Literacy & Technology Instructor's Edublog

I Think We're On to Something! LQJ

I have spent a  while today looking at all postings and comments as a follow up to my meeting with Anne Davis on Friday.  Because Weblogging is something I've wanted to do for such a long time, I'm feeling on top of the world when I see these postings and comments.  I see how the project has evolved and grown and changed, and I realize this is how learning and teaching should be.  For example, I'm looking for idioms and using idioms like never before ("on top of the world").  We added a department called Idiom Searcher because a student suggested it.  I've learned a great deal from my students in this project, as well as from Anne Davis, of course, that would have not been possible had we not undertaken this project. 

My goal is to have my students realize some of the possibilities of weblogging in their own classrooms.  I'm working now on ideas to make this type project manageable and worthwhile for classroom teachers.  I can certainly speak from my own experience with this first attempt at weblogging --my eyes have been opened in ways I didn't anticipate.  It has, and continues to be, worth the time and effort!

An Intriguing Sample of Newbery Postings

The View from Saturday by  EL Konigsburg

An interesting discussion  follows after Pamela makes an excellent connection post called Competition.  The comments really make you think.  How do you feel about competition?  Good or bad???? Share your thoughts.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Joan's discussion director post entitled What You Value is good.  She moves on to think about her role and others as an encourager to students. I bet many of you out there could give some encouraging thoughts to these teachers-to-be.

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

Brenda's passage master post named Summer in Wonderland points out a passage she loves. She's not the only one who liked this passage.  See the comments and let us hear yours!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Sunni asks What is a Pillory? on her Word Wizard post. She notes 

"I had a suprisingly, hard time coming up with a good sentence using pillory.Can you think of any other good sentences using this word?"

Can you help her out by commenting and giving a good sentence with the word pillory?

The Giver by Lois Lowry 

Michelle has a good discussion director post called Age where she wonders about everyone turing the same age in December.  She asks, "How would we suffer from it?  Got any thoughts for this group?

I'll post more another time from some of the other books.  It's interesting to note the roles that the students use more - discussion director, passage master, and connectors initially have been used the most.  Wonder if they find those easier or what?

Comments from those reading this would be wonderful so join their EduBlog and jump into the book discussion or simply comment on what they are doing.  It's fun!

 

EdBlogger Praxis - A must read!

Albert Delgado runs a weblog called EdBlogger Praxis.  It is a wonderful site for educators.  It full of links to a wide variety of educational weblogs.  As you continue your journey learning about weblogs, this is a must read.  It is one of the best, no, it is the best site for an overall view of educational uses of blogs in education. He even  has lots of information on various applications other than Manila.  (You don't need to worry about that now, but later you will want to know more.) We all appreciate the time and effort he puts into providing this service for us.  It is a site you want to bookmark.

Al wrote this in response to a post I sent about what all of you are doing with your Literature Circles EduBlogs:

"This is exciting from a classroom teacher and technology perspective. What is great is your student's being open for others to chime in. I hope edbloggers who visit our site will visit your site!"

Thanks, Al!  You're making a difference!

Idioms Site - AD

Word Power is a great web site that lists idioms from A-Z.  It is easy for students to read and quickly locate particular idioms.  I was wondering if we should make a separate department just for idioms.  What do you think?

Christopher Paul Curtis - LQJ

The author of Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis, is a
person who has shown himself to be resilient, just as Bud was resilient
in overcoming obstacles.  Curtis' story about becoming an author
parallels Bud's story in many ways.