Sharing More Sweetness

While researching resources and activities to share for next month's Digital Learning Day, I came across this:
http://www.hersheystory.org/education/lesson-plans/. These are lesson plans provided by The Hershey Story.  There are lessons for grades K-3, 3-6, 6-8, 9-10, 9-12. Sounds like a little something for everyone. What fun! And I'm sure some could be adjusted. Hershey and Advertising maybe labeled 11-12. But couldn't this same topic be adjusted to work with younger students.

How Sweet It Is!

As part of the Self-Initiated Blog Challenge, started by Kelly Hines, we were challenged to share a favorite book for reading or teaching. I don't really have a favorite. There are several that I love. But I wanted to share a new tool that I found. Are you aware of the ingeniousness behind these books by Jerry Pallotta and Rob Bolster? They have found a way to make math instruction both engaging and tangible. I so wish I had this in school. For Digital Learning Day on February 5, 2014, I will be celebrating with my teachers. I have chosen a Chocolate theme - “Digital Learning – How Sweet It Is!” In my research looking for ideas both decorative and instructional, I came across this book. The title is The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book. What a great idea! I always struggled with understanding math concepts in school. But this creates such a wonderful visual to work with for teachers and students alike. There is also an additional and a subtraction book. I am so happy that I discovered these in advance. Come pay day, these are definitely on my list. My goal this year is to share more "valuable content". I think this definitely falls under that category. Hope you think so as well.

2014 Goal: "Share more valuable content"

My Goal this year: “Share more valuable content.”

Daily, I live digitally. Wake up. Turn on either the computer or the cell phone (or both) and see what's going on with friends, family, and members of my PLN. I absorb so much from so many. Having all of this new knowledge is wonderful. Having someone else gain something positive from my having this new knowledge – oh wouldn't that be more powerful!?

Last night and this morning it snowed. The view out my window is beautiful since I don't have to go shovel it. So, today I can enjoy it. Now had this been Monday when I return to work... Oh I'd have told the snow where they can shovel it! But does anyone care about all that? I am realizing how much more value there would be in sharing quality, valuable resources with my PLN. This will be my goal this year. I know every day I will not accomplish this. I am so impressed with my friends that curate and collaborate daily. But I do plan to attempt to periodically “Share more valuable content.”

I know “Share more valuable content” is rather subjective. What I find valuable others might not. But as they say, “You can't please everyone all of the time.” So I won't try. I will however share that recipe (http://FeteAvecMoi.com), that party/celebration idea (http://FeteAvecMoi.com), that educational resources (http://twitter.com/neene) or educational insight/reflection/professional development (http://JeannineShields.com). Hope you will care enough to take a look and that you will deem the content shared valuable.

update: Decided to create a visualization as part of the Blog Challenge (http://kellyhines.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/self-initiated-blogging-challenge/)

This photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Tech Challenge #4

Today's Techmas Challenge:
"On the fourth day of Techmas the Techformers challenged me to create a progressive story using TodaysMeet! We have started our own channel! https://todaysmeet.com/techformersu The story is.. This is going to best Christmas ever!"

I never thought of using Today's Meet to do a collaborative creative activity. I seem to think "inside the box" and would have only used it for backchanneling a meeting. Here's to opening the lid and thinking "outside the box". Glad I opened this Techmas gift box. Here is my Today's Meet progressive story if you'd like to participate:
https://todaysmeet.com/CookieExchange

Tech Challenge #3

"On the third day of Techmas the Techformers challenged me to create a Padlet of what the holidays mean to me. Check out Jan Huckabay Wells sample http://padlet.com/wall/holidaytime4. Post your links in the comments below and post them on twitter with #techformersu"

As I have used padlet before, I decided to create mine this evening. That way possibly others might want to comment to add to the fun. So here is my entry for Tech Challenge #3.
http://padlet.com/wall/wj1r6lcdjl

Tech Challenge #2

On the Second Day of Christmas...

"On the second day of Techmas the Techformers Challenged me to create a Smore about celebrating Christmas in another country. Check outJennifer Kraft's https://www.smore.com/g7rr6-christmas-around-the-world Share your Smore in the comments below and post to twitter using#techformersu also follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/TekformersUnite"

I accepted today's challenge with my father in mind. My father was Canadian French and embraced his French roots with an American twist. We always had a Friendly's Jubilee Roll (http://www.friendlys.com/media/uploads/products/27_jpg_270x255_q85.jpg) Which was a nod to his upbringing with a Bûche de Noël. We always left milk and cookies for Santa. And my father would say for Father Christmas. Probably because he grew up with visions of Père Noël while I was growing up with visions of Santa Claus.

When presented with this second Tech Challenge immediately, I thought of making a Smore (https://www.smore.com/app) on the Christmas traditions of France. So here is my submission to the 12 Days of Techmas.

https://www.smore.com/19cx

Have you made a digital smore lately?

 

Tech Challenge #1

A connected friend started a series of Facebook Tech Challenges. Being a life long learner I love connecting, learning, and growing. But you know, I realize I sometimes neglect the fact that life online can be (correction SHOULD be) fun. They have designed 12 days of digital technology challenges to complete in a spirit of fun.

So today's challenge:
"On the first day of Techmas the Techformers Challenged me to create a Wordle of your favorite holiday song. Choose a favorite song or story, or if you are feeling adventurous, complete one of these worksheets with your class to gather enough words to make your word cloud."

Here is my entry:

A) I love that through the power of the web you can look up the lyrics to most songs. These are the lyrics to Winter Wonderland as depicted in a word cloud. The larger words mean the words appear more times in the passage (or in this case song). What a great way to pinpoint the main idea of a paragraph.

b) The site that I used Abcya's Word Clouds. It is a rather kid friendly site. You can explore it here: http://www.abcya.com/word_clouds.htm The beautiful thing is that you can save the image. Some sites don't allow the save feature. This makes it perfect for education.

As the holiday season gets busy, I don't know if I will participate in each challenge. But I love the fun of collaborating with others. Seeing everyone else's posts on Facebook gives you a little insight into each of us. Some are more creative then others. Some used beautiful sites that let you put your word cloud into a particular shape. Some got creative with colors. I'm sure as the challenges build we will get to know more and more about each other. Looking forward to the fun! Thanks for including me.