Now that I finally have time to sit down at my computer and create a new post, all of the wonderful thoughts I have had over the past couple of days are floating around somewhere in my very overwhelmed head!

So I will write about the last coherent thought I had.

I had my math kids using the computers this week. We are learning about time right now and I teach the advanced kids so we are learning about elapsed time. I told them the Mayor (after which I learned Sterling does not actually have a mayor, what's up with that?!?!) needed help designing a poster for the city. They had to research the first day of each season and find out what time the sunrise and sunset were each day and then figure out the total amount of sunlight to see which season is the longest.

It went pretty well. Some students were much more familiar and capable using the internet. They found a good site that we all ended up using to find the information. Once they gathered all of the information, they designed a poster using Pixie to send to the Mayor.

Homework Dilemma

Since there are not enough hours in the day to fit everything in and not enough computers for student use, I would like to design some assignments that can be done at home using technology. I checked with my students and 90% of them have access to a computer. I will work something out with the few students that don't by allowing them time to use the classroom computers.

I started out with something simple. Typing their word study words three times, printing them out and bringing them back to school.

I was pleased with how many students were able to complete the assignment. One student came back and told me his dad wouldn't let him use the computer because he had to work all night long. He told me his brother wouldn't let him use his computer. Now, I have to take what this student says with a grain of salt. However, I was frustrated that a parent would not allow a student to complete an assignment that would have probably taken 10 minutes. So much for thinking outside the box!

Word Wizardry

Since our lesson/discussion about Sabertooth, and the use of "raps" to help us assess what we read, I have noticed word wizardry all around.

My niece, who is 4, doesn't know her ABC's, but she can sing the lyrics to "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. I've told my sister she needs to give every letter of the alphabet a beat or a tune that my niece can identify it with.

This concept has made me reevaluate the way I teach and how its effectiveness will impact my students in the long run.

First Reflection

Learn.
Technology is a mediator between us and the world. The world consists of physical, social, intellectual, and informational situations.

Know.
A mediator is a helper. Therefore, technology helps us understand the world around us.

Act.
I need to help my students understand how technology can be a helper in their world. It is also my job to identify its affordance to the task at hand.