For my mentoring assignment I was matched up with 9 delightful students in grade 7 and 8, and their teacher Mavis Hoffman. Inspired by our class on using google docs, I offered to help them revise short stories, using this tool! We're meeting every Tuesday afternoon. Each student has a netbook, so they work on their stories or other assignments while I read the stories and discuss (using the comment or chat feature) them with the author. Some observations:
-These students are the bright spot in my week. They're goofy, imaginative, and fun!
-Did I mention imaginative? I was amazed by their story plots... lost in the Sahara... plane crash in the mountains... fighting in the trenches.... a serial killer in small-town Saskatchewan...
-I'm trying to help my students learn how to revise their work independantly. For example, instead of going ahead and correcting spelling errors, I'm working with them to find spell check tools, as well as strategies to find the errors themselves
-I'm thinking of putting one of my stories on a google doc and having them help me revise it
I think this is truly going to be a reciprocal learning experience. While I am more knowledgable and experienced in writing, they are more advanced in using technology. It would be awesome to be able to stop by their class some time this semester!
Check out what they're doing!
@majortweeters
majortweeters.weebly.com
Monday 18 February 2013
All.About.Me
I’ve been thinking recently about how much of a digital
presence I want to have. A quick google search of my name comes up with an old
twitter profile and a profile of a researcher in California. Generally, I’ve
avoided putting anything online with my real name because (a) I don’t want to
put anything online that I would later regret and (b) I don’t want certain
people to find me. Case in point: I had a picture of myself holding a rifle and
somebody who heard about me from a co-worker found me on facebook and asked me
out for dinner and then commented on the picture. It was awkward.
I realize that everyone is on a continuum from “extremely
private” to “extremely open” on the internet. Some people worry that a stranger
will steal their personal information or stalk them. They never use their real
name for online accounts, and even their email address obscures their identity.
They never allow their child’s name or picture to appear online, either. Their
fear of being harmed keeps them from beneficial experiences and connections.
Other people use their name and picture unwisely. They use the
internet to vent or to chronicle their not-so smart escapades (i.e., the
Vancouver rioters). Their desire for attention gets them in trouble.
 |
| from www.cbc.ca |
The last category is aware that on the internet, their
audience is the world. They use the internet in a way that connects them with
good people and upholds their dignity. If there is something in their life they
don’t want everybody to see (their morning hair), they resist the urge to
upload it. If there is something they want to say that could get them in
trouble (my boss is a looney), they write it in a journal or tell a trustworthy
person. These people use the internet to display their work, to share ideas,
and to build relationships.
Any tool can hurt you, if you use it the wrong way. Try
stepping on a rake. The important thing is to use the tool wisely.
That bring me to this week’s tech task. We were to use
about.me to create an online directory of our blog, twitter, facebook, etc. I
found the website easy to use, and the results quite pleasing! However, my problem
is that I have never used my full name on my blog/twitter/facebook account.
Nobody could find the real me unless
I told them what my online identity is. And then they would already know me.
So do I want
to use the internet for people to find me? I prepared to invest the time into
maintain an online identity? Am I even interesting enough for people to follow? I'm not sure!
Saturday 9 February 2013
Tech Task #5 Storytelling and Creation
For this tech task, I decided to take the classic "Annual Letter" to a whole new level. I found 12 pictures, one from each month from 2012. Then I came up with delightful captions for each. My vision was to be able to share my stories from this year via a storytelling tool.
First, I picked the storytelling tools. This was a more challenging job than I anticipated...
Mixbook.com would have been great, if I wanted to pay for publishing.
OurStory.com would have been great, if I could get the photos to upload.
Glogster.com would have been great, if I could have figured out how to use their template.
Imageloop.com would have been great, if I had an iPhone
Two hours later, I began a Slideroll.com project. I was able to finish my project, but I was sorely dissapointed with the tool. It was impossible to delete or rearrange slides, edit the text, or add more than the most basic effects. If I were going to make a slideshow, I would use PowerPoint, save it as a PDF, and email it to my friends.
Here is my finished project from Slideroll.
By this point I was getting a little fed up with storytelling tools. However. I gave Wayfaring.com a go and I fared way better.
Take a look at a map of my journeys in 2012.
Wayfaring allows you to plot points on maps and tag the point with an address and a description. You can connect points together with "routes" (altho' the routes are "as the crow flies", not following roads). I was glad to experiment with this website, because it's a good way to bookmark places on a map for later reference. I'm planning a road trip to the sourthern States this summer, and Wayfaring is one option for how to plan for the trip. However, I wish that it was linked with google maps so that I could easily search for places.
