Digital Design

Happy January everyone!!  I am in full swing, I just started a new class in my masters program which means new adventures and NEW HOMEWORK!

EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics and Web Design

As I began to click and explore through The Bible of Ethiopia I was amazed, besides watching the occasional history channel I had never first handily flipped through such an aged artifact in my life.  My first impression was that I loved the contrast that was used by the author, there is clearly color in not only the illustrations but in the important texts and headlines that are important.  The repetition and alignment are clearly seen throughout the book, many of the illustrations are repeated and the boarder around each page is repeated. The font, which is really handwritten is beautiful, now days we just pick a font online, imagine writing in the same font for hundreds of pages, I couldn't do it.

Check out these virtual books:

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/viewall/index.html#

Happy Holidays

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here!!

Boy have I been gone a long time or what!! I have been terribly busy with finishing a class and turning in finals, Christmas shopping, entertaining my two boys during their holiday vacation all while being nauseated (I will spare you the gruesome details) and trying to stay awake long enough to have fun during my Christmas break.

Being 9 weeks pregnant, getting my masters, being a mother to my 2 boys, a wife to my husband, blogging, facebooking, etc. seems like it is going to be the most challenging time in my life.
Oh and did I mention that I am turning the BIG----3----0 on January 12th! NOOOOOOOOO!  I can't even put the three in front of the zero with out freaking out! LOL!

My twenties were so much fun, both my sons were born in my twenties, I got married in my twenties, I received my bachelor's degree when I was in my twenties, we bought our first house in my twenties, and I was awarded TEACHER of the YEAR in my twenties!! What more could a girl ask for?

And let's not forget I started blogging, pinning, and facebooking in my twenties.  Whoa, what is 3    0   going to bring?  I know one thing is for sure!  A new addition to our family!  And yes we are really hoping PINK PINK PINK!!

I am hoping that I won't be missing in action for so many days again! Don't forget about me, I am still here!!

Convection WHAT?

EDLD 5363 Collaborative Assignment

Sum it up with QR CODES

Sum it up with QR Codes!

Kindergarten  3rd Quarter
During our Math Sums lessons, students will find QR codes available all around the classroom.  Each QR code will either have a youtube video, graphic, or actual problem to work on.  Students will be paired in twos with a clip board, pencil, iPad, and QR Reader app.

                                   I am 4.



Scan this QR Code for a cool Sum it up song.


I am 3.


Video: Reteach, check for understanding


Table Work:




CHALLENGE!

TREEmendous Christmas

Wishing everyone a "Tree"mendous Christmas!!
December is in full effect and we are learning so much.  We only have 12 more days until our Christmas Break kicks off, and we have tons to do!
Here are a few activities we have completed so far with a bit of help from pinterest and Teachers pay teachers.

Hand Christmas Trees

 Class Hand Christmas Tree, each ornament has the first letter of each student's name with their self portrait right next to it.

Brown paper bag Gingerbread Houses. (Incentive Bags)

Debbie & Me

GUESS WHAT!! Sometimes it just works out without any obstacles or hassles....It is just meant to be!!
That is exactly what happened with Debbie Clement from Rainbows Within Reach and Me, Michelle Ayala fromm Kinder Fun!
    This is a great example of the power of a blog and facebook page.  Debbie and I have become good friends through our love for children, Pinterest, Facebook, and blogs.  I have never been to Florida and She had never been to South Texas.  Most of all the blogs and classroom pages on facebook that I follow are my inspiration.  I love to collaborate and communicate with you because you are the reason I am a great teacher.  At the same time I never really imagine that I would meet any of you.  I see occasionally the east coast crew meet up and I only wish I knew more bloggers near me.  I have still never been to Florida but I can say that I have my first friend from Florida!

   Debbie was able to visit us today, November 19th in Harlingen TX @ Dr. Rodriguez Elementary, a day I will never forget!

Debbie's personality, voice, sense of humor, talent, singing, books, music, and her ability to connect with young children is so unique and inspirational.
  I want to thank Debbie and her husband for making a dream come true for me and my students.  My kinder kiddos may not realize it now but they will never forget Mrs. Debbie and her wonderful spirit!  I know we will meet again if not in person through skype for sure!

Follow our Blogs/Pinterest/and Facebook pages!!

Debbie's Pinterest --->http://pinterest.com/debbie_clement/

Michelle's Pinterest -->http://pinterest.com/mrsayala/

Click on the images below for our facebook pages!

Here are a few pictures we took today!!

Virtual Field Trips

We love Virtual Field Trips at my school!! Especially when they are age appropriate for our Kindergarten students.  I just scheduled a DLN with Santa and Mrs. Clause in December. They will be reading to the kids!  

Check out this guest post by Lenore! Thanks, Michelle

Digital Field Trips: An Educator's Dream

Going on a field trip is typically a student's most highly anticipated event of the school year—there's nothing more exciting than packing a sack lunch and experiencing a new, exciting place off campus.  But the downside of traditional field trips is that they often take too much time, money, and require extra adult supervision that may not be available to you. If you are struggling with a dwindling school budget or just want to give your students an experience of-a-lifetime without the fuss of permission slips, technology can really save the day.

What are Virtual Field Trips?

Like the name implies, virtual field trips can essentially let your kindergarten students have a "virtual" exciting adventure without ever having to leave the classroom.  Depending on which program you choose to use, your students can experience a trip into space, explore an erupting volcano, or visit the pyramids of Gyza all with the click of a mouse button.

While there are programs that have intricate field trips created (with included lessons plans) like the Micronauts e-mission designed for grades K-3, often times they require a small fee to access. But do note that you can scour the internet for free virtual field trips like the one offered at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History or the ones listed on the Scholastic for Teachers website.

Other sources to consider include the VC Content Provider Database (which offers some free virtual tours on specific days of the week) and the Global Nomads Group which connects your students with other students across the globe via video conferencing.

To make this happen all you need is internet connection and preferably a projector screen or a television with the proper lap top connections. Or students can watch the videos individually via the school's tech lab. Make sure to ask thought-provoking questions so that your students get the most out of their experience after experience the "field trip."

DIY Virtual Field Trips

While the sources referenced above can make virtual tours in the classroom a possibility, do keep in mind that you can create your own virtual tour using the tools you already have access too as well such as Panoramio and Earth, both offered through Google. These two features can transport your students to unique places around the world or to the moon. You can also make semi-virtual tours. For example, if you just visited city or landmark that has a lot of historical significance and you took ample amount of photos, you can display them on a slide show for your students.

Virtual tours can really open up a window of opportunity you didn’t think was possible.

Lenore Holditch is an education writer and a regular contributor to toponlinecolleges.com, a site that specializes in higher alternative education. She welcomes your comments.