Electronic Brain Reports (a.k.a. Digital Stories)

Digital storytelling is when you turn into a robot and tell a story about something to an audience using your digital robot powers. 

Ok, not really, but I really sincerely believe students will find digital storytelling to be almost as cool as turning into a robot…

Never heard of it? Or perhaps not convinced? Well you are in luck, because I found a wonderful website that not only explains what a digital story is, but also gives you digital story examples, ideas, tips, resources, and tutorials on different software programs you can use to create them! Pretty neat stuff...

I have been working on a digital story of my own for the past few weeks, and to be completely honest, it’s been surprisingly easy!  Well, I should clarify.  The part where I made it “digital” was surprisingly easy.  I used Microsoft Photo Story 3, an incredibly user-friendly program that lets you upload photos, add text, music (MP3s or create your own), and voice-recorded narration (just be sure to have a microphone!).  

It was the “storytelling” part that was a tad bit vexing.  However, I think it’s important to note that while my preferred style of learning falls in the visual realm, I’ve been realizing more and more that my learning style differs with regards to input and output.  That is, I like to take in information that is coupled with lots of visual stimuli, but using visuals to present my own information is a far more difficult task for me. And that was wherein my problem lied for this project. It took me a while to figure out just how to address my audience (and to decide who my audience was ultimately going to be) and satisfactorily tell my story using more pictures than actual, physical, written words - something I am not used to doing. In fact, it took me an inordinate amount of time to organize my pictures in a way that (I felt) clearly conveyed the message I was intending to send. It may also be important to note that my story was about my niece and nephew, of whom I have an insane amount of pictures (I'm talking LOADS) and so this may have also contributed to my tribulations.

However, despite some of my hard knocks with it, I’m really looking forward to finding ways to somehow incorporate digital storytelling into the curriculum for my future students.  Maybe a digital story shared writing activity after a field trip to help memorialize the fun times had by all? :)

Praise-Crazed

Guilty. Totally, undeniably, guilty. I am praise-crazed. But something I have come to notice in my Kindergarten class is that the students are not often given much praise by the teacher.  And by this I mean mostly general praise like, “Great job on that!” or “Nice going there!” or "I like the way you [insert accomplishment here]." And actually, I think I like it.   

Throughout my graduate program so far, I’ve heard multiple professors warn against the consistent use of praise, such that it becomes something that the children seek to earn, like an incentive, or to the point that it loses meaning and just becomes some sort of artificial filler for those moments when you want to avoid the potentially awkward silence.  Our literacy professor, Dr. Groth, recently posted an article on Blackboard that addresses how detrimental praise can be (and why). Although the article asserts that most praise is harmful, it is o.k. when it is targeted, specific, genuine, and not centered around you (the teacher) but rather maintains the focus on the accomplishment of the student.  The article also includes some great suggestions for alternative responses when students do something "praiseworthy," like simply saying what it was you saw them do (a mere acknowledgment- without an evaluative component attached) or asking them questions (for instance, what they like best about what they read/wrote/created or what was the most difficult part of a project).

Unfortunately, giving praise is something that I do almost automatically, so I think it will definitely take some time to make the transition to these more constructive and student-focused responses. But I am certainly going to try...actually, starting tomorrow! Wish me luck. :)

What I Know I Share! (W.I.K.I.S.)

Wikis seem to be all the rage lately! Wikis here, wikis there! Wikis are virtually everywhere!  Still not sure what it is? I wouldn't judge you, it took me a while to figure them out and there's no shame in that. Click here for a "Quicki on Wiki," a brief but clear blurb on this tech tool that is quickly rising in popularity in schools across the country.

I have to be honest, when I first heard about wikis and their potential use in the classroom I felt hesitant.  Could I really just create a website and then turn around and essentially leave it in the hands of an elementary school class to do with it what they may?  What kind of strange and messy monster could it turn into...

