What a great article!

A teacher sat through a day as a student. Here are his thoughts...

http://goo.gl/O1Nje3

Makes me wonder about classes here. What would I take away? Could I cope? I know I would be just as restless... Think about how attentive teachers are at the last faculty meeting...

A day in the life of a data-mined kid...

I heard this last night on Marketplace on NPR. It is amazing how much data we collect on our students. Hopefully it will all work in their favor...

Click on the picture to link to the article. This is definitely worth reading (or listening)!

Going Google!

Today the brave BMS teachers came to school bright and early at 7:30 to take the time to learn more about Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Presentations! I went fast and furious but promised to share some my notes via Google! Click on the Google Drive cloud below to link to the presentation:

Here are some of  the great links for more help with Google:

Need some inspiration? Here it is!

mocomi.com

Mocomi.com is an online kid's magazine that has articles on everything from poetry to science experiments to civics lessons. Some of the articles are to be read as an ebook that you can download onto your computer and some are videos. But all the videos involve reading to get the information (there is no reading aloud option). But it is such I wide variety of information that it should easily engage most students. In addition, teachers can use the the videos or ebooks in the classroom for instruction or remediation. There are a some very simple online games included in the site as well that you could use on your SmartBoard. A great resource!

Over the summer, I attended the Regional Professional Development Institute for Technology (RPDIT). That sounds like a mouthful, but it was very rewarding. It is held every year in Rocky Mount, VA at the Gereau Center for Applied Technology and Career Exploration in Rocky Mount, VA and is open to all teachers for FREE! The goal is to help teachers integrate technology in the classroom. Most of the sessions are taught by teachers who have actually applied what they are teaching in their own classrooms - so you know you what you are learning works! Over the next few posts, I will share some of the great sites I heard about during the training for you to use in your classroom. Next summer, why not come with me? It is close by, free and you get up to 30 continuing education credits....

I am setting up a class on how to use Google. I know that most of the faculty is using Google in some way, whether just to read information from the principals or for setting up classroom assignments. I want to tailor this training to fit your needs. I may set up two sessions (Basic and Advanced) or make the class online, according to what you want. Please make sure to fill out the form. If you did not get a copy, please email me and I will send it out to you.

The Call of the Wifi

In trying to name this blog, I asked for ideas from my daughter. She had a great time thinking up literary references to make technology puns. Here are some of her ideas:

• Catcher in the Wifi
• Pride and Processors
• Of Computer Mice and Men
• A Midsummer Night's Download
• Gone with the Windows
• Far from the Mac Book Pro
• Call of the Wifi
• Journey to the Center of the Internet
• Their Eyes were Watching Google

These are all very fun. If you have any more, feel free to send them to me...

Want access to my newsletters from last year?
Here is a list full of great resources:

April 30: Video Resources for Teachers
April 9:   Off-line SOL review ideas
March 26: Professional Development sessions 
February 26: Online SOL review ideas
February 12: Technology available for your classroom
January 27: Listing of new technology resources
January 6: ITRT ebook for new teachers
December 4: How to post homework assignments to your webpage easily
October 22: Digital Citizenship Week - Internet Safety resources
October 15: Social Media for Professional Development
September 30: Online video resources for your classroom (Alternatives to YouTube)
September 11: Setting up your classroom webpage 
August 28: Creative ipad apps for your class

I look forward to sending out more great newsletters this year.
Email me to get your name added to my mailing list.