I don't if I would use either of these storytelling tools in the classroom. They are both very limited in function in comparison with he time they would take to teach. I need to check out the other slideshow tools as well as Google maps, however, to see if there is a better alternative.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88955553@N00/4423387852/">nettsu</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
First, I picked the storytelling tools. This was a more challenging job than I anticipated...
Mixbook.com would have been great, if I wanted to pay for publishing.
OurStory.com would have been great, if I could get the photos to upload.
Glogster.com would have been great, if I could have figured out how to use their template.
Imageloop.com would have been great, if I had an iPhone
 |
| This is how I felt |
Two hours later, I began a Slideroll.com project. I was able to finish my project, but I was sorely dissapointed with the tool. It was impossible to delete or rearrange slides, edit the text, or add more than the most basic effects. If I were going to make a slideshow, I would use PowerPoint, save it as a PDF, and email it to my friends.
Here is my finished project from Slideroll.
By this point I was getting a little fed up with storytelling tools. However. I gave Wayfaring.com a go and I fared way better.
Take a look at a map of my journeys in 2012.
Wayfaring allows you to plot points on maps and tag the point with an address and a description. You can connect points together with "routes" (altho' the routes are "as the crow flies", not following roads). I was glad to experiment with this website, because it's a good way to bookmark places on a map for later reference. I'm planning a road trip to the sourthern States this summer, and Wayfaring is one option for how to plan for the trip. However, I wish that it was linked with google maps so that I could easily search for places.
I don't if I would use either of these storytelling tools in the classroom. They are both very limited in function in comparison with he time they would take to teach. I need to check out the other slideshow tools as well as Google maps, however, to see if there is a better alternative.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88955553@N00/4423387852/">nettsu</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
The Great Haiku DeathMatch
Every so often, I determine to read more poetry.
So I sign out a hefty volume such as "The Anthology of Atlantic Verse" (762 pgs).
Now I will be a cultured person, I think.
I read one poem and get bogged down in the imagery.
"Why don't people just say what they mean?" I wonder, and go read Stuart McLean.
So when my friend invited me to the Haiku DeathMatch, I was nonplussed. But I love my friend, so I said I'd come. Everyone was supposed to come with a haiku. So ten minutes before the even I googled "how to write a haiku." After getting the down-low (3 lines, 5 syllables/7syllables/5 syllables).
I looked around. I needed inspiration. My sister was vacuuming the stairs. I thought of how our neighbour had recently given us a vacuum cleaner (we had gone for a year without one in a household of four people with long hair) and my heart swelled with joy. Here was something I could truly put my soul into!
Snarled clods of hair
Dead skin cells a.k.a just
Obliterated
Done. I dashed for the door.
I had not spent more than 5 minutes at the Haiku DeathMatch when I found myself wishing I had put a little more thought into my contribution....
"Stars"
I gaze into the
crowded canvas of the sky
Where are you my love?
-Chris
"Puberty"
Before puberty,
I had a stu-u-u-ter
But now I speak clearly.
-Orion
Suffice to say, I did not win the Haiku DeathMatch. But after the event, I decided
Good idea, Fran.
More parties should be like this
All guests contribute
Creative events
Bring out the best in people
Hidden talents shine
Haiku are easy
difficult, bland, creative
You get to choose which.
So teachers out there,
Use haiku in your classroom
Unforgettable
Watch this video for more haiku info:
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28167759@N00/3602655506/">howard.hall</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
So I sign out a hefty volume such as "The Anthology of Atlantic Verse" (762 pgs).
Now I will be a cultured person, I think.
I read one poem and get bogged down in the imagery.
"Why don't people just say what they mean?" I wonder, and go read Stuart McLean.
So when my friend invited me to the Haiku DeathMatch, I was nonplussed. But I love my friend, so I said I'd come. Everyone was supposed to come with a haiku. So ten minutes before the even I googled "how to write a haiku." After getting the down-low (3 lines, 5 syllables/7syllables/5 syllables).
I looked around. I needed inspiration. My sister was vacuuming the stairs. I thought of how our neighbour had recently given us a vacuum cleaner (we had gone for a year without one in a household of four people with long hair) and my heart swelled with joy. Here was something I could truly put my soul into!
Snarled clods of hair
Dead skin cells a.k.a just
Obliterated
Done. I dashed for the door.
I had not spent more than 5 minutes at the Haiku DeathMatch when I found myself wishing I had put a little more thought into my contribution....
