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Tech Tools For Teaching: Flipping with Educreations

Tech Tools For Teaching: Flipping with Educreations: Capturing a lecture and being able to share it multiple ways is a powerful method for a teacher.  Today I had a few moments to try out my fa...

Twitter

This is a difficult topic for me because twitter has been a struggle.  In these weeks, I have gained a deep respect for out instructor and I know she considers twitter a “game changer.”  With that in mind, I have tried to sign in often and check what others are writing. Sometimes I get off with valuable insights and ideas to try and sometimes I get off scratching my head. The most valuable experience I had on twitter was the kindergarten chat group. I wrote down lots of ideas and could see that value. For example, we had a great discussion about different manipulatives to use at sensory tables including snow, ice, food coloring, and water beads.   I also learned about Scribble maps, which allows for interactive maps you can draw, write and mark places on.

 In general, I know that there is incredibly valuable information out there and maybe I just need more experience using it.  More practice building a network and organizing the information to be accessed later.  Will I use it later for personal or professional use?  I hope so. Personally, I am enjoying the few comedians I am following. Professionally, I know whenever I see a great site the first thing I do is see if it is linked to twitter for updates. Anyway, I am committed to trying and making it a goal for this year to build a network and practice using twitter.

Curriculum Video

Why Twitter?

As a teacher working in the UAE at an American International School, I often feel disconnected with so much of the education world.  I plodded along in my little classroom trying to keep in mind all the ideas and strategies I have learned through university classes, professional development opportunities, and personal experience.  I sometimes would google for ideas and website but always felt like I was missing out. Alone. Will twitter become that missing link for me? I hope so.  I don’t think it will be as easy for me as younger people.  I still often get flummoxed by some of the tech ideas but I am committed. 

For much of the class I have felt twitter just too much information in too disorganized a format.  I felt like a person alone in a desert that is suddenly drowning in a bottomless sea of information.  But, little by little, I see the order.  You must identify the people who disseminate the information you require.  People like Richard Byrne then slowly build the learning community of other similar likeminded educators around you for support. God willing, with patience you can build your own personal support network.   Through these people you can learn the newest trends, find the most important articles, and have your questions and concerns addressed.

Miss Jennifer’s Podcast Picks

Sesame Street – Always a favorite. These podcasts are brilliant with lots of cute skits that emphasize letters, sounds and vocabulary for young children. Great for EAL!

http://itunes.apple.com/ae/podcast/sesame-street-podcast/id264537349?mt=2

StoryCub – Let someone else do story time occasionally. This link has tons of cute video picture books read for children.

http://itunes.apple.com/ae/podcast/video-stories-for-kids!/id528201226?mt=2

The Many Adventures of Mr. Mailman.  Very cute idea.  The adventures of a mailman delivering mail all over the world while encountering different terrain, weather, animals, etc.  

http://itunes.apple.com/ae/podcast/many-adventures-mr.-mailman/id264791531

Noodle and Doodle – Cute site for young children and parents.  Encourages families to spend time together cooking and doing art projects.

http://itunes.apple.com/ae/podcast/two-kids-cooking/id333183484