For Salem Employees, you can earn five re-certification points for any full day workshop and five points for two half-day workshops.

So, want to make interactive posters with your kids?  Here’s a tutorial that shows you how!

Always remember to stay on the educational gloster site (http://www.glogster.com/edu) with your students. Otherwise, they may access inappropriate material on the regular Glogster site.

Options Tried by Other Elementary Teachers in Salem

Setup a Webpage

See me for software and initial setup.  Most of our staff in Salem is using this type of web presence.  It’s really not hard, and it looks very professional!

example:  Miss Erickson’s Kennel Club

Weebly

This is a web-based solution…you don’t need special software.  Not sure how long Weebly will remain free, but it’s great right now, and extremely easy!

example: Mrs. Dick’s Class

Edublogs

Create a class blog that includes homework.  Let me know if you decide on this option…I can help you turn off ads.

example: The Busy Bees

Classblogmeister

Create a class blog with separate blogs for your students too.  This is my favorite way to do student blogging.  Let me know if you decide on this option–I’ll send you our school set-up code.

example: The Coffey Crew

Other Options

These options have not yet been used by teacher at East or GWC, but I think they have potential.

Google Pages

example: Mrs. Richau’s Class

Tumblr

Posterous

Update by sending an email and it appears on your web page like a blog

Authored by Tina Coffey. Hosted by Edublogs.]]> http://tcoffey.edublogs.org/2009/06/04/ways-to-set-up-a-class-web-presence/feed/ http://tcoffey.edublogs.org/2009/06/03/geobugs/ http://tcoffey.edublogs.org/2009/06/03/geobugs/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:42:42 +0000 Tina Coffey http://tcoffey.edublogs.org/?p=379 Last weekend, the Big Lick Geobug was sent on it’s way to Ms. Deyenberg’s Class in Alberta, Canada! If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, then read this article on geocaching.

Sending the Big Lick Geobug on its way…. on PhotoPeach (Pictures by Meg Swecker)

Basically, the idea is that our Big Lick Geobug will travel from cache to cache with geocachers…all the way to Canada. It will be a slow process, possibly, since some caches aren’t found for weeks at a time….but hopefully some geocachers can take it long distances. Meanwhile, classes in Salem and Roanoke County (with Meg Swecker) will track it’s movements!

Ms. Deyenberg is doing the same thing too. Her 5th Grade class is sending Flop the Other Dorothy Dalgliesh Dolphin to us! You can read about the geobugs below (and follow them too)!

Big Lick Geobug
Flop the Other Dorothy Dalgliesh Dolphin

It’s a long way to Alberta, Canada, so they might not make it, but we are keeping our fingers crossed!! Following the geobugs as they travel will help our students practice map skills….and Math (as they calculate how far each bug has traveled). Here’s a map with their starting and ending points:

View Geobugs! Map in a larger map

These bugs have the summer to travel, and hopefully will have moved some by the time we come back in the Fall. If you would like to follow along next year, let me know. I can come show your class how to geocache (even tie it with a topic you are teaching), and make sure you receive updates anytime one of the geobugs moves! I think we have some 2nd grade teachers already who will be following along!

Want to connect for free (or cheaply) with people all over the world?  Want to make video phone calls?  Skpye is a free way to do that!  All you need is your computer, a web cam (and East and GWC each have one you can borrow), and a free download!

Here are the steps:

1. Download and install Skype here.

2. Follow directions to create a Skype account!

3. Start calling.

For a step-by-step how-to guide, click here.

How do you use this in the classroom, you ask?  Lots of ways!

• call another class in a different area of the world to find out about their home
• call an “expert” on a topic you are studying
• have someone dress up as a famous person or book character and call your class
• play a game with another classroom at a different school
• write riddles for other classes to guess
• share writing

Can you think of other ways?

A few of our classes have been using Skype to connect with classrooms in different areas.  Mrs. Barnett’s Fourth Grade at East talked with students in Virginia Beach to learn more about the Tidewater Region of VA.

Mrs. Hall’s Fourth graders at GWC answered the questions of a couple of students in Wisconsin who were doing state reports.