Word Processing and Collaborating in the Classroom

Coming up with ideas about how to use word processing in the classroom has been really tough for me. I see myself teaching the younger grades: pre-k through maybe 1st grade. Most of the students are just learning how to spell and adding another component like the computer might be too much. Brian gave me a suggestion about using an extension of firefox called vox that reads the web page for the children. I have never heard of this but am really excited to check it out. I'm starting to feel my age catching up on me... I once was the computer savvy tech girl in my family and I can see the generation after me far surpassing my "basic" knowledge of the computer.

We talked about collaborative writing in the class last week and I felt the same problem creeping up on me. How will the students write a story together if they can't even write? Once again, Brian swooped in with a fabulous idea. Peer teaching is a great way to help students learn. If you invite an older class to come be a "buddy" to the younger class the older children could type out the story, while adding their own flair but also be dictating the younger students suggestions. I think that the younger class would find that to be so cool if they had an older buddy to work with.

Thanks Brian for the great suggestions!

Valentine's Day Collaborative Writing

I dressed all in red today, in respect for Valentine's Day. Even though I am totally against Valentine's Day. It's a holiday that makes single people sad and the Hallmark Company, candy stores, and flower shops more rich. Here's what is really symbolic blood is red and red is the color most associated with Valentine's day. I think Valentine's Day makes people want to kill each other. It's a holiday loaded with high expectations that can never truly be met. When those expectations are unfulfilled the crazy unleashes. Tears of anger are rampant and hearts left unfulfilled are a common occurrence. I think that there should be a facebook group created with the intent of abolishing Valentine's day. I would be the number one fan and officer. I believe there would be a great following on that facebook group. Valentine's Day is a day for bruised hearts and manic minds. But truly hopeless romantics are the ones who suffer the most from all of this mania. They continuously hope for the best when in reality its a build up to get let down. Has there ever been a Valentine's day that was truly perfectly romantic from start to finish? I highly doubt it. It's just one more day of the year that we all suffer through until it's over and then all the flowers, candy, and wasted money is forgotten. Granted, any day full of candy should be celebrated; Halloween anyone? As the Valentine's complaining draws to a close... all I can say is thankfully it's only once a year!

Collaborative Writing Story..

It’s Friday the 13^th and Laura is missing. Wish I was in California with her. One might say I am a bit superstitious, but I have a bad feeling about her.  Maybe she really is missing though, she seemed kind of freaked out last time I saw her. I have no idea why she just seemed a little nervous.  It’s probably not a big deal but people are more likely to go missing in California than any other state. But still, it’s pretty suspicious to be missing on Friday the 13^th.  Maybe she was kidnapped by apes and taken to their mysterious jungle forest, although it seems highly unlikely.  At any rate, she better be home to eat my green eggs and ham supper.  I love green eggs and ham.  Laura did too.  Maybe she would smell it cooking and come home to eat.  So, I tried to make my special green eggs and ham and waited to see if she would come.  To my surprise it worked!  I’m so glad Laura is no longer missing.

UEN Lesson Plan

My lesson plan on UEN. I will probably continue to tweek it before Friday but here's the link....

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=22827