2012 visits Chicago

Saltine Rockstars… (while you may have moved on to high school, you will always be the Rockstars to me)

Chicago has come and gone, but luckily I recorded the events of our trip with my BEAUTIFUL poetry (no need to laugh or pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about… you all were dying to make it into my nightly poems) and pictures to remember it by. Here are my poems published, as promised, and you will notice the Flickr widget on the right that will link you to all the photos I took throughout the trip.

DAY 1

“Chicago”

Dinner was great, now it’s time to hit the road.

We’ll probably be late, but we’ll be welcomed by our humble abode.

 

“Peace”

You all were rockstars, on our long roadtrip here.

Our time to explore Chicago is finally near.

I hope you enjoyed your sleep number beds, and have rested your weary heads.

On our trip to the Aquarium, let’s clean up our mess.

Make sure you grab all your trash, nothing less.

On your way out, feel free to do the grocery dance,

And Javaris, please don’t forget your pants.

It’s been real, it’s been fun

Now it’s time for groups and rounding up the troops!

DAY 2

“One Down”

Yet another successful day with teh Rockstars we saw,

Starting with fish and ending with phone calls to Ma.

Snapping turtles, dolphins, Beluga whales galore,

I don’t know about you but I left wanting more.

Some soccer and dancing at a park in the city,

The Bean and Chicago skyline were oh so pretty.

Some water games in fountains were certainly fun to see,

But soaking wet at Navy Pier I don’t want to be!

Navy Pier with the CPUs was my favorite part of the day,

Playful shopping and pictures made my heart smile in a serious way.

Delicious dinner and shopping was a great way to end,

Tattoos, t-shirts and bears all forced us to spend.

But months from now when in Gaston we’ll be,

We’ll look at them fondly with tons of mental movies to see.

To our sleep number beds we will now find our way.

Lights out and to sleep your teachers will say.

So get tons of rest, DON’T STAY UP ALL NIGHT!

Or wake-ups tomorrow will be an absolute fright!

I love you all a ton, and this has been incredible so far.

I can’t wait to see how you’ll continue to raise the bar.

It’s been real, it’s been fun, and we’re done with day one!

DAY 3

“A New Day”

A new day is here, to the zoo we go.

There’s a lot to see and a lot to know.

You guys have been great, this kind of fun I’ll take.

Who knows what can happen when smart choices you make!

“The Tweeter Family”

Tweet tweet is all I’ve heard today,

As we came up with the fifth name of our stay!

The weather was crummy, but the company was not,

As we drove around the city, and learned a LOT!

Like all about gorillas, adn their interesting mess,

We watched them forever and were more than impressed.

The Afghanistani leopard, one of 12 left in the WORLD!

And that weird guy who stores twigs in a tail that curls.

The ladies ability to chant and to sing,

I’m loving all the early morning energy they couldn’t help but bring!

Storms and poor directions gave us time to power nap.

Could the Science museum handle our energy, oh snap!

Trivia on the radio made us all feel smart,

As we knew the answers while others didn’t know where to start!

The Magnificent Mile was a little more than I could afford,

But it led to a terrific dinner, with quite the smorgasboard!

The park later on was a fantastic call,

As I kicked Tevin’s butt once and for all!

No more trash talk we’ll hear about his handstanding skills,

As I clearly can take him and repeatedly will.

Now back to those beds and our delicious new home,

And time to begin packing so we can continue to roam.

Tomorrow the lake will be calling our name,

And Ms. Napleton will see how much you’ve all changed.

Pack up your room, leave not a trace,

Show respect to whoever is helpful in cleaning our space.

Can’t wait to see you all first thing in the morn,

To think of leaving is making me forlorn.

It’s been real, it’s been fun,

Can’t wait for a fabulous day in the sun!

DAY 4

“Towel and a Comb”

To the lake we go, tons of fun you will find.

A nice relaxing break, a chance to clear your mind.

