Week 5 Thing #12 Rollyo Search Tool

What a great way to organize the sites I love to visit. One group of sites I tend to frequent, especially a month before Mother's Day, are the craft sites. I search for clever and unique craft ideas for that special event. I created this Rollyo to keep my favorite craft sites all together. http://www.rollyo.com/search.html?q=crafts&sid=554111

Week 5 Thing #11 Web 2.0 Awards List

It's 3:51 A.M. and can't seem to stop. Luckily it's summer vacation and I don't have to work tomorrow! I just finished exploring a site named "My Heritage."I have been curious lately about my father's family heritage. I realized a few years ago that I know very little about his side of the family. My mother is up in age and still is able to remember quite a few names and dates. I think this site can help me organize my family's ancestry. It is very user friendly. You plug in the information and a graphic organizer does the rest. Yes, it's that easy. I can see a few students using this tool when building their family trees as part of their curriculum at our school.

Week 5 Thing #10 Online Image Generators

I thought this might be a great way to introduce students to a new book or topic on my school website or during morning announcements! It's sure is a play on words! Find this and more at the following site. http://www.imagechef.com/

Week 4 Thing #9 Useful Library Blogs

I explored the top "Edublog" award-winning blogs and school library blogs. I now noticed the "RSS" feed icon on many of them. I spent some time reading these award winning blogs and found some of them hard to understand and follow. Some of the terminology and creative use of letter and punctuation combinations just boggles my mind. I feel so out of touch with today's youth, and by youth I mean young teachers who find this easy. I personally am intrigued by the whole technology thing, but find that it speeds by so fast. As soon as learn something new in technology and apply it in my classroom, its obsolete. I have to say that even though I'm ancient in the teaching world, I find these new ways of sharing experiences from the classroom fascinating. It was fun to read what great teachers and librarians are doing to get the word out and help students become our leaders of tomorrow!

Week 4 Thing #8 RSS Feeds

I had noticed on my Teacher Web site that there was as "RSS" symbol at the bottom of my page. I never took the time to figure out what that was, but I now understand its importance, especially to a daily homework page. I happen to update my homework page everyday. Parents and students can read updated homework assignments for the day! I assume that the more computer savvy parents as well as students can subscibe to my site. The wonders of technology!

Week 3 Thing #6 Flickr Mashups & 3rd Party Sites

Thing #6 "Good Book Trading Cards"

I tried some of the discovery activities posted for Thing #6. I think I had so much fun that I forgot that I had an assignment to complete. I thought that a good way to promote AR Reading or Bluebonnet Books in the school or library is to have student create "Good Book Trading Cards" of books that they really like. I could upload their work, with parental permission of course, on my library website. I think the students will be excited about reading but even more excited to create their trading cards.

Week 3

Thing #5- Exploring Flickr was fun. I think I will try uploading some pictures for my family to see. Who knows? I might even get them to start Flickring

Thing #6- I tried getting into the Flickr mashups and 3rd party Sites. Because of the Baraccuda software at our school, I am unable to view some of the sites. I'll try at home.

Thing #7- I am new to the library world, and I have had a stressful time learning the automation software that my current school uses. It's not that I don't know enough technology! Just learning the software is mind boggling. I think that once I master the automation system, I'll thank God for the software! Where would we be without modern technology?