Farewell to my PESD Colleagues

This is my last post while working at PESD. On July 1 I'll be retired. While I will miss all of you and working with your students, I'm looking forward to retirement. You'll notice that I have changed the name of my blog to match the change in my life.

One of the things that our team worked to create is the trouble shooting wiki. PESD has decided to move the maintenance of the district web site to an outside public relations consultant and a programmer. We have not been told how that will affect your ability to get to our help pages and the wiki. With that in mind, here's the direct link to the wiki: http://pesdtech.wikispaces.com/Smartboard+FAQs.

You will find SMART Notebook specific information on the SMART Notebook wiki at this address: http://pesdtech.wikispaces.com/Smart+Notebook.

Thank you all for a great six years.

It's Technology Boot Camp Time Again

Twenty teachers have registered for our next camp. We will begin each session promptly at 8:30 so please be on time. Lunch is on your own. Bring your lunch if you like. Kitchen facilities are available. Location: Monterey Park Learning Center (3rd Street & Oak).

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - 8:30 – 3:30: Podcasting & GIMP

Podcasting with John: Use the audio-editing software Audacity to mix music, narration, and other types of audio clips to create podcasts. Then upload your finished podcast to the Web or an MP3 player. What to bring: the content for teachers who simply want to make a practice podcast will be provided. Here is a sample of a class podcast: http://msrentzsclass.blogspot.com/ (scroll down to the “We Interview Scientists!” podcast.)

GIMP with Noreen: GIMP - The Poor Man's Photoshop: We will do a fun graphic project that will teach you how to use many of the program features. Learn how to resize, crop, and do various photo effects using this great open source (free) software that is on all district computers.

Wednesday, March 11 - 8:30 – 3:30: Video Editing & Second Life

Video Editing with John: Use Windows Movie Maker to create a video with video clips, photos, music, narration, and Hollywood style special effects (it’ll be the low-budget end of Hollywood, but Hollywood nonetheless). What to bring: video clips, digital photos, a music track, and a narration script for creating a "practice video" will be provided -- you'll get hands-on experience editing a video.

Second Life/Onrez Viewer with Noreen: Never visited a virtual world? Never been an avatar? Never collaborated with other teachers online? Prepare yourself for a new experience! Using a pre-made avatar, you will enter the world of Second Life and learn how to interact with others in a virtual environment. Teachers from all over the state, country, and the world are discovering this way of meeting and exchanging ideas. Many are using it to attend conferences they could never go to because of restrictions with distance or expense. You will learn various methods of inworld communication, how to visit educational areas, and how to access resources from educators in various time zones. What should you bring to boot camp? Just one thing...an open mind!

Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 8:30 – 3:30: Web 2.0 Tools and Blogging with Google Blogger

Web 2.0 Tools with John: The term "Web 2.0" describes the use of the World Wide Web to enhance creativity, communication, and collaboration. You'll get hands-on practice with some of the more useful and fun Web 2.0 tools for the classroom.

Blogging with Linda: Blogging is an online diary or chronological log of thoughts or information usually arranged with the most recent entry at the top of a continuous web page.

Blogging is important in today’s classrooms! Blogging can be used to effectively teach:
• Authentic Writing
• Online safety
• Digital citizenship
• Media literacy
• Reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Participants in the Mini Tech Boot Camp will create a blog using the Google Blogger tool. The photo editing tools that are a part of the MS Office Suite will also be used to prepare photos for posting. Participants should bring the following materials to camp: content including one or more paragraphs of information about the topic of their blog (classroom information, student writing, homework assignments, vocabulary, spelling words, books to read, notes to parents, websites for kids) and photos (at least 4) on a flash drive or SD card. (Note: Media Centers have been given cameras that can be checked out to take photos.) You can find a list of PESD Blogs at this URL: http://pesdinstructionaltech.blogspot.com/

Language Arts Resources

Recently a teacher in the district asked me to suggest some Language Arts resources for her students. Based upon my research, here's a list of URL's that look promising:

http://www.primarygames.com/reading.htm

http://www.gamequarium.com/languagearts.htm

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/reading-and-language-arts/games/5831.html

http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/getskill_s.cgi?A1=selects&A2=la&A4=0&A7=0

http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la.html

http://www.schooltimegames.com/Language_Arts.html

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/

http://www.dositey.com/2008/index.php?page=free_activities&sub=k2&subsub=l

http://www.toonuniversity.com/free/elementary-education-4th-6th.asp

http://games.pppst.com/languagearts.html

http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/hanglist.html

http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules/Fun-Language-Arts-Games.html

http://mrslinder.com/language%20practice%20tests.htm

http://www.english-online.org.uk/games/gamezone2.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/games/games.html

PESD teachers please let me know if you have a favorite site.

It's a Spelling Kind of Day!

Today six finalists competed to represent the district in the Regional Spelling Bee in February. Just look at those bright, happy faces. The two girls on the left will be the PESD representatives. The little gal in front is only in the 3rd grade! She has a future in spelling! As you can see, the district will be well represented.

Happy New Year!

The second grade students at Emerson Elementary School started the new year with some formal keyboarding lessons using the EasyTech program on the laptop computers. At the end of each lesson there is a reinforcement game for them to play. To quote one of the students, "I like racing the kangaroo. It was fun." The students must complete each lesson with 70% or better before they go on to the next lesson. Check out the video below to see them at work: