Tech Tuesday: Dropbox

It's Technology Tuesday over here at First in Maine. I want to share something that may change your life. Really. It changed mine.

I use a few different computers and this used to pose some challenges. I didn't have access to all of my files unless I remembered to add them to googledocs or have a flash drive with me. Enter Dropbox. This amazing website lets you save your files to a "cloud" so that you have access to them anywhere you are. What I love about it is that it's as simple to use as your own file folders on your computer because it is one. You download a small piece of software that makes your computer interact with dropbox as if it's on your computer, but really it's all being saved online. I have checked with lots of tech people who assure me that it is very safe and secure. It is free up to 2.5 GB which is more than I've needed so far.

Here is what it looks like on your computer.

Then if you are somewhere without your computer, but need to find a file or picture or anything. Log on to dropbox.com and you'll see this screen.

Of course the computer one was my husbands and the online one is mine because I am between computers until school starts up, but you get the picture. Go check it out. Really. I keep nothing on my computer anymore so I never worry that something is going to happen to it or that I won't have access to everything I need at all times. There is a dropbox app as well for iPhones and iPads making it even easier.

What are you Reading?

I have been knee deep in professional literature this week. it has slowed my reading down to some degree. Here are my reviews:

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
This was actually my second read through, but totally worth it. I loved this book all over again. It's just completely practical, plus the research and clear language helps me look smart and scientific when I talk to administrators and other teachers. I like to say things like, "as Donalyn Miller writes..." Works every time.

Opening Minds by Peter Johnston
I originally learned about this book from a fantastic thinker and teacher, Laura Komos from Our Camp Read A Lot. I am reviewing this book for Middle Web and I'm not totally done with my thinking process, but it was as mind opening as In Pictures and In Words has been for me. It's all about how language changes how children think about themselves and process the world. One of the most interesting things I am learning is about dynamic vs fixed learners. We want to help our children become flexible people who chose to learn over how they will look to others. Many things are "Aha!" moments which I will share in my review at the end of this week.

In Pictures and In Words by Katie Wood Ray
This book has been mind altering for me this summer. I've written about it all over the place here, here, here, here, and finally here. I have one more chapter to go before I am finished. This is a book that I will come back to again and again this year.

Fig Pudding by Ralph Fletcher
I'm mad at Colby Sharp for recommending this book because I cried and cried and then couldn't really tell my 5 and 6 year old children why. But it was a fantastic read. He has an old fashioned style of writing that is soothing, funny, and just wonderful. I highly recommend this book, but as Meg Ryan says in one of my favorite movies (You've got Mail) read it with a box of Kleenex.

I also read a bunch of cool picture books to my kids  last week. .

What's on tap for next week?
I plan to read The Borrower as I had wanted to last week. I am also going to review 10 picture books that I can't stop thinking about this summer. You can blame Teachers Write!

Chap 10/In Pictures & In Words

Chapter 10 of Katie Wood Ray's book In Pictures and In Words is about tone.  She explains that children need to plan for how they want their reader to feel while he/she reads their work. She shares 8 techniques for teaching about how children can affect tone through their use of:

• Color
• Size
• Physical Space
• Shape and texture
• Exaggerated Features
• Whimsical Detail

I chose the book When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang. Her use of color and size and exaggerated features make this a great mentor text for teaching about tone.

The story starts off with Molly playing with her sister. She is told that she has to share with her sister and this makes her really angry. Sorry, I can't figure out why this is sideways.

The colors in the illustrations get more and more red. At one point "She roars a red, red roar."

Then she gets so mad she explodes.

I love how you can feel how angry she is, but the cool part is that as she runs around and works out how she feels the colors begin to grow blue and cool. Until finally she is calm.

That last picture is so beautiful. This is a don't miss book for helping kids deal with their emotions and then for sharing how color really helps the reader feel what the characters are feeling.

Every chapter of this book changes me in so many ways. I find myself talking to my own children this summer so differently. So much so that my 5 year old has started to ask me why an illustrator makes certain choices. When she talks like this, I know that Katie Wood Ray is a genius and now I get to be too.
Thanks to Mrs. Jump for hosting this chapter!

