I have learned WAY too much this week.

3 Most Important things I've learned:

1. del.icio.us--this will make life so much easier and make me better able to manage my resources.

2. blogs--Using blogs in class will fit in so smoothly in my C.A. class as I am constantly having my students reflect on what they're learning or reading about. I also like to have them discuss in small groups, and I think having them comment on one another's blogs will be a more effective way to encourage those students who don't necessarily share as much out loud, but may be OK writing about it.

3. pageflakes/flickr--Pageflakes will just be a wonderful way to manage my time and get information that I don't have to waste my time searching for, and that I, quite honestly, wouldn't search for. I will become a more knowledgeable person for having done that.

flickr--I am most excited about using flicker as a personal tool for fun. I figure once I master that I will begin to play around with using it as a tool for the classroom, but for now I look forward to just playing with it for fun.

One thing I really would like to learn more about is flickr since I really don't know much about it.

I started out the day extremely frustrated, and am ending the day feeling much better and more hopeful. I am feeling a bit anxious not knowing when our unit plan is due. I wish we would've been told that from day 1.

Blogging...I'm excited!

I am so anxious to put what I've been learning about blogging into practice. So many ideas are filling my mind at this point. It's good to put my ideas down in words to sort of think out loud about my ideas and hopefully get some feedback as well. Blogging will be an asset in my 7th grade communication arts classroom if used effectively. Some ideas I intend to put into practice are using blogging as a warm-up activity. I could potentially choose a topic or a book we are reading about and have students read and respond to blogs on that topic. Another possibility would be to use blogging in literature circles. I could have groups set up and they could blog about and comment on blogs throughout their book. This will really encourage higher-level thinking and will give them practice on writing for a wider audience because I would like to find another class, who is be reading the same book or focusing on the same topic, to comment on/blog as well. It is so important that students see the big picture--a personal goal of mine, for my students, is to help them to see that Poynette, WI is not the center of the universe. It's a big world out there and there a whole lot of people out their with different backgrounds, beliefs, thoughts and ideas. Realizing this helps students to grow and expand their horizons. Blogging is the perfect opportunity for students and teachers to explore this realm! As you can see, I'm definitely excited about this, but I do have my reservations as well. I can see parents coming back to me or the district because of specific comments that kids make because of course someone is bound to be inappropriate. Even though comments must be approved first, students will talk and will be offended. This is something I struggle with. As a second year teacher, I do not want to rock the boat too much since I'm still on probation, however I find this to be exciting and something that could potentially change the way I teach and the way students learn. It could connect them to the world outside the classroom, and isn't that just what we, as teachers, hope to do for our students?

Square peg, round hole?

It is my belief and understanding that Web 2.0 is about connections. There are so many links to the world out their that everyone is able to find their niche/something that interests them. Education is about tying what we know to new information and making connections between the two. Without an interest in what we are learning about, it is difficult for the material to sink in. The tools available on Web 2.0 allow everyone to find something that interests them on a given topic. What better a way to learn than to have a thousand heads working together to learn and discuss new ideas rather than simply having a teacher stand in front of them lecturing on a particular topic? This allows children to gain a global perspective rather than one person's perspective in small town America.

One of the most important skills to obtain in life is learning to effectively communicate. Being able to communicate well with others is allows us to use one another as resources. In recent years, I have learned just how important my colleagues/students are to me. I look to them for ideas and advice, as well as to share my own ideas and advice. We collaborate with one another and come up with even better ideas. I want my students to do this as well, and to be excited about it! It's great to know that they can take a great idea and work together to improve upon it. This is a skill they will use in the real world all the time. The tools Web 2.0 gives us allows us to improve upon our communication skills greatly.