Creating Virtual Pinboards with Pinterest

Pinterest can be a great teacher tool for creating virtual pinboards of all the inspiring images and ideas we encounter online for later use in our work. Visual bookmarks are 'pinned' while at the same time citing back directly to the source. Here are some instructions on how the pinning process works.

You can add your own notes and descriptions, as well as tags that will define and organize your boards for you. What a great way to expand your PLN while organizing, sharing, and discovering great professional ideas! For now it is by-invite only. Email me for an invite, or sign up directly with Pinterest, and you will receive one a short time later. My boards are viewable here. I have collected quite a few Reading Strategy ideas and kid-friendly Infographics so far.

Summer Learning Notes

Ideas and resources from my summer learning:

Conferences and Online Learning
* TIBS: Internationalism in IBPYP @ Rice U.

* SimpleK12 online webinars 

* TCEA Summer Conference:Technology Learning in Elementary Classroom
* Edutopia Summer Boot Camp

Resources

• Fall 2011 Lunch and Learn Webinars via TCEA

• TCEA Recommended iPad Apps (cross-curricular)

• Edtech2020  and the 'New Normal' (Session Resources)

• Gail Lovely: Early Reading and Technology Resources, slides and Student Interactives

• EDU Teacher: reference and resources for Ed. Tech.

• Happy Birthday T.A. TEKS via Fried Technology (Revisions to TX Technology Applications with project examples from bie.org)

• iClassroom (T. Harkey--mobile learning considerations)

• ICT Magic Show (Web 2.0 tools in pageflip format)

New Tools

Wix: flash-driven website builder

Popplet: interactive mindmaps and concept-mapping

Edistorm: share + organize ideas via online sticky notes

Juxio: interactive posters

Sliderocket: sleek slide presentations

Vocaroo: easy audio recorder

Wetoku: quick video interviewing tool

Screenr: screencasting

Class Blogmeister (integrated classroom + student blogs)

Google: What do you love? Search

Many more great free webinars are coming up soon sponsored by Simple K12--see full list HERE. On-demand webinars are accessible also. 

(backchannel notes)

More Summer Reading Ideas & Recommendations

Find great e-freebies if you have an eReader via KindleKids Corner

Howard B. Wigglebottom Animated Books (free!) by Howard Binkow

13 online stories and a new one added each month at Barnes & Noble Studio

Find resources on ROE Summer Reading page that include information on local reading incentive programs and much more!

Student Book Recommendation: (submitted via this form)


The BFG by Roald Dahl is a fascinating book about a little orphan girl who suddenly hears a noise and looks out her window where she sees a giant monster sort of thing. She really doesn't know what it is. Later on in the book she finds out what it is, what he likes, and what that weird noise was. They soon become friends and the giant has a mission for the girl. But I can't tell you what that is. You have to read the book!

--By Bailey (3rd Grader) Rating: 8 out of 10 stars


Additional sites with recommended mobile learning apps:

• Apps4Kids
• Best Apps for Kids
• iKid Apps.com
• iKids Blog

Mobile Summer Reading & Learning

Here are a few great resources with mobile
 learning apps for kids and families to explore during the summertime.

Image from: (CC) Geoff Peterson, www.geoffpeterson.com

• Best Apps for Kids (Common Sense Media Reviews)
• Best of Children's Book iPad Apps 2010
• BestKidsApps.com (iPhone, Android, iPad)
• Best Games for Kids for iPhone, iPad, & iPod Touch
• Book App Downloads: iTunes
• Free Apps for Kids: Digital Storytelling & Literacy Tools
• Fun Ed. Apps (See 'Categories' for Age Groups)
• iTunes U
• Mobile Children's Books
• ReadMeStories: 'A New Talking Book Every Day'
• SLJ: Favorite Apps.

Articles: Smart Rules of Thumb for Children's App Use
             Importance of Summer Reading (Big Universe)
***Cross-posted to SUMMER READING @ ROE Library page

Summer Reading: Feed Your Brain!

Click for full-page view.

