Personal Learning Network by September

This is the Personal Learning Network I would like to have in place by September.  Even though I have a Professional Learning Network already, I can see there are some improvements that I could make.  My PLN contains a lot of interaction with many technologists and teachers from around the world on Twitter.  I use it mostly for sharing and learning about new resources for teaching.  I do follow a lot of technologists, so I am learning about new technologies and applications for technology daily!  I also follow many educators that post blogs.  They are easily accessed by using Google Reader.  All new blog entries are in one place for me to read!  David Warlick gave us some great bloggers to follow too.  I would like to follow these bloggers:  Will Richardson, Ian Jukes, Steven Downs, and Jenny Levine.  Along with that, I would like to focus more on writing, reading, and responding to blogs.  I have used my blog as a place for my teaching reflections right now, and up to this point, kept it private...I was the only one who could access it.  So, I will be opening my professional blog for all to see and respond to.  This is a BIG step for me.  For personal reasons, I have kept it private.  I also plan to use Delicious, a social bookmarking site, in a different way this fall.  So far, it's been used as a place to bookmark sites.  However, Mr. Warlick showed us how to use it as a way to access current material posted online.  I plan to use Delicious in this efficient way.   
I have seen the advantages of blogging with my students, for I've had a class blog for three years.  The students get very excited when they realize they have an audience for their blog entries.  We had a teacher from New Zealand blog to some of the students.  This even prompted the students to inquire about New Zealand and share information about where we live.  The second grade students also communicate back and forth with each other via our class blog.
I would have to say that my Personal Learning Network in September will be a continued interaction with all my fellow collaborators via Twitter.  It will also focus on reading and responding to more blog subscriptions.  Time always seems to be a factor for finding time to collaborate with others.  I am able to receive my tweets and e-mails on my phone, so that helps.  However, my Blackberry Smartphone doesn't always allow me to access the links that are shared from Twitter.  Therefore, I am going to allow more time for writing, reading and responding to blogs at home.  I am excited to make these changes to enrich my Professional Learning Network!

Thanks to David Warlick for the awesome workshop on PLN's!
Wisconsin Education Innovations
http://davidwarlick.com/wordpress/

Definition of a Personal Learning Network

A Personal Learning Network is a collection of people who have similar interests and share their enthusiasm with others.  It's a place to find resources to help you become the best professional that you can be.  Since education and technology are changing at a rapid rate, a network of professionals collaborate and keep up-to-date on the latest research-based methods.  Nings, wiki's, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Delicious are just a few ways the learners connect with others around the world.  The Professional Learning Network allows a supportive framework for similar areas of interest. 
As David Warlick stated, everyone's Professional Learning Network looks different.  According to Warlick, "It's a network of people and information sources that help us to do our job...a continuation of ideas."  He also said that it is important to start a blog, and from there, many can reflect upon your thoughts.  Some bloggers that do just that are Will Richardson, Jenny Levine, Steven Downs, and Ian Jukes.
After all, the 21st century teacher must be a master learner.  We now have new boundaries for learning...they are each other.  The sky is the limit with the ever-changing technological world!

Thanks to David Warlick for the awesome workshop on PLN's!
Wisconsin Education Innovations
http://davidwarlick.com/wordpress/

Why Blog?

A blog is a wonderful tool to use for journaling your thoughts and ideas. You can also use it as a questioning tool that the students can use to respond to. As a classroom teacher, I also use it to communicate with parents and other teachers. Our second grade class has corresponded with a teacher from New Zealand, and we have learned about where she lives and shared with her too!

Home at Last!

Our family had a wonderful vacation that literally scanned many states along the way to California. We were able to view the breathtaking mountains of Colorado, the beautiful plateaus and formations of Arizona, the astounding arches in Moab, Utah, the Grand Canyon, and the beautiful Pacific Ocean. We found Sand Dollars, shells, and rocks along the coast too. I enjoyed walks and runs right along the ocean shore. We saw dolphins, seals, and porpoises. The seals were sunning themselves via an inlet on the shore. We also had the chance to go wakeboarding and skiing on Lake Elsinore. It was a blast! However, after 18 days away from home, it feels REALLY good to be back. I am ready to get back in the swing of my regular workout routine and prepare for the two college classes that I will be teaching. God is good all the time.
We have so many things to be thankful for. I had a super time with my family:)

Rest and Relaxation

Yes, summer is a time for rest and relaxation, but we seem to be VERY busy. It is almost like a "catch up" time for us. We are building a HUGE deck around our pool, getting ready for our trip to Cally, followed by a graduate class I'm taking, two graduate classes I'm teaching, and not to mention a graduation party. Wheww! It should be a lot of fun. A super adventure. I don't want it to go by too fast though. I want to take in every single second. I also look forward to reading some more books on my Kindle. I finished one excellent book by Karen Kingsbury, and already have a few more downloaded. I am also bound and determined to stipple and finish the Log Cabin Quilt. These are all intertwined with a daily run. My runs are sooo peaceful. The path I take always has deer wandering around. Today I saw a doe and a fawn crossing the trail. I love it!!
Tomorrow will be a planning day for the classes I'm teaching. I am also looking forward to going to Eclipse with some friends soon.
I hope all the students are continuing to read this summer! We worked so hard on our reading this year. I even gave each student two books to keep. This, along with a visit to the public library, will hopefully keep the kids stocked with rich reading material for the summer. Raz-Kids was offered...but none of the students have attempted to log in this summer...This is very unfortunate. READ ON!!!!

Running...What I Love to DO:)

Now that summer is here, I have a lot of time to just go out on the trails and run.  I love it so much, because I can just do it without focusing my thoughts.  I grab my mp3 and just go.  For the most part, it's a great stress-reliever and ultimate high.  I feel great for the remainder of the day.  If I don't run, I am sooo crabby.  Go figure.
Anywhooo, I have been averaging between 6-8 miles a day.  That sure beats the measly 4-5 during the school year.  Which is not done on a regular basis anyway. 
However, the one thing that I really haven't gotten into is racing.  When I run, I truly do it to relax.  I rarely time myself or push myself to beat a certain time.  Some may find that odd, but that's just me. 
I do find that I ponder and think about a lot when I run though.  I often talk to the Lord as I run through the beautiful trails.  I see deer, all kinds of birds, beavers, turtles, fish, and even badgers.  I think I got the closest to a deer the other day.  It was right on the side of the trail as I ran past it.  My husband said that it probably had a fawn nearby.
There even are times when I am overcome with emotions.  I am so thankful for all my blessings and nature is so grand and overwhelming.  Music also tends to play a hand in that.
Every second of every day is magical...especially when running.

Summer Vacation is Finally Here!

Wow, what a fast school year!  I can't bellieve it is summer already.  We had a very successful year in second grade.  I am hoping that all the students read a lot of books this summer.  I would like them to continue their progress.  They improved by leaps and bounds.  I know they will need the support of their parents to do this.

I also encouraged the kids to go to Raz-Kids, our web site, and blog.  I would love to hear what they are doing this summer.

What kind of vacations do you go on in the summer?