Cafe Gillmore

Missing the Synergy

2010-01-31T21:43:00.002-06:00

Tonight, for the first time in a much too long, I have taken advantage of time, time to be a techie-geek and, in doing so, I have discovered several Web 2.o tools that, if I knew about them, I had forgotten.

In discovering them, I wanted to share, wanted to share with my Classroom Redesign Team, a team that had that energy last summer when we spent five days together, a team that should meet again and share, for sometimes, that face-to-face meeting creates the most synergy.

Listed here are a couple of my finds via my Google Reader (thanks to the time Mother Nature via a couple of snow days):

Dabbleboard: functions like a whiteboard
Wall Wisher: not sure! Working on this one...looks cool!
Audio Owl: site housing audio books

The first two tools are thanks to HRMason at Teacher in Transition, who gives credit to Twitter for finding Dabbleboard. I, too, love Twitter and should spend more time there lurking for the latest.

What tools might you share with me? That's right, synergy can only be created when we work together!

A Lesson Learned, Part 2

2010-01-02T17:02:00.002-06:00

This continues a series of posts about lessons I learned as a teacher of a 1:1 classroom during the first semester...

Surprisingly, not all students like computers. Surprise! Several of my students really struggled with the use of the mini laptops this fall. I suppose I assumed that because we were using technology...hands on technology...that each student would be excited. Not so.

Some of this lack of excitement simply was the result of laziness...lazy ears, to be precise. For if they ever quit listening, they were behind. Thus, the positive here? Yes, they had to be even more attentive and, thus, were being held more accountable.

I have a few students who do not have Internet access at home, which resulted in more stress for them, for they often felt like they were behind the rest of the class. To compensate, I allowed, of course, extra time for them and opened my room before school and during lunch and wrote many notes for students to work in my room during their study halls. I REALLY appreciate the work ethic of these students! Just wish I could channel some of that energy into students who need a little more want-to!

Initially, I had a few students request that we return to "books." I soon learned that the desire to return to the "old" way was usually due to the lack of computer experience. As the semester progressed, I did not hear this request anymore. I like to think that maybe this was the result of their enhanced technological skills. I hope so.

For on January 5, the journey continues!

Also posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

A Lesson Learned, Part 1

2010-01-01T17:12:00.001-06:00

This past semester, I immensely enjoyed having 1:1 computers in my classroom. To put this in perspective, this addition has, with a doubt, been the most beneficial change in my classroom setting…ever. (Thanks, Lisa Huff and Debbie Miller, for you did to make this happen!)

While I learned many to-do’s and not-to-do’s ever again, I would like to discuss this particular enlightenment first: Yahoo and Google do not communicate like I would prefer.

Here was my initial dilemma:

Having created my class blogs using my personal Gmail account, I began having my students submit their assignments to this same email.
Then that email account became overwhelming…as my students emails intermingled with my personal emails.
Thinking I was solving my problem, I then created another Gmail account for submitting homework.
No such luck, for problems continued to arise. Because I could not have two Gmail accounts open on my computer at one time (I was having to log out of my personal Gmail through which I had created my class blogs and open the homework email to confirm receiving assignments), I created another email for submitting homework using Yahoo, thinking that would solve all my problems, for then I could have my blogs and the homework email running simultaneously.

My troubles continued, though, as many of my students created documents using Google docs (which I strongly encouraged). My first lesson I learned here is that I had to have my Gmail account open to be able to access shared Google documents. If I did not have one of the Gmail accounts open, then, of course, Yahoo could not communicate with Google.

The straw that proverbially broke this teacher’s back was my once again struggling to find an email that a student had submitted. Very stressful to find an email that you were fairly certain that a student had never sent…only to find he/she had! I decided no more of this! Over Christmas, I made a decision: switch back to my Google email for submitting homework and create new blogs (via that same email account) for each of my classes (linked below…remember, at this posting, they are still in baby stage).

Now, I will be able to access both the blogs and the homework email account to verify as the students submit assignments…very nice to project through the LCD the list of emails I have received as confirmation that I have received work in a timely fashion.

Another feature that I appreciate about Gmail is that once I enter an email into Gmail, the omniscient Google remembers it! Very nice!

Problem solved? I hope so!

