While Plurking one night, I had some of my Plurk friends share the two videos below:
Below is one of the videos that Lee Bond has shared on the PPS Learning Community (Ning)
Celebrate Black History Month
Here are some Websites:
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/black-history-month/teacher-resources/6602.html
http://fun.familyeducation.com/black-history-month/holidays/32871.html
http://www.theteacherscorner.net/seasonal/black-history-month/
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/BHM/index.html
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/black_history.shtml
http://resources.kaboose.com/kidslinks/social-studies/black-history/Black_History.html
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/
http://www.picadome.fcps.net/lab/currl/blhistory/online.htm
http://kids-educational-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/celebrate_black_history_month
http://puzzles.about.com/od/familyfun/qt/KidsBlackHist.htm
http://www.nvo.com/ecnewletter/blackhistorymonth/
Search Google for more:
Yes, Summer School has started for the students in Portsmouth. The first day was Monday, June 29, 2009. It was an interesting day at Churchland Elementary School. The teachers were ready with their signs in the air so the parent and/or students could find where they needed to go. As the cafeteria became very full, the teachers began escorting their student down the hall and into the appropriate classroom. Everyone was very well prepared to assist on the first day of school. Each day the students were able to go to the cafeteria, get their breakfast and go to their classroom. Everyone did an awesome job at dismissal time too. Although some students did not know what bus to ride and some missed their bus, the administrators and all that were involved handled everything very professionally.
As for the second week, I would not be there because my colleague Brian Mckee, who attended NECC during the first week of summer school, would begin his first day, his first week and tomorrow will be his last day of his first week. I know he has adjusted well. I enjoyed being his substitute. After reading his blog: http://ppsblogs.net/brianmckee/ I can tell that he had a wonderful time in Washington D.C.
I will also have another opportunity to substitute during the week of July 27, 2009. My colleague Don Smith will be attending Tech Trek the Next Generation. I am looking forward to experiencing the high school atmosphere.
The Office of Instructional Technology and Media Services is planning a training session for the Art teachers on KID PIX and MS Paint. The training will take place on Friday, March 6, 2009 at John Tyler Elementary School in the computer lab.
Below you will find resources for the training:
PowerPoints for KID PIX:
Examples created using KID PIX:
Managing a Kid Pix Classroom: 51 Tips and Tricks
I don’t know where to begin. On February 22-24, 2009, I went to the Virginia Society For Technology In Education (VSTE) Conference 2009 which was held at the Virginia Beach Conference Center. I partcipated in some awesome sessions. Below is a list of sessions that I attended.
SECOND LIFE AVATAR INTERVIEW
A LANDLUBBER’S GET STARTED IN SECOND LIFE
READY, SET, INTEGRATE!
READ:OUTLOUD UNIVERSAL-UTILIZING YOUR RESOURCES
ARE YOU READY TO SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC VGLA
GEOCACHING IN EDUCATION-HIGH TECH TREASURE HUNT
REPRESENT! USING VISUALS TO SUPPORT LITERACY
UNVIRSLE DISEGN FOR LREANING: THE PHAONMEAL PWEOR OF THE HMUAN MNID!
PARLEZ-VOUS TECHNOLOGY? ENHANCING SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION WITH TECHNOLOGY
FREE SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOLS TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
I ON THE VAAP & ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
CHEW THE P.H.A.T: POLICIES AND HOW-TO’S IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL READ: REACHING EVERY CHILD IN THE DIGITAL AGE THROUGH CUSTOMIZED LITERACY EXPERIENCES WITH CAST BOOK BUILDER
I will be presenting a session called: Technology Integration Made Easy Using MS Word.
Participants will learn to use cloze activities for building vocabulary, teaching about context clues and focusing on comprehension.
Participants will be introuduced to how cloze activities are created by using Microsoft Word.
