To Blog or not to Blog

While at the podcasting training, we learned how to access our new blog. I think this is much better and easier to navigate than the previous site. What makes it even better is that you can easily share ideas with your teammates and colleagues.

I am so excited

I am so excited about being here this evening and learning about Podcasting. I heard so much about this technology but have never used it. I am also interested to learn how to integrate the technology with students.

Blogging

Hello All,
Once again I am learning something new with Technology:-) Please be patient with me!!!

Hi. I am at the training for podcasting, and I am very excited to learn how to do this.

Welcome Highland Park STEP Team

This is the official blog of the Highland Park ES STEP Team. We are looking forward to an exciting experience using blogging.

Read Across America Event

Pictures were taken of every classroom door that was decorated by the staff, which included the secretaries, nurse, custodians, Before and After Care staff, cafeteria staff, lunch recess monitors and specialist. Then, all the students who dress as a book characters had their picture taken with the book that afternoon students paraded and had pictures taken. The following Monday, was Read Across America Day. Pictures of volunteers reading, characters, students at stations and skits were taken. Finally, a slideshow was shown to students for all of their hard work on the event at a Pizza Party Dance. The teachers and students enjoyed seeing themselves.

The "Cat in the Hat" had the most fun, more then any student or adult! When he made the front page of the Gazette, the excitement started all over again.

Tech Tip 3/22/09

Schooltube.com

Educational videos to incorporate in lessons.

Teacher's Using Technology in the Classroom

I used the digital camera to capture spontaneous pictures of teachers using technology in the classroom. E.g. Teacher taking attendance on SchoolMax; teacher allowing students to record on CD's to take information home; teacher using the Elmo in a Special Education classroom, teacher using SmartBoard in Math lesson; teacher using Digital Camera in the Physical Education that would be used to create a Standard Based bulletin board for the VSC.

Tech Tip 3/22/09

Kick You Tube....

An easy way to download You Tube videos to the computer and show if you're not connected to the internet.
Go to Youtube.com, locate the desired video, play a part of the video, move mouse to browser, insert the word "kick" in front of "youtube in the URL and press enter. When the page reloads use the menu bar to download.

Tech Tip 3/16/09

The Parent Portal site is going live for elementary schools. Teachers were sent the training site to refresh their memory of what parents would be able to view.

http://trng.sis.pgcps.org/schoolmax/family.jsp

Tech Tip 3/9/09

surveymonkey.com

Create online surveys to use with your students.

Elmo Again

Well, I have grown accustomed to using the Elmo almost everyday in my classroom. I use it to show books, check assignments, model note taking, enlarge images, and take pictures. It is very easy and user friendly. There is one thing that I have noticed that could use some improvement...the color or lighting. Since the Elmo does not have a backlight or overhead lighting, it tends to be a little difficult to see when someone is wearing something that is a dark color. The students get distracted when the Elmo begins the automatic coolor adjustment.

MSA Pep Rally

The Maryland School Assessment is next week. We have a scheduled Pep Rally every year prior to the assessment. This year, I plan to use a YouTube clip that was recorded at Forest Heights Elementary. The clip has students singing, rapping and dancing about passing the MSA. I can't wait to see the students reaction to the song.

Tech Tip 3/2/09

www.glogster.com

Express yourself.... picture profile enhanced.....