Can you think of a better solution to this concern? Please share your thoughts and ideas! All are welcome!

Also posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

The Lights

2009-11-15T14:00:00.002-06:00

Time for an update on life in Cafe Gillmore!

Greatest Hit
This may sound strange...but the lamp lighting in my room has been one of the biggest hits of my classroom redesign. As part of the decor, I purchased several lamps and use them often, nearly daily, at the request of the students.

Great Frustration
My greatest frustration at this point is students digitally wandering. I long for SynchronEyes. On this site, a 30-day trial may be downloaded...going to check on this!

According to peer Carla James, one of the greatest features of such a program is being able to freeze the screens, not to act as Big Brother, but to ensure their attention...and their respect. Listening to a teacher is a sign of respect. Yes, you got it...I am tired of the disrespect.

Sure I can multi-task, and so can my students. I can walk, talk, and chew bubble gum...but the smacking that goes along with that is very annoying!

While an important skill, listening respectively to an adult is also an important life-long skill each needs also. That might help them retain the job of their choice as much as anything!

While Reading...

2009-10-08T17:16:00.002-05:00

While reading through my Google Reader, I discovered a link (on Karl Fisch's blog The Fischbowl) to this blog...Learning and Laptops. Blogger Anne Smith has been named "named one of the National School Board Association's "20 to Watch" for 2009."

Smith is an English teacher in a 1:1 classroom...ah, interesting!

I like her energy. I appreciate her PLN. I respect her opinions.

Please check her out!

Opposition

2009-09-20T20:30:00.002-05:00

In class last Friday, I heard the first real negative comments about our using the mini's. It actually hurt...really. I spend hours getting ready for class; then I often am not as ready as I want to be.

So, yes, I took those comments very personally.

Then, I took a moment to breath. In. Out. (Did not count to a hundred...just started in on my spiel.) First, these comments came from two students (not all). Two students who are behind. Really. Imagine that!

I ended the above session with a reminder (repeated several times) that our text book is our class blog and our Info Page.

Just to check if they can remember the names of our textbooks, I have created a quiz in Google Docs to check this retention of information, with hints embedded and the answers written on the White Board. Surely, they will pass!

Okay...in case you did not notice, yes, I am more than a little disappointed! Maybe I am even a little disappointed in myself. Have I not worked hard enough? I have even slowed the pace down from previous years...even more. Then I attended an End-of-Level Committee meeting...that philosphy just will not work anymore, but that is another blog post on another blog!

Okay, enough of those kind of thoughts. Have to remember all the other kids who were not in agreement with the above two.

Honestly? After our little chat, which included a visualization of what life in English would be like without the mini's, those two maybe, must maybe, might have been persuaded to see the error of their ways: stay caught up, for life in English class does not, will not stop for their lackadaisical ways.

Built-in Progress

2009-09-09T21:42:00.002-05:00

Today, the guys brought the counter top for the work area for the built-in journalism desks. So pretty! I had actually lost sleep trying to remember the exact color of the counter top. Must say...I did okay, especially considering I selected it based on a 1x2 inch sample!

Tonight the glue drying. Tomorrow, the journalism computers go to work! (Right after my friend Casey and I run the Internet cable through ceiling.)

Yesterday, I purchased upholstery and dropped it for the gentleman to make me two 2x4 foot cushions for my benches. Pretty material...not what I had originally planned, but I really like it!

Progress...oh, 'tis music to my ears!

More progress!

2009-09-07T22:46:00.002-05:00

My student desks and a one of my bookcases arrived on Friday...yes, progress!

The students are excited about the changes and were glad to see the desks arrive. I now have have 16 desks (instead of 12), so that is more floor space gone.

One of my goals is to not have the "clutter" I have had in the previous years. By the way, that was not the easiest admission on my part, for I enjoy having my "stuff" that I just "might use one day." Unfortunately, that "one day" has not gotten here, and I have become too blessed! So File 13 is growing! Yes, I am actually recycling a lot! Emptied three more boxes this week! Only have one to go...that one has journalism computer keyboards, cords, and scanners in it.

Mr. Kevin and Mr. Mark hope to return on Tuesday to install the journalism built-in. I hope so, for the yearbook staff will be in class on Wednesday. Time to go to work creating this year's history book of Batesville High!

