I am sorry about the missing post from March 15. I am not sure what I did, but it disappeared.

Photo Story - Best Kept Secret

Photo Story 3 is easily the simplest photo slide show software I have used. Students can easily create multimedia presentations on their own with the wizard like interface. Despite the ease of use many teachers don't realize that it is available as a free download for Window's users. My students use it quite often. We use it to commemorate classroom events such as debates, student teacher greetings or student goodbyes. We also make photo essay dictionaries. We do this by taking pictures of items such as geometric shapes and angles, adding text and recording voices that define each term.

Here is a quick tutorial:

First you import pictures. When you click on import pictures the program will open your "My Pictures" file.

Select pictures

Add text. Students love to choose from the many colors and fonts.

Record your voice. You can record a different voice on each slide.

Create your own music or import your own. My students love to create their own music. They can choose from several styles, speeds, moods and instruments.

It is easy to use and a great deal of fun. Try for yourself, but be careful you may get hooked. Have fun.

Collaboration with New Zealand

I have been a bit delayed in posting, but have stayed busy learning from my new friends in New Zealand. Thank you Allanah and Rachel for your great blogs and our enlightening Skype conversations. What a great opportunity for my whole class to speak with Allanah through Skype. We all enjoyed the conversation. My class was amazed that it was Fall in New Zealand and the start of Spring here in the U.S. I look forward to continued communication between our classes.

For those of you that think computer users need help desks

This is a really funny video about a man from the middle ages who calls the help desk to learn about this new technology known as a book. It's from a show called Øystein & Meg. It's written by Knut Nærum. The actors are named Øystein Bache and Rune Gokstad. Thanks to YouTube user ZrednaZ for humourous post and backround information.

Web 2.0 Directory

I knew that there were many web 2.0 apps out there, but I don't think I realized that the options were this extensive. Check out this web 2.0 directory. I am sure you will find it quite amazing.

Blogging for Educators Slide Show

This slide show was created as talking points and links for an education conference this weekend. I feel excited and a bit nervous as I prepare for my first workshop on blogging. I have been enjoying my adventures in blogging, but also realize that I am still near the beginning of my adventures.

Think Blogging

I have continued to research blogging and in my quest I have stumbled across several great blog hosting sites that would be appropriate for middle and high school student blogs. I have not however, been able to find any site that is more suited to younger student blogging than Think.com. My 4th grade students as well as a class of 4th grade students at another local school have been blogging at Think.com since early October. It has been a great experience. Part of the positive experience is directly credited to the ease of use and safety measures provided by the site. My students can easily add posts, message boards, votes, and other interactive tools to their sites. They can even link a word document. They can post virtual post it note messages on each other's blogs or participate in votes and discussion boards.

They can even create secondary pages. Some of my students, for example, added a writer's workshop page in addition to their assigned reader response page. I can also create multiple sub-pages. I have an information and directions page, a reading page, and a science page. I can use these pages to post discussions and votes pertaining to read aloud or information that we have covered in science or social studies.

The best part is the safety measures. In order to set up a blog administrators account you need a letter from your district office. Which thankfully my very supportive Assistant Superintendent willingly provided. Think.com then provides parent permission slips and other support materials that can be distributed. A blog administrator can set up classes and create accounts and passwords for all involved parties. Blog administrators can also choose to open student's blogs to other students or maintain a private community. I chose the latter. My students' blogs can only be viewed by invited guests. The site maintains several filters which send messages to the administrators of any attempt of bad language. All members can flag any posted information that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable. This information is forwarded to the administrator's mailbox.
Blogging has been a great experience for my class. No matter where you choose to blog. I recommend that you involve some school celebrities to post messages on students' blogs. Those that teach in elementary schools will understand who the students look to as celebrities. In my school, this includes the guidance counselor, consultant teacher, principal, librarian, challenge teacher and the reading recovery teacher. This truly makes it a celebration of reading and writing.