Last/Makeup Blog

I thought I'd check out my peers blogs again and see what they've been following and have found interesting. I found Cool Cat Teacher Blog. This site has a free webinar that you can attend and learn more information. There is a whole slew of things on this site. I found a blog on the site about wikis....it breaks it down and explains what it is and describes what they did with it....quite interesting! Ok...well I'm gonna go try and find more things that may interest me on this site.....which so far are few.

Following Another Blog...

For this blog I thought that it was neat to follow...I believe the name of it is Honorable Mention. I have to say that going through and just reading the thoughts they have on different topics related to Early Childhood was quite interesting.
The discussion on conflict resolution makes you really think of different ways that you can work with children to work out the problems without an adult. I strongly believe in encouraging the children to work out their problems...as long as no one is being hurt. I tell me children (students) all the time...."Use your words and not your hands"..."Practice saying, 'Stop I don't like that' instead of shouting or hitting"...etc.
I enjoyed many of the posts on this blog..but I do have to say that one I thoroughly enjoyed reading was the Importance of Play.....I can't explain how important play is in a child's life. I would just repeating this lady if I continue...so I would suggest just reading her blog posts...there's alot of good stuff.

Following a Teacher Blog

I returned to the blog of a teacher that I have been following. I decided to check out some of her posts that I never looked at before. I found it interesting that she did a snail trail art project. I couldn't help but wonder what people...such as early childhood professionals would think if they saw children making art with creatures. Other than that I thought the lesson looked sort of neat and would consider trying it.
I also liked the Gingerbread lesson that she has posted...and the extensions you can do after reading the book. I will have to definitely have to remember this resource when I teach about the Gingerbread Man again!
The excellent ideas on this blog are almost endless....it's wonderful!

Tech tools that I experimented with...

I tried out several of the tech tools that were listed on BB...the first was Voicethread. I like it...and would love to find a way to incorporate that into my classroom. I would love to make books with it for my students to share with their family. I would also like to use this for personal use - share pics with family and talk about it!
Google Earth is way cool! I went in and looked up my mom's house...where I grew up! I was unable to actually pull up her house...there weren't enough pictures uploaded of the actual house. But, I did get to see the street and the business' that are growing all around our neighborhood. I also pulled up my house here in Anchorage! I was able to find many street views of it! I could tell you it was summer time because all my flowers were out, and you could tell I was away at work, because the paper was still out on the front porch! And it had to be a weekend day because I only get weekend papers! Crazy!
I've also played with starfall at my old internship placement. I think that it's a very good program and quite educational, however I think it's overused in the classroom. It was used as a time filler and as a tool to give the students' something to do. Don't agree with this kind of use.
I also scoped out the typing site. I liked this...I even thought my husband can use this! He thought I was at a creepy site though, cause all he heard while I played around was these weird voices! Such a kiddy thing! Totally useful though, and a skill that all children need to learn!

Updated Version of my Tech Lesson Plan

So, some mentioned on my other one that I left parts of my lesson plan out. Yes, I did...I knew that...after I submitted it...but was trying to go off the top of my head. I have done this many, many times - as it is part of your internship...but was trying to go off memory. So, I've filled in the gaps..hope everyone can open the link!

Tech Lesson Plan

Following Educational Blogs...

I went back to the blog that I have been following...and got addicted! I found other blogs on fingerplay ideas (scarecrows on a glove, and leaves - I WANT!). I also got the idea of adding real life things to a block area: such things as rocks (she said the kids loved it). I'm inspired...and will now be returning to her blog to get more awesome ideas!

How do we connect with global education communities?

Honestly I have not one stinkin' clue! I've never done penpals or anything of that sort. I searched delicious.com and yahoo and didn't find anything but dating sites and things that seems irrelevant.

I contacted my husband's uncle, who teaches (and is brillliant..if I do say so), he has alot of experience and knowledge and am still waiting for a response. I thought I'd tap into his brain and see what resources he could share.

I also discussed it with a friend/co-worker, and she asked if things such as discussion boards and other such communications would count as "global education communities". But defining that was hard for me too, so it left me not really knowing exactly what i'm looking for!

Anywho, I'm gonna paroose everyone else's blogs and wait for Uncle Jack to get back to me, and hopefully gain some insight.