Blogging Rubric

I love this blogging rubric I found online from Kathleen Morris. It will be really useful for both teachers and students to assess where they are at and where they need to go to next to become an effective 'blogger' or how they can share their learning, make connections with others in an effective way.

Educational Blogging Rubric by Kathleen Morris

Kidsedchatnz

As part of the @Kidsedchatnz team it is my turn to generate the topic and questions for this weeks kidsedchatnz.

Click here for the link to the Kidschat blog. 

I am enjoying being part of the kidsedchatnz team and working and collaborating with a team of seven fantastic teachers from around NZ. We are sharing at ULearn this year, via Juliet Revell, as most of us (including myself) cannot make it to Ulearn this year. We will all be supporting Juliet in preparing for her presentation.

Kids Cafe

Today on twitter a teacher, who I have made connections with in #kidsedchatnz, tweeted that she has started up "Kids Cafe".

The purpose of this is for students to share their learning by teaching others online. There is a chance for them to reflect, ask questions, comment etc via @KidsCafeNZ.

 Here is the link to the Kids Cafe blog.

Outline of Kids Cafe is below (copied from Simone Gentil's blog)

Kids Cafe runs on a four week cycle. Here is an outline:

Week 1 - At the start of the week sign your class up. Then add to the Google Doc, by recording what you could teach someone else or what you’d like to learn more about. You can do this by completing the kids registration form at the bottom of this doc. The Kids Cafe topics will also be announced on the Kids Cafe blog and via @KidsCafeNZ on Twitter.

Week 2 and Week 3 - These two weeks are set aside for presenters to create their tutorial, as well as for classes to plan how they are going to organise how they will run Kids Cafe in their own class. By Friday at 3pm all tutorials will be linked to the Kids Cafe Thinglink. Instructions on how to link your tutorial will be able to be found on the Kids Cafe blog -

Week 4 - Run your own Kids Cafe in your classroom sometime during the week. Click here for an example of how you could do this in your class. On the Friday join in the @KidsCafeNZ Twitter chat to reflect on your learning, share photos of Kids Cafe in your class and to provide the presenters with feedback, as well as to discuss topic ideas for the next Kids Cafe.

Adding a blog link list on your class blog

Sorry, the sound didn't publish!!! I'll try to get it to work.....

A twitter friend asked me to record this quick video on how to upload a link list of each of my students blogs to our class blog, like the picture below. 

I hope this video is useful! 

Thinglink

My trial (thanks to Robyn who I hitched-hiked this idea from) using the thinglink app, creating one and embedding onto my blog all on the ipad!
You can add text, videos, sound, links.

The possibilities for use in the classroom are amazing!

How would you use thinglink in your classroom?

Audioboo

listen to ‘practice’ on Audioboo

My practice using audioboo on an iPad and embedding using safari instead of changing devices and logging on to audioboo on a PC.
It works! 

Blogging Meme #2

Thanks to Kimberley Rivett @krivett1 for tagging me in her blogging meme!

This is my second meme so please read my first meme.... here it is. 

The answers to Kimberley's questions....

1. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

Hmmmm... I have met a few Chiefs players and All Blacks through my husband... that surely counts right! 

Oh, at the ICOT conference last January I met Lane Clark, Edward De Dono and Tony Ryan (when I say met.... I attended their sessions and exchanged a few words with them...) That also counts right?

2. If you could spend a day with anyone from any era or country, who would it be and why?

Not sure... I'll have to come back to this question. 

3. What is the greatest challenge you have faced in life?

Overcoming, and still overcoming, public speaking to large audiences!

4. What is your favourite childhood memory?

At the age of four, sitting and waiting for my Dad to start work on the farm in the very early hours of the morning. I had my overalls, gumboots and beanie on ready.... but I wasn't allowed to go! 

5. What has changed for the better and the worst in teaching since you were at school?

For the better... the rows of desks have gone! Oh and technology has changed so much since I was at school! I love the range of devices our learners can use to support their learning! 

6. Who is the most inspiring teacher you had as a student and why?

It's a sad fact but I cannot remember my teachers being very inspiring! 

7. What do you need to change or develop this year (personal challenge time!)?

I am going to implement "Genius Hour" for the second time, after giving it a whirl last year. I have reflected and refined my planning and cannot wait to start teaching it. 

8. Where would you love to travel to and why?

I would love to travel back to Rome. I love the history and the buildings! Oh, and the food and wine ;)

9. If you went to a 'P' party (something starting with the letter 'P') what would you wear? 

I would go as a 'pink lady' from Greese. I love that movie! 

10. If you were a super hero what would be your superpower?

To have the power of 'heeling' and making people well again! 

