I have been looking forward to focusing my technology teaching practices into the curriculum in more relevant detail (Writing & Research). Sure, Garage Band, iMovie and such are always a hit with the students, but they do tend to take a long time to come to fruition. And, at times, I get to the end of that unit and think....."What was the purpose of this unit again?" Sure we have a movie, but its initial intent gets muddled up somewhere along the line. My project will be focusing on the using First Class 8.3 Client with my students. Students will use this software to send e-mails, create web pages, and post and respond to student writing in the Writing Room.
With this writing initiative, I am really excited, as are my grade 5 students, to begin this journey. I have a friend in Japan who is requesting me to 'pen pal' up my students to help develop his students' language. Just recently, two of my students replied to a grade 8 poem in the Writing Room. I am still trying to get them to use spell check. Most of my students have good inspirational quotes in their signatures. I think they will present themselves well to other students with tweaked fonts, colours, quotes, and signatures. Plus, they are responding to these e-mails professionally! We have a class conference folder and I post weekly reflection topics: Here is what I posted last Friday:
Today we are going on a field trip into the community. Describe, in detail, your roles and responsibilities as an ambassador of Bakerview Elementary.
(Be sure to spell check your work)
Some Responses:
• My role as a ambassador is very big.I have to keep my hands to my self,act my age ,stay with the class ( don't wander),no rough play,do not talk while someone else is speaking,I will listen to the adult helpers,I will act responsibly and I pay full attention
• As a ambassador of Bakerview Elementary I have the responsibility of being in the oldest grade and to show how great we are of a school to the other schools, teachers and
people who work at the mall. if I were to be unrespectful, I would not be a ambassador of Bakerview Elementary.
-"Life is a dance floor, use it"- Pink
• I wont be walking on the street or screaming and yelling I'll just walk quietly.When I get inside I'm not going shopping or behaving like a monkey.At that time in the middle of going on a ride or writing we wont shove/push others from different schools!
"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."~ Bill Gates
