Monday, July 19, 2010

Just "Hangin" Out This Summer!



So I've had just about a month of decompressing from my self-imposed sabbatical from anything "techie" and enjoy what's left of my summer.... just couldn't quite do it. I read Cool Cat's blog everyday, check out Free Technology For Teachers, am dedicated to Creating Lifelong Learners, and browse Edutopia's RSS and Edte.ch daily.
We have four elementary classes (K, 1/2, 3/4, 5/6) in addition to art, music, and exploratory that I am constantly looking for ways to integrate MEANINGFUL tech into! You see, I am the one person (besides my principal) who has the passion to want ALL areas in my little school to have tech integration. I've seen how it effects the kids, how it excites the teachers, and makes me want to be a better teacher EVERYDAY.
So- here is what I have been doing while I'm not supposed to be doing anything "techie."
Pennies For Peace- took the leap, am going introduce this to my K-6 students in exploratory class.
Book Builder- checked out how to create a book for my all students.
GOKNOW- am working with the AEA to get a grant to fund this pilot program that uses mobile learning, am hoping to use it with our 3/4th grades- the teacher has read about it, and is pumped (half the battle won!)
Google Earth- am going through the online classes- an application that all my kids would benefit from!
Windows Movie Maker- I tested/created a movie of my daughter, using the Flip and added sound, as I am hoping to make movies with the 5/6th grades about ANGLES this year, among other things.
TimeMaps- checking it out to use with my 5/6th graders as they put all the wars they will be studying into a better "perspective" for them to understand...
Free Rice- FreeRice is a website committed to the cause of ending hunger around the world. It is run entirely for free and at no profit. All money (100%) raised by the site goes to the UN World Food Programme to help feed the hungry. It was suggested to me by JKies one of my wonderful peers in the UNI IT cohort.
And I'm working with Julie Lindsay & Vicki Davis of The Flat Classsroom Project to start up an Elementary Flat Classroom Project!!!

Just hangin out...