Social Bookmarking

I love social bookmarking! I had always been annoyed with regular bookmarks or favorites. I would save a really great bookmark at home and then need it the next day at work. I resorted to emailing links to myself! What a pain. I also found myself looking for that really important bookmark and couldn't find it because I had saved 90 million and couldn't remember what was what. I have experimented with several of the sites and found that I was most comfortable with Delicious. I have uploaded many bookmarks already and have added many more. You can see my bookmarks at http://delicious.com/jpmedley. I am using these daily! Although the research says that tags can be a problem, I haven't run into this yet. I add a lot of tags for my sites so that I can search for it numerous ways later.

Technology Pretest & Comfort Level

Before this class I felt like I was pretty comfortable with technology. I usually assumed I could tackle any new program or computer related technologies with ease. Below is the KWL I created in class with all of the things I know about technology and what I'd like to know.

After having been in this class for a couple of weeks, I'm realizing there is so much more technology out there than I ever imagined. I still feel like I can learn to use these new technologies, I just am feeling a bit overwhelmed at the sheer volume of things I didn't realize existed. I am keeping an open mind and reminding myself that the more I use these new programs the more comfortable I'll become and the easier they will be to use.

Blogging on Blogs

Before this class, I had been only slightly exposed to blogs. My husband had kept a blog on our hiking excursions and he regularly visits the blogs of several different people. So I had heard about them and visited a few through him but I had never actually written a web log. However, I am excited to utilize a blog in my classroom.
At our school we have a laptop cart which would allow all of my students to blog at the same time. I think that when only one or two students are blogging at a time, the rest of the class might be more distracted. I also think that having everyone doing the same thing would alleviate anyone feeling left out. Although the cart is a bit cumbersome, I can definitely commit to getting it at least once a week to keep students interested in writing. I think the students would love to get to use the computers on a regular basis and they wouldn't even realize that it was good writing practice and a great way for me to see what they have retained. With each child blogging, parents could use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to have just their child's blog sent to them, but if they wanted to see what the other kids were saying, they could.
I would like to have students use blogging as a way to summarize what they've learned in the classroom each week or unit. All students could write on each of the subjects they have with me. Therefore a child might do 2-3 blogs a week (1 math, 1 science, 1 other). I would most likely use questions to make sure they would stay on topic and cover the week completely.
I'd also like to have the students keep a blog in which they respond to journal prompts just like they currently do in their personal journals. I think that this might encourage the kids to write more than they would in a traditional journal. I imagine that by allowing the students to type their ideas, they would not want to put the computer up, so they would think a little harder than when they are handwriting their ideas. I often find that when they get tired of writing, not necessarily when they run out of ideas, they stop writing. By allowing them to blog, I think they would be more engaged and engaged for longer.
I also like the idea of having my own blog where I could model using proper grammar, answer questions and model thoroughly answering a prompt. My blog would also be done weekly, so that the parents could compare my thoughts of what was covered during the week to what the students thought about the lessons.
The ultimate example of blogs in use... Mr. Coley (a fifth grade teacher in CA) maintains an elaborate website which includes this blog done mostly by his students. This impressive working model of using blogs is something I hope I can eventually achieve!

Threaded Discussions

I think threaded discussions could be really useful in the fifth grade classroom! I have been really motivated to try these in my classroom. I have been thinking about how I could implement and use them.
I currently team teach with another 5th grade teacher. I teach 2 sections of math and 1 section of science each day. The students in our classes are ability grouped for Math and Reading. When we first decided to ability group, we were excited about being able to more closely tailor our lessons to the student needs. However, we were nervous that the kids in the lower level classes wouldn't hear as many good questions and insights. We were nervous they wouldn't be pushed to grow as much without these role models right in front of them. I think that if my students discussed their math lessons each day in a threaded discussion, these concerns could be alleviated. If I posted problems the kids could answer and explain their thinking, both groups could benefit. I would also be helping my team teacher get these kids writing more each day. It would be a win-win. I could also connect & extend the science units. Since the kids have science for 4 1/2 weeks, then social studies for the next 4 1/2, I'm often afraid they'll forget the information we've just covered. With the Science EOG being pushed this year I could use threaded discussions to keep topics close at hand while they are in S.S. I could post questions, real life problems and thoughts for the first group of students. They could respond at the time they are doing the unit. Then, when they are in S.S. they could have a discussion with the other class as they are learning. Or I could have them talk even if they hadn't had that particular unit as a way of spiraling the curriculum. I think it would be neat for them to see how they change their thoughts as they go on.
On those cold winter or rainy days that we can't go outside for recess, I think threaded discussions could be a fun & educational way for kids to keep in touch with friends in other classes, while squeezing in some more writing. Teachers could post a conversation starter, like "What would you do if your best friend wanted to join a gang?" or "What would you do with a million dollars?" Even if their friend didn't have recess at the same time, they could converse.
On my class webpage I'd like to have threaded discussions for parents. I'd like to have discussions on things like projects, field trips, etc. This could save me a lot of time that I currently spend on answering the same questions over and over again via email or phone calls.