Hand-outs and other resources:
How to Prepare Texts for a Cloze Procedure
Directions for Creating Cloze Activities Using Microsoft Word
Examples of Cloze Activities:
Comprehension of Narrative Text
Create Your Own Cloze Activity:
October is Computer Learning Month. According to the Computer Learning Foundation, “Computer Learning Month is a time to try new ways of using technology, to learn new technology products, and to share knowledge with others in your local community about how to use technology.” Take time this month to learn something new and complete those computer-related tasks you have been putting off.
http://sbinformation.about.com/b/2007/10/01/computer-learning-month-2.htm
MCPS/Promethean Update:
The teachers at Hodges Manor and Lakeview are off to a “GREAT” start. The MCPS and Promethean equipment are constantly being used to integrate technology in some ”AWESOME” lessons. I have teachers sharing ideas with each other and I have teachers who have asked to observe each other.
We have began our MCPS/Promethean User groups. The teachers enjoyed learning new ways to use the equipment/tools in their lessons.
Way to go!
I would like to say “Thank You” to all of the teachers and other staff members who signed up for sessions at the TEACH Academy that are scheduled for Tuesday, June 17, 2008, Wednesday, June 18, 2008 and Thursday, June 19, 2008. I know everyone is exhausted.
I am looking forward to seeing you at Victory Elementary (Starbase Victory).
TEACH Academy Overview Information
I would like to also say “Thank You” to the teachers that have completed the Internet Safety Survey that was sent to via email.
We are Unlocking the Doors to Literacy at the VSRA Conference in Richmond.
Thanks to our IT department, I was able to assist Ruth Okoye (PPS TRT and Portsmouth Reading Council) and Melissa Warren (Bristol TRT and Web Master for VSRA) with the first hands-on 2 hour Literacy Institute session on Digital Storytelling using Photo Story 3. Our department allowed us to bring a set of training laptops. It was very successful.
I was also very excited to co-present with Ruth Okoye with a Special Interest Session by the Technology and Reading Committee on Friday morning. Our presentation was on Web 2.0 for Language Arts Instruction. Take a look at our resources: http://ppsblogs.net/ruthokoye/workshops/web-20-for-language-arts/
Literacy in the Content Areas Come and discover ten exciting strategies for promoting literacy in the content areas. Applications and examples of strategies such as Exit Slips, Popcorn Review, and RAFT Writing will be given. Presenter was Shirley J. Atkinson from Options Publishing Co.
Opening the Doors to Content Area Literacy This is an interactive session sharing books and resources aligned with SOLs and TESOLs that will enable students to apply reading strategies within content area reading and offer differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all learners. Presenters: Peggy Jones and Patsy Swecker from Newport News Public Schools.
Reading and Technology: Finding the Time for Meaningful Instruction Integrating technology in your reading block is easy and fun for teachers and students and provides opportunity for self directed learning. Leave with ready make handouts and plans. Presenters: Janean Trimble and Pamela Blevins from Chesterfield County Public Schools.
EBooks, IPods, and Assistive Technology: Helping All Students with Reading This session will provide hands-on exploration using the latest technology and (AT) assistive technology to assist students with their reading skills. Free and low cost tools will be explored along with the latest software programs and a handout will be given. Presenters: Brenda M. Lucus, Mona D. Pruett, and Mary Wilds from TTAC.
Picture This! Entice students to develop reading , writing and presentation skills using technology in the classroom. Use digital cameras to capture images of a variety of activities to use in creating SOL materials. PowerPoint presentations, Photo Story projects, and newsletters. Handouts will be provided. Presenters: Brenda Price and Dawn King from Chesterfield County Public Schools.
Using a Sentence Maker: When writing isn’t scary, it’s successful. Most students fear writing because they don’t know what to write. A Sentence Maker is a tool developed and used by my kindergartners to create 3-4 sentences on a topic. The Sentence Maker allows the student to be creative without fear. Presenter: Cathy Collier from Chesapeake Public Schools.
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