Google Docs

I've heard recently that student (especially males) like to write more when it is on the computer. I decided to test this theory by going beyond just the standard word processing. A few weeks ago, I introduced my students to google docs, a free website (part of google.com) that allows users to create documents and share them with others to view, edit, or comment on. I was interested when my students jumped right on. Many even used the opportunity to ask me for feedback prior to turning in a final draft. This was something that I had always encouraged, but rarely saw my offer utilized. And while it is too early to see if their writing skills (quality and quantity) increased, but I have enjoyed having a few less papers to carry back and forth.

Reflections -- 2008 CLAS conference

This year's conference theme is "Literacy Now" and, appropriately, the icons that are on the program and tickets feature rockets. Here are a few reflections on what ideas have "launched" me into inspiration for my classroom. I hope to expand on a few soon...

1. Ralph Fletcher - His humorous presentation last night focused mostly on boys and writing and some of the little things that educators can do to help shrink the gap. Choice, humor, and violence (to a point) were the three main allowances that we can provide our male writers in our classroom
2. Dan and Dawn Kirby - Their humorous presentation (it is so nice to laugh!) showed me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel if writer's workshop doesn't seem like the only "good" way to teach writing. Their discussion of memoir in a studio format was enlightening.
3. Nikki Giovanni -inspired her packed audience with her humor (yep...lots of laughing there too), poetry, and the story of Rosa Parks
4. Technology - I focused two of my breakout sessions on technology and received great ideas on how to use web 2.0 in my class
5. writing - I learned about brain gyms and how some simple, short exercises could help students get over the fear of writing or the dreaded writer's block.

Tomorrow...Leonard Pitts, Katie Wood Ray, and more inspiration.

My venture into podcasts in the classroom

I am getting ready to assign my students a podcast for their project on the independent reading books that they are about to finish.



This is a new frontier for me, but I have found a couple good sources:



http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech238.shtml

If there are more sources that anyone has used, please comment with a link. I'm needing as many options as possible.

February Slump and Spring Resolutions

I'm still wondering if there is a good reason why I hit a Feb. teaching slump each year. It is not too far after winter break to feel burnt out...but every year it hits. I'm out of it now with the help of thoughts of spring and all that means to me. In a short time, I'll be off to the annual spring conference of CLAS. That always seems to lighten my spirits. Sharing and absorbing classroom ideas always makes me glad that I chose this career path.

Since I feel like this is my new year...I think it is time to make resolutions. I do this at the beginning of every school year, but I have never done this mid-way through. Here are my goals for the remainder of the year.

1. spend more time on my thesis...if I'm ever going to finish grad school, I have to get in gear
2. write more regularly on my blog...this may be a good venue for exploring my thoughts and questions for my thesis
3. conintue experiementing with technology in the classroom... I have the ideas of a blog for Romeo and Juliet and a podcast assignment for independent reading novels.
4. read blogs more regularly...there are so many ideas and exchanges that can keep me refreshed through the rest of the year

Professional Writing

One of the most thought provoking session for NWP's annual meeting involved looking at professional writing and publishing. It got me thinking about how many ideas teachers have that are not shared. Now that blogging has gained more popularity with educators, there is more publishing; however, few teachers (including me) feel confident enough to write professional articles for various publications just as the English Journal. Imagine if more teachers went beyond thinking that their ideas were not worth sharing and began to write and submit their writing to publication. Blogging is still new to many teachers - maybe this is a good way to introduce yourself to taking another road to publishing.

Heading to NYC!

I am looking forward to my trip to New York for the National Writing Project's annual meeting and the National Council of Teachers of English annual convention. NWP's conference will aid me and my fellow site members in further improving our site so that more teachers can benefit from the professional development, research, and programs we provide. NCTE's focus is on literacy's of the 21st century. Since my goal for this school year is to provide my students with authentic writing activities that utilize technology, I look forward to many new ideas

Audience awareness

I just read this post by Dawn Hogue on the benefits of blogging in English class. I have heard many complaints about technology and how it is ruining literacy. I am sure that is the case in a few instances; however, the majority seem to be thriving. Dawn's class writing was described as "prolific" and I have seen this with students on their class wiki. While their wiki has been a bit disjointed, students are starting to link their comments to others and rearrange information on the pages to make sense. So, not only have I seen an increase on the ideas and details in their writing, but I am also starting to see a more attentive look at organization.