Up and Running!

We're officially up and running now! I'm proud to report that we're using the laptops nearly every day, or at least a group of students use them, and we're using the i-pod touches once or twice a week. The students definitely consider using the technology a privilege, so they are respectful and responsible. In fact, using the technology towards the second half of the period ensures that we eliminate (or minimize!) discipline problems. Overall, I'm LOVING it! :)

My academic students are posting examples of figurative language on their class blogs. The best part is that students look at the other students' examples, so they recognize and can come up with their own examples. Clearly, this approach has been successful in that even some of my more difficult students eagerly pointed out when they came across examples of figurative language in The Lightning Thief, our class novel. Yes!!!

My pre-AP students are continuing their research on their Greek god, titan, or monster, also in relation to The Lightning Thief. They are beginning to plan out their video and to divide up roles, all in preparation of making a video about their Greek god. Some students have decided to make a music video, others a commercial, and still others are making a skit or movie trailer. Most of the groups will use the flip cameras to record their videos. I have two groups who do not want to be in their videos, so we are exploring www.xtranormal.com. I'm hoping this will work. Otherwise, we'll keep coming up with new ideas. Honestly, my students know far more about computer programs and websites than I do, so they are coming up with amazing ideas!

After going to the Power to Learn meeting last night, Jen and I were so impressed with all the other teams' awesome ideas and successes. It was great to hear what other schools are doing and to imagine using some of those ideas in my 7th grade classroom. However, we also saw the other teams' blogs, and we realized that we need to add to our blog a bit more. Of course, it's so difficult to find the time to add to our blog. And when we do have a free minute, we're using it to further our students' access to the technology, not so focused on recording our progress. Now we all have access to the blog though, so we can all add to the blog in our own usernames. Hopefully it will make updating the blog a bit easier.

My students started prewriting and drafting a personal narrative, so as we continue drafting, revising, and editing, I'm hoping to have them type their writing in Google docs. Again, though, we're just trying to find the time. Over the next two weeks, hopefully the students will use Google docs, and my pre-AP students will use the flip cameras. Look forward to updates soon.