The Lion Trading Card

http://bighugelabs.com/photos/5d0cdcd24442060254afc2498817db61/deckad493037d7010b9be4521927ab41e61b7e1aa706

12 Staples

Staples...you know those items you always keep on hand in the kitchen. Those things that no matter what, you must have. With all of the websites nowadays to pick from, what would be the 12 staples you would pick for your classroom?

That is really hard. Gotta have Google, that is a no brainer, but where would you after that?

If you finish early, you can go to the computer...WHAT??????

Classroom Management of technology integration is still major concern. A lot of people still don't address this enough. I still see teachers giving the kid who finishes early time to go to the computer. Think about that about really hard for a few seconds....have you seen this kid's work? Is the same kid every time? What kind of message is that sending?

Where did we go wrong when teachers felt this was alright to do?

Here are some more equitable options:

Room Arrangement
Easy student access
Easy teacher access for presenting, modeling, and process writing etc.
Away from direct sunlight, water, magnets, and chalk dust (if possible.)
Provide enough space for small group interaction
Scheduling
Consider equity (It is not a good practice to allow students who finish their work first time on the computer.
Make sure that the student who isn't doing so well in your class gets on the computer. It may turn on that "not so good" student and get them interested in learning.)
To enable you to teach with the least interruptions and get all students on the computer, put a timer and a student roster next to each computer.
Teach the students how to set the timer for 15 minutes and to tap the next person on the shoulder when they are done.
Place 3 x 5 recipe card file with student names in book pockets to identify computer users for 15 - 20 minute time segments each day. Have students cycle through to complete project.
Provide opportunities for cooperative learning activities using the computer (s)
Have students work in pairs or small groups
Remember, students need time away from the computer for brainstorming, planning, and revising project.

Management
Post computer rights and responsibilities, guidelines for help, and expected behavior near computer station.
Display posters using computer terms and commands.
Emphasize the importance of preplanning so that time on the computer is efficiently used.
Create task cards for each computer project or assignment.
Assign one or your more computer saavy students to be the "computer assistant" He or she can answer questions while you are teaching. If the assistant doesn't know, then they can ask you.
Use computer buddies to introduce new computer skills. This can be students from your classroom or older students from other classrooms.
Invite parent and community volunteers to assist with more involved projects.

Classroom modeling
Introduce a new lesson to the whole class. If you have a projection device, that works best, so that all students can see your demonstration from their desks.

If you have young students you can have them gather around the computer, or you show the students in small groups.

Design projects to be completed in small parts, so that directions do not become too complex.
Provide a sample of the completed work for that session.
Provide students with a step by step checklist.

Have students sign and attach the checklist to completed project.

Be sure to include a proofreading checklist.
When teaching a computer skill, templates can be very valuable.

When using a template, each student or team can rotate through the activity and the original will not be altered or lost. This allows for a more self-guided lesson.

This is for me

http://www2.eboard.com/eboard/servlet/BoardServlet?&ACTION=TAB_SHOW&ACTION_ON=TAB&OBJECT_ID=363373&SITE_NAME=jppss&BOARD_NAME=DOITechnology&TAB_ID=363373&SESSION_ID=m4jkvreb6cq23199

This is for my kids!

http://jc-schools.net/tutorials/tools/math-hs.html

Lots of new website resources for math that the kids are so missing!

My New Friend

I have just been working with Microsoft Shared View and have just discovered what a great tool this is. It doesn't have to be collaborative. It can be used like a webinar. I am psyched. I have found a new purpose!

Here we go

I am now moving into another phase in the technology department. I get to go back to instruction again after working with classroom technology installations for the past year. I am back into what I came to this department for.



We just finished the two day conference. I had been trying to do that for years. I am glad to see it went pretty well. I know there was some grumbling but you can't please all 6000 people. I think overall it went well and we, as a district, looked good. Our teachers looked good. I have heard some feedback and some of it was about how some material was seen before and how some teachers wanted more new stuff. Instead of being disheartened, I think that is good to hear because that tells me have teachers who are more sophisticated tech users that we give them credit for. We need them to tell us what they want. They are the ones who should sending us suggestions, asking us to help them design what they want.

The idea is coordination. Collaborative efforts seem to have taken a back seat in the past two years to an authoritarian style leadership. I see less collaboration now than I did before. The teachers are on the front lines and we need more from them. Perhaps changes will take place.