Twitter Do's and Dont's

1. Remember that Twitter is public. Always represent yourself in the best professional light. This is important because parents of your students may follow your tweets. If you do not speak professionally it can have a negative effect on your status as a teacher.

http://www.blogtrepreneur.com/2009/02/10/twittiquette/

2. Provide relevant and useful information. I believe this is important because Twitter can be another great tool to communicate with your parents and students. As teachers we should put relevant posts if the purpose of the account is for the classroom. Tweets could revolve around classroom business and simple reminders for students and parents. You can also tweet new and fun ideas you incorporate in your classroom.

http://www.viget.com/engage/the-dos-and-donts-of-twitter/

3. Separate business from personal. If you choose to tweet about personal matters then you should create a separate account from what your students and their parents access. This is important simply to not give out too much personal information. Nothing good can come from your students knowing too much about you :)

4. Have fun with Twitter. Teachers do not always need to be strict and business like. Tweet funny things that are going on in your classroom. Inform parents of fun upcoming activities you will be doing in your classroom so parents can volunteer if they would like.

http://www.twitip.com/twitter-security-dos-and-donts/

Classroom Management Song

Seeing if it worked!!!

 

A Little About Me

I LOVE Washington State.  Every time I think about vacation I want to go to this state.  It has the best of both worlds because it has the ocean and the mountains.  I went to a town on the coast called Moclips this past summer.  We hung out on the beach, read a lot of good books, and did a lot of site seeing.  I can not wait to go back!




These little dogs are my two cuties.  They are so cute and funny.  The guy on the right is a little grumpy, but he is my forever companion.  The newest addition is on the right.  She has SO much energy.  My little puppies make me smile everyday!



This lovely is the newest addition to my "toys".  This is all I wanted for my birthday.  Everyone in my family pitched in and bought it for me.  I love it.  I am able to ride my bike to school when the weather is good so I don't have to pay for parking.  It is perfect....I get front row parking and never have to pay a dime.


I am excited to be going to school to become a teacher. I will use this blog to inform my students, their parents, and fellow colleagues.

Safe Blog Practices

I have heard concerns about creating a blog from individuals in my school, but I never knew for what reasons.  I was able to read a variety of ideas on how to keep yourself and your students safe when concerning blogs.  The following are some ideas on how to safely blog:

1.  Do not endorse any blog but your own.  http://mathmusings.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging.html
2.  Only use first names and do not post any pictures of your students or yourself.  http://pc20s.blogspot.com/2005/09/students-made-this.html
3.  Use your blog as you would your own classroom space.
4.  Never link to a site you have not read and navigated.
5. Keep your blog strictly for a learning tool.  http://pc30ssem2.blogspot.com/2006/02/etiquette.html

The Pedagogy of Blogs

Through my search of educational blogs I was looking for some that would benefit me.  I love looking at the ideas of others and putting my own twist on them.  I wanted to find blogs that would give teachers new, fresh ideas and would serve as a resource to my students and their parents.  I believe blogs can be extremely instrumental in the education of our students.  We are able to keep parents up to date on classroom happenings, post exciting news, and provide links to helpful educational websites.  A blog can also provide a schedule of events (homework and classroom activities) so parents can keep informed on what is expected of their child.  A blog would also create a interconnectedness in the class.  I think this communication tool would be extremely helpful for all teachers to use in their classroom.

When I was looking for blogs I wanted blogs from a variety of grade levels.  I found a blog for Kindergarten and she provided many different glyph and graphing ideas I believed to be useful.  I loved the ideas she had for the question chart.  Children have a difficult time knowing the difference between a comment and question.  If a chart was hanging in your classroom you would be able to refer students to the chart to determine if they are asking a question.  The fourth grade site was extremely helpful as well.  This teacher provided extensions from the classroom.  Interactive spelling words, vocabulary, and math facts were all on his blog!  The other site I chose was a blog I think would be extremely beneficial as a beginning teacher.  Ideas on classroom management, classroom activity ideas, and helpful tips for first time teachers.  What a resource the internet can be if we use it in the right way!