Thing #3

Following are ideas for using a blog in my future classroom.  Most of these ideas must be credited to Anne Davis on EduBlog Insights.  I could keep a journal on a blog to review my experiences in the classrom as well as with other teachers and administration.  Keeping track of my training experiences is another option.  I could store descriptions of teaching units there and have the ability to come back and edit them if necessary.  Discussions of what does and does not work for me in the classroom could be shared with other teachers,  I could also suggest to other teachers ideas for teaching activities and language games that I have found useful.

A class blog might be helpful in sharing ideas with students.  Information such as calendars, events, homework assignments, and recommended extra reading could be posted.  I could post literature readings and ask students to interpret or analyze them on their own blog from time to time. I would like to try this one with the Romantic poets (Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Keats, and Shelley).  Vocabulary activities, math games or grammar games could be provided on th blog.  You could share online readings on current affairs or any other topic for your students to read and respond to.

Thing #2 - McGee

I used my real name for posting and for blog titles.  I don't feel the need to be anonymous since nothing I write in my blogs will be private.  I suppose I should take the suggestion to be anonymous, but I am a bit of a rebel.

Creating the blog was a challenge for me because I've never done it before.  It took me quite awhile to insert the avatar.  I also wanted to edit my post, and I finally had to get my 14-year-old daughter to help me.  But I can do it now!

My avatar reflects my personallity because it is smiling, and I am a generally happy person.  I wanted the evil smile, but I didn't have enough coins.  I made the avatar like me instead of someone else because I like me.  One more thing - I'm holding a coffee cup because I am a voracious coffee drinker.

1st Thing

I have registered and created my first blog.  It was fairly simple except for creating a password.  My first choice was not accepted.  And I had trouble making out the strange letters.  I am a bit anxious because I feel like I don't know what I'm doing.

As far as life long learning, I believe that if we keep an open mind to different experiences we are always learning.  I do feel a bit akward,though, returning to college at the age of 49.  I feel like my mind is noot as quick as it once was, and I have a harder time focussing. I think that all kinds of activities, in and out of the classroom, involve learning.  When it comes to life experience, i've got plenty.  I am excited about this opportunity to further my education.