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Friday, March 21, 2008
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Category: Education
First Day
GUEST BLOGGER
Emily Witt
I was a wreck that first day. A total disaster. Unprepared in every way. And when it was done, I wondered how I would ever survive the year. I had a classroom full of leftovers with moms that were my age and dads that weren’t around. Kids with reputations that followed them and heartache and need that was written all over their faces. Our relationship was volatile and more than once I cried in front of them, but every day changed me a little and before it was over I was wrapped up in them.
We lived in the Trailer Trash Castle, a mobile classroom behind the school, and I was voted The Queen, but the truth is they were the royalty there. They were hysterical and full of personality and they were creative and emotional and I adored them. We read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe together and I watched in awe as they sat enamored by the story come to life on the big screen. I taught them to waltz and my heart went to putty when James asked me to dance as every child in the school looked on. Their heads bobbed and swayed to the sound of The Drifters in the afternoons and their sweaty hands found their way around my waist after every recess. Their words were simple and innocent and are forever with me and they are the class to which I compare all others.
“Miss Witt, it feels like a fluffy cloud when I hug you.” Sweet Kim. “How do you spell apponna? You know like once apponna time?” Jacob. “I’m praying for your husband, Miss Witt.” Tyler. “Miss Witt, you look guuud in dem heels!” Jasmine. “If the world was upside down, would all the water fall out?” Oh, Stephen. “You must really love me, Miss Witt. You named your dog Fuller.” And it was true. I loved Rashad Fuller. And I loved Warren and Noah’s sweet spirit helped me through every day. And Adam’s tears helped me understand how desperately he wanted to please me. But James was my favorite. He was my heart. He left me diet cokes in my refrigerator and tootsie rolls in my chair and he hid under my desk when his temper caused him shame. And that kid, to this day, is the reason I teach. To show love to the unlovable and to hold the broken. To give the hopeless a chance to rise up and to beg the needy to stand on their own. To encourage the weak and to be the mother to those without. To heal. To lead. To swell with pride at small victories and to be broken by hurts that I cannot carry.
About the Author
Emily Witt, a former student and preservice teacher of Clif’s, graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent two years teaching in the Mississippi public school system before moving a little further south. She is currently teaching third graders in the heart of the Colombian coffee region, learning Spanish as she goes, and wondering if it might really be possible to change the world.
Suggested Reading for 03/13/2008
Teaching and Learning with Squidoo
*DISCLAIMER: I’ve hesitated to share this resource because of the advertising and economics tied to it. I have given it a quick test and think that all of that stuff remains invisible. I’m sharing this resource because, in the right context, I see true potential in its integration with teaching and learning.
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Have you seen Squidoo? I would roughly describe it as a means of mashing up information from a variety of resources into a lens (as in the eye of a giant squid; fancy word for webpage). This is accomplished through customization and pulling together a good number of RSS feeds, favorites, bookmarks, page rankings/voting, etc. Lenses are ranked, money is given to daily winners, etc.* You can actually earn money for charity or for yourself just by using the service.* I have browsed through many of the existing lenses and been impressed by their quality. I am guessing that the whole free market competition model encourages quality effort as those with lenses with the highest use and approval are rewarded. Most of the ones I reviewed were by doctors, therapists, professors, etc. and all seemed well-credentialed. It is likely that you will find some lenses that you can use in your own classroom.
I haven’t completely made up my mind about what I think of Squidoo (I found it very, very late last night) but it has certainly given me some things to consider. Ideas for integrating it with learning and instruction have flooded my mind. In the right context it would be an interesting tool for teachers and learners to use for webquests, research, scavenger hunts, presentations, cooperative learning, online classes, a Web 2.0 activity, etc. Additional ideas and strategies are very end of this post.
There is also a section called Hey Monkey Brain where students can pick, research and debate a topic. Again, in the right context this feature has several positive educational implications.
I joined and threw together my own lens on the topic of educational technology. Take a look…
- My Squidoo Profile: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/clifsnotes
- My Ed Tech Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/clifsnotes
You can setup your own free account using here.
Integrating Squidoo
I thought it might be helpful to all of us if we brainstormed ways to integrate the use of Squidoo with teaching and learning. Here are some of the ideas (classes, lesson topics, activities) that came to me.
