Social Networking

I have been thinking about facebook this week.  I love to look at it but I am not sure it is always healthy.  This week I saw where my niece had a little run-in with some friends.  They prank called her and said some mean things and taped it with a webcam.  They then put it on youtube and the facebook fight was on.  Kids, especially girls, can be mean.  I have been mean.  Katy has been mean.  However, when I was in school if you got in a fight with a friend you could make up easier.  I think it is harder when the problem has been made public for many to view.  It's also harder to tell a little white lie (which may be good).  If I say I can't do something with someone because I am sick and Katy puts her status as "out having lunch with Mom" I could be in trouble!  For example, this weekend I didn't tell anyone I was going to Tulsa but Katy put that as her status.  It wasn't a secret but I still offended someone because I didn't tell them I was going to be gone for the day.  To be fair, my Grandma is sick and I should have probably let someone know but I thought it would be OK if they just saw it on facebook.  Perhaps facebook has made me less considerate and more casual.  On the other hand I love to see what old friends have been doing.  I have gotten help in classes and connected with many teachers who have given me advice through facebook.  I can't decide if it is wonderful or not---maybe as with most things, it is fine in moderation!

PowerPoint

I loved looking at all the powerpoint presentations.  The people in class are so creative.  Me, not so much--that's why I am glad to see theirs.  Now I can steal  borrow their ideas.  Each one had something about it that made it my favorite!  Loved Roxie's!  Hers looked different from the others and had the activities that went with the story.  Katy and Jenifer had unique topics.  I love the colored animals on Jody's.  It was very eye-catching!  I thought Sandy's was wonderful.  It was interesting and she had the links to other educational sites and Kellie well...I have enjoyed every presentation I have ever seen her do in class and she introduced me to the "Quack, Quack, Moo" series last semester and I love it!  She is very creative.  I saw some of Sharon's when she was working on it and it was awesome too.  I am having such fun learning from everyone.  I even decided to "practice" and make a powerpoint presentation for my reflective teaching lesson tonight.  It was fun.  I have always thought of powerpoint as a business tool although I have never had to use it.  I am going to have to train my brain to look at tools in new ways so I will be able to use them effectively in my classroom.  It is exciting to be encouraged to be creative and thoughtful instead of just productive and cost-effective!  I think I will like using this side of my brain for a while!  Of course, I realize teaching will be somewhat different than being the student, but I am enjoying my time right now. 

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 was interesting.  Last night in Foundations I was able to tell another pre-service teacher about different audiovisual sites to use.  She was wondering where to find information that would reach different types of learners and be interesting.  I hope Mr. Chamberlain is going to teach this class again because she wants to take it from him.  Voki was my favorite site (besides Jib Jab)!  It was funny to hear Katy's voice speaking with an accent and coming from a hotdog!  However, I do see that it could be used for educational purposes too!  It might be more exciting to learn from a gingerbread man at Christmas or a turkey at Thanksgiving.  I think when kids are getting restless before a holiday break it might be a good tool to use.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Technology has Stolen My Baby

     I love technology.  I really do.  Because of the internet I am afforded the luxury of working at home.  I can look up research I need for my job.  I use several different tools on the internet to help me accomplish my tasks.  This has saved me gas, wear and tear on tires, the cost of "proper" work clothes and lunch expenses.  However, the internet has also taken from me.
     Picture it.  The year is 1998.  My little girl, my only child, my Baby receives a pink walkman and a Back Street Boys CD for Christmas.  She is in love.  She is enchanted with music.  Because she is only a little girl with no viable income I become her idol, the giver of music, a SUPERSTAR, if you will.  I too am enchanted by the look of joy in her little brown eyes.  I will do anything to make her happy.  I drive through sleet and snow into another time zone just to be the first in line for the new Britney CD.  I can find the "not yet released" Jessica Simpson CD on the bottom shelf in the back room of Sam Goody two days before anyone else can buy it.  I leap over racks in Hastings in a single bound to grab the last Inspector Gadget soundtrack from the hands of a crying little girl  victory from the jaws of defeat.  But then one day........the pink walkman is replaced by a little pink ipod.  We have both become obsolete.  Oh, she still needs my credit card but she no longer needs my skills.  Now she can get her music from the internet.  Believe me when I say---there is no need to drive through the sleet or bound over racks to get an itunes card.  It's just not necessary.
     Now as the Christmas shopping season is upon us once more, I think of the hours I have spent at Barnes and Noble, cafe mocha in hand, searching for the perfect picture book, tween romance, A & P coloring book, nursing and teaching books and the latest Tess Gerritson novel---and then I think of Katy's new Kindle and my heart breaks a little bit.
    
