Thing #6 - Bogus Sites

Bogus sites

http://clickmonkeys.com

After reading through this web site and looking for credibility, I really couldn't find any.  At the bottom of the page it said they were a Ukranian company and not subject to US laws.  This was a red flag for me right away.  The explanation on how they perform their service was also fishy.  They have a lighthouse off shore they use for "clicking."

I could not find any other sources that reviewed, critiqued, or supported this company.  When reading the explanation for existence, the company seemed to have a legitimate  reason for their business, but the company was questionable.  I tried to google reviews or anything that would tell me more about it, but the only thing I could find was sites that told me it was a hoax.

 I could not find a date on the website.  No where did it give a copyright or update. 

There were no sources behind the text.  There was supposedly one testimonial, but that was it.

http://www.stephenswork.com/funkyshoes/goodkarma.html

Funky shoes was a site that immediately caught my attention as a bogus site.  It is totally based on the premise "Good Karma Shoes Make You a Better Person."

This site claims that they scour the world for shoes worn by good people doing good acts.  If you buy these shoes, you too will have good karma.  Although there were several testimonials in the sidebar, they were not necessarily credible.   There were no dates on the site.  The only other sites I could find about Funky shoes were the ones that claimed it as a hoax.

Thing #5 - Differentiated Learning

Differentiated Learning

  I teach 3rd grade, but I team with another teacher, so I teach only Math, Science, and Social Studies.  I use differentiated learning on a regular basis.  

Math:   I begin with whole group instruction and then students have daily choices that go with the concept being addressed at the time as well as review concepts.  Below are some of the choices students learn from:

•          Games
•          Response Wheels
•          Problem solving activities
•          Math Art
•          Paper and pencil work
•          Manipulatives
•          Internet activities

Science: 

•          Begin with overview and whole group instruction
•          Hands-on activities
•          Journaling and recording activity
•          Partner/Table collaboration
•          Whole group sharing 

Diverse Learning

  The application I felt would be the most beneficial in my classroom would be audio text.  To be able to transfer the written word into digital audio format for struggling readers would be a wonderful tool.  Students would be able to follow along, yet be read to.  They can stop when necessary, re-read, highlight, and go at a pace that is best for them.


UDL

  Nettrekker is a wonderful program that allows you to find lesson plans within the Michigan GLCE's.  It was very easy to use and allowed me to find a a multitude of lessons within various subject areas.  When the lessons are brought up, the readability level was displayed on the side so that it was easy to distinguish the appropriateness for the student or class you are looking for.
  This is a valuable tool for educators.  Ease of use and quick find lessons in appropriate levels makes it a nice application.

Text-To-Audio Conversion

  This program has the potential of being a great tool for students who struggle with reading. Experts note that audio books can help young or struggling readers, but just following words are not enough. With audio books children learn to listen; they will listen as the story is read and visualize the story. The use of imagination is paramount in creating independent readers. This is not an ability that you can teach your child in the traditional manner. That is one of the primary benefits of audio books for children. They will have no choice but to use their imagination and they will see how enjoyable it is.
  However, unless there are better programs out there than vozMe, I am not overly impressed.  Both the female and male voices are monotone and hard to understand.

Thing #4 - Infinity/Lesson #2

   Graphing

 In this lesson found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L534  students create bar graphs and find the range and mode of a set of data..  The lesson suggests they find out how many of each vowel are in the classroom names, but anything would work.  Once collected, they put the data in an online graph.  They will need to have a title for their graph and  name their x and y axis.  There are buttons to choose whether they want it a bar, line, pie, or pictograph.  After all information is put in the template, the graph of their choice is created.

  This lesson is perfect for many grade levels.  Children start graphing in kindergarten and never stop.  I will use the application periodically throughout the year.

Thing #4 - Thinkfinity/Lesson #1

Introduction to Geometry:

  Students read the poem "Shapes" from A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein, and create their own illustration of the poem. In this lesson found at http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L202   students explore geometric figures and positional words.

Shapes

A square was sitting quietly

Outside his rectangular shack

When a triangle came down — keerplunk! —

And struck him in the back.

“I must go to the hospital,”

Cried the wounded square,

So a passing rolling circle

Picked him up and took him there.

After reading the poem, students, will be given geometric shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, and circle).  They will arrange their shapes according to what they hear in the poem and draw a picture to demonstrate it.  After all pictures are finished, show them what the author thought it would look like and compare.

  I will use this lesson soon as an introduction to geometry.  Although they should already know their shapes, it will be a good refresher for them as well as a nice listening skill exercise.

Thing #3 - Skype

Skype Reflection

  Teaching third graders poses a challenge sometimes with technology.  Many cannot type well, so it takes them quite awhile to communicate this way.  However, there some ways I think Skype would be beneficial for them.

·         Meet the Author:  There are many authors that will chat with students via Skype.  Students will have the capabilities to ask questions in real time.

·         Virtual Field Trips:  Once again, there are many organizations that work with schools to provide virtual field trips that go with the curriculum being taught

·         Student Collaboration:  Collaborate with other classes on projects

·         Teacher Collaboration:  Teachers collaborate and gather ideas from other teachers around the world

Thing #2 - Optional Buzzword Activity

  I was new to both Buzzword and Google docs.  After playing around with both, I liked the ease of use with Buzzword much better than Google docs.  Although at first glance Google docs seems very similar to Word, I felt the tool bars were not as easy to use as Buzzword.  I liked how easy it is to find my documents in Google docs; I am not so confident with Buzzword.  I have been about to find them so far, but it takes me awhile.
  Both however are valuable programs that will enhance my productivity.

Thing #2 - Google Docs Colleague Edit

  The following spreadsheet was created rather blandly.  When it came back edited, color, and centering had been added as well as the test scores being changed to percentages.

  As far as how it will help me more productive, I can see this being a wonderful collaboration and time saving tool with other educators for reasons I stated in an earlier blog. However, I have had the occasion since starting this class to use it for private purposes as well.  A friend created an address list for upcoming wedding.  They sent the list to me through Google docs and I revised and edited it.  Just a way that it is not only useful in education, but in our everyday life.