Saturday, February 23, 2013

Personal Learning Network

Writing on my patio with these new blooms.
In thinking about my PLN, I am remembering starting my teaching in public school in January 2005.  I was newly hired teacher for the overflow classes, and the only room for my 2nd grade class was in 4th grade.  I had no SBISD mentor, and no textbooks for a while.  There was not the curriculum support so valuable today.  I didn't even know enough to ask for roadmaps.

So how did I survive?  I had a fabulous personal learning network!  Teachers from around the world supported me via the internet with fabulous lessons and ideas.  We joined others on blogs showcasing classroom poetry, had pen pals, joined a Butterfly Project, and participated in many "Stuffed Buddy" traveling logs.  I am so grateful to those teachers, many of whom have since retired.  I am a member of a Ning community for 2nd grade teachers.

Now I have so much interaction and inspiration from those in our district, as well as those from afar. I started following other trainers' blogs such as A Scoop of Technology.  I am so impressed!
My team is digitally active, and recently participated in Google docs with the Frayer Model, where we simultaneously wrote about heroes one morning.  It was so successful, we are planning to make it a weekly habit.  I can see inviting others to join our school.  I am also inspired by the middle school and high school teachers in SBISD, particularly Memorial Middle School and Stratford.  I tutor students in upper grades and therefore read the highly detailed instructions for using technology for homework.  Wow...we have very talented teachers who are skilled to giving complicated, sequential directions for  blogging, etc.!!

In Edmodo, I receive great suggestions from Edmodo Apps and Computer Technology.  Questions are asked and answered all day.  Our own *Karen's Kollections shares great links.

Diigo sends me links and suggestions daily.  Here is a recent find:Teachers who use technology
I think these will be excellent for ESL students and vocabulary help.

In Pinterest I love looking for anchor charts.

On Twitter, I receive great educational ideas from Mark Brumley, tech in ed, and edutopia.

And my PLN is stabilized by my son who brings solutions to my frequent questions.





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