Summer Reading: Feed Your Brain!
Summer months give kids an important opportunity to read for complete enjoyment and to discover new books. Also, research demonstrates that children who don't read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress. Students will bring home a Summer Reading ‘Millionaire Club’ Ticket & Flier this week. On the back, they can record books that are read over vacation. In August, be sure to return the completed signed ticket to the ROE Library. Each student will receive a special bookmark to recognize their efforts. There will also be a prize drawing from all the completed signed tickets!

Keep kids reading all summer by visiting the ROE LIBRARY online to explore a range of helpful reading resources, including a selection of summer reading lists. Access to and recommendations for online children’s e-books can be found there too. Learn more about other great local reading incentive programs, including…

• HISD Millionaire Club Readers: Read & log 10 books & earn a special bookmark of your choice in September at the ROE Library.
• Barnes & Noble: Earn a free book when you read any 8 books.
• Borders: Read 10 books get 1 free.
• Houston Public Library: Read 10 Books—get 1 free book! Read 20 Books—get 1 free book & voucher for a free ticket to a Houston Astros game & a coupon for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
• H.E.B: Read 10 Books and mail in for a T-Shirt,
• Half Price Books: Read 600 minutes and earn a $5 Back-to-School Bucks reward.

Happy Summer Reading!

New Books @ROE Library!

These beautiful new books have been generously donated to the River Oaks Elementary Library by Brett Merfish, in honor of her parents, Sherry and Gerald Merfish. She is an alumnae of River Oaks Elementary's Class of 1992!

"River Oaks Elementary gave our daughter Brett a wonderful foundation and contributed greatly to her lifelong love of learning. Gerald and I are very touched by her generosity and strong desire to give back to an institution which was meaningful in her life. I hope the students enjoy these wonderful additions to the library and that they too will be infused with a love of reading!" said Sherry Merfish.

New to our collection are books on a range of subjects and genres -- biographies, non-fiction books on life science topics, Texas fairy tales, poetry, mythology, and both realistic and fantasy fiction. Our ROE students look forward reading and learning from each one of them!

Technology & Learning Meet the Future

ROE students in Mr. Vialard's and Ms. Eastman's elective classes had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Viramontes, Houston I.S.D. Chief Technology Information Officer. Mr. Viramontes held a thought-provoking discussion with them about the evolution of technologies and the possibilities we might encounter as learners in the future. When asked about their career aspirations, students' responses ranged from U.S. Marine, pediatrician, marine photographer, video game designer, geologist, Olympic skiier, physicist, writer, engineer, and equinologist, to name just a few. Mr. Viramontes pointed out that technologies are critical to performing in these careers both now and in the future. He talked about how new ideas and developments grow out of problems or needs we have, and that kids like them are the key to the innovations that are happening with technology. 

Our conversation also focused on 'device learning.' Information technology is now held in our hands like never before. Our portable touch screens allow us to be able to study and learn wherever we are with convenience, speed, and mobility. Students have flexible opportunities to learn because of convergence of technologies in single handheld devices--e-books, cameras, games, voice/video recording, music, cameras, GPS systems--all tools we find together on our phones and tablets! 

Mr. Viramontes also discussed future learning through 3-D experiences. We considered the potential of holographics, personal-area networks (PAN) and wearable technologies too. Through satellite and holographic technology we will be able to project people, places and things into our learning spaces and also be able to manipulate and walk around these streaming images. New dimensions in technology will also involve more of our senses, including even smell! 

We thank him for sharing his expertise and facilitating this exchange of ideas! Thanks also to Mr. Vialard for connecting us together for this visit and for his iPad snapshot posted above! Here are:

•  9 Gadgets Cell Phones Made Obsolete (21st Century Fluency Project) & 5 Gadgets that Will Be Dead in 5 Years (GadgetBox). 
• A brief look at the Evolution of Classroom Technology  (Edudemic) & 8 Ways Technology is Improving Education (Mashable). 
• Try this app called LeafSnap which can identify tree species and help you contribute to science at the same time!