Kid chat

I chatted with some of my students today about maybe doing a blog with the class. They weren't too thrilled. They don't want to type or have to get online. I was very surprised. I was thinking they might actually enjoy doing something like that. Oh well.

Another one

Wow, things have been crazy! Over the past 2-3 weeks, I had my first IEP meeting in 15 years, a re-eval, benchmarks, been audited, redone a flooded basement, been the usual taxi driver to my kids, .... I am finally getting around to writing something.
I have been reading the book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts... and finding it very informative. I have thought about making a blog for my history class. The main problem is that since my students are special needs, it could be a challenge in more than just a few ways. Several of my students have fine motor problems, and typing (although good for them) is rather difficult. I have a few students that do not own a computer at home, so they would not have home access. The other issue is they HATE to type or it is a very long/slow process.
Another idea I had was to post notes for future history lessons into a blog. That way students with internet access can see them in advance and have a jump on class discussions. We shall see if I get to this.

A Contradiction in Thoughts

I have to get 180 inservice points by June 30 for relicensure, so I am enrolled in quite a few study groups/ inservices/ workshops, etc. I know you are all asking why did you wait until the last minute. That is a very good question. I have had my license, but I haven't been teaching full time. I didn't plan to begin as a full time teacher until recently. When I did realize the fact that I would be teaching and realized my license was going to expire, I got some information. At one point, I was told that my license could be extended for a year, but that changed. Since I am a single mom with two kids, taking classes in the evenings and on weekends is not the best alternative for me, hence the multiple study groups.

One of my other study groups is Teachers as Readers. It is a good group and class that promotes strategies for good comprehension for our students. This morning when I was reading the book for that class, something hit me. The author was talking about the Internet. I thought cool, I'm going to get a little of my other group's lessons in this book too, WRONG. It mentioned how extraordinary the Internet is with all of the information and focus people need for games, but it went on to mention problems. A few of the problems were less concentration, less engagement, and less attention to reading. There was a lot more that I would like to quote and have a little to do about what we are planning to learn in the Wikis... group, but I have to know how to legally do this on a blog. So...if anyone is reading this and knows how I can post the quotes and not get into trouble, please share!

Here Goes!

Well. here I go, my first blog, if you want to call it that. I'm glad there is spell check, I just hope I remember to use it.

I am taking an inservice on web tools. I am hoping that I will be able to use what I learn in my special ed classes. I am thinking that blogging might be good for US History. I might be able to talk a little about a subject, then the kids (and their parents) can read about it. It might not seem so much like a lesson if they have to type in a web address. It might set off some conversations at home with the family. If they are talking about it more, they might remember it better!

Thanks for reading.