Thing 6 Exploration Web 2.0

The site/tool I selected from Web 2.0 is Path, share your background, education, experience with parents, students, and administration. We live in a "melting pot" society with different combined elements. Understanding teachers, students, families on a personal level can help us adapt to a diverse classroom. Path is a journal where you could log hobbies, education, experience, and goals to share with parents, students, and administration.

Thing 5 Web 2.0

Technology is ever changing and utilized daily in this generation. The web has changed significantly over the past decade, being used only for research and read. Nowadays we use the world wide web for searching, communicating, and sharing a ton of information. By implementing technology into the classroom it allows teachers to connect with the students on a new level.

Teachers 2.0 tied in several facts about Common Core and how web 2.0 helps with these standards. Teachers are underestimated considering the role they play as a parent, disciplinarian, nurse, comforter, protector, and safety net among many other things everyday. To be a teacher you have to hold a passion for your role. Teachers are under payed but the rewards of the job are priceless.

50 Web 2.0 tools shared useful links to FREE tools we can use for all the busy demands of teaching. All the tools are helpful, I explored Doodle. Doodle allows you to organize and manage your time through easy scheduling. Invitations can be set up to invite other teachers, parents, students to appointments, meetings, and conferences. Open communication and collaborating with teachers, parents, students brings up the morale and involvement in the classroom.

Thing 4 Comments

Comments are a great way to build a community around specific content and interact with the people involved. There are many advantages of a comment to share opinion, relate to topic, and provide supportive feedback to the blogger. Building business relationships through blogging is a great tool to earn recognition and gain a reputation. Blogs are a form of social networking when its used positively it can be very effective.

I commented on 5 of my classmates:

Carrie Ingram's Thing #12, I agree Google is my Go to for almost anything! Google's format is so simple and easy to use. A few facts about Google, it was launched out of a dorm room in 98, it employs 32,000 people, processes one billion searches a day, and earns the U.S. over 30 billion a year! Google is a very powerful tool that everybody uses daily.

Pamela Wood's Thing #3, In addition to a child being absent, posting video lectures through a blog can also be implemented in flipping the classroom. This instructional technique could be used for homework, assignments, and projects that require more cooperative learning in a classroom setting. Special needs students can benefit from flipping the classroom because they get more one-on-one with teacher/students. I think flipping the classroom is beneficial sometimes depending on content and expectations.

Joya Threalkill's Thing #4, Blogging is a form of social networking it can cause social anxiety and social acceptance. Comments are an important way to provide feedback positive/negative to enhance the blogging experience. Opening links to communication breaks down those barriers and creates a stronger community. Once you get acquainted with blogging you will open up more with commenting. Blogging involves the writer and the reader, by leaving your comment you make a difference.

Debra Millan's Thing #4, It's important to be an active participant instead of a passive observer because it gives support to the writer of the blog. The writer can connect with the reader when feedback/comments are provided. Great idea to return a comment on a person's blog that commented on yours.

Davie Wallace's Thing #1, I can totally relate to her easy/hard habits. I believe begin with the end in mind is easy because there are many roads to travel that lead to the same destination. I tend to be a very serious person and I like to be in control, so play is hard for me as well. I believe each easy/hard habit can be broken/created and these habits can be our weakness/strengths depending on how we teach.

The outside blogs I commented on were:

The Principals Page (http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/archives/parents-just-say-no/comment-page-1#comment-41162), this blog was interesting from a principals perspective. The principal is wise and set in his ways but addresses a valid point to say "no" when necessary to children. Its our role as parents and teachers to provide discipline for children so when they grow into the real world they have self-control to make the best decisions. This was not sugarcoated, I agree that we can give an E for effort but not a trophy for every child and by saying "no" sets boundaries for our children to learn about our world.

Regurgitated Alpha Bits (http://regurgitatedalphabits.blogspot.com/2012/10/homewhat.html) This blog was called "homewhat" the teacher does not believe in homework! Homework is considered a tradition but its not necessary. Class time is utilized for formative assessment to provide feedback a the students need during class time, this assessment can be through small groups, discussions, projects and so much more.

Thing 1 Habits

Thing 1: Easy/Hard Challenges

I can relate to all these 7 1/2 habits portrayed by lifelong learners! There were many habits associated with lifelong learning that I find quite easy. If I had to pick one, I believe that beginning with the end in mind is the easiest habit for me.  I am constantly making goals for myself, and holding myself accountable to reach those goals. I find that setting expectations and standards helps me accomplish more. I hope to teach my students how to set goals, and that follow through to reach those goals is important. The habit that I find the hardest is play because I am a serious person and I like to be in control. I can enhance learning through play in the classroom with designed structured activities to relate to real world experiences. Children learn best through play because they can use their imagination and problem solve hands on. All these habits support each other in some way and if a habit is your weakness you can apply it as a strength.  All these habits can be easy and hard depending on how you apply your teaching skills to overcome the challenges.