However, my hesitation quickly turned into anticipation and curiosity as I learned more about the uses and benefits of wikis in the classroom (mostly from reading articles posted by my classmates on our very own class wiki). What ingenuity! What ideas! A wiki as a travelogue? A fanclub? A classroom newspaper? The possibilities are only limited by the imaginations of those choosing the topic to wiki about!

Any potential challenges or issues are outweighed by their advantageous counterparts.  Students entering incorrect information? Other students (as well as the teacher) can monitor the site and reverse any falsities or even vandalism.  Don't want others outside of the class to edit/add information? Soft security precautions are available.  You can do the research yourself, but this tech tool is pretty much fool-proof.

However, in my opinion, one of the best reasons, if not the best, to use a wiki in the classroom is to illustrate and confirm the notion of the classroom as a "learning community," in which each student can, and does, have an effect on the learning of their fellow students. A class wiki, in any form, gives students a medium through which they can contribute information such that they are truly in a reciprocal learning environment, and their role is not only that of a student who learns but also one who teaches and shares information, through this "What I Know I Share" approach.

What kinds of things will your class W.I.K.I.S. about? I can't wait to find out...

Blogging Encourages Critical Thinking

In the second chapter of her book, Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy, Dianne Penrod discusses an important point about blogging and its effects on student learning, in that it encourages critical thinking.  I wholeheartedly agree with this idea, and while Penrod asserts that this is certainly true for those doing the blogging, I think it works in more ways than just one to promote this important skill - that is, for both those who are doing the blogging as well as the audiences who follow those blogs.

Bloggers must use critical thinking skills as they gather the thoughts they wish to blog about, and as they search and sift through various sources of information that will ultimately help them elicit interest, engage, and in some cases- convince, the audiences they are seeking to attract.  I doubt that a blogger would have much of a following if he/she merely stated the obvious/trivial/facts of the matter.  Similarly, the audiences who read the blogs are often also encouraged to engage in critical thinking, particularly when they are invited to post questions and comments that may help them further explore the concepts being discussed, or just share their own thoughts/opinions on the matter (whether they agree or disagree!).

I have to admit, I would have never thought that blogging could be such a powerful literacy tool.  But, thankfully, I learn something new just about every day:)

My Life in Warp Speed

The past two weeks have really flown by for me, it's hard to believe that so much time has passed already!  I think part of the reason why is because I've only been in each of my 3 classrooms (kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades) twice so far.  In keeping with things that are hard to believe: I love kindergarten!! I realize it's still early in the year, and like I said I've only been with my kindergarten class two times, but so far I really really love it.  I didn't think I wanted to teach this age-group (based on my experiences working in tot camps and substituting) and originally felt certain that I wanted to be in 2nd grade or above, but now I am really reconsidering things.  The kindergartners are rambunctious and fidgety and energetic and adorable and sensitive and inquisitive and silly and sweet, and with every mood or state they're in- I'm reminded of the reasons why I decided to become a teacher! That's not to say that I don't also love my 2nd and 4th graders as well; I truly enjoy being in those classes with those students and those teachers - I'm learning so much and having a lot of fun while doing it. :)

However, to say that my experience so far has been entirely smooth sailing would be...not entirely true.  Two words: bugs and food poisoning (ok - so that's 3 words). While not exactly the kind of potentially complex issues that I thought I would be facing, I'm sort of glad that they came up because I am aware of these possible (albeit somewhat minor) problems and how I can deal with them (or conversely, what NOT to do)!

This week I also experienced "Back to School Night" and I am so glad I got to be a part of that! It's not as scary or overwhelming as I was expecting (part of the reason may be because I wasn't the actual classroom teacher doing the actual presentation to the actual parents and families).  However, getting to see what goes on and how the teacher prepared for it (the materials she got together and the information she compiled and passed out, how she set up the classroom in terms of seating arrangements, etc) was fantastic because it's given me some great base ideas!

Anyhoo, as my journey continues- I'll be sure to keep you posted. Cheers!

My First Independent Blog

Hi friends.  This is the first time I am blogging on my very own blog, and making it public! I hope you find it engaging, informative, and/or entertaining in some way.  Cheers!