denton and Roxann Kriete - This is a book that I pull out and read before I start school every year. While I don't follow the book step by step for starting school, it has valuable information that helps me to start the school year out on the right foot. 

The First Days of School by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong - Another textbook from school this is a book that I find is a great resource to skim through before I start the school year. It serves as a reminder as to the expectations and procedures that I need to have in place as the school year begins. 

Talks with Teachers Summer Book Club - This may or may not belong in this list. For the last 2 summers I have participated in the talks with teachers summer book club. I find it is a great way to engage with other teachers and read great books in the process. The group may be more geared to junior high/ high school teachers, but I think that good books are good books. Every summer the read a non-fiction in June, a novel in July and a professional book in August. This year it was The Element by Ken Robinson in June and Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee in July, August is still TBD. 

Links Entries

As I continue on my journey as a teacher I am constantly looking for more websites for my students to use. In my classroom I have 5 iPads and 3 chrome books in my classroom. I use Daily 5 as a structure and I have thought about whether to use the technology in me classroom to have students listen to reading, or if I should use the technology to build word work skills. My biggest goal for students using technology in the classroom is that students are accountable to me and to themselves for their learning. Here is a list of apps and websites that I encourage my students to use.

RAZ Kids - This website/app has interactive e-books for students at all levels. The students are able to listen to the book being read, take a comprehension quiz on the book and (my favorite part) is that my students can record themselves reading a story and then send me the story. I can log in and listen to the students as they read.

Sight Word Ninja  - This app says a word and the students have to choose from three (or more) words and swipe he correct word.

Reading Rainbow - This app allows students to chose a book and hear it read aloud. When I feel that my students need to hear fluent readers read this is the app I choose.

Spelling City - This website allows me to enter my list of spelling words and the students are able to practice their spelling words in a variety of games.

PebbleGo - This website is linked through our district and has science, social studies and health topics. They are read aloud to the students and include video clips for the students to explore. These are all informational and highly engaging for students.