Resources

= Craig's Educational Blog Picks =

= Jason's Educational Blog Picks =

[|Technology and Science]
EDCompass interviews a high school teacher about how the SMART Technologies used in his classroom benefits his students. Also, the teacher has members of the National Science Teachers Association attending his class and he is going to show them how the SMART products can be used to help students work with the scientific method in a more interactive way. Other links on the site include links to innovative SMART products that can be used in any class for any subject.
 * 5 Star blog site **

Education
=[|Change in Detroit]= Author Dave Hoff discusses how Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Detroit Mayor Dave Bing teamed up to form a bus tour called, "Education and Economy: Investing in our Future". The bus tour was designed to uplift its lowest performing schools. The article also advertises the Detroit Promise, which is a promise to any student in the Detroit Public School (DPS) system who finishes high school in a DPS will receive two years of free tuitions of they attend a college or a university within the state of Michigan. Great idea and source of motivation for the students of Detroit.
 * 5 Star blog site **

[|Using Education to Help the Economy]
President Obama is discussed by arthur Arne Duncan and how he wants to increase jobs by improving the educational facilities of the schools throughout America. He wants to invest $25 billion to upgrade schools throughout America. In turn, jobs will be available for those who want to participate in the construction projects of the current schools. The funds will go to about 35,000 different schools throughout the U.S., which is about 1/3 of the schools in America. The proposal also has the potential to create over 300,000 jobs for those who apart of the modernization project proposed by President Obama.


 * 5 Star blog site **

** Kristy's Educational Blog Picks ** ** IMPORTANT ** ** Educators / Wiki Etiquette for Students ** This wiki page on PBWorks.com is a great place to pull an etiquette page from so you can get started with your students. I have adjusted mine slightly to be a printed handout that goes home to be signed by parents and students alike.


 * 5 Stars for being proactive for proper use by students! **

Blogging to Engage Parents with Learning
Lorraine Munro, shares how she uses blogging to engage parents of her 4 and 5-year old students. Her blogs are used to share processes and products of the students' work and allows parents to comment. They share pictures of their projects and even have students help decide what gets to go on the blog.

Although this is a great topic, the blog itself gives off more of an article kind of feel than an interactive feel. There are a few comments, which are always acknowledged, but it does not have a continuous dialogue that continues to develop.


 * 4 stars **

Blog – Smartboards and Everyday Math
Mr. Gabor’s page on Smartboards and Everyday Math was not as I thought it would be. When I had been looking for an idea sharing blog, I came across this one that has a good title, but the rest of the blog is scattered with different topics. I felt confused trying to find the one on Math and frustrated trying to look through the page. I did find some Everyday Math files attached on the right of the screen, but was unable to download or open any of them due to a bandwidth issue that the blog owner needs to resolve. Although there was some good information, I think it would have been easier for a more generic title and a page linked to each of his various topics. It took me a while to decide that this page was not one that I wanted or needed.


 * 3 stars **

Mrs. Wilson’s blog for students: 5th grade science fair.
I found this blog when looking for interactive board activities for my science lessons. Although this is not a blog in which people typically respond back and forth, I though it was well laid out and informative. The purpose of this blog is not to engage in dialogue, but to inform. Mrs. Wilson set up her blog with the purpose of sharing class assignments and information with her students and parents.


 * 4 stars **

Support Blogging!
Support Blogging! is a great wiki set up to help people (educators) understand the concept of blogging. Navigation is easy and you can find topics of interest down the left side. As you work with topics you find a discussion tab at the top where people can share their thoughts and ideas. Well set up, informative, easy to use. I like the Blogs vs. Social Networking section.


 * 5 stars **

Blogging in 5th Grade: Students Use Blog to Share Science Experiences
Fun, fun, fun blog in which students shared their passion and learning from the experiments they were doing in class. I would easily give this blog a 5 but it hasn’t had any updates since 2007. It only had the one set of experiences on it, I wish it had been updated each year as other students got to participate so they could share in the excitement and passion other students felt.


