Piotrow's Blog

Create a Graph

2009-02-10T14:52:00.002-06:00

My daughter had to create a graph on bacteria for her science class. She googled "Create a Graph" and came up with a really quick, easy way to create her graph that looked really good. I don't know if I could create a graph that looked this good on Excel. Rachel is only a 7th grader, but it was so easy to use. I thought I would pass it along for those who hadn't thought about googling create a graph. It is http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx

Check it out.

Book Club

2009-02-10T14:42:00.002-06:00

We are starting a book club in our neighborhood. I was considering some kind of social networking to be able to discuss books or to update people. I don't want to use FACE book because of all the emails I already get for being hit by a snowball. What suggestions do you have? I have gotten comfortable with the PB Wiki and the blogs. I know my knowledge is limited and was thinking there might be something out there that would be more useful... Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

To Friend or Not to Friend?

2009-01-05T15:20:00.002-06:00

I belong to Council for Exceptional Children Newsletter that is sent to me every day. Sometimes I keep them and other times, I decide I am way too busy to bother with what other states are doing. However, the December 23rd newsletter got me thinking.

It is under the technology trends section titled: Teacher Dilemma: To Friend or Not to Friend. It got me wondering what that was all about. Interestingly enough, the question is around Facebook and whether teachers should be communicating with students via Facebook? You can find the article at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6174564.html

The discussion raises some interesting points. Some teachers use it to help students with their homework and are on it regularly while other teachers use it only for staying in contact with alumni.

I have put a voting gadget (yes...I remembered how to do that) on my blog. Feel free to give me your opinion about teachers/students and Facebook.

Teacher's TV

2008-11-16T08:39:00.001-06:00

I got a blog through the RSS that said "Goodbye You Tube." from Free Technology for Teachers. I thought "no way". It has been around and everyone uses it. (At home because it is blocked from school.)

They had other suggestions that may not be blocked. One of the suggestions was Teachers TV. www.teachers.tv

I looked over the site I hadn't seen and it looks like it might be a teacher’s site from England. The name Sue Cowley caught my eye. (Behaviorist guru) The site has a link that is set up for teachers to learn new tips for classroom behaviors.

When I was first clicking on the different behaviors, I noticed the site also had ideas for behaviors in the elementary as well as secondary. Even through the videos may seem a little dorky, I was able to relate to most, if not all, of the videos I was watching.

I have been looking for information for information on behaviors that would improve my teaching in the classrooms. I hadn't been able to find anything. This is the first time I have found something that directly relates to what I do in my classroom.

Check it out...

Rubric for Blogging

2008-11-08T21:43:00.001-06:00

I know there are many teachers having students do some blogging. I am not sure how you are grading the blogs, but I found a rubric in Free Technology for Teachers that might be helpful. I don't think I would use it every week, but may every four weeks. (midterm and end of quarter)

Here is the website...It was also created on Rubistar.

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=df8b89sj_324h7b58tgq

I saved in my delicious account to be able to go to if I decide to use this for the future.

Thing Four - Wiki

2008-11-08T21:18:00.001-06:00

I have got to tell you how excited I am about my Wiki....I really hope it works...I am in a group of E/BD teachers who are in the process of writing a book trying to retain "Good" E/BD teachers in the field.

I have created a Wiki so that we can all put our writings on a website rather than having to constantly email everything around.

I am sure I will have a lot of questions on how to make it even more user friendly. We are not the most technology gifted group of people.

Let me know if you have any ideas.

Thing Three

2008-11-08T21:12:00.001-06:00

I have just created a Rubric using Rubistar. It was really easy to use. I started out using the suggestions they had and went from there. For example...I choose the three things I look for with when working with students with E/BD. "Prepared:", "Attitude", "Time-Management", and "Foucs on the task". I believe that any of the previously mentioned behaviors would also work for your projects.

I will let you know how the students take it when I introduce it to them on Tuesday. I am going to have the students fill it out first and then share it with the parents duirng conferences.

READ, WRITE and THINK

2008-10-29T21:16:00.001-05:00

I found this awesome website called Read, write and Think. I actually think it is something I will be able to use in my job skills class as well as my STEP class when we discuss carers. The website gives samples from the web on how to build a nice resume as well as cool ideas for wiki'ing, reading, and writing ideas.

Check it out...

http://www.readwritethink.org

Babbel

2008-10-13T20:04:00.002-05:00

Have you ever wanted to learn a new language, but didn't have the time to do so?

Babbel is a great tool for learning vocabulary for learning Spanish, French, German or Italian. You do have to register and then begin to learn. I wish it had a way to plug in the words students are using and then find out what it means in English.

An interesting fact is that it is also a social website. You can invite people, develop a profile and even meet a man. (I am not interested in the man thing...just saying you could)

After I am done blogging, I am going to learn six new colors in Spanish. Jump on and join me. Next stop...Cancun

Here is the website if you would like to check it out...

http://www.babbel.com/

Enjoy...

Deliciious

2008-10-08T17:21:00.001-05:00

I am excited about the Delicious account. Shawn said it was easy to set up and she couldn't have been more right. Thanks for helping me Shawn. You are the best. Maybe some day, I will be able to help you.

I google

2008-08-20T15:11:00.001-05:00

Love blogging from I Google.

Setting up my first blog

2008-08-20T14:37:00.002-05:00

I am so glad the Travis and Sarah were able to let me know about this class and how it would benefit me in my position. I think this is a skill that I will need to work on and develop on a regular basis in order to stay up on the technology. I don't want to only use it when I come back to the monthly classes. I would most likely have to re-learn everything once again.

Regardless of my weaknesses, thanks again Travis and Sarah for informing me about this class. There are so many tools out there that will help me to support students in the building.