Melissa's Blog

I have been done with my Webquest for 2 days, but have been unable to post/publish it. I had downloaded a webquest template from webquest.org, and made a pretty webquest. Then I could not figure out how to post it to my webpage. So I tried to publish it on questgarden, but it would not allow for a registration. There was an error on the page. So then I tried zunal website, but the template was so different from what I had created, I found myself recreating. So then my husband helped me create a powerpoint using the information from the webquest. However, it does not flow as nicely. Every page you go to, then you have to click on the arrow on the bottom which takes you to the top page, and then you can click on the next page you want. I was able to post it under presentation 1 on my webpage. I enjoyed creating the webquest, but posting it was extremely frustrating! I hope you enjoy what I was able to create. Thanks!

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I found Webspiration easy to use. I think with some modeling, my fourth graders would be able to create some organizational maps. Would I am really looking forward to doing is creating organizational maps as the teacher in helping my students learn the material. The mind map I created was my idea of how things intermix in a classroom. The pedagogy, the material, the way the classroom runs, the technology, and all the day to day things all mix together. My role as the teacher is to model for the students the way technology can inter into many aspects of our daily lives. Also, how the ideas of classroom management and teaching intermix with the content of the curriculum. You can see my mind map at:
 http://mywebspiration.com/view/155899a38…

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OK, I was brave enough to try and create a photo story using Microsoft photostory 3. It was actually much easier than I thought it was going to be. The hardest part was trying to figure out what I wanted to say on the pictures, and then choosing music to go along with it. The story is on my son, who is 16 years old. He got a kick out of it and was surprised that old mom was able to create something like that. Anyway, I have uploaded it to my webpage, under classwork. Please take a look and let me know what you think! Thanks… until next time.

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There were some really neat websites as resources that we were given. I think my favorite was the toodoo sight. The students can create a cartoon strip or book on any subject. I think this would be great for fourth graders. They are so creative at this age, and I think they would really enjoy having the freedom to choose for themselves what kind of story they want to tell. I might try to use the book one for letting them tell a story about their family. I also think the students will really enjoy the befunky and the kerpoof websites. I also really like the visual literacy website. I like that the students can make decisions. When students make their own decisions, they become owners of their learning and I think that increases their learning. For me, I will be using the concept maps websites for ideas to use in the classroom. Because I have to see things to learn them, I want to have lots of visuals for my students, especially ones that are organized visuals. One other website that I will be exploring further is the mapskip website. I am thinking of using this site for the students to write stories of Virginia history using the map of Virginia. Since they are fourth grade, they do nothing but Virginia history. Maybe each group can write about a Virginia Civil War site to increase learning of the Civil War. I will need to look closer at this site to see if that is possible.
These are great websites, and I marked several under my favorites. Thanks!!

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I liked the flickr site. It was very easy to use and I was able to create my page and add photos in very little time. This might be a great way for me to share pictures with my family. I knew there were sites out there like this, but I never investigated them. I will add my URL onto my webpage, but I am also adding it here. Enjoy them!
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/39955385@N0…

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United streaming is probably my favorite activity we have done so far. I will definitely be using this in my classroom. In fact, I have already downloaded several videos and will be creating a library to use this fall. I did try to import a video into powerpoint. When you look at the video on a different computer, the video can not be found. I guess because the video is saved on the original computer in a folder, and powerpoint can’t find that folder when on another computer. If you want the video to be attached to the powerpoint, you have to imbed it. Directions for that are on the streaming website under professional development. This is a great site, and I am so glad we are able to experience it.

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I think the kids would really love Google Earth. I have fun just looking at different places on the map. In the classroom, I would love to show them places before a field trip, such as Jamestown, and places we are talking about and studying, such as Ferry Farm and Mount Vernon. I think seeing these pictures will really help to bring things home for the students. Some students need that extra information to remember it. I am not sure that I would use it much outside of Virginia, as that is what fourth grade studies, but if we are reading a book or story, I might show them where it is taking place. As a side note, the company my husband works for created the software that takes the satelite images for Google Earth, so he has used it for years. Anyway, I never thought of using it in my classroom until this lesson. I will continue to think of other ways to use it.

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Looking at all the podcasts available on the web today, I have come up with some really cool ways for my students to be creative in my classroom. During persuasive writing assignment, I will have each group write a radio comercial. During poetry, my students can read their poems on a podcast. There is also speeches, interviews, school or classroom news and even book summaries. For those students who are not good writers, but have something to say, this would be a great tool. It is important to have the students create a script or have what they want to say written down. It is also necessary to have them practice with a dry run, so they can use energetic voices and don’t waste time redoing the podcasts again and again. This will be a great classroom tool!

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There is an amazing library of podcasts on the internet today. There are so many too choose from and that cover all subjects taught in classrooms, that teachers are able to pick and choose only the best. Some of my favorites for a fourth grade classroom are found on the Colonial Williamsburg site.  http://www.history.org/media/podcasts.cf…
Two of my favorites found there are “The Native Tongue” which talks about the three First American languages found in Virginia, and “The Chiefdom of Powhatan” which discusses the Powhatan Indians.
I also found a website that is great for writing and language. It is called Grammar Girl, Quick and Dirty Tips, and has lots of podcasts that cover everything from run on sentences, to subject verb agreement, to proofreading tips. This site can be found at http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/def…
So get on line and check out all the cool information that can be accessed through podcasts and shared with your students.

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Today I created a screencast covering how to create a spreadsheet to manage students’ grades and averages, as well as the averages of the assignments. It was not extremely hard, but I had to redo it MANY times. The hardest part for me was figuring out how to add text, becasue I do not have recording capabilities on my computer. I finally added a textbox and then paused the screencast everytime I changed the textbox. I don’t think I would use this much in my classroom as the teacher, but I think my fourth graders would love to create one as an assignment. I only hope that the computers at school have microphone capabilities. I think that would have made things so much easier. Anyway, it was fun and enjoyable!
 http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/watch/…

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