First week of summer

Hello Summer! Hope everyone is enjoying their time off.

I've had 2 days of class already this week. Monday I learned about integration of handheld technology in the classroom. Some of the websites and apps I learned about were

• Textnow
• Cel.ly
• Google Drive
• Polleverywhere
• Remind101

I used Remind101 last school year and it was awesome. If you are a teacher and haven't signed up yet, you need to!

I also learned about QR codes and am excited to use them this school year. How cool that I can make a QR code and it will take students/parents right to my school webpage. How might I use this you ask? I'm going to put this code on the student syllabus. Also, I plan to put it on stickers and give them out so students can have them on their notebook for easy access. I also plan to use this when I make internet assignments, instead of typing the URLs, they can just scan the codes. So cool! Try it out:

I made this QR code at http://www.qrstuff.com/. If you are an app person you can find one here http://www.qrdroid.com/
My other class was about tapping into the power of iOS mobile devices in the classroom. I have been stubborn and haven't bought any apple products yet. In fact, this class was my first time using an ipod touch. Crazy, I know! It was very informative though, and I caught onto everything super quick. We used QR codes again, and even did a classroom scavengar hunt/research project with them. Very cool idea. It makes me wish I had a classroom set of ipods or ipads for my classroom!!! If you are lucky enough to have them, or just want to learn more, check out the website the class instructors shared with us: http://tinyurl.com/WCSipodpd

I didn't have class today, it was supposed to be a 'fun day' for me. I had plans to go out with a friend to lunch and shopping, but she wasn't feeling well and cancelled. Since I didn't have anything else to do, I decided to work on my webpage. I was running out of space and needed to edit and organize files. After working for about 4 hours I accomplished a lot! Here it is:

 

 

I have another free day tomorrow, not sure what I am going to do yet. Friday is my final technology class, this one is about making a Google Website. I'm excited :) Then Saturday I am volunteering at the zoo, and Sunday I am going to the New Kids on the Block / Boyz II Men / 98 Degrees concert with friends. Should be a fun time!!

It's summer!

Summer is finally here and I couldn't be more excited!

It was sad leaving school this year though, knowing all the changes we have in store for us next year. We have lost a lot of staff to retirement, new jobs, and RIFs. My two best teacher friends at work won't be there next year, and I am super sad about that. It is going to feel very lonely!

I am teaching some new classes next year though. Because they had to cut so many elective classes with the RIFs, the have added electives to the core areas. I am teaching 2 new science electives- forensic science and zoology. I have A LOT of prep work to do over the summer to plan these courses from scratch without materials, but I am feeling up for the challenge. I hope to make the classes really fun and informative for students and hope I do a good job with them! I have requested a free textbook for each so hopefully the company comes through and helps me out!

So besides doing LOTS of lesson plans over the summer I am also...

• taking a few workshops on Educational Technology
• volunteering at the Akron Zoo
• going on vacation with my family in July to the Outer Banks
• and hopefully finding lots of time to sleep in, visit with friends, let out my creativity by painting and making art

Summer is my time to relax and refresh. To all of us teachers, I hope the summer goes slow and is enjoyable! Have a good one!