 * 3+ stars – started out great, then just stopped. **

= Molly's Educational Blog Picks =

Art Education
[|The Art of Education] Author Jessica Balsley writes "Hi, I'm Jessica - Art Educator, blogger, entrepreneur, leader, and lifelong learner! Welcome to AOE, a professional space dedicated to advancing the field of Art Education. Together we'll discover, discuss, and solve issues surrounding our industry; one clogged glue bottle at a time!" In the blog, Jessica consistently offers informative and entertaining posts about the field of Art Education that serve well as discussion prompts for Art Educators from across the world. She offers a number of well thought out, beautifully organized, and classroom-tested art lesson plans, classroom visuals, and PowerPoint Presentations that she generously shares with her audience at no charge. 5 Stars

[|Art Projects for Kids] Author Kathy Barbro describes her blog as "Classroom-tested Art Projects for K-5 and beyond". In the blog Kathy offers a variety of informative and easy to follow posts about art lessons that she has developed, performed, and perfected. She also offers some amazing murals, templates, and practice sheets that she shares with her audience for a minimal fee (sometimes free) that, I promise, are worth much more than the charges. She also provides a showcase for her followers as she routinely posts examples of her lessons performed by Art Educators from across the country. 5 Stars

Education
[|Teaching Underground] Authors Steven Turner and Richard Lindsay describe their blog as "Thoughts on Education from two guys teaching in a basement". What they deliver to an audience primarily comprised of educators, is an honest look at the world of education today. The posts are both informative and thought provoking and encourage an open dialogue with anyone interested enough to participate. 5 Stars

Technology
[|iLearn Technolgy] Author Kelly Tenkely calls it "An Edublog About Integrating Technology Into the Classroom". Well, she is right in the most basic sense, but the site offers so much more. In daily posts, Kelly introduces us to a variety of unique, amazing, and useful technologies that can be easily integrated into classrooms employing a wide ranging amount of technology and technological skill. Her posts are both informative and easy to follow. In my opinion, this site deserves some serious attention from educators in all disciplines. 5 Stars

= Robbie's Educational Blog Picks =

FRED KOCH: K-4 TECHNOLOGY COACH
Cherokee and Sheridan Elementary Schools [|http://fredkoch.edublogs.org/2011/02/12/hey-teachers-whats-your-passion/comment-page-1/#comment-27] - This blog post begins with a bang. Fred Koch, the creator, causes teachers and educators to revisit their passion, if there be any, for enriching and encouraging children, while teaching them. The post also attempts to awaken the human element in teachers, therefore invoking genuine outreach to those whose lives we touch. The site provides links to blogs of those who have visited this site (a blogroll), a clustermap of visitor locations around the world, links to various tech resources with the school district where Koch teaches, and a host of photos that bear proof of his passion for teaching. I rate this site 5 stars.

JESSICA MORGAN: WALDEN UNIVERSITY
[]. Classmate Jessica Morgan created this simple yet intriguing blog. I find her post to be reflective of a sincere and motivated educator; while also motivating to others. The site also contains a crash course for beginning bloggers. This site gets a 4 star rating.

[]. This is such a wonderful resource for teachers, students, and even parents. The site is packed full of educational activities, lesson plans, games, and home readings along with appropriate levels for parents to monitor student progress. The are also many components for ESL students. Definite 5 star.

= Tannie's Educational Blog Picks =

= Traci's Educational Blog Picks =


 * iLearn Technology**; []

This is a site began by Kelly Tenkely about integrating technology into the classroom. The purpose of this blog is to give teachers ideas of ways to easily integrate technology in their lessons. Ms. Tenkely believes that technology is such an important tool in meeting the needs of students.

This site includes many links to helpful sites; as well as lesson plan ideas. There are many resources available to help with integrating and using new technology in your classroom. People post ideas, issues, successes, etc. and collaborate with others.

I think that this site is great. I love all of the resources and sites that are introduced through this site. I also love the conversation with other professionals that takes place. 5 ﻿star﻿﻿﻿s


 * Educational Technology in the Classroom (K-12 Education)**; []

This is a site by a group of teachers in Ontario, Canada. There is a plethora of technology information included on this site. From things to integration ideas to specifics about certain forms of technology; it can be found on this site.

This blog has many links to learn about resources available for making technology a part of your classroom. There are also links available to download programs for your classroom.

This site has a lot of information on it; however, I found it very overwhelming. The resources and links were great, but there was no logical way to navigate through it. I would also prefer more opportunity for discussion with other professionals. 3 stars


 * The Whiteboard Blog**; []

Danny Nicholson, an interactive whiteboard trainer began The Whiteboard Blog. Mr. Nicholson is educated and experienced in the training of interactive whiteboard users.

Information is given about the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom. Questions and concerns are addressed. Books are also introduced to assist in the use of interactive whiteboards. There is even a book with the most read and best articles from the blog included in it.

I enjoyed looking at this blog. I have had an interactive whiteboard in my classroom for the past three years; questions and concerns still arise. This is a great blog to visit for new ideas and existing concerns and complications. 4 stars