I really think the possibilities are endless. I love the idea that I can easily incorporate more writing into my classes, in a way that the kids won't even realize they are practicing.
So, does anyone have any ideas for other ways I could incorporate threaded discussions into my science and math classes?

Oops

So you know how in class we were just talking about how it can be scary that kids have so much information at the tips of their fingers? Well I accidentally sent my kids looking for some information that some could see as inappropriate. Let me explain. So yesterday, we were talking and reading about the animals and plants found in different biomes. The book we were reading mentioned the Jack rabbit lives in the taiga. One of my kids asked why the Jack rabbit was called Jack. I told them I wasn't sure, but that if someone researched it, I'd offer a few points extra credit in Science. So today, one of my kids comes in beaming ear to ear, just about to burst out laughing, when he hands me a slip of paper. He has written, "The Jack rabbit got its name from an abbreviation of the term Jack ___. The rabbit got this nickname because its long ears makes it look like a donkey. I googled jack rabbit" I thought I'd die when I read this, but he was laughing out loud at this point (I'm sure from the expression on my face!) Anyway, I can't believe I encouraged all my kids to read up on this topic. Luckily when I saw his mom this afternoon his mom had that same huge grin when I mentioned it. She told me that they saw that info at the first website they went to, so they confirmed it by going to several other websites.
Oops! So has anything like this happened to you guys?
(image from flickr.com)

Technology

Technology goes well past computers it is anything that makes our lives easier or helps us to do something. Technology encompasses all areas of our lives. There are technologies in medicine, communication, school and home. But, I think some things eventually are no longer technology but simply a tool, like pencils. I'm not sure about this. I just wonder if what was considered technology 50 years ago is or should still considered technology today. More for me to think about I suppose.

What is literacy?

I think literacy is being able to read, write and communicate. In another class I heard someone say "communication is a way of life". This goes right along with the article I read in class. Which said literacy is always changing. In other words it is an everchanging way of life too. I think the definition of literacy is always changing, just like my article mentioned. I was thinking about the first peoples and how they communicated. They tallked and orally shared stories (literacy) but didn't write or read (also part of literacy). Eventually people were talking, reading and writing (though only on paper with pencil.) So now people from all parts of the world can share stories, information etc, with the click of a button. I think we are doing the same things as the first peoples, just in different ways. I'm not sure about there being "new literacies" now with the introduction of new technologies? But I do think that there are many literacies. Such as the things mentioned in the discussion question as well as art & music literacies. I think as an educator we are incredibly responsible for teaching children to be able to communicate, using whatever technology or resources are available at the time.

Who am I?

Hey everybody!
I'm Jessica. I'm a 5th grade Science & Math teacher. I graduated from UNCG with a degree in Elementary Education. Last year I decided to go back to school. So, I am currently going to Appalachian State University to earn my Masters Degree in Reading.
I have been married to Jacob for almost 5 years but we've been together for almost 13! I love to go hiking and play golf with my husband and friends. My husband and I have hiked to the highest elevation in over 20 states. Amazingly enough, Hawaii was the first state whose highest point had snow! I also love to travel. I went to St. Lucia this summer and plan to go to Austria, Budapest and Prague this winter. I can't wait!!
I also love spending time with any of my 3 nephews. Will (4) and Andrew (2) live in Virginia, so I go to see them as often as possible. Joshua (1) lives in Florida so I don't get to see him as often.

Fun Facts
Favorite Books: Harry Potter series, Hatchet, The Book Thief, The Giver
Favorite Fast Food Snack: French Fries
Favorite Drinks: Lemonade, mint water, ice coffee
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite TV shows: MASH, House, Friends, Gilmore Girls
States Where I've lived: WA , NY, WV, OH, VA , NC