A time to enjoy teammates, play around in the sun,

Bikes to ride that seat TWO, not one!

Card games galore, a lake that looks like a sea,

Homemade lunch and dinner, a table set for 53!

I can’t wait for this day, to enjoy at the lake,

Goes to show good things happen when smart choices you make!

So keep it up, enjoy, leave the drama at home,

But be sure to have packed a towel and comb!

“Roly Poly”

I think I might roll away,

All this food is too much for me.

Delish veggies and fruits and mozzerella balls,

It all brought me so much glee.

Kicking butt with Sarah in the pool,

A highlight of the day, JB and Pierre thought they were cool.

But they certainly could work on their skills and really learn how to play!

Biking led to a couple scrapes and cuts,

But you certainly were fun to see.

Exercising and chilling in the hut,

Active and happy was certainly the way to be.

Freezing lake water didn’t stop a brave few.

As they splashed and played around.

I continue to enjoy my QT with this crew,

I’m still not sure how Pierre doesn’t gain a pound!

Lay light on the breakfast first thing in the morn,

For tomorrow we head to the park,

We don’t want you to toss any of your corn,

As you ride all the coasters till dark.

It’s been real, it’s been fun,

I’m glad that Sarah and I won!

DAY 5

“Roller Riders”

Cedar Point adventures have now come and gone,

What a great day for bravery, the lines weren’t too long.

The front row of some, made me feel like I was flying,

If only it weren’t for Michelle sitting next to me crying…

JB eating a giant elephant ear was quite a sight to see,

A mental picture I will store to bring back happy memories.

Ms. Felter getting soaked on that waterfall ride,

As I sat on the other side almost perfectly dry!

Pierre’s impressive strength, he now has monkey’s in tow,

Evander’s shooting skills, I was proud to know.

More delicious goodies were purchased as we headed back late,

To prepare for our final day where we’ll tour Ohio State.

It’s been real, it’s been fun,

Five down, now left we have only one!

DAY 6

“The End”

The trip is over, it’s hard to believe,

When I think back on all we’ve done and seen.

Millenium Park, the Magnificent Mile

The thought of Giordano’s makes my stomach smile.

The Giant Bean, the Tweeter clan,

The ppol lake and food with the Napleton fam.

I’ve had a blast from the start to the end

Now it’s off to high school we sadly must send.

It’s been a blast these past two years and a week,

Please don’t forget to e-mail and frequently tweet.

Check out my blog for poems and pics,

And some updated posts with just a few clicks!

It’s been real, it’s been fun

I can’t believe it’s over, I will miss you a ton.

Your thoughts on the future…

Dear my favorite Saltine Rockstars,

As most of you know, I will not be returning next year to teach 8th grade technology. While this year was amazing, and I am continually impressed by what you have accomplished with technology and Web 2.0, I have decided to return to school in the fall. I will be studying Medial Literacy and Tech Integration, hoping to figure out how to use things like Web 2.0, SmartBoards and more technology in ALL classrooms.

Here’s where your thoughts come in… as 8th graders who had an opportunity to use online tools like blogs, aggregators, VoiceThread, wikis, Twitter, Think.com, Gaggle.net, YouTube (I can’t help but hear Jamaine and William’s voice as I type that one) and more, I’m curious what you think. For our last online discussion (of the year anyways), I want you to work independently or with a partner to brainstorm and then post, a thoughtful comment that reflects on the following questions.

If I were to teach a new group of 8th graders, what would you INSIST that I teach them? (What tools did we use in class that really contributed to your learning throughout the year?)

What would you suggest that I don’t? Which do you think weren’t as valuable?

Would you like to see more technology used in your Math, Science, English and History classes? Defend your answer with details.

Think back on ALL the technology tools (including Web 2.0) we used throughout the year (and last year). Make some suggestions about which could be used in those classes. Come up with examples or suggestions for your other teachers.