Musings

I haven't blogged like I used to in a while. You know, those wandering mind blogs where I just say what's on my mind? This is going to be one of those. I need to do it for me. Some of you will pass it on by, but some of you who have become my friends will be glad to get a glimpse into what's been going on.

work: Cannot really chat about this right now. Will update more next week. Stay tuned.


reading: I went through a crazy reading spurt, but it seems to have changed. I am not into reading fiction right now. I'm more into professional literature. I've really been wow'd by some of the books I've read this summer and want to take the time to think about them and plan how to put them into practice.

body: I have Celiacs Disease, but I don't take it as seriously as I should. So I have stomach problems constantly. I've made a commitment to make August be the month I clean out my body and take it seriously. It's nothing to take lightly. I think I'll follow The Gluten Free Goddess because she makes a lot of sense to me and doesn't eat too much meat. I also got a breast reduction this summer which has transformed my body into something I want to protect. Interesting how that happens.

home: My kids are doing so great this summer. We have sat around doing a lot of nothing, but a whole lot of something. We are reading, writing, and doing a lot of retelling. My five year old has grown all of a sudden into this person who loves to share how she thinks and WOW is it interesting. So different from how my son thinks. I learn so much about how children grow and learn from them.

writing: I am so attached to my picture book that I find it hard to start something else. This is a huge change for me. I am a revising fool. I think this will really change how I work with kids next year. I need to let them obsess about a piece if they need to.

Illustrating to Writing

On to Chapter 9 of our book study. This chapter is called Wholeness of Text. It's about how illustrations should be consistent throughout the text bringing a sense of wholeness instead of independent pictures. Wood Ray explains that this is the hardest part, the tying together of the work to make sure that details which appear in the beginning of the text show up throughout and at the end. This helps readers belong to the text.

One of the parts which struck me while I read this chapter was her discussion of how characters or objects which show up in the beginning of the text continue to appear throughout each illustration. Students love this. Sometimes it's the best draw a teach has.

For example, Mo Willems introduces his funny pigeon in Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. 

Later when I introduce Willem's Elephant and Piggie Series, they squeal with delight when they recognize their old friend in parts of the book. 

These intertwined details bring a closer connection for children. This is such a valuable technique for students to use. It instantly shows them how create something memorable and tie a text together.

Tech Tues/The Pull of Gravity

Several people have asked me to share how I created and uploaded a video to my blog. It was VERY simple.  In order to share it with you, I would like to share my latest video reviewing Gae Polisner's spectacular book The Pull of Gravity. 

Step 1: I read the completely engrossing book The Pull of Gravity. Gae is a master at interweaving literary references, realistic characters, and symbolic details with a storyline that stays in the crevices of your mind. I wanted to talk about it and share what I think in this video format because I think my actual voice can help you get how much I loved this book.

Step 2: I took out my Flip camera which is a fantastic buy at like $99 (or free if your dad buys you one as mine did). If you don't have a Flip, you can use your digital camera set to video (see that little video camera symbol on the dial), or just use your video camera on your computer. You can either just wing it and hope you sound okay or write a speech to read or figure out how to piece together parts you liked by editing your video.

Step 3: Once you have your video all set, go to youtube and set up an account. I did the simplest kind you can get. Choose <UPLOAD> which is in the upper right corner by your username. Click <SELECT FILES FROM YOUR COMPUTER> and choose the video file you just made. You might have to wait for the upload for a while depending on your computer/Internet speed.

Step 4: Click on the actual video after it is uploaded and then highlight and copy the web address in the address bar.

Step 5: Open up a new post in your blogger account. Click on the little movie symbol which looks like a clapperboard. You know, the thing they use to say "Cut!" Choose <FROM YOUTUBE>, find your video and add it in. I know it looks like it would be easier to just add your video in straight from your computer, but please learn from my mistake. It took hours and hours to upload and then looked like a photo of me instead of the actual video.

Voila! Now, please, on to my video review of Gae Polisner's masterpiece.

The Pull of Gravity

 

What are you reading?

It's already Monday and I've only done one blog post since last Monday. I promised myself I would write out a list of things I want to accomplish this week and stick to it. What are you reading Monday helps me do that with my reading, so now I need to do that with my writing, housekeeping, children, grocery shopping, eating, exercising, getting ready for school...you get the idea.

