This is just Peachy . . .

Three links I found useful on Nik Peachey's website are:

1. Create Your Own Social Network 7 Steps (collaborative learning) - a tutorial for setting up and controlling your own social networking site. This was helpful because it addressed the issue of privacy and safety (who has access to your site). It also provided think abouts - things to consider before stting up the network.


2. Adventure Narratives for EFL ESL Students (games, reading) - the games are very engaging, mentally challenging, beautifully designed, and based around strong narratives.
   
3. Using Word Clouds in EFL ESL (speaking) - word clouds are created by entering into a field. The site then generates a word cloud based on the frequency of key words. Three interesting ways to use word clouds are: revision of texts (vocabulary focus); prediction (pre-reading); short poem/Haiku creation.

The Best Websites For Beginning Older Readers

The Best Websites For Beginning Older Readers is a much needed resource and was created to provide appropriate access for older students and adults who have had some formal schooling in their native countries, but who have had no prior experience with the English language. Ferlazzo ranked his top 8 picks, ranging from sight word practice sites (the best one being Basic Sight Words List One where words are taught in context) to reading skills story sites (Reading Skills Stories 1 and Reading Skills Stories 2) that provide leveled, high-interest stories with several follow-up activities for each one. Since my interest is middle school, I was excited to find this list of sites appropriate for older students.

The Best Multilingual & Bilingual Sites For Learning English

Larry Ferlazzo created this "list" to provide second language learners with access to an Internet resource that provides some native-language support - a safety net, so to speak, while gaining confidence with their new language. The aspect of this site that was particularly appealing was that he identified sites that "provide teacher-created content; do not require any registration; are free; and, provide resources in many languages, including ones that are not widely-used." Three of the links provided were multilingual with access to many languages; however, the best (and most useful) link was Pumarosa, a bilingual site specific to native Spanish speakers learning English.

When A “Good” Class Goes “Bad”

The article When a "Good" Class Goes "Bad" (and Back to "Good" Again!) provided some excellent tips to gaining and maintaining control of your classroom. Two of the tips that I found interesting were that he stopped writing names of misbehaving students on the board and he stopped calling home for bad behavior. Those strategies brought to mind the adage "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Too often, we (teachers) get caught up in the "control" aspect of the classroom and forget about the human element (we all respond better to positive comments than to negative ones). I've always believed that most students can be "worked" and that if I am yelling at my students, I have already lost control of the classroom.

I knew nothing about wikis

I visited the wiki entitled High School Online Collaborative Writing and was amazed at the depth of this wiki. It really is just a glorified interactive website. There's still so much that I need to learn about wikis but I am fascinated by this new piece of technology. I am definitely going to share this information with my own children.

No Teacher Left Behind

The overall message in Basics for Beginners: What is Web 2.0? is that "Education is not just for the young - stop preaching it and start practicing it!" Our students are so experienced with today's technology that they are literally "leaving us behind." Learning the new technology "vocabulary" can be intimidating at best. After reading this article, I realize that it's not only the teachers who are being left behind, it's the school systems, too. (NOTE: Lots of great links on this website.)

Slowly I Turn; Step by Step . . .

Are you Thinking About Teaching Blogging to Your Students?
"Though we often refer to today's youth as 'digital natives', I'm learning that they are comfortable in some areas, but need hand-holding to get going in others." "They need information/procedures 'chunked up' so as to avoid an overwhelmed feeling." I think that's true for all of us (not just students) in this uncharted territory (for me) of blogging.

I agree that a huge obstacle may be getting administrative buy-in since I'm pretty sure "blogging" is not embedded in the PGCPS curriculum. The biggest obstacle, however, is probably going to be being brave enough to try it.

Reasons for Blogging

Wow! The article 20 Reasons Why Students Should Blog actually discussed 21 great reasons. I especially liked the link to the 9-year old girl's reasoning. What a great motivational tool for all learners especially reluctant readers and writers. Writing for a "world wide" audience would certainly motivate students to "put their best foot forward."

Shift Happens

The video Did You Know? brought home what most people in the United States refuse to believe or even acknowledge - that American students are falling behind. I do think, however, that some of the data needs to be put in context, i.e. simply reporting numbers of people per country can be misleading; percentages might be a more accurate way but could lessen the impact of the video.

Motivation for Writing through Blogs

Students, today, are very motivated by technology so using blogs to teach writing makes perfect sense. (As a non-blogger myself, I had never thought of this.) Blogs would be very motivational because they are actually writing for a real (and sometimes vast) audience which, in turn, would motivate them to be more conscientious with their overall writing product (“peer pressure” is a wonderful motivator). After reading this article, I have discovered that there are so many ideas and opportunities out there, the idea of use of blogs needs to shared and encouraged. (I worry, though, about the students who still don’t have access to a computer at home.)

Access to Technology

Because I am not currently classroom-based, I guess I have to say I have no access to computers. However, when I was teaching at Tall Oaks High School (a few years ago), my classroom was a computer lab so I attempted to infuse technology into my lessons on a regualr basis. This is my first experience with "blogging."