Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras was very un-Mardi Gras like for me. I really don't see my boyfriend that often so I take every chance I can to go to Auburn and see him. MArdi Gras was no different. I didn't go downtown to celebrate or eat moonpies and catch beads. I spent my off time in AU. Lab was canceled on Monday so I went that Friday thru Fat Tuesday up there. It was fun. We hung out with Peter's friends, watched a full season of Scrubs and cooked. We celebrated our 6 month together :)

U.S. Blogs

I found two very different examples of blogs being used in classrooms in the USA. The first was Ms. Kreul's Class Blog. A fourth grade class at Richards Elementary School in Whitefish Bay, WI. I really liked this blog, and if I did use blogs in the classroom I would immitate this set up. The teacher had everything on here! State captital info, homework reading logs, reminders, etc. Then she posted helpful links for her students. Her blog spot would benefit parents. If you would like to view the page click here.
Another USA blog I found was Ms. Dancunzo's classroom blog. It wasn't nearly as detailed as the other one. You could view your students blogs easily, which was positive. She also had her blog set up where students could receive information on each subject she was teaching. Her home page was setup to read "A "blog" is a web log. It is just like your writing journal except it's on the internet." Which I thought was a cute way to explain blogging to children. Though I wasn't sure which grade level she taught. It looked like elementary level. The page looked fairly new. To get to her blog click here. Here is a picture I found from Ms. Kreul's blog page!

Experience

I wish I had a positive experience in blogging in my EDM 310 class. To be honest, it has been more of a hassle than anything else. I think blogs could be fun, but I am behind on the times. I rarely have access to a computer, and when I do get on it takes forever to load pages! I am amazed at the technology we have though. It is an exciting thing to be able to post your thoughts on the computer and at a click of a button be able to read your classmate's thoughts. I like how you can personalize your blog too. You can design it in a layout to match your personality and share pictures about your life. Blogging would be really helpful if I had friend who lived far away. It is a good way to stay in touch and share links.
I don't know if I will use blogging in my classroon. If I was a high school teacher then maybe, but I am teaching younger children and I don't know. Though most 5th graders know more about computers than me. In terms of privacy I am not crazy about blogging. I want my students to be able to post their thoughts in a journal and have that to keep forever... on paper too. However, blogging is a good way to practice internet skills and typing skills. Which is super important to the future generation. And if my students blogged then reading their messy handwriting wouldn't be a problem! I guess I have mixed emotions on the experience.

Spring Break/Slacker/Mexico

I had a wonderful spring break!!! I hate that it flew by so fast! Sunday I left to go to Auburn to spend a few days with my boyfriend. It was really good to see him again. Then I came back Wednesday to go to the Dierks Bentley concert in Pensacola on Thursday. He was great live... and he had a hot bass guitar player. I realized today how behind I am on these blogs. In fact, it seems like I am behind on everything school related. I really need to get it together.! I am a slacker. On a brighter note I found out I would be spending my summer in Juarez, Mx!!! I am thrilled. I will work for Hands and Feet Ministries and help run a kid's day camp out there. I can't wait!!!
Here is a picture of me in Juarez two summers ago :)