Had we not had to give the Targit Test this week, we would have gotten all our "start-up" accounts created, including Google (email, blog, Reader, iGoogle), Penzu, Delicious, and Good Reads.

SIDENOTE ABOUT STUDENT BLOGS: The writing process metaphor papers the students wrote did seem to help in creating blog titles and thematic elements. Good thing!

Thus, we will have to complete the creation of our techie accounts, and then I will introduce each to his/her new "quackie" friend. Yes, we will begin our Ducks Galore Project this week.

TO-DO List:

Lit Circles: tolerance activity and lit circle names/groups. I have not formed these yet. Needed to get to know the students before forming the small groups. I have decided on an over-all title: Three+Me. I am going to have groups of three, with the fourth seat in the pod being reserved for myself, thus further insuring even more conference time, more 1:1 time.
Writing/Reading Workshop: This will happen on a more structured basis than what I have right now...once the students create their techie accounts, for they need these for much of what we will be working on in class. Then we can work on routines and procedures, with one of those being daily mini-lessons. I am ready for the routine!

It was a good week...am now getting ready for another one!

Already...eight days down!

2009-08-30T11:44:00.002-05:00

Wow! Time really should slow down! Since it will not, then I am estactic to be participant in a digital classroom.

I posted here at Treasure Chest of Thoughts my summary thus far of living in a nearly paperless world.

My immediate concern right now is my air conditioner: need to learn how to reset the default from seventy degrees, for with these new units, this temperature feels much closer to sixty! Plus, this is just a waste of monetary resources.

The built-in's for my journalism computers are partially here. These should be completed this week, which is working out fine since the yearbook staff is selling business ads for one more week and the newspaper staff is using the mini's to draft articles for the online newspaper.

Speaking of newspaper: I need to chat with the tech persons to determine if posting our online newspaper on the school website is an option or maybe we should just link to the one we have created via a Wordpress account? Right now while so many changes are occurring? Think I will opt for current situation.

A final thought: I am spending less time in class "teaching" because I am spending more time out of class creating blog posts and links for the students to access to meet our daily goals via online access. To be repetitive...time does fly in class. Wow! Please don't tell that May is just around the corner!

School Is So Cool OR Time Flies

2009-08-22T11:21:00.003-05:00

Both of the above post headings fit this commentary…we are three days into school, and we (my students and myself) are both noting how fast the class periods go. Why? School is just cooler this year in room 16!

REASONS School is COOLER:

1.First, the rooms are literally cooler and quieter thanks to the new air conditioning units installed this summer. They are so quiet…very awesome. All of a sudden, we notice the room is getting almost cold (yes, need to ask them to reset the defaults by a few degrees, for the system itself is also digital…nice of them to select a system that, of course, blends in with our new classroom redesign!)

2.Blue. Mini. Laptops. YES! Got them in my room on Tuesday afternoon and managed to get enough of them imaged to use with my newspaper class on the first day of school…and then with all my English classes on Thursday and Friday. Way cool! Of course, the students love having a computer…literally…in their hands. I love being able to send them to Mrs. G’s Info Page…and going to work…or is it play?! Fewer papers to hand out…with just a click of a button (or two), the students and I were already at work…again! (I really am missing my LCD projector…my presentations would be much more effective with it.)

3.Comfy chairs. New colors. Yes, we call it classroom redesign. I found it a little humorous that the students looked at the “comfy” chairs but would not sit in them until I said, “Of course, you may…that’s what they are for!” What surprised me, though, was that many of them still chose the desks. Not sure about that reason for that choice yet…will observe (ah, action research) and write more about that later. If they like these desks now, just wait until our new ones finally get here in a week or so…yes, way cool!

4.Lighting. The new lights have a softer hue, which those of us who wear contacts really appreciate! I also have several lamps in my room (bought bulbs of too low a wattage yesterday…going back to Wal-Mart to invest in more so that we can switch to that type of lighting when viewing movies, videos, podcasts, and such.
In every class, either a student(s) or I would comment, after glancing at the clock (usually the one on the wall…not the one in the lower right corner ~ isn’t that interesting?) that “this class went by so fast.” I like it like that!