Last week I didn't read as much as I wanted to at all. I never add in the books I read to my children. I should, but it's not MY plan as much as theirs so I don't put it in my list.

Last Weeks Reviews
Squish: Super Amoeba By Jennifer L Holm and Matthew Holm
Again, I'm not a graphic novel reader by nature. I read these because I want to be able to recommend them to children. I thought this was okay. Clearly a lot could be learned about amoeba and there were some funny details. It did not hold my attention much though.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
I liked this book. It was a little annoying for me because Spinelli made Stargirl a bit too much, more than I thought would be realistic and the Archie (the old wise man) was too cliche for me. But, I loved the message and the description of how entire groups can be swayed so easily. That was quite realistic for me. I also like that there wasn't a trite ending. People moved on and were remembered.

Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
I am finishing this book up today during my kids' swim class. I can say though that I was nervous about reading it because Gae is one of my new BFF online friends. I truly think that I will plan to head to NY to meet her in person one day. So I was like, "crap, what if I don't like this book? It's so personal, the way one writes." I kind of knew it wouldn't be possible to not like it because she is so "live and in color". I love these characters as if they were my friends and family. I re-read parts because they are so well written. I am sad to think of it ending. I will video blog about it later this week.

My Plan for Next Week

As far as the Opening Minds book is concerned, I learned about a cool deal through one of Donalyn Miller's tweets. She showed me that Middle Web needed book reviewers. You look at their list of books that need to be reviewed, then tell them one or two you'd like to review. They send you the book and the parameters for the review and you do it! I have been dying to read Opening Minds since reading the book study that several bloggers have been doing (OPENING MINDS BOOK STUDY LINK) and found it on the list and have been approved to review it. Just. Like. That!

Technology Tuesday

I am using this time on Tuesdays to share how I want to move forward with technology. Last week I found a piece about creating stories online, but today I want to

S - L - O - W         D - O - W - N

I think the best thing I can share is to make sure to set an appropriate goal every time you use technology. For example, the first day I introduced my first Graders to iPads, I thought I was going to get them all on an EveryDay Math game. Ha! That didn't happen. I felt like a failure, but I translated it into thinking I was never going to like iPads.

Now I know better. My goal should have been to show the kids how to turn it on and find a game to play. They would have been fine. Then I might have created folders and an "I Can" chart to help them find a game the next time we got the iPads.

The point I'm making is that you need to come up with incremental goals. Don't think you can be a SMART board expert and an app genius for the iPad and run a projector and a document camera. Pick one thing and get good and comfortable with it. Choose Evernote or PowerPoint or a document camera. Figure out how you want to use it. Write down your goal and get to work being an expert at JUST that.

What are you reading?

I read A LOT this week. Here are my reviews...

Blackout by John Rocco
This is a cool book. I'm from NYC, so it connected with me. The pictures were detailed and very clear. I would love to use this with my Fourth Graders to talk about how illustrations can share more than words sometimes. I think they would love to do comic strips to share a story.

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy
I loved this book. I made a video review about it so I could be cool like Colby Sharp and John Schu, but I was born long before 1981 and it might not be as cool as I wanted it. Check it out by clicking here.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
This book was totally amazing. I wasn't sure I was going to like it as I read the first chapter. It seemed like I would need to channel my 10 or 11 year old boy and I wasn't sure I could do that. Then, BOOM, I was in it. As soon as his plane crashed into the lake, I was sold on Paulsen's detailed writing. I have beent thinking about Brian's journey a lot and plan to read the next books.

