International bloggers in the classrooms

Rachel Yurk from New Berlin who is a sixth grae teacher started her class off by asking them to blog about their favorite book and why? Mrs. Yurks quotes "my classroom blog engages my students in a common discussion tool without exposing them to uncensored activity in the real-world blogosphere." She says that pencil and paper are boring and that her students are more willing to talk about things and they can also type fast. Toni Heinowski's fifth-grade class at Elmwood Elementary in New Berlin will soon start blogging with Yurk's class at Popular Creek about a project on reading and writing on the same book.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=581837

In China - A Guangzhou Middle School has decided to offer blogging to their students as a way of teaching. They are doing a project on learning about the world. They have written on a blog asking for any student to consider one of their students as a pen pal. They will write to eat other over the web discussing their nationality, culture,what they eat, and do for fun. The teacher feels like it will help educate her class about different cultures around the world and her students can get this knowledge by hands on.

http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/sites/pages.php?Sujet=E&Pays=CHN

International schools have been incorporating technology in their classrooms as a better means or way of teaching. One Foreign language class teacher in china said she gave an assignment for her students to blog about English. Also wanted her students to find an English pen pal so they may learn in a hands on manner. She said it would help the students to talk to an actual English speaking student it will also give them stuff to talk about if they were around the same age like being a student.

Computers have a allowed interaction across the world. One international teacher says that with out computers or the internet she thinks it would be boring and not as exciting for the students. Computers are a faster way to get information on projects or other classroom papers on research. It is more up to date than most books and could possibly be cheaper in some cases. The internet is a great motivation to get her students to work.

k12 Classroom blogging

Bill Ferriter teaches 6th grade language arts in Wake County, NC, where he was named Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006 he introduced his students to Blogging and podcasting which has allowed him to create a forum where his students can discuss current events connected to their social studies curriculum while developing language arts skills like critical thinking and persuasive dialogue. It has also given his students the great opportunity to be creators he says "—rather than simply consumers—of online content." says bill. He says that blogging has given his students an audience for their ideas, which has greatly increased their levels of interest and motivation toward learning .http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2008/02/using-blogs-and.html

Another school using blogging is Emmet Rosenfeld, an English teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. He says that he makes his students bolg because blogs give people the license to think. He also sayd that blogs also make people more powerful because they actual think back by others responding to the blogs his students are writing.
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/eduholic/2008/02/blogs_rule.html


Many classrooms in the US are starting to incorporate blogging in the classroom. They feel like its a way to get not only the students view of a topic but also a feedback to what others thought about the students view and wheather or not they felt like it was a good one. Computers have become a huge way a teaching in the 21st century. The students can relate to other students in different states, even countries. "When writing for blogs or wikis, the audience is no longer passive. They take on an active role by becoming collaborators. The Internet has brought a whole new context to the aspect of writing for students. In addition to a seemingly endless amount of resources, writers can experience "a whole new level of engagement with peers, professionals, and other sorts of experts" (Wilinsky, p.1). "

Another great teaching technique with technologies is Television. Teachers can sit their students down to a nice informing video or DVD that interest the students more than the teacher also allowing the students to hear a more newer or fresher face or point of view. I have seen personally how students like to learn from tv. Its like a treat to get to watch it in the classroom. http://husd4-tr.blogspot.com/

ACCESS

My plan is to become an elementary teacher. I have reviewed Access and personally think it is more for High School Students. However, it does say that it provides access to teachers with twenty first skills. It also says its "a unique blended approach to teaching and learning utilizing 21st century equipment that breaches the disconnect between the traditional and online learning environment using different delivery models." (quoted from access website)

Now one good way I see I can use them being an Elementary teacher is their ability to transform ordinary class room to a 21st century class room. New Tablet computers, Printers, interactive white board, Headphones for each computer, a multimedia projector, and DVD player would be so sweet to have. It would help motivate my teaching also be very inspirational. Now, I thought that multimedia projectors were very expensive but if they can afford to put one in every class room, that would be great.

ALEX

Alex which means Alabama Learning Exchange is a web site that Alabama Teachers can access to obtain rich instructional tools and professional development opportunities.Through courses of study teachers can access digitalized yet printable Alabama Courses of Study that is well over 38,000 Alabama Teacher-developed resources for all K-12 subject areas. It is a very helpful tool not only to teachers but also to students as well as administrators. Students and administrators can get access to many helpful web sites with high-quality resources of Information.

In Alex, the teachers have a secure place to go to make up lesson plans, find lesson plans, or get help or examples of lesson plans. They also can search through all of ALEX to find a course of Study Standards that are Frequently Tested, hard to teach or learn that are reviewed by a panel of National Board Certified Teachers. Teachers can also click on professional learning icon in Alex where they can visit new Alabama Department of Education web sites for instructional tools and opportunities. Basically Alex was made for teachers to get new ideas and inspirations to help with their line of work. More ideas and inspirations means better quality teaching for Alabama students.

I think Alex is a really helpful web site. Although I am hoping for a teaching position in Mississippi, preferably in Hurley or Vancleave. However, my chances are very slim by picking two out of thousands of schools. Anyway, I would more than likely still use Alex now knowing that it has so much useful information. I like the idea of it having a place for teachers to log in and find lesson plans. They can even make them up and save them there also.

I plan to be an elementary teacher. I saw where it has where I can access a web site called thinkfinity. Thinkfinity is an awesome web site that has times of the months like for example National Poetry Month, or an earth day theme. It also has a calendar that has historical events and dates. It lets teachers look up and create their own lessonplans as well. I think Alex would be great to use no matter what state I'm teaching in.

first post

My name is Alex Stewart and I am 23 years old. I live in Hurley, Mississippi. I am originally from mobile Al; I moved to hurley when I married my husband, Jonathan Stewart August 13, 2005. We now have a one year old baby girl named McKinleigh Claire Stewart. We are so blessed to have her. She has grown up so fast. Everyone was telling me when I was pregnant with her that she will grow up so fast but I would just laugh. However, I come to find myself saying "Man this year has flown by so fast". She is now walking and running and talking and she can now eat the food we eat. It's just amazing to actually watch her grow right in front of my eyes. I sometimes get her scrapbook out of her first year just to see how tiny she was and how big she is now. What a difference. I couldn't have asked for a prettier, sweeter, intelligent baby. I catch myself thanking God everyday for everything he has given me. He gives me almost everything I ask for. I have a wonderful husband, a car that is paid off, a place to live, a healthy baby girl, a great family the list goes on and on. God is so amazing.