I. Love. My. Room. And so do my former students, many of whom commented as they stopped by to visit and check out the new design, “Why couldn’t this have happened last year?” That’s right, those of you reading this, already know the answer to that one: that’s just the nature of change.

ROOM 16 TO GET COOLER STILL! My room is about 70% completed. Hopefully, my built-in unit for the journalism computers will arrive on Monday (would look really cool for Open House on Monday night!). Bookcases, shelves, desks, more artwork…and more tech tools!…still all on the to-do list for Room 16.

Pictures to be posted soon…or within a few days, I will have our photo-a-day blog (CAFE: In Pictures) for our Classroom Redesign ready for your viewing pleasure…or just stop by and visit us!

Also posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

3:12 AM

2009-08-18T03:11:00.002-05:00

We are getting into our rooms today! That gives me a half day to do what I need two weeks to complete.

So here I sit, cannot sleep, for my brain is on overdrive!

I suppose if I could have one gift in my room right now it would be my doors back to my cabinets, for all of my junk is exposed to all the "prying" eyes! What am I saying? My room may end up being full of unemptied boxes, also!

Also not sure what to do my about my room arrangement, just hoping that comes together tomorrow as the guys move my furniture into my room.

Really should be working on day one lesson plans...so think I will see if I can get my wiki pages to load; they were not cooperating earlier this evening on this mini. At that point I was just too tired to try opening them on our home computer.

3:18 ~ Maybe I should attempt to sleep again!?

A Miracle Is Needed!

2009-08-15T19:12:00.002-05:00

Today is Saturday, August 15....this is important to note, for it is going to take a miracle for our classrooms to be ready for us to move into on Tuesday...despite all "guarantees" that the rooms will be ready!

TO-DO LIST in my classroom:

Complete flooring (tile is now down!)
Electricity needed (exposed wires needed to find their homes!)
Baseboards absent.
Technology? Not sure where it all is!
Boxes and boxes to unpack...still sitting out in the hallway.
Bookcases? Just went and selected cabinet top on Friday morning. Uh, oh! Thought they had started on the bookcases and built-in's a month ago!
Desks had to be re-ordered...due to their no longer making our first order. Took the company about six weeks to let us know this. Uh, oh!
Decorate...HGTV style!

My to-do list:

Paint...and paint: changing what is black to brown.
Frame a picture.
Order duckies!
Re-create my room layout...hookup box got placed where I had not planned it...now have to reconfigure where everything goes.
Decide what goes where on my walls.
Decide what to do until all my components come in...bookcases, built-ins, desks.

To-Purchase List:

bench cushions
white boards
corner table for monitor

BUT...this is going to be an awesome classroom!

Regardless of these lists...school starts Wednesday!

An Artful Moment...or Two

2009-08-09T23:58:00.002-05:00

Rather than copy/paste my post from Treasure Chest of Thoughts....I would like to invite you to click here and preview my latest work on my Classroom Redesign.

Thanks!

Checkin' that Checklist!

2009-08-06T19:13:00.004-05:00

Today a friend took me to lunch...to get me out of the house! I can again drive on Monday (surgery can ground a person!).

While out, I asked to stop at some local furniture stores to browse and attempt to purchase a few items for my classroom...after all, school does start in less than two weeks!

Let me digress...before browsing and eating lunch, we stopped by school to pick up my inspiration pillow and to peruse my room. Let me just say: I, for one, still believe in miracles!

Room checklist of "to-do's" from Gillmore's perspective:

Install lighting.
Install ceiling tiles.
Install flooring.
Install tech tools.
Where, oh, where are the new desks?
Move in other furniture.
Decorate.

As I stated earlier, I still believe in miracles!

With inspiration pillow in hand, we began shopping! And shop we did!

Gillmore's List of Purchases for Room 16:

2 chairs
2 tables
2 lamps
2 pillows
3 framed pictures

NOW, I am ready to get into my room.

Okay, Classroom Redesign teammates, I ask you: who amongst you has prayed for patience lately? For patience comes by trials and tribulations...as in having to wait to get into our rooms to play and decorate and plan for 2009-2010!

No, it wasn't I!

Am I Blue?

2009-08-04T08:52:00.004-05:00

Feeling a little lonely in this digital world. Where are all the blog posts from my team? The Gurls?

