DeSantis Classroom Blog

Thing 20

2012-03-04T12:10:00.003-08:00

Downloading onto this laptop is not possible without an administrator password and teachers do not have the password. When I tried to download itunes, it stated that would take 51 minutes to download. Yikes! Why would it take that long to download? Then after waiting, the administrator password screen came up and would not allow me to finish installation without it. UGH!!!

http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/9102336"

Thing 19

2012-03-04T11:54:00.003-08:00

Podcasting will be wonderful to use especially for studying for a test (reviewing info. on a study cast), and vocabulary. Students can create the podcast, too. The best part is they are portable and free and students can access them on ipods, mp3, laptops, smart phones, etc. I can also see students utilizing this when they are on vacation or absent so they can keep up with the class (similar to on-demand). Some of the casts were not available, but a few podcasts that I liked were:
http://www.mathgrad.com/shownotes.html.
http://www.lmsd.org/staff/techmentor/podcsta/LMSDPodologue.htmit

Thing 18

2012-03-04T11:13:00.002-08:00

I think posting powerpoint presentations online and being able to download and embed them into the blogs will be useful. I tried to view a few, but they didn't work. The one titled, Sticky Teaching, was one that I couldn't view. I did find one slideshare that I enjoyed reading. It was ten reasons we love Pinterest. Since I just began using Pinterest lately, I thought it was interesting.

<div style="width:425px" id="__ss_11627096"> <strong style="display:block;margin:12px 0 4px"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/socialnerdia/10-reasons-we-love-pinterest" title="10 Reasons We Love Pinterest" target="_blank">10 Reasons We Love Pinterest</a></strong> <iframe src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/11627096" width="425" height="355" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="padding:5px 0 12px"> View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/thecroaker/death-by-powerpoint" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/socialnerdia" target="_blank">Esteban Contreras</a> </div> </div>

Thing 17

2012-03-04T10:38:00.002-08:00

There are a lot of online tools. These tools help with organization, and share with others. I played with Doodle and scheduled a 5th grade camp meeting for Wednesday, March 14. I like the idea of sending the info to the team and get their input for dates, times, and any additional info that needs to be discussed.

Thing 16

2012-03-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Google-docs is great! Our school uses a google-docs spreadsheet to keep track of our PBIS, and my teaching partner and I use it to keep track of phone logs, and behavior. Editing the spreadsheet online and at the same time as others seems easier than emails since the current info may not be on the next email sent. Members of the staff have made a PBIS question area on a google-doc and when having people sign up for items to bring to a meeting was easy with google-docs, since we were updated each time we went online.

Thing 15

2012-03-04T10:18:00.004-08:00

I am getting better with exploring RSS and hope to become much more familiar with it. There is not enough time in a day to check regularly but the Detroit News that was added will be something that I can and will want to check day-to-day. Since I am not a huge sports fanatic, I don't feel like I need to keep up with it everyday.

Thing 14

2012-02-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

Social bookmarking is fantastic. I just started using Pinterest, so I am somewhat familiar with the concept of making stacks with links. The best part is having access and adding bookmarks from any computer. I can forsee students using links for projects and sharing reading lists with them. Classroom discussions on current news will be useful, too.
My username is mdesant.

Thing 13

2012-02-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

I currently use Facebook so I see how people post and tag items about themselves and others. This is a great way that people stay in touch with others that do not live close. Seeing updates and pictures of friends and families is wonderful. Social networking sites like delicious are ways that people can save updates or pictures publically or privately depending on who you choose to be your friend. To tag items associated with topics instead of bookmarking on my one computer will work out so much better. There have been times where I have bookmarked a great math site on my home PC, but when I get to work and want to forward that site to families, it is not on my work PC. This way, I can see what other math/social studies teachers have tagged and tag them to my blog for parents to see and use.

Thing 12

2012-02-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

A smile can be contagious, plus, you use more mucles to smile than you do to frown!