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L Holm
I was taken by surprise when I read this book. I had Babymouse on the brain I think and had no idea what this was going to be about. I fell totally in love with Turtle and her family and her travels. There was so much here. I am really hoping a few of my Fourth Graders choose this as a book club book so they can explore Florida in the 1930s.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald
This book had been recommended to me by several people whom I value, however I have huge issues with books that spotlight kids who hate reading and kids who prefer tv to books. I just think kids get bombarded with this type of garbage all the time. It's like when people say to kids, "well would you rather be doing math?" Um, maybe they would. What's so bad about math? We kind of need it. Oops, let me step off my soapbox. There. This book was pretty cool. He is clearly a smart kid who avoids reading by doing a whole lot of other creative, cool stuff. So I was okay with it, but don't think I could recommend it. I'm not sure I can get past my issues. What? I can say that. It's my blog.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and other scary things by Lenore Look
This was also unexpected. You'd think I'd read up on these things before reading them. My son who is six and an amazing reader chose it at the library because it was facing forward on the book shelf (**note for classroom**). It is a great story. I know two children at our school who are selectively mute and this makes it a part of the diversity vernacular. Just another someone with something to deal with. My kids (five and six) have asked me a lot of questions about why he can't talk at school though he can talk at home. Great book.

Frindle by Andrew Clements
I was hoping to love this one, but it was just okay. I couldn't get reved up about it. I can imagine, however, that a certain kind of student would be blown over by this concept.

What I plan to read next week...I just want to add that this planning for the next week thing has been very good for me. I feel so focused and able to just grab the next one on my list. I am going to talk with my students about what I felt when I planned.

Technology in the Classroom

I am usually the kind of person who rushes into things without thinking, but for some reason my new grade level is causing me to slow down and take things one step at a time. I am reading like crazy so that I can suggest books and start the year off like Donalyn Miller of Book Whisperer fame.

I am also working hard to figure out what is going to matter most to me technologically. I have decided to use google docs, planbook.com, Goodreads, and Evernote so that my iPad will be the first and last thing I think about each day. I want to try hard to have all folders and notes stay in my iPad. No worrying about forgetting things at school 23 miles away.

There aren't a lot of resources out there for how to use Evernote in the Fourth Grade classroom. So I've been using my new favorite PLN--Twitter (@kagmoran) to gather and share information. Here is what I've found so far, just in case you are interested!

Things to check out when figuring out how you want to use Evernote:

• http://russgoerend.com/2010/09/evernote-as-a-1-on-1-reading-conferencing-tool.html
• http://screentuts.posterous.com/my-thoughts-and-strategies-on-tags-and-notebo
• http://russgoerend.com/tag/evernote
• http://www.tweetdoc.org/View/34370/Daily-5-Chat-Jan-27-Evernote
• http://doingthedaily5.blogspot.com/2011/11/digital-notetaking-and-first-cafe-day.html

--I just quickly went into Google Docs and created a form and then emailed it to my evernote. It shows up as a link, then you can use the clickable form with a student. I think this is going to work. I’m just not sure how to save the clickable form info in each student’s notes. It might just be it’s own spreadsheet. More on that as I figure it out. Check out the sample here.. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHRDaTlEd3lyOUc5UjRhSlRSNWx2dXc6MA#gid=0

Ideas that seemed useful to keep

Student Emails

(http://teachingmycalling.blogspot.com/2012/07/but-my-students-dont-have-email-address.html)

One Idea for Evernote expansion beyond Sticky Notes

My goal is to have a very complete record of student capabilities when it comes time for SAT, RTI, report cards, informal assessments, and conferences. 

I’ve set up notebooks for each student in my class so that I can add the following items:

•       writing samples

•       reading samples, audio

•       running records

•       assessment pieces across the curriculum

•       anecdotal records

•       behavior logs

And the winner is....

Thank you so much Joanne Levy! Joanne is the awesome author of Small Medium at Large (see my video review of her book). She came up with the name for my new blog. Joanne, I've liked you from the beginning and now you will always be in my mind as I blog. Please choose a book from the 2011 Nerdy Book Awards and send me your address.

I would also like to send Sandi from Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes a book because her opinion means a lot to me. I had already decided on Nothing Mundane and waking up to her comment sealed the deal. Thank you Sandi. Please choose a book from the 2011 Nerdy Book Awards and send me your address.

I love it. It speaks to me. It isn't Maine related, it's true, but it says more about me. I have lived in MANY different places in my life. It's true that I feel pretty connected to Maine, but I miss New York and Houston too. 

I am so excited to begin to work on my concept. Now I need to figure out how to move my blog stuff to a new location. Or, I could start over again and just print and bind my first year of blogging. 