11. What is one thing you would change in the world if you could change anything?

Hmmmm.... I don't know! I would love it if there was no animal cruelty in this world but how do we stop these people from mistreating animals???? 

Blogging Meme

Thanks to Marnel van de Spuy @1MvdS who tagged me for this blogging meme!

The blogging task includes: 
 •Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
•Share 11 random facts about yourself
•Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
•List 11 bloggers.
•Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don't nominate a blogger who has nominated you. 

Here are my 11 random facts... (which I hope you find interesting!)

1. I grew up on a farm and loved it! From helping Dad drive the tractor to exploring the farm and finding new places to play.... it was great!
2. My earliest memory of "life on the farm' was when I was about 4 years old. I have a photo of myself that Mum took of me sitting on top of the washing machine (at very early hours of the morning)  in my blue overalls, gumboots and red beanie waiting for Dad to get up and go to work on the farm.  
3. Our second house on the farm was a Lockwood home. On the wooden walls in my bedroom I would rule up lines, and using a pencil and rubber, pretend I was a teacher teaching handwriting! I guess from an early age I knew I wanted to be a teacher! 
4. I did ballet from age 5 to age 16. My dance school danced with the NZ Royal ballet company and I was so excited to dance with them! I was in awe of them! I gave ballet lessons up at 16 years so I could concentrate on my school work.... and wish I hadn't. I would love to still be dancing ballet!
5. Much to my surprise now, I was a good runner when I was in Form 1 and 2. 
6. I was born in Marton and have lived in Palmerston North, Wanganui and Hamilton. 
7. I have two energetic, boisterous and cuddly boxer dogs.
8. Public speaking terrifies me! In high school giving speeches to the class was such a terrifying thing! Over the years  I have slowly got more comfortable with presenting (I am always told that  I don't sound nervous) but the fear is still there.... I have learnt to manage it!!!???
9. 2006 was a BIG year for me! I got married, had my first trip past Australia (to Thailand on our honeymoon) and took part in a two week teacher exchange, co-ordinated by my previous Principal, to Bristol, UK. Since I was on the other side of the world already.... my husband come over to visit friends and then we did a whirl-wind trip through London, Rome, Paris, Venice and California on the way home.This was only the start to the traveling bug! So thank you 2006!
10. I love reading! I always have a novel on the go... sometimes two!
11. I love baking! It's a new hobby of mine :)

My answers to Marnel's 11 questions; 

What Inspires you?

People in the world that care about making a difference inspire me. I am also inspired by strong individuals who live life to the fullest! (I too inspire to be just like that)

What are you reading now?

I am reading "Mad about The Boy" by Helen Fielding at the moment.

I love reading and read a range of non-fiction. The "Tamar" series is one of my favourites! 

If you weren't a teacher, what would you do?

Hmmm I would LOVE to own a cup cake store! Bake, ice and sell decedent cupcakes!!!! 

I have also wanted my own little ballet school where I would teach ballet classes. 

If you could change something about the education system, what would it be?

I still get annoyed when people comment on how many holidays teachers get. We need everyone to be able to walk a week or even a day in a teacher's pair of shoes and then they'll understand! Or will they? 

When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

I have no idea!! It's been that long! 

Android or iPad tablets? Why?

Ipads... I have never used an andriod so only know apple and ipads. 

What do you find hardest to teach your students?

With a wide range of abilities in my class last year, the widest range I have ever taught, I find catering for each learner's needs can be quite challenging! 

What will you be doing differently this year?

I am going to introduce the concept of "Caves, campfires and watering holes" in my classroom and implement "Genius Hour" again with a revised purpose, plan and thinking. 

If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be and why did you choose this language?

I would love to speak in Thai so I can communicate with the people in Thailand when I visit their beautiful country again! 

What is your favourite way to waste time?

Watching movies! I love movies!

What is your life motto?
To do the best that you can do and be the best that you can be.

 I tag you ... 
@Myravardon @asriparkinson @Scott1Robyn @AnnaGerrit @bwardsmith @DanielleHead212 @BridgetLCM  @ melaniem8  @MissDSciTeacher @loopy_laura22 @jasmineshannon0


 Here are your 11 questions: 

1. What do you love about the place you live? Please name where you live first....
2. What do you love teaching the most and why?
3. What do you like doing in your spare time?
4. What is one thing you would like to change about the world?
5. Your favourite part about the holidays, I mean non-contact time. ;)
6. Name someone you admire.
7. If you could be transported back in time when and where would you go?
8. The first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word "chocolate".
9. Your favourite movie and why?
10. Name something that you wish you could do better.
11. Something new you are going to try in your classroom this year.

Wow! That was harder than I thought to come up with 11 interesting (I hope they are) questions for the people I tagged! I hope you find answering them fun!