THING #7

I feel so overwhelmed and encouraged at the same time. I have finished (finally!) another project I have been working on this summer, and now I am able to focus more directly on the library2play resources. Looking at the Google applications was fantastic. I set up a News Alert and created an igoogle page for myself.

Also, I downloaded Google Earth and looked at my house. I have heard my students talking about doing that for a number of years now, and it is exciting to have learned a little bit about it - at least enough to feel confident that I can use it.

I continue to be interested in the application of geography and maps to enriching my American and British literature classes. Being able to find some of the places we are learning about will help them not seem so remote. I also want to be able to create some real-life projects using these resources.

Additionally, I was not previously familiar with the Google Scholar search function, which I can tell will be very helpful.

This has been great fun!

THING #6

Looking at those mash-ups was fantastic. I love to scrapbook and take photographs constantly. In addition to teaching, I sponsor the yearbook, so I can see many beneficial applications for me both professionally and personally.

One idea I am particularly interested in is the combination of photos and maps. I am thinking about having some of my students do an "our town" unit in conjunction with the play of the same name. They could post photos of their hometown, linked to the map. Also, I like the idea of my British literature students making a map linking places in England with authors. That idea would actually apply well both to British and American literature.

I am also excited about the possibility of making some jigsaw puzzles. That could possibly be a good fund-raiser idea for our school. This has given me lots to think about!

Charlotte Charles said...
THING #5 I gained quite a bit by looking at Flickr, because I was only barely aware in the back of my mind that such sites existed. It is good to spend a bit of time playing with them to get an idea of what is available and how they can be applied. When I looked at the general photos, I was stunned to see some recent photographs of my hometown, Tolar, TX. It is a small town and although the hearts are strong here in Tolar, most of the buildings are crumbling and the photos showing the old buildings made me feel just a piercing in my heart of protective instincts toward my community. Unfortunately, it wasn't posted in the general area for fair use, so I looked in the creative commons pictures and found an image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. giving his "I Have a Dream" Speech. My students in my evening college composition are writing an essay analyzing the speech, and I am re-inspired every year when this asignment arrives. I should have students look through for photophraghs which apply to the literatur we are studying.

July 20, 2010 8:50 PM

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About Me
Charlotte Charles
I am a teacher, mom, reader, running, friend and child of God, just trying to stop hiding the talents I might have in the ground. It is no shame to have only the three talents if you give them all you've got to the glory of God!
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THING #2 As I look over the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners, I think the easiest one for me is accepting responsibility for my own learning. I enjoy thinking, doing, writing, reflecting - I do believe that I can continue to learn throughout my life and that I should do so. The one I find most difficult at this point is believing that I can be as effective in this specific arena as I am in others - but I am gradually believing that can change.

THING# 3 - Well, this is my first attempt at a blog, and I am glad I am doing it. I called my blog "Take a Deep Breath and Go!" because that represents how I feel about having confidence that I can effectively learn these new skills. It is funny how I can consider myself competent in many areas, and yet still hesitate in this area or convince myself before I even begin that I won't like it or won't be good at it. That is certainly not the attitude I want to model for my students, my own children, and I don't like feeling that way about myself. So, here I go!