"Stars"
I gaze into the
crowded canvas of the sky
Where are you my love?
-Chris
"Puberty"
Before puberty,
I had a stu-u-u-ter
But now I speak clearly.
-Orion
Suffice to say, I did not win the Haiku DeathMatch. But after the event, I decided
Good idea, Fran.
More parties should be like this
All guests contribute
Creative events
Bring out the best in people
Hidden talents shine
Haiku are easy
difficult, bland, creative
You get to choose which.
So teachers out there,
Use haiku in your classroom
Unforgettable
Watch this video for more haiku info:
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28167759@N00/3602655506/">howard.hall</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
Thursday 7 February 2013
No One Knows He's the Boss
Everyone loves a good reality TV show. I'm currently on an Undercover Boss kick. Never heard of it? CEO's of major corporations go undercover in their own companies. They pretend to be contestants on a fake reality TV show called "Second Chances," where failed business owners try out new jobs and compete with other (fake) contestants for a cash prize. Wearing a sometimes-not-so-clever disguise, the CEO tries out four different jobs within the company. Usually, the CEO works one terrible and three fantastic employees. At the end of the show, the CEO calls all the workers to his corner office and reveals his true identity. Then s/he hands out rewards or "retraining" according to the performance of the employee.
It's crazy, but the show regularly makes me tear up! While undercover, the boss gets to know a bit about the employee's struggles and dreams. At the reveal, the CEO often gives the employees thousands of dollars for school/medical/travel expenses. He does things for the employees that they could never do for themselves. The workers always cry in shock and relief. "Nobody's ever done something like this for me before," they say, wiping their eyes. And then I go looking for the kleenex box.
Why so emotional? And why am I talking about this on a teaching blog?
1. I can't believe how hard people work in hard, thankless, low-paying jobs. I saw an episode where the janitor spent his own money on special cleaning products that were child-friendly. Some of the best attitudes come from people who pick garbage and clean toilets for a living. This makes me think about my own attitude toward teaching. Hey, teaching is hard work. BUT, I'm usally in a climate-controlled environment. I get to take breaks. I get to build relationships with people and see how my job makes a difference in someone else's life. And the salary is much higher than minimum wage!
2. Generosity is powerful. The families of my students may be struggling to keep a car running, pay medical expenses, or even buy food. While I can't give as much money as a CEO, there are many ways that I can give sacrificially to help people in my community. I would like families to know that I see their struggles and am on their side.
3. It reminds me how God sees my work and has compassion on me. He understands the long days, the frustrating moments, and the tough decisions. My work doesn't go unnoticed. He also gives me amazing gifts and opportunities that I could never orchastrate myself. It's said that God is the good shepherd. I would say he's also the good CEO.
PS: If you watch any episode, I would recommend Johnny Rockets. AJ is pretty much my favorite character ever.
 |
| from www.imdb.com |
It's crazy, but the show regularly makes me tear up! While undercover, the boss gets to know a bit about the employee's struggles and dreams. At the reveal, the CEO often gives the employees thousands of dollars for school/medical/travel expenses. He does things for the employees that they could never do for themselves. The workers always cry in shock and relief. "Nobody's ever done something like this for me before," they say, wiping their eyes. And then I go looking for the kleenex box.
 |
| from www.forbes.com |
Why so emotional? And why am I talking about this on a teaching blog?
1. I can't believe how hard people work in hard, thankless, low-paying jobs. I saw an episode where the janitor spent his own money on special cleaning products that were child-friendly. Some of the best attitudes come from people who pick garbage and clean toilets for a living. This makes me think about my own attitude toward teaching. Hey, teaching is hard work. BUT, I'm usally in a climate-controlled environment. I get to take breaks. I get to build relationships with people and see how my job makes a difference in someone else's life. And the salary is much higher than minimum wage!
2. Generosity is powerful. The families of my students may be struggling to keep a car running, pay medical expenses, or even buy food. While I can't give as much money as a CEO, there are many ways that I can give sacrificially to help people in my community. I would like families to know that I see their struggles and am on their side.
3. It reminds me how God sees my work and has compassion on me. He understands the long days, the frustrating moments, and the tough decisions. My work doesn't go unnoticed. He also gives me amazing gifts and opportunities that I could never orchastrate myself. It's said that God is the good shepherd. I would say he's also the good CEO.
PS: If you watch any episode, I would recommend Johnny Rockets. AJ is pretty much my favorite character ever.
