Reflections

Kathy - this has been a wild ride! I'm surprised any of my hair is left in my head. I used and abused so many people to help me out, but I feel I was successful.

When I saw you yesterday, I said "when is my time to talk to you?". That is my one thought. Could there be a face to face time in the middle of the course. I needed time - and honestly would still like a time - to ask questions about things.

I enjoyed it, and I really feel it will help me. And, when I forget how to do things, I'm coming to you!!!

Thanks for all you did for us non-techno buddies!

Personal Learning Network

This could be great!
During the time I have been doing this course, I read a new section and it is like "Oh, I like that, I can use that". Well, this tells me how to connect it all. Also, I have already added and deleted blogs. It was nice to have it reaffirmed that it is okay to do that. I will find a blog, add it to my list and then WOW! the things that might come up some day that you never thought would!
The one thing I really like about using/having a PLN is using it in the way you would a sharing session at a class. This summer I had the opportunity to do two awesome institutes in our county. The best part is always the sharing that you do with other teachers! I always feel sorry for the instructors because all the participants get off on tangents and there go the plans out the window!
Imagine having the opportunity to log on and find some ideas from people who have the same thoughts, problems, issues that you do. GREAT.
My problem? As always is time. I would love to use Twitter, but with it being blocked in our county, that means going home, (which is always late for me), logging on at home and then getting wrapped up on the computer - hey this can be my new diet plan!!!!!
I'm going to try!
What a journey this has been.

Video Sharing and Digital Storytelling

I enjoyed searching You Tube and Teacher Tube for different and fun things to look at, but found that you really, really, really need to be specific about what you search for or you will be looking at things you really don't want to.
This just makes me question - Why would someone post that?
I did find some fun videos to share with my fellow kindergarten teachers during pre planning this week - not that we will have time to look at them!
Digital Story telling could be great. What I would like to do with that is post one story a week - or more probably one story a month on my web site or blog and read a story to my children who could watch it at home - maybe it would be a favorite story we had read that week!
Now, do you want to see something funny? When my niece and her baby and husband lived in Atlanta, they were staying with us, I was up early with the baby and letting her sleep. Her husband came out while I was reading to him and videotaped us. I am very rough in this EARLY MORNING picture, so if you look be kind - remember I am old!
Anyway it is on You Tube - search for momoffinn and then on page 2 of their videos, there is Aunt Margaret reading! This would be what I would like to do - but after having a make over before going on screen!

Google Docs

Thank the good Lord, that this was a fairly easy assignment. I'm in class this week and am exhausted!
I like this, I really do. I said that I may try it to help get some supplies for when I do cooking with my class each Friday. Of course, as I think about this the same problem could occur where the same families help me out and that is not always fair. But, I would like to give it a try.
Google Reader has been fun. I deleted one sight because it was not what I expected and want to find some more food sites.
I have two dedicated to kindergarten and I really enjoy those. Through blogs I found a few more web sites that I have enjoyed.
Oh, you can get addicted to this internet!!!

Social Bookmarking

Okay, I truly do like this idea, but once again it was alot harder then I thought it would be. Kathy, you must think I am a total ditz!
I got the delicious account, I feel it will be a great and very useful tool and can't wait to add more to it but I have homework tonight!!!!

My delicious account is
delicious.com/mobbyrne

Not much there now at all - I just wanted to make sure I did not go crazy. I will add more sites to it soon.

Creating a podcast!

WOW!
Well, it took what feels like everyone I know, but really only the help of my daughter, Mary and my dear friend, Barb to help me get this thing on!
My first problem, having enough time to record the story I wanted to read. Barb helped me figure that out and then I could record the entire story. My sweet Mary helped me get it onto the podbean site because some of the wording was just not there!
Oh my, what an experience!

Podcasting

Listening to some podcasts makes me think about the old days of radio - what it must have been like to sit and just listen. I admit I can find myself drifting a little bit if I do not have a visual in front of me.
I listened to some fun, different podcasts. The ones recommended by Kathy - our Media Goddess - and some I found on Google.
One of my favorite sites is www.podbean.com/podcasts.
This had all kinds of podcasts to listen to.

If I use this medium in my web page next school year, the one thing I feel I need to do is keep it short. My goal is always to get parents and family members to come on the website and read it, so a shorter podcast may get better results for me. I'm interested in doing some "readers theatre" with my kindergarten students next year, and this will probably be the place to start. Before they get comfortable "reading" we will probably just do some acting out of a story they know well.

I'm excited, one more thing to try - I need more hours in the day!!!!

My slideshow

Okay, I have to admit it - this one gave me headaches! I went back and forth so many times, that when I finally got it to work, I had not added any comments.
These are pictures of some of my kiddos this year and doing one of our favorite Friday cooking activities.
Once I got it, maybe it was not so bad - and hey, I did not give up!

I see myself using this next school year as an addition to my web page. I love, love, love this puzzle way, and I think my students will love seeing themselves this way.

Adding photos to my blog.

Wikis

For this week, we were to check out wikis - look at the videos, read some articles and check out some wikis. The demonstration video totally made sense. What a great way to get together with people for planning - I'm all about planning the party and who can bring what.
Now, how will I use this in my classroom? Well, the kindergarten counting book was awesome. I love that idea! Here is my fear - will my parents help, will it be a successful project or will I need to get all my friends to do it?!?! I looked at two other wikis, the first graders who interviewed family about what school was like long ago - great idea and I especially loved how the teacher had given good directions and what the whole project was about for her students. I looked at the second grade wiki site and this one also had good directions and what you would be able to find, but there were not many updates, some pages blank - oh owwww - would that be me? I'll make this site and then not touch it after the first day!
Again, questions, I have questions. I love what technology can do for my kiddos, but since they really can not get on a computer alone and need lots of help, will they be able to take advantage of all this great technology. I'll just keep plugging away!

Feeding the Reader!

Feeding the Reader! - I'm the reader and I have no problem with the feeding. One of the videos we watched said to be careful that Google Reader can be addictive - well, they got that right!

Since I am a kindergarten teacher, I searched some blogs in that area, and you have to look at Kinder Kids. The children were asked for their favorite journal entry and reading them just brought me right back to reading my kiddos journals - meaning literally reading between the lines as we do in the younger grades. I always get a chuckle when parents say to me "that is really what that says?", but once they hit on those important sounds, you can read it.
I also found Kindergarten Tales which again shows lots of fun things being done in a kindergarten class. It is fun to see what happens in other classrooms.

RSS Feeds and Google Reader

More questions, I have more questions? Now I will be off to bother my daughter and ask her for help!
I added some sites to Google Reader and that will be good, I want to find some more that appeal to me though. What if I want to delete them? What if once I added it, I don't like it anymore? I told you, lots of questions!
I'm ready to settle back in today and try to do more - or should I say try to do it again!

A Starbuck's journey

We began this journey in a Starbuck's where we found out we had to pay for the internet, so back to school! After creating a blog - with minimal confusion - we were ready to go. We just need to find a new place to meet next time!

After looking at other blogs I am amazed at how much is on them. I want to learn about how to have children record their comments and their work. Do we do this all together, one at a time? I immediately want more time in the computer lab so I can do this with children.

I am still concerned about privacy for my students. I want to learn more and hope that we will find out the answers to some of these questions!

Is Web 2.0 important?

This whole concept is fascinating. I need to do more on the computer, but bottom line I am a kindergarten teacher, and the things I think about sharing that my students do or say need to be shared with parents first. What if a parent does not want their child's work shared over the web? Do I need to keep another permission form?
I am looking forward to learning the answers!