<div class="settings-title">Settings</div>  <table class="editpanel">    <tr>      <td><p align="right" class="settings-label">        Default location:      </p></td>      <td nowrap>        <input type="text" id="prefs_default_location" tabIndex="1">      </td>    </tr>    <tr>      <td><p align="right" class="settings-label">        Date format:      </p></td>      <td nowrap>        <div id="date-menubutton" class="menu-button" onclick="GDT.toggleMenu('date-format-menu');" tabIndex="2">          <span id="date-select-elem-text" class="menu-text"></span>          <span id="date-menu-img" class="menu-button-img"><span>          <input type="hidden" id="dateFormat_Id"></input>        </div>      </td>    </tr>  </table>  <table class="editpanel menu-box">    <tbody style="position:absolute; margin-top: -2px;">      <tr>        <td align="right" class="settings-label"></td>        <td>          <div class="scrollBarBox menu-option" id="date-format-menu">          <div class="scrollBarInner" style="height: 80px;">            <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">              <tbody>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="date_wmd" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDateFormat(this, 'wmd');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('date_wmd')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('date_wmd')">Sun   FEB   29</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="date_wdm" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDateFormat(this, 'wdm');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('date_wdm')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('date_wdm')">Sun   29   FEB</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="date_mdw" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDateFormat(this, 'mdw');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('date_mdw')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('date_mdw')">FEB   29   Sun</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="date_dmw" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDateFormat(this, 'dmw');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('date_dmw')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('date_dmw')">29   FEB   Sun</td></tr>              </tbody>            </table>          </div>          </div>        </td>      </tr>      </tbody>      </table>  <table class="editpanel">    <tr>      <td><p align="right" class="settings-label" style="word-wrap:normal;">        Week starts on:      </p></td>      <td nowrap>        <div id="day-menubutton" class="menu-button" onclick="GDT.toggleMenu('day-menu');" tabIndex="3">          <span id="week-select-elem-text" class="menu-text"></span>          <span id="day-menu-img" class="menu-button-img"><span>          <input type="hidden" id="day_Id"></input>        </div>      </td>    </tr>  </table>  <table class="editpanel menu-box">    <tbody style="position:absolute; margin-top: -2px;">      <tr>        <td align="right" class="settings-label"></td>        <td>          <div class="scrollBarBox menu-option" id="day-menu">          <div class="scrollBarInner">            <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">              <tbody>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_0" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 0);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_0')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_0')">Sunday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_1" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 1);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_1')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_1')">Monday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_2" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 2);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_2')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_2')">Tuesday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_3" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 3);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_3')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_3')">Wednesday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_4" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 4);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_4')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_4')">Thursday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_5" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 5);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_5')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_5')">Friday</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="day_6" onclick="GDT.showSelectedDay(this, 6);" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('day_6')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('day_6')">Saturday</td></tr>              </tbody>            </table>          </div>          </div>        </td>      </tr>      </tbody>     </table>   <table class="editpanel">    <tr>      <td><p align="right" class="settings-label">        Color:      </p></td>      <td nowrap>        <div id="color-menubutton" class="menu-button" onclick="GDT.toggleMenu('color-menu');" tabIndex="4">          <span id="color-select-elem-text" class="menu-text"></span>          <span id="color-menu-img" class="menu-button-img"><span>          <input type="hidden" id="color_Id"></input>        </div>      </td>    </tr>  </table>   <table class="editpanel menu-box">     <tbody style="position:absolute; margin-top: -2px;">     <tr>        <td align="right" class="settings-label"></td>        <td>          <div class="scrollBarBox menu-option" id="color-menu">          <div class="scrollBarInner" style="height: 78px;">            <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">              <tbody>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_grey" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'grey');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_grey')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_grey')">default</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_blue" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'blue');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_blue')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_blue')">blue</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_green" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'green');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_green')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_green')">green</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_orange" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'orange');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_orange')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_orange')">orange</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_pink" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'pink');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_pink')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_pink')">pink</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_purple" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'purple');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_purple')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_purple')">purple</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_red" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'red');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_red')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_red')">red</td></tr>                <tr><td class="menulist" id="color_yellow" onclick="GDT.showSelectedColor(this, 'yellow');" onmouseout="GDT.unHighlight('color_yellow')" onmouseover="GDT.highlight('color_yellow')">yellow</td></tr>              </tbody>            </table>          </div>          </div>        </td>      </tr>      </tbody>      </table>    <table class="editpanel">    <tr>      <td class="checkbox_option" colspan="2">        <span id="prefs_useServerTime" class="fakecheckbox checked" onclick="GDT.changeCheckedState(id)" tabIndex="5"></span>        <div style="padding-left:20px">          Set date and time automatically        </div>      </td>    </tr>    <tr>    <tr>      <td class="checkbox_option" colspan="2">        <span id="prefs_showWorldClocks" class="fakecheckbox checked" onclick="GDT.changeCheckedState(id)" tabIndex="6"></span>        <span style="padding-left:3px">          Additional Clocks        </span>      </td>    </tr>    <tr>      <td><p align="right" class="settings-label">        Add a clock:      </p></td>      <td nowrap>        <input type="text" id="prefs_searchbox" class="helpText"          value="e.g. New York, NY"          onclick="GDT.setVisibleHelpText(this, false);"          onfocus="GDT.setVisibleHelpText(this, false);"          onblur="GDT.setVisibleHelpText(this, true);" tabIndex="7">      </td>    </tr>    <tr>      <td colspan="2" align="right" style="padding-left:0;">        <input type="button" class="actionbutton" value="Save" id="btn_save" tabIndex="8"/>         <input onclick="GDT.hideSettings();" type="button" class="cancelbutton" tabIndex="9"               value="Cancel" id="btn_cancel"/>      </td>    </tr>  </table>

