Tool #5

I really had fun using Wordle and created this Wordle on our first read aloud of the year in fifth grade, No Talking by Andrew Clements. I think it will be fun for students to find a summary for an upcoming book club book, create a Wordle, and make predictions about the main events of the book from the resulting Wordle. After reading the Wordle can again be revisited.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I was a bit apprehensive about creating an Animoto, but it was much more simple than I thought. It was great importing the pictures I had saved, yet I had difficulty hearing the sound when trying to sample the music. I chose a piece, but I still cannot hear it and wonder if others can listen.

Tool #4

Today I just finished Tool #4 and enjoyed using Google Docs to share a potential schedule template with my team next year. It was fun to communicate with Arlene to practice going back and forth in real time. This part is very powerful if a team agrees to get together to plan from different locations.

Tool 3

This video clip is a great short introduction to the events of the American Revolution.




This clip is about weathering and erosion. I love the idea of The Weathering Channel!



This is an example of a subjective interpretation of The Boston Massacre.

When learning about copyright and fair use, I was reminded about the fact that I can use materials for educational purposes, just not in full.
I loved embedding the videos into my blog and it seemed fairly simple, yet if the photo or video needed to be linked, it was definitely more complicated. What a great way to share what's going on in school with parents and families. I really enjoyed Teacher Tube and found a ton of great things there.
When I was using Picasa the remix filter was not working, so I couldn't play with it. It was great being able to link a picture that I refer to each year in social studies. Everyone will have quick access when I refer to The Boston Massacre.

Tool 2

I have finished Tool 2 with much more ease than with Tool 1. It was addicting to read everyone's posts and to see where everyone is at in the process of 11 Tools.  I think eventually that this tool will prove most effective when I can create connections with fellow educators from all over.  If I am struggling with a new way to teach a difficult concept, a large pool of teachers with amazing ideas is so powerful.

Thing 1

Wow!  If it weren't for Arlene Reynolds, I don't know how I would have navigated through Thing 1.  I feel relieved to be finished!
I have just created my Avatar, and it looks just like my puppy, Missy.  This part of Thing 1 was fun.