Create a Graph

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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.