    

Sometimes you get MORE than you pay for

I had an epiphany last night.   When I signed up for Technology class I expected to benefit from the education, expertise and experiences of Mr. Chamberlain---and I have.  However, thanks to technology I have also benefitted from the education, expertise and experiences of Jennifer Scoggins (Mrs. Mimi), Ira Socol, Sir Ken Robinson and the other educators and particpants presenting Ted Talks.  I got really excited when I realized the richness of experience I am having in this class.  Then I started thinking, if I am this excited---what about an Elementary Student who got to chat with his favorite children's book author?  A class studying weather who could skpe with a meteorologist?  A High School Government class that could ask questions of their State Representatives?  The possibilities are endless!  WOW!  I think I am finally starting to get it!

Blogs aka my Favorites

I have been following some blogs for several years now but I didn't know it.  No, I don't have multiple personalities.  I didn't realize that was what they were.  I just thought they were cool websites that were updated regularly so I saved them to my favorites and checked them every day!  I'm hip and didn't even realize it.  Of course using the word "hip" probably negates any "hipness".  Naturally, I follow Katy's new BFF, the fabulous Mrs. Mimi.  I love her because not only is she an advocate for teachers and her "little friends" she is sarcastic and loves Barnes and Noble.  That's enough for me!  I follow the Book Aunt and Chicken Spaghetti because they read and write reviews of children's books.  I love all books but have gained a special love of children's books from my mother-in-law who is a retired kindergarten teacher.  I chose to post on the blog of Chicken Spaghetti about the demise of picture books.  I also follow the Pioneer Woman.  Her name is Ree Drummond and she has won several awards for her blog, has written a book and a cookbook, is a photographer, has four kids and Marlboro Man, her husband.  She was a city girl who married a rancher and her life is quite entertaining.  Finally, I follow Katy Wimer, probably out of a misguided sense of parental responsibility.   She might feel bad if she only had one follower so I try to lift her spirits by making her think I really care about what she has to say.  This technique also works very well with her father.  Perhaps there is a genetic component.

Whew!

I have a lot to do so I saved Poptropica to my favorites.  That way I feel like I have accomplished something.  I haven't played it yet but Hey! I will.  I have to do a take home test and write up a paper about the school board meeting too.  I also need to get started on my philosophy of education paper.  I won't be letting Mr. Chamberlain read that after his reaction to his wife's!  :)  I talked to another  pre-service teacher at the meeting about passion and my concerns about teaching.  She is also someone who is coming into this as a second career.  She thinks part of the reason I may not be passionate about it yet is because I am just starting and haven't been in a classroom.  I don't know the good or the bad about the way things work so I don't actually know which issues I will feel passionate about yet.  Right now I think I will get my AAT and then decide if I want to pursue this or something else.  It may help when I do my classroom observation next month.  I am going to observe Mrs. Kilby for a few hours too so that may give me another perspective.  I am also interested in Social Work and I looked that up at Crowder and may think about that too.  I have a few more general requirement classes to take and I think I will do that next semester.  That may give me time to re-evaluate.  I have to say that I love technology class.  I didn't know if I would.  No matter what I decide to do it has helped me learn about things I am going to need to know.  It has also given me a lot of things to think about and I am grateful for that also....and since Mr. Chamberlain FINALLY remembered to bring his kindle to class, I know what to put on my Christmas list!