Saturday 2 February 2013
Squacking
When I was a teenager, there was a huge maple tree outside my window. On sunny Saturday mornings, it was the Smitty's of the bird world. I would be trying to sleep, but their loud and persistent conversations eventually ousted me from bed.
When I participated in my first twitter chat on Thursday, I felt like one of those birds in the maple tree. Everyone was talking, and maybe someone was listening.
The twitter chat of choice was #langchat. Langchat happens every Thursday evening at 8 PM EST. Every week, the moderator poses a question relating to teaching... language! Surprise! I've been looking for more EAL folks to follow, so I was excited to tap into this community.
After some preliminary investigation, I signed up for this conversation using tweetchat.com. This is an app that filters your twitter feed through a specific hashtag, so that you can more easily follow the conversation. You can also select how often to refresh the page, so that you have time to read comments before new ones get added.
I have to say that my first experience using twitter chat was overwhelming. It was hard to tell how many people were talking, and it was equally hard to catch the drift of the conversation. There were about 4 sub-conversations happening in addition to the main topic (which was about the use of google translator in language classes). Also, I found that the conversation moved quickly. If I didn't respond instantly, the conversation would move on and my comment would no longer be relevant.
I think that I would enjoy a twitter chat more if there were fewer people talking, and if we stayed on-topic.
That being said, I was able to meet some like-minded people in the EAL world... some who I had already been following on twitter. I was pleased to see that there was a community on twitter that I could join.
I can see twitter chat being useful in the classroom as a kind of online penpal/chat room. Two (or more) classrooms could partner up and have a conversation about something they are both learning about (such as the Industrial Revolution in Social Studies). However, I think it would work best if there were 10 or fewer participants talking at once.
Even though #langchat didn't pan out, I'm interested in exploring some more twitter chat options. Maybe #Oilers or #Gardenchat.
Does anyone know of websites that have a listing of twitter chats by topic?
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815745@N04/3691570871/">photogramma1</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
 |
| Add caption |
When I participated in my first twitter chat on Thursday, I felt like one of those birds in the maple tree. Everyone was talking, and maybe someone was listening.
The twitter chat of choice was #langchat. Langchat happens every Thursday evening at 8 PM EST. Every week, the moderator poses a question relating to teaching... language! Surprise! I've been looking for more EAL folks to follow, so I was excited to tap into this community.
After some preliminary investigation, I signed up for this conversation using tweetchat.com. This is an app that filters your twitter feed through a specific hashtag, so that you can more easily follow the conversation. You can also select how often to refresh the page, so that you have time to read comments before new ones get added.
 |
| www.favim.com |
I have to say that my first experience using twitter chat was overwhelming. It was hard to tell how many people were talking, and it was equally hard to catch the drift of the conversation. There were about 4 sub-conversations happening in addition to the main topic (which was about the use of google translator in language classes). Also, I found that the conversation moved quickly. If I didn't respond instantly, the conversation would move on and my comment would no longer be relevant.
I think that I would enjoy a twitter chat more if there were fewer people talking, and if we stayed on-topic.
That being said, I was able to meet some like-minded people in the EAL world... some who I had already been following on twitter. I was pleased to see that there was a community on twitter that I could join.
I can see twitter chat being useful in the classroom as a kind of online penpal/chat room. Two (or more) classrooms could partner up and have a conversation about something they are both learning about (such as the Industrial Revolution in Social Studies). However, I think it would work best if there were 10 or fewer participants talking at once.
Even though #langchat didn't pan out, I'm interested in exploring some more twitter chat options. Maybe #Oilers or #Gardenchat.
Does anyone know of websites that have a listing of twitter chats by topic?
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815745@N04/3691570871/">photogramma1</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
Sprucin' Up the Blog
As you can see, we are learning about visual design in our blogs. In this blog, I will demonstrate how to transform a visually bland post into a more eye catching design.
Here's a sample post from a (cough) purely random blog I found online:
________________________________________________________________________________
WHERE IS THE BIKE MAN?
Our paths crossed three years ago, and I’ve been
searching for him ever since. Internet searches. Bank records. Telephone directories. Driving up and down
residential streets. But he’s vanished. I’m beginning to think he was actually
the Bike Angel.
Not everybody needs a bike angel, but young and
anxious and new to the big city, I certainly did. It had only taken me one bike
trip (through a thunderstorm) to realize that my beloved green bike from the
country was not going to cut it for city life. The lack of brakes was one thing.
