Tool #3

I had so much fun playing around and creating things. The one that I really wanted to use, Wordle, wouldn't let me create or save. It could be that I wasn't at my house with my Internet, not sure. I can see that the kids would love creating using these applications for project, book reports, etc. Take a look at what I created. The first one is using the Image Chef and the second using the Kid Friendly Image Generators. We leave for Hawaii tomorrow morning! We are so excited!

Tool #2

I think building an on line educational community and participating in a PLN is fabulous. You will be making connections with others, sharing and receiving ideas and information with others with similar interests.

A couple of points that stood out to me about commenting were to write meaningful comments and not to be afraid. I am a lurker of blogs. I love viewing and reading what others have shared but comment rarely. I can see how making a comment can promote conversations amongst others and get wheels turning. When I do comment it's usually short and sweet, so I will be working on this as I move through this process.

Here are the blogs I am following as of right now. I am sure this list will grow.

2nd Grade Blogger
Tales of a Fifth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Green's Blog Spot
11 Tools Training LJ
Teachin in Flip Flops

Tool #1

I was very apprehensive about this assignment. And kept putting it off. I am not very technological and always rely on my team members to help me or coach me. On Monday during a break at my training other teachers from my school showed me what they had done and I got excited! I have two personal blogs and I was thinking I can at least get the first tools completed.



Well, I went to blogger to pick my template and they had changed their templates and were not as friendly to my cute background that I wanted. So that took a lot of time trying to figure that out, more time than I wanted to spend but I got it done.



Next, was the avatar and that was frustrating because I signed up and waited and waited for them to send me an email to confirm my registration and it never arrived. I went ahead and created one and was able to save it. I wished they had more choices to choose from.



I look forward to moving through the other tools to learn more and play around with the technology out there. I think the students will have a blast creating avatars. I am not too sure about blogging. I think blogging with just invited people may be OK because I wouldn't want to put my students at risk. The world can be a scary place and any lurker can be reading our blog. Just my thoughts.



That's all for now!