Week 3 RSS Reflection

1.What did you learn?
I learned how to subsribe to and follow a blog, using an RSS

2.How will you use what you have learned?
I found several blogs on using picture books to teach reading, etc. I will subscribe to these, instead of just clicking on my favorites each time to see what has been going on. I also plan to monitor my classroom blog this way.

3.How did you feel about this tool?
I never knew it existed. I am continually amazed at the technology out there.

4.What do you not want to forget about this tool?
I am not really sure how to answer this.

5.How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
This tool can be used to monitor my blog. I will also use it to stay in the loop with other educators.

6.Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
Absolutely. I can get continual updates, and my students and parents can get continual updates. I just wish we had more computers. I would have my students check the blog every morning for updates.

7.What questions do you still have about this tool?
None

RSS Choices

a. What RSS reader did you chose and why?
I chose igoogle for simplicity.

b. What “non-classmate” blogs did you subscribe to?
http://blog.timesunion.com/nypotomac/category/political-cartoons-of-the-week/

http://www.mademelaugh.com/

suburbanbrunette.blogspot.com

c. What made you choose those blogs?
These are the blogs I initially chose as blogs that interest me

Week 2 Reflection

1.What did you learn?

How to set up a blog.

2.How will you use what you have learned?

I will use it to connect with myself and whoever else wants to know what I am thinking. I also plan to have my students blogging, and I plan to start a family blog.

3.How did you feel about starting a blog?

I was excited. I am glad that this class made me do it. It was really simple--I thought it would be difficult,so I put it off.

4.What is one of the focuses you want to remember when you update your blog?

This particular blog was designed to focus on my thoughts.

5.How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?

I plan to have my students blog at the end of each day about what they learned that day. I also plan to have students blog about ther reading instead of traditional reading logs.

6.Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?

Absolutely.

7.What questions do you still have about blogging?

Can I upload my own photos to use for the background?

Check out These Blogs

A colleague suggested this one.....love it:

suburbanbrunette.blogspot.com

I found this blog while learning about blogs:

http://www.mademelaugh.com/

Who am I?

I am a 30 something suburban working mother and wife. Together, we are a family of 4, so I guess that makes me a "quarter pounder," (ha ha). My children are young, and I am an elementary school teacher, which leaves me little time to connect with myself, or the rest of the world. I decided to learn to start blogging so that I can integrate it into my classroom on a daily basis, this upcoming year. I need to keep up with the rest of the world and learn how to do so quickly. I rarely share my thoughts or views about the world with my friends or peers, because frankly, I never know what is going on. I often feel like I am sinking in quick sand and I can't stand on solid ground. All of the responsibilities I carry on my shoulders seem to pound me into the ground until I absoulutely can't breathe--then it is summer break--time to surface and reconnect with the rest of the world. That is where I am now, so I may catch a glimpse of the Today show or CNN between runs to gymnastics, baseball camp, VBS, preschool, golf camp, dance, the gym and playdates. In that case, I may have an opinion or two to share for anyone who cares what little ole me has to say. Otherwise, this blog may simply serve as a place for me to connect with myself--that in itself makes this excercise worthwhile.