- Business
- Economics
- Research
- Writing and editing
- Information design
- Current events
- Math/ science/ health news and research
- Travel planning/ virtual field trip scenarios
- Marketing
- Student designed and developed webquests
- Homework helper
- Tips for parents
- Book reviews
- Debate/ critical thinking/ persuasive writing
- Newsletters
- Service learning/ moral education
- Instructional design/ lesson planning
- Online/ web-enhanced learning
- Focus on composers, painters, or sculptors
- Communicate information and resources to teachers about particular special needsMuch of the above can be modified for use in foreign language classes
Perfect Use of Vlogging
This is the most natural use of vlogging that I have seen, yet. Take a look at what folks are doing with online video. I stumbled across this while trying to install a video/audio commenting plugin for my new and improved blog. I was blown away by the idea and excited for those that clearly are enjoying a medium that is a perfect communication tool for them. I will be sharing these ideas with all the teachers in my classes.
Oscar shares his book review of Deaf in America.
Celebrating his 1 year vlogging anniversary, Oscar compares and contrasts himself today with a year ago.
This is an assistive technology that is likely to grow in use. I am glad that I am now aware of this use and some of its possibilities.You can view Oscar’s blog here.
Suggested Reading for 03/11/2008
Sickness has finally made its way into our home. All but one of us have been sick since the weekend and I am not that lucky one. As a result, I have had lots of time to grade, plan and read. I though I’d share these particularly interesting posts with you this evening.
Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education
Student Voices on Cyberbullying
RE Social Network Sites-An Open Letter to the Superintendent
More about Edmodo
I’m looking forward to seeing this resource. One of the developers has told me that beta testing will occur in a couple weeks. In the meantime, here’s more information about Edmodo.
Kate shared her review of Edmodo as an alpha tester.Sign up to be a beta tester.
Twitter in Education
If you’ve spent much time in the blogosphere in the last six months you have likely heard about Twitter. I have mentally been writing this post for about ten days. I want to provide my critical review and share the pros and cons as I see them. I realized that many people have already covered the bulk of this information and I just found it unnecessary for me to fully cover this topic with my own original post. Therefore, here are a few BIG points that I briefly want to make followed by valuable resources to further pursue this topic.
- There is value in the networking and real-time interaction that you can get using Twitter. Many educators and academics find this to be an effective strategy for dealing with the isolation that can come from working in the classroom or office. Imagine encountering technical difficulties during your lesson and having a means of receiving assistance within minutes. Consider the ability to receive assistance from others during a teachable moment in which you don’t know the answer to a student’s inquiry. Individuals like @nlowell, @sbrandt, and @room214 have provided me with much needed real-time assistance.
- I admit that it is possible for Twitter to be used in non-productive ways. I do not care about the weather, meal plans, funny cat stories, or work schedule of individuals that I do not know (in real life or virtually), but I solve this issue by simply dropping them from my follow list. On the flip side, I don’t mind if individuals that I know/ respect do this. Hearing @mguhlin share about events at work or @berniedodge describe the weather in San Diego helps me know them a bit more and adds an additional layer of community within my online network.
- The message to take away is that your experience with Twitter will be what you make it. You should customize and use it on an ongoing basis to meet your specific needs and interests.
- Join my Twitter network by using the link in the Navigation menu to the right.
Resources
Here is a great introduction to Twittering.
This video provides a full overview for setting up and using Twitter.
Twitted, Tweets and Young Learners
Twitter – Meaningful or Trivial – Up to the Writer
Tips for Using Twitter in the Classroom
Did You Change the World Today?
Gadberry asks the important question, “Did you change the world today?” So many teachers go into the profession with the genuine intention to positively impact the world. Unfortunately, many of us allow lesson planning, grading, IEP meetings, curriculum standards, meetings, sports, tv, errands, etc. to fill the bulk of our schedules and crowd out any possibility of changing the world. You know exactly what I mean, so I won’t insult you by pontificating on the obvious.
I haven’t positively changed the world today, but I still have about 7.5 hours to work on it. I assure you I will.
Now it’s your turn. Did you change the world today? (Please share in your the Comments below.)
Related Resources
Suggested Reading for 03/03/2008
I’ve found the following to be interesting reading material. I’d like to write a full post regarding each but I just don’t have the time. Instead, I’ll just mention them and suggest that you take a look at them.
Top 10 Ed-Tech Stories Still Resonate in 2008 – from eSchool News
Taking the One Laptop Per Child XO Laptop to the Preschool Classroom – Anne provides several strategies that she has used with preschool children.
Carl Dickerson gives the gift of literacy to low-income children – We need more people like this.
What I’d Teach the Teachers – An interesting perspective on effective teaching.
Is Plagiarism a Problem for eLearning?
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