Monday, March 30, 2009
wiki woes
i keep getting ideas of topics for students to discuss on our wiki, but i haven't figured out how to have individual students sign in to contribute. i made a class list with their logins, but what about a password?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
First in MAth
Week of March 23rd
How can I possibly think of technology again this week? It is the biggest test of the year MSA MATH. I always worry about making AYP, doesn’t matter the subject or the year. This testing time gives me the opportunity to think about our technology program First in Math. We purchased it for grades 3-5 and the county bought grade six. We used it as an activity but we did not monitor it by subgroups this year. In fact we only monitored it in some grade levels. I think it is a good program that gives students the opportunity to drill math facts in fun and different ways. Many of the weaknesses we see have to do with the ability to quickly and efficiently deal with the facts so we can articulate the problem and develop solutions. We will reflect on the benefit or not of having this supplemental math program. One of the difficulties was that even though the students can access the program.
How can I possibly think of technology again this week? It is the biggest test of the year MSA MATH. I always worry about making AYP, doesn’t matter the subject or the year. This testing time gives me the opportunity to think about our technology program First in Math. We purchased it for grades 3-5 and the county bought grade six. We used it as an activity but we did not monitor it by subgroups this year. In fact we only monitored it in some grade levels. I think it is a good program that gives students the opportunity to drill math facts in fun and different ways. Many of the weaknesses we see have to do with the ability to quickly and efficiently deal with the facts so we can articulate the problem and develop solutions. We will reflect on the benefit or not of having this supplemental math program. One of the difficulties was that even though the students can access the program.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
STEP 2
Blogging, twittering and podcasting! I'm glad to be treading these grounds. Wondering if I should take that podcasting workshop offered by Renee Henderson this summer.
-Husky Tass
-Husky Tass
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Inaugural Blog
I am happy that we have finally gotten our blog officially off the ground. Now that it is up and running, I hope that I am able to use it effectively both for the STEP program and my own professional development as well.
looking back
in our first session, we set up our wiki accounts. it took me a while to get the new lingo, but i'm feeling more comfortable with it now. i'm liking that step2 is having work with online resources. i still find it difficult to generate ideas for using the new tools, as well as making time to naturally put it in my lesson. i would really like to observe a lesson in which the teacher is using the different technologies we're learning about.
Welcome!
Our team of Christian Buzzerd, Jessica O'Roark, Tasleema Anwar, and Robert Beaumier are putting the fruits of thier first year STEP training into use this school year.
We will use the STEP 2 training to help our instruction now and in the future.
Welcome again team members, and let's communicate, collaborate, and move ahead with technology at Berwyn Heights.
We will use the STEP 2 training to help our instruction now and in the future.
Welcome again team members, and let's communicate, collaborate, and move ahead with technology at Berwyn Heights.
SchoolMax
I am frustrated with SchoolMax this year. What frustrates me the most is that it seems very close to a great system, but there are several components missing that make it much more difficult to use. For example, I am unable to print a simple gradebook page showing all assignments for a quarter the way I was able to with GradePro or EasyGrade in the past. I am also unable to print out attendance reports, or at least ones that make sense to me. I also don’t like how our progress reports seem to change from quarter to quarter. Whether this is a SchoolMax or PGCPS issue, I’m not sure.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Technology NO MSA YES
Week of March 16th
How can I possibly think of technology this week? It is the biggest test of the year MSA Reading . I always worry about making AYP. Our teachers are the best. They go above and beyond. Nothing can take the place of the good teaching that is happening daily. I am 100% sure that we are going to make AYP for the total population. My concern is for subgroups. Sometimes the subgroup is so very small that even with the confidence band one student truly makes a difference. I think the focus on computer centers will pay off. We are lucky to have a technology team that keeps our computers working and keeps appropriate activities available. For two years there has been a focus on how to use the computer centers for meaningful student activities. I am betting technology helped us get there. Next year I will continue to see if we can do more for our ESOIL students with technology.
How can I possibly think of technology this week? It is the biggest test of the year MSA Reading . I always worry about making AYP. Our teachers are the best. They go above and beyond. Nothing can take the place of the good teaching that is happening daily. I am 100% sure that we are going to make AYP for the total population. My concern is for subgroups. Sometimes the subgroup is so very small that even with the confidence band one student truly makes a difference. I think the focus on computer centers will pay off. We are lucky to have a technology team that keeps our computers working and keeps appropriate activities available. For two years there has been a focus on how to use the computer centers for meaningful student activities. I am betting technology helped us get there. Next year I will continue to see if we can do more for our ESOIL students with technology.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Parent Portal
Our parent portal will be opening soon and I am a little nervous about giving parents direct access to see my own gradebook. I think that they should be able to see how their own students are doing. It will also help me stay on pace and keep up with my grading, which I really should be doing anyway. I guess it makes me feel the same kind of nervousness I feel when a parent comes in unannounced. I know I’m not doing anything wrong, but it still adds a bit of anxiety to know that I am being watched closely.