You all rock, and I look forward to your e-mails, blog comments, blog posts (on YOUR blogs of course!) and Tweets throughout the upcoming year(s) so I can stay updated on how you all are doing!

Love always,

Ms. Smith

252-673-1042

Tweeting with Twitter

I know you’ve all been wondering about Twitter ever since that day it first appeared on your login sheets (I Love Technology Day).  Now, with too few days left in the year, we’re finally going to discover what it is.  

 

Before we begin I’m going to be perfectly honest with you about this Web 2.0 tool.  I know what it is and how it works, but I’m still not 100% sure WHY we need it.  I’ve seen some (one or two) smart uses for it, but mostly it just seems like another way to ‘socialize’ online.  So I’m hoping that by introducing it to you all we can try and figure out smart uses for it together.  So start thinking!   Cool points to whoever comes up with the most…

Poetry Performances

So I met with Ms. Sutton on Saturday after Saturday School, and when she walked into my classroom I was listening to all your poetry that you had recorded.  She asked me who was performing, and I told her what we had done with VoiceThread and she was totally impressed.  She thought it was some professionals!  You all should be proud 🙂

(Raqueta, I’m pretty sure it was your poem I was listening to as she walked in…)

Check them out here…

Venturing into the wild world of VOICETHREAD!

Welcome back Rockstars!  It’s been a long 5 days without any technology (I know you’ve been feeling it too…) and I’m excited to be back!  Today we’re learning about another Web 2.0 tool that can help to connect us with others across the globe.  But this time, we get more than just our writing!  For those of you eloquent in your speech (China, X), exaggerated in your performing (Tevin, Saquoyah, Evan), VoiceThread is perfect for you!  

While VoiceThread is similar to blogging, and many of our newfound skills will cross over, there are several key differences.  VoiceThread allows you to upload pictures and videos as the centerpiece of every discussion.  Then around the edges you will see the avatars of people who have commented (just like on blogs!).  Sometimes you’ll be uploading your own pictures, but sometimes you may find a picture online that intrigues you, next you download it, and then upload it on a VoiceThread and begin a discussion with a conversation-sparking comment or question.  BOOM!  You’ve now created an awesome dialogue that grows as more people are invited to view it, and then choose to add their own comments!

 

Not only does it relate to blogs, but you can also actually embed a VoiceThread IN your blog!  So just like I embedded our test prep powerpoint into an earlier post (thanks to Sarah’s inspiration… she also has her Global Warming powerpoint embedded on her blog), you can also embed a VoiceThread, comments and all!  So while VoiceThread is another cool Web 2.0 tool, it’s not a replacement for what we’ve already learned.  It’s just an awesome supplement to help bring even more people into our Personal Learning Networks!

 

This week we’ll be earning an opportunity to join VoiceThread discussions, create a class VoiceThread, and hopefully even create our own individual VoiceThreads!  But in order to do that you need to master the lingo so you can understand what I’m talking about!  

Let’s Aggregate!

Now that we learned the basic lingo to build our Personal Learning Networks, this week we’re going to dive in a little further.  In order to follow directions on how to set up your own aggregator (or blog reader), there’s some shared language we’re all going to need to understand.  

 

Start by watching this YouTube video that shows you the basics of RSS feeds.

 

On my personal aggregator I also have a section for YouTube videos.  Mine is set to a search on rock-climbing, so it shows me the newest video posts of different people climbing.  But I’m also a big fan of UStream, another video website except all the videos are live.  UStream is a place for live streaming, where anyone with a webcam can send their video automatically onto the web.  So instead of having to save it to your computer and then upload, people can watch what you’re doing AS you’re doing it!  

 

Interesting to think about the advantages and disadvantages of each… when would you use YouTube, and when would you use UStream?

