Journal 9: Yes, Kindergartners can blog, and so can their teachers!

Davison, S. E. (2103). Yes, kindergarteners can blog and so can their teachers!. Learning and    Leading: Leading with the Masses, 40(6), 26-27. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-leading/digitaledition/digital-edition-march-april-2013

Summary:
This article by a Kindergarten teacher talks about how the incorporation of blogs in her kindergarten class has made her classroom more exciting. The kindergarten teacher explains her concerns about the blogs before she had incorporated them in her classroom. One of her biggest concerns was whether or not her kindergarteners were going to be able to know how to use a blog and manage a blog at such a young age. Mrs. Davison has a couple of blogs that she has added to her kindergarten class. She has a class blog, this blog features day-to-day snapshots of some of the learning that kindergarteners do. It gives parents and opportunity to talk to their children what they are exploring and gives them a list of links to other blogs and websites they will use throughout the year. The Life studies blog focuses on the kindergartener’s natural and physical world. It also highlights the parent-organized science program but it has turned into a connective resource where students and parents are able to connect with things they discover in nature. The tiny bloggers webpage is a kidblog account where each student has an individual page. Students and their families are emailed during the summer so that parents encourage their kids to post summer adventures, funny stories, or favorite book or pet they have. It has become a great way of knowing her student before the school year starts. In connection with their own webpage, Mrs. Davison keeps a summer reading blog that provides opportunities for kids to connect with their peers and they are able to share what books they are reading. The cool thing about this blog is that children who have graduated Mrs. Davison’s class can still log in and talk with other children. Lastly, Mrs. Davison keeps a professional blog. This blog is used as her self-reflection as a teacher. It helps parents and other professions to understand the rationale behind the learning that takes place behind the blogging tool. Mrs. Davison states that the blogging tool has become so powerful because it has enhanced, engaged, enriched, and supported growth for her students and herself.
Questions:
1. Are kindergarteners able to use this blogging tool?
One of the biggest concerns that Mrs. Davison had was whether or not these young children were going to be able to use the blogging tool responsibly and effectively. However, Mrs. Davison explains that her kindergarteners have picked up on the tool very well. She states that many children started blogging by making comments to each other with their parents’ help. Each child introduced themselves and made comments to each other. Once school starts in the fall, the young students are able to look at each others blogs together and they have a chance to highlight their post. As the school year follows, the students become better and better at posting and they become aware of what they post and who their audience is at a young age. They are excited to post on each others pages and love getting feedback from their teacher and their peers. The blogs has really built self-esteem, confidence, and community in Mrs. Davison’s classroom.
2. Is it hard to maintain each blog site?
As a teacher, one of the most important things needed is time. Being time efficient will help manage your classroom in a calmly manner. Mrs. Davison assures that keeping a blog or multiple blogs is actually not very time consuming. It actually saves her time. Since the class blog is used as a parent newsletter, she assures that typing and updating a blog is a lot quicker than you would think. She states, “All I have to do is update the pages each year with my current students. I update this blog monthly and whenever we have a presentation.” Blogs can save time and paper in the classroom so it is not a chore to keep each blog site handy for your students and their parents.

Storify #ntchat

Journal 8

Journal 8: Adaptive Technology

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/AAC/

Communication:
Augmentative and Alternative communication, AAC, refers to all forms of communication, other than oral speech, that are used to express needs, thoughts, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC when we make facial expressions or gestures, use pictures or symbols. However, people who have severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or to replace speech that is not functional. Fortunately, there are many products that have been created in order to adapt to the values of those people whom rely on AAC. The products highlight the two most important values to people who rely on AAC which is; saying exactly what they want to say and saying it as fast as they can. There are different forms of AAC, unaided AAC, aided AAC, low-tech, and high-tech. Unaided AAC systems are those that don’t require external tools like vocalizations, gestures, or hand and face expressions. Aided AAC is a device, electronic or not, that is used to receive messages. Low-tech communication aids are those devices that do not need batteries or electricity for the electronics. The high-tech, on the other hand, permit electronic messages and communication with speech output. Optimal communication and maximum potential is what is expected from the AAC.


The first low-tech product is called a Readingpen TS. It is a hand-held portable reading assistant. This tool is ideal for anyone in need of comprehensive English Language support and is especially helpful for students who have dyslexia or any other reading difficulties. This is an easy-to- use tool that allows students to enter any word and have it defined, translated, or spoken. It’s also a classroom-friendly tool because of the educational word games that are available on it. The built in word games increase student’s vocabulary and provides in-depth reading support for these students who have difficulty.

