About Me

My name is Kristie and I'm an elementary teacher in BC. As part of my Master's program I've been tasked with creating a blog. I'm nervous about sharing my educational journey with potentially the entire world. I'm reminded of the countless times I've put my foot in my mouth during casual or professional conversations. Creating a permanent record of what I have to say is a scary proposition.

On the other hand, I'm more than a little intrigued by the possiblility of using blogs with my class. An hour each week of typing practice and Yukon Trail seem like a waste when I consider what I could be teaching my class. So, with some trepidation, here I go. I hope all who read this blog will find something useful in it, and a great big thank you in advance to all those who post suggestions for my teaching practice!

The New World of Blogging

When I was in Kindergarten, someone invented this amazing thing: a game you could play on your television. It was called ‘Intelevision,’ and it let you play games that filled the screen with colourful images. Some people had an Atari, but Intelevision was just as good. We just couldn’t play Q-bert. About five years later, Nintendo came out with their first system. I loved Super Mario Bros. Everyone did. Here was a nice, linear game with just enough timing and memory challenges to make things interesting. The only thing I liked more than Super Mario Bros was Super Mario Bros 2. It had the same timing and memory challenges, but with a few more opportunities to move back and forth, up and down.

When I was in my late teens, something terrible happened. The Nintendo people released a new unit. I think it was the Nintendo 64. Anyway, gone was the old, linear, jump and shoot Mario Bros of the past. This was a whole new game. Characters could spin around in 360 degrees and choose any direction. There was no clear way to go. I tried, but I was soon frustrated. I asked other people, “How do you know what to do?” I was told to search around by some. Others told me there were magazines I could look at that would reveal the tricks and secrets. Lacking the time to search virtual landscapes and not having the magazines at hand, I gave up. Video games became something the other people did, as I am reminded every time I look at my favorites bar and scroll past the numerous ‘cheat sites’ bookmarked by my husband and children. I pretend disdain for these games, like they waste my time, but really they represent a nonlinear way of thinking that my brain just couldn’t master.

Web 2.0 is the new Nintendo 64 in my life. It represents a new, nonlinear, multi-strand collection of information that makes me dizzy. Yet, unlike video games, I can’t choose to just walk away. So, I will endeavor to go on the same quest as my pal, Mario. Just as he’s squished monsters, swam through infested water and jumped over lava, so shall I squish, swim and jump my way through the perilous world of Web 2.0. Here’s hoping that I too shall graduate from linear courses to a more three-dimensional conception of the multifaceted, ever expanding web.

The First Challenge: Choosing a Character

So, what do you do at the beginning of a Mario Bros game? Pick a character. Each has their own unique attributes that make them more or less suitable to each level. Choosing a blog platform is the same. I chose Blogger because Will Richardson recommended it in his book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (2010) and, upon trying it out, I found it easy to use. Basically, all I had to do was sign up for an account, pick a background and post. The one problem I did encounter was trying to take the ‘next blog’ button off my blog. Richardson suggests that teachers do this as the suitability of the next blog might be questionable. I tried to edit the code and thought I had done it, however, there was the button at the top. I’m afraid to mess with the basic code now that I have the blog set up, so I guess it will have to stay. Other than that, this blog seems easy to use. I was even able to change the background after the initial set up (the first one was too dark and difficult to read).

Now that I have the blog, it’s time to see Kristie in the land of Flickr and Google Earth.

Marking

Book Report Rubric

1
2
3
4
·        little evidence of meeting your  goal
·        a vague or very short written statement relating your goal to your reading is included
·        misses the author’s message and writes something else (like a summary)
·        artwork has little or no connection to the text; annotations are limited to one word or there are fewer than 5
·        a random passage is chosen for the podcast; the student is unable to explain why he or she chose this passage
·        reading is hesitant or hard to understand; student has obviously not rehearsed the passage
·        fewer than 3 questions are chosen and the questions are vague and could apply to any story 
·        some evidence of meeting your  goal
·        a written statement relating your goal to your reading is included
·        attempts to connect to the author’s message but with little or no justification provided
·        artwork connects to the text and is annotated with 5 short, vague notes on sensory details or emotions
·        a passage is chosen for the podcast but with little explanation for choosing the passage
·        somewhat fluent reading of the passage with occasional errors in pacing, volume or decoding words
·        3 questions are chosen, but the questions are vague and could apply to any story 
·        consistent evidence of meeting your  goal
·        fully explained, detailed final written statement relating your goal to your reading
·        obvious connection to the author’s message and specific justification provided
·        artwork connects to the text and is annotated with 5 detailed notes on sensory details or emotions
·        appropriate passage is chosen for the podcast with a well-thought out, logical explanation for choosing it
·        fluent reading of the passage with proper pacing and volume
·        3 concrete questions are chosen; questions are linked to specific parts of the text 
·        consistent evidence of meeting your  goal; goal is linked to an area where personal growth is needed
·        fully explained, insightful and detailed final written statement relating your goal to your reading
·        insightful connection to the author’s message and specific justification provided; recognizes a message that runs across the entire novel or that isn’t obviously stated
·        artwork is aestetically pleasing, connects to the text and is annotated with 6 or more detailed notes on sensory details or emotions
·        powerful or moving passage is chosen for the podcast with a detailed, insightful explanation for choosing it
·        fluent reading of the passage with proper pacing and volume; reader adjusts intonation to reflect higher understanding
·      3 powerful questions are chosen; questions are linked to specific parts of the text 
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