<div class="city-times">    <div id="day-night-IE-div-%clockNumber%"      class="day-night-div-ltr"      style="background-image:        url(http://www.gstatic.com/ig/modules/datetime_v2/%path%/gdt_mapclock_v2_%color%_ltr.cache.png);">      <span id="day-night-IE-span-%clockNumber%" class="day-night-span"        style="float:left"></span>      <div id="clockTitle_%clockNumber%" class="clockTitle"        title="%clockTitleFull%">%clockTitle%</div>      <div title="" id="world_clock_%clockNumber%" class="world_clock_time"        style="padding-top: 4px; padding-left: 3px;">Loading...</div>      <div title="Remove"        class="remove_clock_icon remove_clock_icon_IE">        <span id="city-time-cross-IE-div-%clockNumber%"          class="day-night-div-ltr"          onclick="GDT.removeCity('%clockNumber%'); return false;">          <a id="day-night-div-cross-%clockNumber%" href="#"            style="background-image:              url(http://www.gstatic.com/ig/modules/datetime_v2/%path%/gdt_mapclock_v2_%color%_ltr.cache.png);"></a>                </span>      </div>    </div>  </div>

<div id="td-table-%clockNumber%" class="city-times">    <div id="day-night-div-%clockNumber%"      class="city-time-div day-night-div-ltr"      style="background-image:        url(http://www.gstatic.com/ig/modules/datetime_v2/%path%/gdt_mapclock_v2_%color%_ltr.cache.png);">      <span id="day-night-span-%clockNumber%" class="day-night-span"        style="float:left"></span>      <div id="clockTitle_%clockNumber%" class="clockTitle"        title="%clockTitleFull%">%clockTitle%</div>      <div title="" id="world_clock_%clockNumber%" class="world_clock_time"        style="padding-top: 2px;">Loading...</div>      <div title="Remove"        class="remove_clock_icon remove_clock_icon_non_IE">        <span id="city-time-cross-div-%clockNumber%"          class="day-night-div-ltr"          onclick="GDT.removeCity('%clockNumber%'); return false;">          <a id="day-night-div-cross-%clockNumber%" href="#"            style="background-image:              url(http://www.gstatic.com/ig/modules/datetime_v2/%path%/gdt_mapclock_v2_%color%_ltr.cache.png);"></a>                </span>      </div>    </div>  </div>

http://www.gmodules.com/ig/creator?synd=open&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gstatic.com%2Fig%2Fmodules%2Fdatetime_v2%2Fkennedy%2Fdatetime_v2.xml&lang=en

Thing 11

2012-02-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed looking at other people blog and posts. Seeing and commenting on other's posts makes me feel more invested and a bit cautious of what I write. Exchanging ideas and interacting with others is important to grow as a teacher and learner.

Thing 10

2012-02-05T14:49:00.000-08:00

After searching info. on the Boston Tea Party, I came across a YouTube video series entitled, "Liberty Kids". I hadn't seen or heard of this before, but it will be perfect to use in the classroom and on my blog. It is interesting and fun to watch. I think my students will love it.

THING 9

2012-02-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

I think Youtube is a great resource and even better, it is user friendly and free. Connecting, collaborating and communicating through video is a way to get everyone's interests going. I am not so sure about the inappropriate content that is available.

Thing 8

2012-02-05T14:23:00.001-08:00

I can do some great things with the mashup for concepts learned and I look forward to doing some fun stuff with history using trading cards. Also, the calendar idea will be great to organize upcoming due dates on projects, important assemblies, paperwork due dates, and after school activities.

THING 7

2012-02-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

I think using FLICKR would be great for adding pictures to the classroom blog, but I am not sure if students can be in the pictures if they are available for everyone to see. Pictures of historical events could be used to help students make history come alive or to preview what the history lessson is describing.

Thing 6

2012-01-31T19:04:00.000-08:00

This is very cool! I have heard about Flickr but never used it. It is amazing how many interesting pictures of a particular topic have been posted. My family and I hope to go to Hawaii some day, so I have downloaded a neat picture of Hawaii. Many pictures of landscape and animals found on the islands. Students can use Flickr to search pictures to include in research and presentations. Also, this would be a great way to post and easily find field trip pictures.

Thing 5

2012-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

This is a great way to organize data and info and sift out not needed info. Placing RSS in folders will prevent unwanted info.

Thing 4

2012-01-30T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am delighted to be on the same "Thing" with someone. This is a bit easier to do when one person watches the video while the other follows along on the blog site.

Thing 3

2012-01-30T10:45:00.001-08:00

After looking at some blogs, I found 100 technology blogs for teachers and it included standard maths items, as well as graph paper and other backgrounds that were pretty cool. I think that with practice, theis should be great to use in the classroom. Posting all assignments and activities for students to access will be great for absent students and/or families to see what we did in class and they can comment, too.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

2012-01-30T10:25:00.000-08:00

My entire building is participating in 23 things. This is not easy to do alone. Knowing that everyone can see what you are writing makes me a bit nervous. Once it is up and running, I am sure that my students and their families will enjoy it and use this instead of daily emails to get info out to the homes.