 A high-tech product I researched is the orbiTouch. This instrument is a keyless keyboard with an integrated mouse that utilizes the hands and arms instead of using the fingers to type. It is especially a good tool for those students who have autism. Traditional keyboards can be confusing and difficult to use; the patented design eliminates finger motion and reduces wrist motion as well. Since autistic kids are visual learners, this color-coded keyboard is a perfect solution for autistic students and their typing.

Accessibility:
An input device is any hardware device that sends data to the computer. Without these input devices, a computer would only be display device and users would not be able to interact with it. There are many options when it comes to choosing a hardware and software option for special needs students. However, I found these two the most exciting and resourceful for those students with special needs.

There are many software tools out for students who need technology that can assist them in a resourceful way. I found a great software called, Kidspiration. Kidspiration is used to support emerging readers and writers. This is a perfect tool because it provides over 75 already made activities that allow children to express themselves visually and recognize the connections between words and meanings. I found this to be a great tool for dyslexic children because the program is comprised of pictures and some words. The visual tools on this program are especially important to those students who learn visually.

The Euro Braille esys Braille keyboard is a great hardware tool that can be used for typing, navigation, and other computer programs. This tool is very resourceful for students who are visually impaired because the keyboard is Braille. However, it isn’t your average Braille keyboard, this keyboard has the power to connect to the computer, PDA, and even a mobile phone. This tool can be easily be used in the classroom because it has much battery life and it can be used as a note taker. It is a extremely useful tool for students with disabilites because of its Braille keyboard, connections, and compatibility.

Journal 7: My Personal Learning Network

My Personal learning network

A Personal Learning Network, PLN, is a way for people around the world to learn together by sharing each others ideas and informational resources online. It is a way to network with others and add to your professional development as an educator. Using Twitter, Diigo, and the Educator’s PLN website, I was able to start my own PLN. My network will allow me to stay connected and access helpful resources from other teaching professionals. As I begin my own journey as an educator, I will be able to share any resources I come across as well.

Twitter, is an online social networking service that enables its users to send and read messages known as “tweets” from people whom they choose to follow. I used twitter to connect with other educators from around the world. I have chosen to follow those educators who seek to make education the best it can be and are willing to share their educational tools with other educators who share the same views. I have chosen to follow educators who use technology, educators who promote common core, and Edutopia which has information for what works in education. The people in my PLN will greatly keep me informed during my profession as to what we can do to better our education and our resources. I currently use Twitter to read educational articles and connect my peers in the classroom to any useful blogs(online journals) of current teachers. Once I become a credential teacher, I will definitely use my twitter PLN to increase my educational resources and ideas. For now, I can choose to participate in weekly educational chats that will keep connect me to others who are interested in the same topic. My first educational chat was on Wednesday March 27^th at 5:00 P.M with #ntchat. The questions on #ntchat that night revolved around the subject of recycling and how to talk to your students about a “Green” environment. The chat was super informational and it was great to see everyone’s opinion in one chat. Some educators had stories to tell and others had resources that they shared that had more information about recycling and going green.

Diigo is a social book marking website that allows its users to bookmark pages they find interesting and look at others peoples bookmarks as well. I use Diigo to follow other educators and see what information they are bookmarking as their PLN. I decided to follow Vicki Davis because she is the winner of the Best Teacher Blog and founder of the flat classroom which is a movement of global collaboration. I also follow Martha Moore because she gives great lesson plans for literacy and tips for classroom management. She is not only a teacher but also a mother of three so her journals are always interesting. I also follow Mary Pitner, a teacher who follows the common core standards and provides excellent ways of moving into the common core standards. Diigo is a great site that, like twitter, allows you to follow people that can share educational resources for anyone else interested.

I joined the Educator’s PLN website which is a site that is learning network for educators all over. While on this website, I came across an interesting article by Tess Pajaron. Her article talks about the different ways that educators can foster passion-based learning. I enjoyed the article because it first focused on Albert Einstein’s’ genius mind and how he had a thirst for learning and the power of imagination. She explains how students’ passion for learning begins with play, collaboration, technology, creativity and a positive learning environment. This will fuel student’s thirst for learning and make it easier for them to grow mentally and physically. There are many more great articles, videos, and blog posts from others who care about education. Check them out!