Entry 26: My New Project

The last 4 years have been very hectic for me when it comes to my job. I am all about the teaming concept, but I was never fully on a team. I always worked with 8th and 9th graders, but this year is different because I am just working with 8th graders. This is nice because I am finally able to keep better track of the student's on my caseload and also apply some of the technology things that I have always wanted to do.

The one thing I have always wanted to do is take my blackboard website to a new level. This year only being on one team I am able to do this. My blackboard link is below and if you go to it you will see a few things.
- An assignments link. This link is updated everyday with what assignments or projects students have coming up in all of my teams core classes (math, science, social studies, and language arts). Believe it or not this only takes 5 minutes a day to do and it is so beneficial for the parents of my students.
- A review games link. I use this link for study games that students can play at home to get ready for upcoming tests. This should be a great way for students to get more prepared for tests coming up. Right now I have a link for students to go to a game to help them study for their states quiz.
- I will also have a tests link. This link will be the audio version of any tests that the students will be taking. So instead of myself or a para reading the test out loud, it can be done on my blackboard site.

I know I will be using this even more over the year, so keep checking back to it. The link is below.

My Blackboard Site

Entry 25: Google Teacher Academy

Have you ever wanted to be a Google certified teacher and learn how to use their products more effectively? Well now is your chance because on September 24th Google will be holding a conference in Chicago for 50 educators to become Google certified and learn how to use their product more effectively in the classrooms. The application deadline is August 25th and to apply or learn more click on the link below.

Google Teacher Academy Information

Entry 24: Start Of The School Year

Tomorrow I begin my 15th year of teaching and this one will by far be the most interesting. For starters this summer I got married, so I guess this means no more long nights at school. I also gave up a broadcasting class that I have been teaching for the last 2 years (this should clear up a lot of my time because there was just so much to do to keep that program running). This coming year we also hired 3 new teachers which means my department now has 9 teachers and 10 paraprofessionals and this is not counting the students teacher I have. This year like every other year I have set some goals for my classroom.

- Updating this blog once a week with something new and great I have either learned, am currently using, or a share a great resource I found.

- Keep using the mp3 players in my classroom to have tests read out loud to make my life easier by not reading tests.

- Working smarter, not harder.

- Writing a grant for the adaptive PE class to get a Nintendo Wii to use in helping develop their fine and gross motor skills. Might as well put this technology to use huh.

- Last but not least, worrying more about being a good teacher than the paperwork that we all have to do.

These are my goals for the year, if you want I would love to hear about yours. I hope everyone has a great year.

Entry 23: Read The Words

I have recently come across a free program that allows any text you type to be read out loud (even in Spanish and French). The coolest thing is that you can even import any word or PDF document and have it read out loud. Check out the link below.

Read The Words

METC Presentation

Right now I am getting ready to do my presentation at METC entitled "Web 2.0 For The Special Education Digital Native". Unfortunately my computer is acting up and not allowing me to place my powerpoint notes on this blog. However if you would like to see the notes click on the link below and you will go to me blackboard site. From there just click on the bottom button that says METC powerpoint and you can see them.

METC Powerpoint Notes

Entry 20: Missouri Techknowledge Day

Yesterday I took four of my broadcasting students to Jefferson City, Missouri floor the Show-Me Techknowledge Day. This is the second year I have taken a group with me and it is amazing. You get to spend the entire day in the state capital at the rotunda and show legislators and senators how we are using technology in our school. This year the students were also able to meet our representative Tim Flook who was nice enough to have us recognized on the floor. The highlight was probably when the students had the chance to meet our senator Luann Ridgeway and she gave us a personal tour of the senate floor, the house floor, and many other parts of the capital. All in all it was a great day and I will update this blog with some of the amazing things I saw. Below you will see pictures of the students with Tim Flook, Luann Ridgeway, and presenting their project.

Entry 19: A Busy Man

Greetings from the frozen tundra of Missouri. I know I have said this before, but I have been quite busy lately. My schedule is only going to get more hectic in the future, so I figured I could let everyone in on what I will be doing in the near future.

* Next Tuesday (January 29th) I will be in Jefferson City with 4 of my broadcasting students for the Missouri Techknowledge Day. This is a great event where we get to spend the day in the state capital rotunda showing the Missouri representatives and senators how we are using technology in our school. We were invited to this event last year, and it was a great experience that they will never forget (how many people can say that they were recognized on the house floor?).

* The week after that (February 4th and 5th) I will be in St. Charles, Missouri at the METC conference. I am really looking forward to this event because they have some great speakers. I am really looking forward to hearing David Warlick speak and I also want to hear Steve Dembo speak also. Both of these men are dynamic speakers that make me excited about being a teacher every time I hear them.

* Then the week after that (February 15th)I will be presenting twice at my school district's annual conference called Empowering Excellence. I will be presenting from 7-8 in the morning on how to get the most out of Outlook (beyond just emailing). I will also be presenting a session for special educators on the technology we have and how we could be using that in our classrooms.

As you can see I will be pretty busy, so be expecting a lot more posts in the near future. I have also started another blogging project for my upcoming wedding. It is all about the wedding plans and how we are getting ready. Click here to check it out.