Creative Storytelling

I've been debating for the past few days what I should write about this week. There are so many websites and resources out there that it is hard to pick just one thing to focus on, but I am also very conscious of overwhelming my targeted audience with too much, too soon. However, I reminded myself of that old adage that 'no one can do everything, yet everyone can do something'. So, with that in mind, I hope that each week one of my colleagues at ASM will read about something that really inspires them and I will worry less that all my suggestions, ideas, thoughts are too much for anyone to take in.

So, this week my post will focus on the website, Storybird. Storybird is a collaborative storytelling site where you can create stories based on illustrations submitted by various artists. I have used this site with 3rd graders with great success. The kids love it and ask to use it regularly. Kids can log in to the site with usernames and passwords you set up for them. It does not require email addresses for students use, which is a huge perk. You search through the artists and designs to find something that inspires you and then select the pictures you want to add page by page. To me, this kind of flips the regular order of a writing project, where you might write first and then illustrate, on its head. I like that creative challenge. Take a test run of the site and read some Storybirds that have been created by others. See what you think. This can work at almost any grade level in some format. I know some ASM teachers have already used this site in the past, and a special shout out to Peggy Dorta, who has already planned and discussed with me to introduce it to her class in the coming weeks. Have you used Storybird before? What do you like best? least? How do you manage it in your class? Whole group? Small groups? Please share.

Lastly, I'd also like to give props to Leah Dawson and her 4th grade class. I approached Leah a few weeks ago about a technology project I had in mind and without even knowing what it was, she said yes. (Generally, I'd advise against this!!) However, her project is now underway and, as a result, her class is the first lower school class from ASM on Twitter. They've begun "tweeting" and I hope over the next few weeks and months they will find more and more classes to connect with around the world. The goal is to simply expand their learning beyond the classroom walls. Once we've given them some time to try things out and see how things work, I'm hoping that others will be interesting in adding their class to Twitter. If you personally are on Twitter, look them up at @ASMilanMissD.

Change things up a bit with...

This week, I thought I'd share an idea of how you could make one small change that would add a little variety to the type of technology you use in your classroom. Do you write your students a morning message each day? Do you find yourself repeating directions for assignments?

What if you programmed an avatar to do that for you?

There is one on my page here...have you tried it out? Push the play button. It is just a short, quick message.

I built this avatar at http://www.voki.com/ and love to use them just to keep things interesting. There are lots of options for a variety of characters, outfits, backgrounds, and even bling! You can type in a message for the voki to say for you or you can record one with a microphone. Once you've finished your voki, you can email it or embed it in a blog. If you emailed it to yourself, you could have it open on the white board for student's access. When they are ready to hear the message or you are ready to play it, you'd just push the play button. Since you can embed vokis in blogs and websites, you could create a more permanent welcome message and add it to your site. You could do this for project directions or field trip information too.

As always, I am happy to work with you to do this. If you would like my help, just ask!!

New Beginnings...

In the past, I've used this blog only for personal use and for classroom instruction. I thought that this year, with a new position, in a new school, it might be more relevant and useful to have it serve a new function as well. Each week, at least that is my goal, I'm hoping to update this blog with links and resources about something you might be able to use in your classroom and would add technology into what you are already doing. Because, as a former classroom teacher, I know that's they key. We have to find ways enhance and develop the ideas you already have...because they are great! It may be a bit challenging at first, and you may have to jump a few hoops to feel successful, but in the long run it should provide your students with a more quality education, and that is, of course, our goal!

Since being hired for this job, I've been trying to expand my PLN (professional learning network) beyond just the walls of the schools I work in. To do this, I started reading blogs, created a RSS feed for myself, and joined Twitter. I "tweeted" for the first time just a short while ago. What I have already learned is that the resources and ideas out there are more than you can possibly imagine. It is, at times, even overwhelming, to take in all the websites, strategies and possibilities out there. But, you only have to start with one idea to get the ball rolling.

Our school's Director of Technology, Stephen Reiach, recommended the blog written by Kim Cofino. ( www.kimcofino.com/blog ) She currently works at Yokohama International School in Japan as the Technology and Learning Coach. What she is doing in the classrooms at YIS is simply amazing. Each post of hers is inspirational to me and I hope to one day feel just as accomplished in integrating technology across all age groups. Take a minute and read a few of her recent posts. Are you inspired? Can we take one element of something she's done and do it in our classrooms?

Another blog I have been following is the Langwitches blog written by Sylvia Rosenthal Tolisano. ( http://langwitches.org/blog/ ) Tolisano travels offering workshops in "Globally Connected Learning" and blogs about all kinds of possibilities in adding technology into your classroom. Look at her blog. If you come across something that interests you and you'd like to try it in your classroom, let me know! Let's work together to build our technology skills!

So, my challenge to my colleagues at ASM and anyone else who happens to come across this blog is to start looking beyond your classroom and school walls for ideas and inspiration. Do you have an education-related blog you already follow? Please share! Did you read about something you'd like to try? And, just as a side note...following blogs is as easy as using an RSS feed! ("What?" You say?!) An RSS feed updates automatically each time a post is added to a blog you follow and you can read the updates all in one place. Want to learn? Let me know!

21st century kid image from http://www.thinkfinity.org/peter-reynolds-21st-century-kid