Zebrastripes Blog

If It Isn't Easy, I Wont Do It

2011-09-24T11:22:00.001-07:00

A minute ago, I sent out a tweet about adding the BlogPress app to my iPad. At the end of the tweet I added these words. "If it isn't easy, I won't do it".

This blog has been a gathering place for cobwebs because there has been no easy way for me to blog until now.

My iPad came into my life as a Mother's Day gift. Kudos to the hubs! This device is just incredible. Almost every day I find new ways to use it in my classroom & at home. It IS making my life easier.

Having the right tool is crucial.

Trying to become a blogger is a big step for me, but until now the practice of blogging has been virtually impossible because my life is so busy. I don't have the time in the evenings once I finally make it home from work & the football field to fire up the laptop. With both boys playing football, some nights I just go straight to bed.

The iPad has changed everything. Like my iPhone, it's always with me.

So, when the next idea comes to mind, I will be ready. If it isn't easy, I won't do it.

This post makes me wonder. What ways has the iPad made your life easier? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

What the Tweet is Twitter?

2011-04-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, I had the pure delight to present Twitter to staff members throughout my school system. Our very innovative ICT director, Al Rowell, organized LOCO Techno Expo, a system-wide professional development opportunity featuring our teachers. Learning from other teachers is just great professional development. Who better to showcase technology than the very ones using it each day?

My presentation, What the Tweet is Twitter, gave an introductory look at Twitter as another tool for the educator’s toolbox. If you’d like to see the wiki page I used in the presentation, you can access it here.

I made a few connections with teachers from other schools in my system as our first collaboration took place at the conference. A few even signed up for a Twitter account. I love talking to teachers about creative ways to incorporate technology into their classrooms. I am a firm believer in the “ripple effect”. Many movements and shifts in thinking begin with just one. So, I celebrated as a few, tiny ripples began to flow.

After LOCO Techno Expo was over, I was contacted by Shirley Sainz asking me to do a repeat performance at Valdosta State University’s South Georgia Techonology Conference. Last year, I attended this conference when the fabulous, Vicki Davis, @coolcatteacher, was featured as the keynote speaker. In the tech world, Vicki is a rock star. She made my day during her opening remarks about Twitter as she gave a "shout out" to her Twitter friend in the audience, @_zebrastripes… that's me! Coming back to this event as a presenter was an incredible experience.

There were two questions asked of me after both of these conferences that have since echoed in my brain.

This is the first. Did I find that older folks are more resistant to technology?

Very happily, I responded that embracing or resisting technology, like Twitter, has more to do with a person’s attitude than age. My daddy who is in his late 60’s recently signed up for a Twitter account. Yay, for @too__tall! Okay, truth be told, I signed him up, but regardless he is IN! He has an open mind and a willing attitude that has nothing to do with his age.

Yes, there is a lot to learn. I won’t deny that fact. As much as I love technology, I learn something new every day. I am comfortable knowing that there is so much I don’t know, but my goal is to keep moving, growing, and creating.

The second question… Do I have a blog?

Ugh! I was totally dreading that question.

Why? Starting a blog is probably as scary to me as learning about Twitter is to others.

I have lots of questions about this whole “blogging” thing, but not trying is unacceptable.

I can’t let my questions or fears prevent me from moving forward with an open mind.

Do you have any comments or suggestions for me as I begin this blogging adventure?

Skype Virtual Store

2011-04-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I tweeted from our class twitter, @luvzebrastripes, that we were beginning our money unit in Math. A reply came a few minutes later from our new friends in New York, @jgriffith2's class. Their class was doing the same. Could we collaborate and create a virtual store so the students could practice making change?

Twitter was our first connection.

Always being ready for a challenge, especially a creative one, I quickly agreed. Mrs. Griffith & I had a Skype conference and made plans for a Virtual Store. The collaboration part began.

Now the really fun part for me the teacher...creativity! Elementary teachers know playing "store" gets kids excited. Mrs. Griffith & I decided that our virtual store would need to be a 2 day activity. On the first day, my students would play the role of "cashiers", and her students would take the role of "shoppers". The next day we met, our classes planned to switch roles.

I created a SMART Notebook file using the clip art from the gallery to design a slide with different snack foods and prices. Our virtual store was named, "Mrs. Griffin's Sweet Treats". Easy enough.

The next slide held a cash drawer with bills & coins that had been infinitely cloned so it operated like a real cash register. I found this cash drawer at the SMART Exchange, a treasure of a site for teachers who have SMART Boards.

Each teacher divided the class so that both "shoppers" & "cashiers" worked in groups of 2 or 3. We wanted them to have partners so they could discuss strategies and answers. The "shoppers" had $2.00 to spend.

While each group was working at the SMART Board making selections in our store, the other students were armed with slates & play money to calculate the total cost of the items chosen.When the total cost was agreed upon by both classes, the "cashiers" began figuring out the change from $2.00. Both classes used different strategies for counting change. The whole class was engaged.

The next day we switched roles. Mrs. Griffith's class presented their virtual store, "Peculiar Pet Place", which the students themselves had created. I thought this was a great idea! We were the "shoppers" and Mrs. Griffith's students were the "cashiers". Mrs. Griffith blogged about our experience at SECONDSin2nd . It was a great activity and one we plan to do again together next year! Mrs. Griffith created this slide show using PhotoPeach.

Even with a successful activity, teachers know that reflection is necessary. I asked my students to write with me their thoughts about the activity. Mrs. Griffith & I exchanged ideas via Skype as well. Our collaboration produced a wealth of wonderful improvements!

My students wanted more choices. No surprise there! They were naturally differentiating. Several told me they finished quickly & wanted to make it harder by calculating change from a larger amount. Others said they wanted to create their own problem by choosing more items from the store. They all agreed that they should have a cash register to check their work a.k.a. calculator. A cash register is a must when playing store, right? Interesting stuff...

Mrs. Griffith suggested giving the students a calculation sheet. I thought this idea would be a great place to incorporate differentiation for my students as well as a way to assess the learning & identify errors.

What did I learn?

Well, as much as I learned throughout the actual activity, my biggest growth came from a tweet. While Mrs. Griffith & I both were tweeting about this learning experience, we were asked who was blogging about this?

My sad reply was "I should be..."

This was a such an amazing experience, but it only impacts two classrooms if the ideas aren't shared beyond a tweet.

I hope you find this useful in your classroom as I begin my new blog and share with the world.

Connecting, collaborating, and creating with technology in education.