Wow! What a wonderful day! We started the session with some outstanding dialogue. We collaborated about writing, blogging and learning. I think the best times are when you share your thoughts, ideas and views. I am amazed at your potential. I am so proud of you and everytime we have these good discussion opportunities you ALWAYS exceed my expectations. You have such terrific discussions and Ms. Meeler and I learn so much from you. Blogs really are great places to use to describe what works for students in their learning and who better to hear from then students themselves. I wish every student could do this.
The discussion began with talk about what you are studying in your classes, how you feel about blogging, writing, and just learning in general. What I did hear loud and clear was that you like having a choice about what you choose for a writing (blogging) topic. You like that you can reach out to others outside your classroom and you have a handle on what you need to do to improve. So that's where we're heading! Ms. Meeler's hands were moving like racecars on the keyboard as ideas, suggestions and thoughts filled the air in the lab. Everyone got a chance to participate. I have to complement you on what good listeners you are! You really are respectful of each student who had the floor. You listened, thought about it and then added more to the conversation. You did it in a way that allowed us all to absorb a special moment of learning. The dialogue was stupendous! What give and take as you all made connections with what your classmates said. I'd say the classroom was alive with engaged learners. Ms. Meeler typed your ideas into Inspiration. Isn't she fast? I've heard it said that she is faster than a speeding bullet in our technology labs! She captured all of the good ideas that were flowing around the room. You all have a desire to improve your vocabulary so we focused on words that we want to not overuse so we will learn more synonyms.And it was mutual consent that students would no longer say they needed a more better word! Good going!
Hey, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so let's use them to show others what was on our mind today. Click on the graphic to enlarge it and prepare to be dazzled! Here goes!
Download things_i_need_to_improve_my_writing1.rtf
Next you all opened a new document in Inspiration and began to summarize our discussion. Then papers were printed and we printed our class documents which you reviewed and put in your folders. Then the blogging began! Now, we have to have more time for this so we didn't get our writing completed today. That's OK - we will continue next week.
We didn't get to comments but we did manage to squeeze in time to learn about the Search Tools and you all found a link to an article about writing that seemed worthwhile to add to your folders. We'll get back to searching a little later.
As promised, I gave you time to explore some of the learning games on the current events links, play some vocabulary games or another activity of your choice.
I have to enclose a couple of quotes from your blogs. It tells it all!
Shelby........
If someone came up to you and asked you what weblogging was, what would you say? I would say exactly this. Weblogging is when you can have the freedom to express yourself, and write about whatever you want to! You have to be careful when you write because you could be writing in front of the whole world!
Alejandro........
Have you ever tried out to do weblogs? If you haven’t, you should try it out. Ever since I began weblogs my writing has improved. However, I still need to practice on some things. Punctuation is one that I have mastered. Organization is one that I have not mastered.
Maria........
I have done a better job writing because I use my personality in my writing, I include my voice in my writing, I use many of my choices, and I have freedom over my writing.
Jhonathan........
Aw my brain hurts! Do you know why? It is because of all the learning in the weblog group.
Way to go, students!
Oh yes, tomorrow Ms. Meeler and I are going to do an inservice with DeKalb County teachers. We can't wait to show them your blogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello, y'all! I am an old, dear friend of Mrs. Anne Davis. We were college suite mates at Winthrop College, SC! I am so proud of the writings you have all done on this site! Thank you for allowing me to join for this comment! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! I've already put in my request for snow! Since I have been an extremely good girl this year, I have absolutely NO doubt that Santa will remember me with a stocking full of goodies!
I'm sending you pictures of my grandsons, Nyk and Asa and me taken by my daughter Miriam on a warm winter's day 12/10/04 at Pau's house in Saluda, SC! Hope you all enjoy seeing the boys and their "Pau", as I am known to them! Our Christmas trees are most special too! Merry Christmas! Paula Willis
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Posted by: Paula Willis | December 11, 2004 at 11:00 AM