Applying Blogging Vocabulary

During class today you will apply or use the blogging vocabulary introduced last week.  You have done this in other classes.  For example, in ELA you may have been asked to write sentences using new vocabulary to demonstrate your understanding of the meaning of those words.  You won't be writing sentences to demonstrate your understanding; you'll be exploring blogs!!  At each of your workstations you will find two resources. The first resource is a copy of the blog diagram from last week (completed.)  The second resource is a document with four QR (quick response) codes.  Each of these codes will take you to a different student blog.  Please be sure to leave these for the next class.  I have created an assignment in Google Classroom titled, "Blogging Vocabulary Activity." Follow the steps below to complete this assignment.

1.  Please log in to Google Classroom on your computer workstation.  Once in Classroom please "enter" my class and "OPEN" this assignment.  In the work space of the assignment you will see the Google doc, "Blogging Vocabulary Activity" which I have created for each of you.  Please open this doc.  
2. Open your iPad. 
3. Open your "Organization/Feedback" folder
4. Locate and open your "Qrafter" App.
5. You will need to scan each of the QR codes with the camera on this app.
6. Select "Open URL in Safari"
7. Using the information in the appropriate blog, you will type the answers to each of the questions on the Google doc.  Be sure to answer in complete sentences using correct capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
8. You should have time to review the answers with the teacher.
9. Be sure to "TURN IN" this assignment in Google Classroom.
10. *If for some reason you do not have your iPad, the links to the four blogs are listed below.

Hey Kids Blog

Everything Pre-Algebra

Blogs By Kids

Learning Alongside My Students
   11.  **If for some reason you are not able to get in to Google Classroom, the teacher will have a paper copy of the questions for you to answer.

Saying Goodbye.......

It has been over a week since my last post.  Anyone who is involved in education, whether you be an educator, parent, or student, knows what the last couple of weeks of school are like.  "Bedlam" could be a word used by some, but I prefer "excessive energy."  Students and teachers alike are experiencing a wide range of emotions.  Yes, we are all "done" and ready for summer to begin, but at the same time we are feeling a sense of sadness.  One of my student bloggers said it so well in her most recent post,

"I have made amazing friends and have formed incredible bonds with my teachers. I can hardly believe that I am on to saying good-byes! It feels like just yesterday when we were meeting for the first time."

Rachel and my many other amazing students have taught me so much this year.  They have far exceeded any expectations I had for them and our class.  I am sad to see them leave and yet I know they must move on.  I will definitley be keeping an eye on this bunch.  I know they will be making amazing contributions not only to our high school community, but to the global community as well.  This week I have asked my students to give me feedback in the form of a friendly letter.  Much to their surprise, I have asked them not to "share" their Google docs with me (a virtual assignment to which they have become accustomed), but to actually print out a piece of paper and turn it in to me.  They have been honest and very inciteful in their comments about our course and technology in our school.  I will be taking their recommendations seriously and have already thought of ways to modify my curriculum to better suit the needs of my future students.

So it is with a somewhat heavy heart, I say "good bye" to the class of 2018, and congratulations on a job well done this year! They have definitely left a positive mark in our school, and I am very proud to say have made positive contributions to their digital footprints.  I am sure you will be hearing from many of them for years to come!!
                                                  Happy Summer!!!

image link:  http://www.liquidbreaker.com/blog/take-a-hike-green-ideas-for-summer-fun/



Digging Out and Charging Up!!

WOW!  Nemo left quite a mark for such a small fish!!  The Blizzard of 2013 will be remembered as one of the worst storms to hit our area.  I consider myself very lucky to have only lost power for 50 hours or so.  My house is intact and my family is safe!!!  I am sitting with my students, okay maybe half of a class, who are blogging themselves.  Our schools are open, though many of our students were not able to make it in today.  Parts of Cape Cod are still without power.  Many extraordinary stories are unfolding.   I feel as though our crews, both town and utility, did an unbelievable job to get us back to "normal" or as close as we currently are this morning.  I heard a chain saw running at 1 o'clock this morning!! YIKES!  I give those workers credit.  Can you imagine still going at that hour?!!!!  It was amazing to see the out pouring of help from local businesses.  For those of us who could access social media such as Facebook on our devices the posts inviting people in to businesses to "charge" up devices, and get warmed up were abounding.  Some local business owners were providing coffee, breakfast, and even pizza for lunch- free of charge!!!  I love it when Cape Codders pull together like that!!
As for my students who are missing school today.......we are working on our blogs; adding another post.  If you are sitting at home and have Internet, I'd love to hear about your experiences.  Remember to be careful about revealing too much personal information!  I hope all of my students are safe, warm, and dry.  I know for some of you it was a tough couple of days.  I am sure some of your homes sustained damage from the storm.  I hope to see you in school tomorrow morning.  I especially hope you and your families were the recipients of some of that good old Cape Cod neighborly assistance along the way!

Image Link:  http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130211/NEWS11/130219964/-1/NEWS

Good Communication and Follow Up

I have been reviewing the expectations for ILT with students this week in regard to missed classes. I must say, it seems to have paid off!!! I have received 8 emails in the past two days from students who have made up missed work. I realized one piece of the equation I neglected to share with students. We discussed where to email me (white_kim@barnstable.k12.ma.us), what to include in the subject line (re: make up work ILT#), and when (within 1 week of the missed class); however I did not mention checking your email accounts for confirmation. Once you have completed the make up work and sent me an email, it is a good idea to monitor you email accounts for a reply from me. I try my best to send a reply to students within a 48 hour period. So, if you haven’t heard back from me saying “I received your email and have given you credit for the missed class”, you should double check with me. There could have been a mistake in the address you sent it to or some other malfunction. It is technology after all!! Good communication is so important. So “thanks” to those of you who are using your “Effective Effort Strategies” and putting in that “time” to be successful. Keep up the great work and have a super long weekend!
Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate!!

http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/animated-easter-bunny.html

Frustrating and Exciting!

There are so many things I should be doing at this moment, but needed to share this with all of you!! We have been working on uploading our podcasts to our blogs. Such a simple sounding task I know; but as always with technology there have been glitches. I am continually telling my students I am learning right along with them; hence the name of my blog, but today was able to model that for them. Students discovered our media player was displaying their first and last names; something we discourage for our 7th graders. I didn’t have the solution, so asked my entire class to stop what they were doing at that moment and search the “Tindeck” site for answers. I also shot off a quick email to Tindeck asking for advice. Jenn timidly raised her hand and shared her discovery. We could edit our tracks and change the name of the artist, thus solving our problem. Much to my surprise, I received an almost immediate response from Tindeck, who unknowing to me is based in Australia. They didn’t have the resolve, but were willing to see if they could go in to accounts and make corrections to user names. I replied with the student resolve. Thinking that would be the end of my communication with Tindeck, I didn’t pay much attention to my email. Well, I was wrong. That was not the end of my communication. Tindeck was interested in how we were using their site (this is actually when I found out they were located in Australia). So what started off as a very frustrating lesson, turned in to one of the better and more exciting couple of classes I’ve had in a long time.
It is interesting how quickly the world becomes so small and connected. Just one of life’s great “teachable moments”!!!