THE GIRL WHO FOUND FRIENDS. by Cedraya on Storybird Love in a tree. by NDaSilva on Storybird The Mermaid who found love. by Sybelle on Storybird SHY by Shiann on StorybirdHere are the stories my students created using Storybird.  This was our first attempt at using this tool.  I began by introducing this site, its tools, and artwork.  The first day the students explored the artwork that would inspire their digital stories.  The second day, my students were ready to get started with their own stories.  They chose their artwork and began drafting their story.  The students goal was to create a narrative, focusing on connecting the events and using personal expression.  In the days following, we focused in editing and revising skills.  I also encouraged use of dialogue and anticipating the needs of the audience to further enhance digital stories.  I was really impressed with what they accomplished as an SRBI group whose Reading levels are well behind.  A couple of the students completed additional stories after school and on weekends.  They were allowed to share their stories in class as well and other students took it upon themselves to use Storybird on their own.  One students even shared this site with her younger sister (who I also had in an SRBI group) and she created digital stories also! 

Digital Citizenship

Are you aware of your global citizenship? 

Do you consider how your actions may affect others when participating in global digital technologies?

As an individual, I believe it is important to always think about how your actions affect others.  I often reflect on what I have said to see if there was a possibility that I may have hurt another individual.  I have had these personal reflections and have taught my students about manners and treating others with respect.   Now it's time to think about our actions as global citizens.  As educators, we much teach our students about digital citizenship the same way we teach them about the classroom rules.  We must consider the multicultural connections our students are making.  The prominence of cyber bullying.  We must instill in our students protecting their identity.  The proper treatment of others within a social media environment must occur.

What have you done to instill positive values of digital citizenship in your students?

Thanks to Judy for her pinterest board and Mary Ellen for her contributions to our class wiki on Digital Citizenship.  Both were great ways to start gathering information on this topic. 

Digital Story- final project

Here is the final version of my digital story.  Much different from my rough draft!  I decided to focus specifically on one comprehension strategy, visualizing, because that is what I plan on doing with my new set of students this coming week.  My new group of fourth graders have a very wide range of abilities.  I have 5 special ed students, 3 SRBI students, many "average learners", and three very advanced learners.  I will first show this video to all of the students but then also use it as a tool to reinforce visualizing with only those students who need addition support.  As I progress throughout other reading comprehension strategies in the coming weeks, I plan on making additional videos and including them on my Weebly site. I hope they enjoy it! 

Nets for teachers- 2, 3

What do you think of it? 

Digital Literacy begins very early on...

                          ... IN MOST CASES BUT NOT ALL!!!

               

Online and digital literacy is integrated well before children enter the classroom, in most cases.  According to this PDF by Elizabeth R. Kazakoff and Common Sense Media, the average first use of a computer is at three and one half years of age and more than one half of children under the age of eight have access to "Smart" apps.  However, it should be noted that there is a great divide between children from low income and high income families.  Children from lower income families are at a much higher disadvantage when considering technology use in young children.  So as an elementary school teacher, I must take into account the background experience when integrating technology very early on in schooling.  I have to be aware that many of my students come to school with experience using forms of digital media, however, differentiation must occur for students with little or no experience. 

What do you think?  As an educator, parent, or other, do the children you have experience with know how to use a computer, download or use apps?  At what age did this begin?  How do we overcome the obstacles that children may face with regard to digital literacy? 


What is digital literacy?  Definition

Today's Classrooms and Mobile Devices

After reading Judy's blog about mobile devices in the classroom, I found this article about Banning Mobile Devices in the Common Sense Media Blog.  I agree with the original concerns about censoring what children are viewing on the Internet. However the Internet is here to stay and children are viewing what is on the Internet on a regular basis without censorship.  Cyber bullying is an issue that must be addressed but the benefits of using digital technologies is also worth noting.  As mentioned in this blog post, having students use these devises in a controlled environment to promote digital attitudes and skills will help them in the future. 

This report makes five critical observations for state and local decision makers as they consider social media and mobile technology policy in K–12 schools.

1. Kids are going to use social media and mobile devices outside of school, regardless of whether they’re taught how to use them responsibly inside the classroom. However, more schools are beginning to change their policies to incorporate these technologies into their curriculum, rather than banning them entirely
2. There are substantial educational benefits of using mobile devices and social media in the classroom.
3. Federal, state and local school policies must be updated in order to respond to current realities.
4. These laws must address abuses such as texting and cyberbullying, and mandate schools to provide guidance on what information is OK to share online.
5. New policies on social media and mobile technologies must be equitable and impartial to all parties. 

Don't miss the figures about the numbers of teenagers using the Internet, social networking, and having cellphones!  Very interesting, I won't spoil it for you!!!

As a parent I often find myself telling my children to get off their phones (they are usually texting friends or playing some game on it).  But should I be changing the way I am thinking about using these devices at home?

What do you think?  Do you agree with mobile devices having a place in today's classrooms or at home?  How do you address concerns of parents with students these devices in the classroom?  As a parent of a 12, 17, and 20 year old should I be thinking differently about these devices?

It seems as though I missed an interesting Skype with Aviva Dunsiger.  From what I have read in Aviva Dunsiger's Blog and on this Google Doc, she seems to optimize student learning with implementing technology in ways that meet students' needs.  Using Twitter, Skype, and blogging,  Aviva demonstrates using the Net Standards for both teachers and students seamlessly.  Aviva also encourages the use of I pads and I pods, the Nintendo DS, as well as other Apps, within the classroom to enhance and differentiate lessons with ease.  My favorite quote from her is, "I see results, so I use the tools!"  In her blog, she demonstrates that even very young students can use technology to demonstrate understanding of difficult concepts and increase literacy skills.

I also found  Aviva's Blog from 2008 to 2011 an interesting read that you may want to check out. 

Let me know what you think of her ideas and implementing technology to meet the needs of students in a 21st century learning environment.  I would also like to know about the Skype session with her.  Anything of interest that I missed???

Vacation Animoto

I created this animoto to showcase some of the sites that I visited while in Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Sedona.  Although it may seem like there are a lot of photos in this animoto, it is a small sample of the photos I took.  If you are interested in using any of the photos (or ones like them) in your classroom to enhance a lesson just let me know and I'll be more than happy to get you a copy of them.  There are a variety of Science topics that possibly may be relevant using these photos. Some of the photos are of plant and animal life, the desert, rock structures, and landscapes.  You will also notice that some are displays with information from various museums we visited.