The absence of a reflector and working gears was another. And my old fear of my
head splitting open like a ripe watermelon was more real than ever when I
realized that I didn’t have a helmet. All I knew was that I needed a complete
bike overhaul. My plan was to (a) abandon my bike in a city park for the poor to
glean and (b) acquire a new and improved bike through the miracle website,
usedeverywhere.com
__________________________________________________________________________________
As you can see, it's minimalistic to the core. No text formatting. No pictures. No videos. No links. A total commitment to text required. Let's try that again:
________________________________________________________________________________
WHERE IS THE BIKE MAN?
Our paths crossed three years ago, and I’ve been searching for him ever since. Internet searches. Bank records.Telephone directories. Driving up and down residential streets. But he’s vanished. I’m beginning to think he was actually the Bike Angel.
 |
| www.tatsandtags.com |
Not everybody needs a bike angel, but young and anxious and new to the big city, I certainly did. It had only taken me one bike trip (through a thunderstorm) to realize that my beloved green bike from the country was not going to cut it for city life. The lack of brakes was one thing. The absence of a reflector and working gears was another. And my old fear of my head splitting open like a ripe watermelon was more real than ever when I realized that I didn’t have a helmet.
All I knew was that I needed a complete bike overhaul. My plan was to (a) abandon my bike in a city park for the poor to glean and (b) acquire a new and improved bike through the miracle website, usedeverywhere.com
(for the rest of the story, click here)_______________________________________________________
Blogging gurus recommend including at least one picture/video and one link in every blog post. It's a quick job that makes a big difference in the readability of the text.
Happy blogging!
 |
| The author enjoying a spin on her "new" bike |
The moment when you realize...
Another six-word story.
I found this photo on compfight.com. It's a search tool for Flickr. This photo is listed under Creative Commons license.
Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22490717@N02/2661318228/">archer10 (Dennis)</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a>
Sis
 |
| Photo by Kaylee McGillivray |
All Things Urgent, Important, and Seasonal
Happy Groundhog Day! I figured today was a fitting day to
take down the Christmas tree.
Actually, I think that January 7th is a much more fitting day for dismantling
all things Christmas.
So why am I still sweeping up plastic needles on the day
that the National Rodent shows his furry little face?
1. The Mid-Winter Jicker.
Our dad made up a holiday to celebrate the middle day of
winter- January 16th (with Nov 1 as the first day and March 31 as
the last). He borrowed a phrase from Dr. Seuss’ story I had Trouble in Getting to Sola Saloo. Every year, we throw some kind
of Mid-Winter Jicker party. Broomball on ice. Taffy-making. Decorating socks.
That kind of thing. And you can’t take down the Christmas tree until after the
Mid Winter Jicker.
 |
| MidWinter Jicker 2010. I'm reading the Dr. Seuss book that inspired the holiday. |
2. Life.
This was supposed to be my relaxing semester. You know, the
one where I go skating on the local rink between classes. Play guitar. Enjoy my
last semester of being a carefree student.
As it turned out, taking four classes and working part time
does not leave a lot of leisure time. I can hardly keep up with my dishes, let
alone go skating! I’m wondering, if I’m stressed
out now, how am I going to handle my first teaching job?
Then I remembered a little book that my mother (of 6
children) had. It’s called Tyranny of the Urgent by Charles Hummel. The gist of the book is that there is a regular tension between the things that are important and
the things that are urgent. And usually, urgent things squeeze out important
things.
 |
| from www.olivetree.com |
For example…
|
In the classroom…
|
Important
|
Not Important
|
|
Urgent (demand instant
attention)
|
A student has an allergic reaction and needs medical attention
|
You get an email saying that your library books are overdue.
|
|
Not Urgent (can wait)
|
You want to teach students how to use reading strategies.
|
You haven’t cleaned the gunk out of your computer keyboard in ages.
|
It’s easy to do the urgent/important things first and the nonurgent/unimportant
things last. But how can you choose between urgent/unimportant and
important/nonurgent?
For example, what if you’re in the middle of teaching those
reading strategies and somebody knocks on the door? It’s students from the
grade 8 class selling candygrams. It’s urgent- Valentine’s Day won’t wait
forever. But relatively unimportant. Yet, nobody wants to be the Valentine
Grinch. What to do?
Teachers are constantly faced with choices about priorities.
It’s hard to say no to urgent/unimportant things. However, I believe that teachers
need to work hard at saying yes to important things, even if they’re not
urgent.
So. If Valentine’s Day rolls around and the Christmas
decorations are still up, don’t sweat it. You’re probably doing something
important.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)