What to do, what to do...Thanks for all your help!

One more day of GIVEAWAY

Today is the last day before I tell Barbara at Ruby Slippers what I want for my new blog. So far I've got...
Brains in Maine
Nothing Mundane
Middlefest
Butterflies and Cyclones
Maine-ly Teching Through the Middle
Maine Literacy Club
Maine-ly with the Middle
Maine in the Middle
Maine-ly Middle School
Strength is in the Foundation

When I look at these, I wonder if I want to have Maine in the title. I am leaning more toward Butterflies and Cyclones--how the beat of something so small can create so much or Nothing Mundane (which is true and just sounds cool to me).

PLEASE add your two cents to this GIVEAWAY POST. I'll be announcing winners tonight.

New Blog, please help. Giveaway.

So, I'm moving to Fourth Grade and I want to craft up a new blog. Well, my BFF Barbara from Ruby Slippers Blog Designs will be crafting it up, but I need to give her some raw material. Click below to see her awesome work...

I want it to be something I can use year to year and I think I'll be staying in grades 4-8. So I was thinking "In the Middle of Maine" or something. See? I'm not really that creative. This is where you people come in. Feel free to go WAY out of the box. I want to be hip, I want to be cool, I want to make an impression. I want it to say "Hey, I care about lifelong readers and technology and kids who can reference math and science and history like it was a part of their everyday lives."

Anyone who comments on this post with a name and/or theme will be entered. Right before choosing a winner, I will delete comments without a name or theme mentioned. The winner will receive a book of their choice from the 2011 Nerdies Book Awards list. Click here to view list...

I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Technology Tuesday

This is a new theme I've come up with for a regular posting. One of my big charges this year is to use as much technology as possible. While I think that doesn't really mean much, I understand where it's coming from. I need to figure out how to use technology seamlessly, technology that just makes sense for what we are working on. For example, when I write my blog I don't pencil it into my notebook first, I sit down and type it into my blog.

I haven't used a ton of technology with kids before, but tons of other people have and they've done it well. So I'd like to direct you to these resources so we can learn together.

Today...writing children's books in order to understand story structure and creating a message. This goes along really well with my book study In Pictures and In Words by Katie Wood Ray.

Click here to go to article about Transitions: A Collection of Children's Books

How have you used technology in creating stories?

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy

I read the fantastic new book, Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy on Friday. I've never video blogged (vlogged?) before, but thought I'd give it a try. I wanted to give this book it's due so I read from a script. I'll have to get better at that. Don't let the pathetic quality of this video deter you from rushing out to read this awesome book and stocking it for your kids this school year.

(From goodreads.com) After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Here is my review of what I read last week.

Press Here by Tullet
I absolutely loved this book, but more importantly, my children (5 and 6 years old) were mesmerized by it. These are children who use my iPad incessantly. They never seemed jaded by the experience. They would stop, read the directions, and do what it said and then seem amazed by what happened on the next page. I can't say enough about it.

I Want My Hat Back by Klassen
We read it. We thought it was amusing. We read it twice to make sure we understood it. We let it sit there in the library basket. I didn't hate it, but I didn't feel like it was amazing either.

Bigger than a Bread Box by Snyder
I read this super quickly. I enjoyed the story. I thought she did a masterful job of sharing how it feels when your parents are separating. Each of my parents has been married three times, so I get it and clearly so does Snyder. I didn't need the magical bread box much, but think fifth graders might get sucked in by that feature. Will definitely look for more of her books.

Small as an Elephant by Jacobson
Jennifer Richard Jacobson makes me want to be a better writer. It helps that I live in Maine and spent summers in much of the area that Jack Martel is travelling. But, she clearly did her homework. It is seamless. In fact, I was pretty depressed while I read this book which is really as it should be. As the parent of small children and the teacher of older children, I cannot fathom leaving them to their own defenses. It was a sad story and one of resilience and love. I plan to read everything she has written.

Babymouse: Our Hero #2 by the Holms
I snuck this one in. I don't love graphic novels. I know, hate me now if you have to. I work hard to read them so that I can at least know what they are about for students' sake, but I just can't get into them.

What's on tap for next week?