Where, oh, where are you tonight?
Why did you leave me here all alone?
I searched the Internet over, and I thought I'd find a post from you.
But you got distracted and PTHHP! you left me alone!

You just got to love Hee Haw!

Bleu Passe Progress

2009-07-20T08:24:00.005-05:00

I know have a blue wall (1329 Bleu Passe...to be exact!) in my classroom...very happy with it. See the blue in my header...up above? Yes, it's close to that color. This color makes me happy. Takes me right back to my first four years of teaching...which is probably still my favorite classroom. Why? It was a a well-lit (had two large windows), blue room.

Am I attempting to recreate my past? Yes? No? I cannot. As I told my lady Sunday School friends yesterday, I can't teach the same way I taught eighteen years ago, for the classroom is different. (The point I was actually attempting to make is that we cannot have the same type of church service either if we want to encourage the "young" people to attend church as we did while growing up. Right?]

The answer is no, I am not attempting to recreate my past....well, not exactly. I do want to bring in the best of my first years of teaching to this new Classroom Redesign Project. Not just talking about that energy I had as a new teacher, either...I want to bring in the vitality of my classroom to this one.

My goal: no matter where a student sits in my classroom, she is engaged. I have been following the discussion of Lisa Huff's AP Language class as they critique Dan Pink's A Whole New Mind and noted one comment: "Sitting in the back is just an invitation to dose, or even when I do want to pay attention I have to lean around everyone in front of me." I can achieve this with my new layout. Yes, I think I can.

Maybe this comment by another student sums my goal for this new design the best: I have always found that rooms with more color and design in them are easier to learn in. The pictures or colors can help calm a person down when he or she is stressed about something. Classrooms that are white and have nothing on the ceiling or walls are boring. I have noticed that students cannot concentrate very well in rooms with no design. I myself have a lot of trouble sitting still and listening in the boring classrooms.

Stop by and visit me this fall...let's see if I achieve my goal!

The Room

2009-07-13T21:35:00.006-05:00

Today, I visited my room...a bare room where men were in and out...working and working! They are preparing the walls for paint, readying the floor for tile, changing out the air conditioning unit, and planning to lower the ceiling. Wow!

Right now, I am an oxymoron. Excited and a little concerned at the same time. Why? I love the change that is occurring and am so looking forward to my students, both former students and my "newbies," seeing the transformation.

My concern? Every item that was in my classroom is in a box, stored, waiting for me to unpack. Will my room be ready for August 19?

My philosophy? Where there's a will, there's a way. Going to ponder on "the way"! (Did I mention I may have to spend a few days recovering from a surgery between now and then?) May be offering Beta service hours for student helpers! See! There is a way!

Time with the Girls

2009-06-13T19:51:00.005-05:00

Have now had a little down time since our five days spent colloborating with the teachers in Fort Smith and getting to better-know my five peers who will also share the experience of 1:1 computers this fall at Batesville High School. Took a little break from technology to...

Slept for about ten hours. We spent some intense, long, exciting days "playing" with technology.
Finished James Patterson's Sail, the novel that helped me get through a major storm on Friday!
Read James Patterson's Judge & Jury while re-acquainting myself with my comfy recliner.
Bought okra plants and a pool at Wal-Mart...shhh, the kids think the pool is just for them!
Took a nap.
Helped plant those okra plants. Now know I did not purchase enough. Have to have two complete rows! (By the way, girls, remember that bean-picking party I mentioned?!)
Am now using technology again...have recovered from my "maxed out" level.

While Twittering...or Tweeting as I have also heard it called...I came across a link posted by Bud the Teacher to Webspiration: a tool I will now weave into my lesson plans for the fall, a great tool for prewriting/planning papers and projects. Have I mentioned how much I like it?!

Okay...enough technology for a few hours...now have to help David Baldacci solve some sort of crime in The Whole Truth. By the way, I just noted Baldacci's interest and support of "literacy efforts across America."

Wish You Well Foundation
Feeding Mind and Soul: maybe a project for Beta Club or English National Honors Society?

Ah, another reason to support the reading of David Baldacci!

Note to Mrs. Ann and Mrs. Peggy...see you just have to write about whatever you are doing...just start a post and reflect!

Also posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts.

A Cafe of Learning

2009-06-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's coming to a classroom near you!