Monday, March 16, 2009
MSA Prep
We’ve been preparing for the MSAs, which unfortunately, hasn’t left much space for technology integration. Perhaps if I felt more proficient at it, then I could utilize it this week. Mostly, I’m meeting in small groups and reviewing with the students.
Social Networking
In an attempt to continue keeping up with today’s techno-culture, I recently started using Facebook. I have always stayed as far away from all social networking sites as I possibly could because I thought it was simply inappropriate for me to use them as a teacher. I am always a teacher, no matter what. As such, I am held to certain higher standards than the average person because I am tasked with the wellbeing of children on a daily basis. I have heard horror stories of teachers putting up the wrong picture or making the wrong comment and getting into lots of unnecessary trouble. I am still uncomfortable using Facebook, and I am not sure if I will keep up with it, but since these sites are becoming such a big part of our society, I did feel that I should at least try it and see if I can keep up in a safe, appropriate manner.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
NO JOB!
My principal told me that the Board of Education cut funding for our CLE program, which means I am on the road for a new tech position!
It always puzzles me when an institution puts lots of money into technology and then doesn't support training for end-users, in this case administrators, teachers, and students.
Anyway, we are heading into MSA testing for the next two weeks and I will be busy helping the test coordinator.
My STEP group is doing OK, but I haven't has as much interaction with them this year as last, mostly because this year is Internet-based rather than using hardware. I chose them because they each exemplified good teaching at their grade level, and I know that it is continuing this year.
It always puzzles me when an institution puts lots of money into technology and then doesn't support training for end-users, in this case administrators, teachers, and students.
Anyway, we are heading into MSA testing for the next two weeks and I will be busy helping the test coordinator.
My STEP group is doing OK, but I haven't has as much interaction with them this year as last, mostly because this year is Internet-based rather than using hardware. I chose them because they each exemplified good teaching at their grade level, and I know that it is continuing this year.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Digital Age
Week of March 9th
This week I learned a new term it is digital age. A friend was remarking that she read a description of a job that asked for the candidate to be a member of the Digital Age. I did not know what that was. I might have the term wrong but essentially it was a person who grew up with technology. This fits right in with my idea from last week’s entry about how our students know what to do without knowing how the process developed but rather unquestioningly activating the application. They were born with the technology and just do it. Remember how keyboarding skills were thought to be for upper grade students, high school in the olden days. Now you see the commercial that says “I am four years old and I am a PC. Oh, maybe I better go back and check that entry where I am so proud of doing the digital camera. I just quoted a four year old that does it better than I do. But at least I am really using what I learned in STEP one.
This week I learned a new term it is digital age. A friend was remarking that she read a description of a job that asked for the candidate to be a member of the Digital Age. I did not know what that was. I might have the term wrong but essentially it was a person who grew up with technology. This fits right in with my idea from last week’s entry about how our students know what to do without knowing how the process developed but rather unquestioningly activating the application. They were born with the technology and just do it. Remember how keyboarding skills were thought to be for upper grade students, high school in the olden days. Now you see the commercial that says “I am four years old and I am a PC. Oh, maybe I better go back and check that entry where I am so proud of doing the digital camera. I just quoted a four year old that does it better than I do. But at least I am really using what I learned in STEP one.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Connectivity
Week of March 2nd
Our 6th grade students are going to North Bay for a week. It is a camp with MANY outdoor activities. I am going to stay overnight with them for one night. They get to stay for four nights. I know, what does this have to do with technology. I am just going to remark on connectivity this week. I am in the wilderness in the snow without connectivity to my Blackberry and phone. I am surprised at how much I missed the phone for that one night and day. I left school early in order to drive up for dinner and night activities with the kids. They are wonderful. Our students know how to behave in all types of situations. I was proud of them as they took up new challenges, like the zip line and rope course. They missed technology also. They had a land line to call home but they missed the games and phones. It really is wonderful how much they know without instruction.
Our 6th grade students are going to North Bay for a week. It is a camp with MANY outdoor activities. I am going to stay overnight with them for one night. They get to stay for four nights. I know, what does this have to do with technology. I am just going to remark on connectivity this week. I am in the wilderness in the snow without connectivity to my Blackberry and phone. I am surprised at how much I missed the phone for that one night and day. I left school early in order to drive up for dinner and night activities with the kids. They are wonderful. Our students know how to behave in all types of situations. I was proud of them as they took up new challenges, like the zip line and rope course. They missed technology also. They had a land line to call home but they missed the games and phones. It really is wonderful how much they know without instruction.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Family Portal
Our technology continues to move across the spectrum, with Tuesday evening's PTA meeting focusing on the Parent Portal SchoolMax application opening up for parents to view their child's report card. There were about 20 parents in the computer lab, and instead of giving a presentation we worked individually with parents to get them quick access to the Parent Portal. Most caught on and liked being able to see how their children are doing.
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