Blog Post about a Blog Post

Here is a link to a blog posting about how students are using our new, cool technologies to cheat. Check this out from Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

Thing 1-A....Again!

Hello, all. My name is Jessica Tipton. I am a 7th grade math teacher at WBMS, and I have fallen in love with Web 2.0. I am the newest self-proclaimed computer geek at our school. This is my 6th year of teaching. I spent two years teaching in Newton County: one as a 6th grade science teacher (when it was still physical science) and one as a 6th grade math teacher (the year that GPS rolled out). My first two years in Barrow County were in 6th grade math and I didn't think I would ever leave my 6th grade babies. Since then, I have taught 7th grade math and love the 7th graders even more. I have been the professional learning coordinator for our school for the past two years. This year I am one of the co-coordinators for Classworks at our school, I am tutoring 3 mornings a week (1 for the WBMS Archery Team and 2 for a student), and I am determined to write at least one grant this year. That was my goal last year, but I didn't make it.

I have a husband, Lance, who is a police officer, and two children. My daughter Anna Marie will be 7 in April and is in first grade at YES. My son Landon will be 3 in November and goes to daycare near our home. We also have two crazy cats. Well...one is normal, that 's Dora (the calm well behaved cat). Then there's Riley. He is a stray kitten that was brought home by my husband from a Clark County Fire Department. Riley gets into everything. I think I have to correct that cat more than both children combined. He is a thief who loves straws and q-tips. I find the most random things moved around my house that have been moved by Riley.

Finally, I love Web 2.0! I took a 1 day class of Caroline's and then took the first 23 Things course she offered. I couldn't wait to do each "Thing" and was normally the first person to do each one. I am also utilizing Web 2.0 in my classroom. I have a class assignments blog, a class wiki, and use a lot of free programs with my students. This year, I am in the process of creating ePal accounts for all of my students. ePals is a company that makes it possible for teachers to create email accounts and blogs for all of my students...and keep a handle on all of them to make sure everything being typed is appropriate.

One final note: If you think your students or kids can't do something on a computer, they have probably already done it. They are growing up in this world of Web 2.0. I don't know what to equate it to for our generation, but they know all about it.

Awesome Wordle Idea!!!

I found a posting on my reader that gave me a great idea for a classroom use. The posting talks about a wiki called Guess The Wordle where a new wordle is posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Your job is to guess the topic of the wordle. Wouldn't it be cool to use this with vocabulary! Put a bunch of descriptive words into Wordle and then have the students guess the vocabulary word.

New Moon - I can't wait!!!

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD

Alternatives to You Tube

Here is a like to a blog post about alternatives to You Tube, but remember you can always convert the videos if needed.

Thing 23 - The Web 2.0 Experience

I love this course. I think I could take it again and still learn as much as I did the first time. I have actually discussed my frustration of teachers dropping this class with Caroline a number of times. At first, I was embarrassed because I am going to be the only person to finish from my school. Then, I was aggravated because teachers were dropping the course due to "time constraints." We all have a lot going on, but unless you have something come up that you didn't know about...if Caroline could hand in, then others could as well. Caroline rocks!!! She is definitely a teacher, and a fighter who looks into the future. Now, I just feel bad for those who didn't finish the class, because they and their students have missed so much.

I have a hard time picking out my favorite "Thing." Yes, some are more applicable than others, but to me if I put "Things" on my class wiki that my students can use and only a few kids are improved or motivated by those things...then I have done my job.

I hope everyone keeps adding to the Sandbox with their ideas and resources for using these Things in our own classrooms. If we share the load by sharing our ideas, then everyone benefits...especially the students. Keep bloggin!

Think 19 - Podcasting

This was so easy! I did hit a snag or two with my impatience of upload and conversion. I plan on using it for vocabulary, as I did in my podcast. Students can purchase a small and cheap at Wal-Mart and then download the vocab. podcasts. Let's be honest, if they down load it to their regular iPod with all their music...they'll never listen to the vocabulary.


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Obviously...I couldn't figure out the "right" way to embed the file, but I tried.