Young Love

 

My thinking has been pushed in a lot of different directions this week as the Rockstars have learned how to create conversation-sparking blog posts.  The ideas you all have brought up are excellent, and I find myself wishing for more than 24 hours in a day, so I could spend an entire evening responding to all of them.  We’ll see how much I can accomplish this weekend…

 

But one thing I’ve consistently noticed is how much we love talking about LOVE.  It makes me wonder what it is about this age that love feels like the most important thing in our lives.  I remember being in middle school and seeing/feeling the same things (yes, I was young once), but I’m still left curious as to why we can’t help but think about it, talk about it and write about it ALL the time.  Is it because it’s more fun than whatever else is going on?  Is it the suspense of not knowing if they feel the same way you do?  Is it the excitement of getting to talk to all your friends about it?  I wonder if maybe even some of the lows (breaking up, he said-she said mess) make it even more exciting.  Because of those, the highs are that much more exciting.  Is it because we’re scared of being alone, and who we choose to be with (and who chooses to be with us) says something about our social status?  Or is it because as 8th graders we are genuinely falling in love for the first time?  And how do we even know if it is really love?  

 

 

Tired of Trying

(This is a blog post from a first-year Teach for America teacher in Houston.  As 8th grade students, you have a unique perspective to offer her with some insightful comments.  Post them here, and use the kind of comments we discussed and learned about in class today.)

I’m not fighting any more. I do not want to try to make my students do things they already know they should do and just choose not to. If they complain about failing my class, but then refuse to be in their seat or listen the entire class period, what am I suppose to do with that? Their actions do not match up with their words. If they are as concerned about it as they seem, wouldn’t I see a huge change in their effort toward learning and succeeding? If they want to pass, they can pass. It’s up to them. And I will help make sure they do if they show me they want to and are trying. Because that’s part of learning. If not, I don’t understand what to do. I don’t get how there could be confusion about something that is so routine, or something that is so clearly stated and understood and executed by other students. But clearly there is, otherwise there are some students who just ignore it. I don’t understand why I have to constantly repeat myself and why they just. don’t. listen. I don’t understand why in APRIL I still have to work so hard at handling stupid stuff that takes away from teaching the really good (I think) lessons I have planned. I don’t understand. I don’t understand. I don’t get it. And I’m losing steam trying to figure it out.

SCRIPT IT OUT!

Now that the test is over, I’ve found a little extra time to play around with technology.  Which means… I finally got our YouTube videos posted!!!  (Remember?  When we filmed Script it Out?)  So take a second and enjoy 🙂  Tonight’s Extra Practice is Script it Out, so consider whether or not YOURS will earn YouTube!

 

 

 

 

 

Re-entering the world of Web 2.0

The test is over!  So now we can dive back into some of the most happening stuff in the world of Web 2.0!  It’s time to learn about all the cool things it has to offer… by the end of this Unit I’m going to rely on you to teach all your teachers about the cool online resources you know about online!

 

We’re going to start today with the idea of Personal Learning Networks… who and what influence YOUR learning the most.  What do you learn about for fun?  Where do you find information?  Who teaches you?  What kinds of books, magazines, web pages, newspapers do you read for fun in your free time?  Today you’ll get a chance to really think about that, and even create your own map 🙂

Another tool I’m pumped to introduce you to are aggregators.  This is an awesome web page that will organize all your favorite web pages, mostly blogs.  Kind of like bookmarking, but it updates every time your favorite blogs do!  This allows you to always be up to date on your favorite social commentary… imagine if you could tell every time one of your friends updated their blog.  You could always read their inciteful writing on what occurs in the world around us.  Then you can join the discussion thread on that topic by commenting.  

Lastly, this week we’ll get a chance to create our own avatars.  They allow you to represent yourself online, both in your blog but also when commenting on other blogs.  So while I don’t recommend you ever put a detailed picture of yourself, it can be fun to have a cartoon avatar that always represents you online.  

 

All this, and that’s just this week!  I can’t wait to see what else is on its way…