At first I thought it would be a doddle … but, once I sat down to it … it’s made me think REALLY hard about myself as a learner and a fellow student.

So … my dear teacher … here are 5 things I’d like you to know about me:

1. I tend to butt in when other people are talking … I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t seem to be able to stop myself
   Yes, I’m loud … and I talk too much (I know you know that, because you always put it in my report), but I truly don’t do it to be rude … I just have a head overflowing with ideas that I can’t always control – and they seem to burst out.  I KNOW it’s rude, I AM aware of it, and I DO try to control it … it’s a daily battle I’m yet to conquer.  I often get worried that other people think I’m not interested in what they have to say … they’d be wrong … I LOVE to listen and learn from others.
   (It may also be a spinoff from growing up an only child – I always got to have my say whenever I wanted to!)

2. I come across as being a very confident … don’t be fooled …
   Many people get loud confused with confident … the loudness can be a mask to hide behind.

3. I’m a tad OC
   I yearn for order … I LOVE lists … I NEED lists … because my head is so full I can’t remember things unless I write them down … God bless whoever invented post-it notes.  For this same reason I can’t stand to be surrounded by clutter.  I need things to have a place, and be in their place … because there’s always so much I want to do, I simply don’t have the time or patience to waste my time trying to find things.  But … BECAUSE I have so many things on the go at the same time, I DO get untidy = it drives me crazy!

4. I’m a visual/spatial learner
   I know I can come across as being a bit academic, and I can read, interpret and synthesize … but I’d much rather SEE … for me, a picture IS worth a thousand words.
5. Because of #4 … I’m sensitive to how a learning space looks and feels
   I love to work in spaces that: have curves in them (they make me feel calm and nurtured); are filled with beautiful (to me) colours; are neat and tidy and look like someone cares; look out onto plants and great views; have places for collaboration and places for escape (I need alone time to ponder and synthesize); and have the tools I need … close to hand.

Well … that’s me …

So … like those who have gone before me … I’m meant to tag 5 other people so they can write a post similar to this … but I do NOT want them to feel obliged to do so.

I know you’re busy … but it’s an interesting exercise to subject yourself (and maybe your students) to!

Because I though you might enjoy the challenge … I tag YOU … @adrianbruce, @marragem, @lucybarrow, @jjash and @jacquiwellison …

Mrs H xo

… Analog

… Animal

… Animated

… Digital

… World

… and many more.

Mrs H xo

With PowerPoint you ‘transition’ from slide to slide – with Prezi you can zoom in and out and across a (seemingly) infinite space.  You create a ‘path’ that travels along text, images and videos … incredibly easily … resulting in an interesting presentation you seem to just ‘want to watch’.

… and it’s really EASY.  This is my first Prezi – about the Digital Excellence Awards Program.

Watch the Prezi How-To videos before you get started and … have a go!

Mrs H xo

Mess Dudes

Like all the others, with Mess Dude you design your Dude or Dollz from hundreds of different body parts, clothes, items and backgrounds to express your personality and mood!  It can then be downloaded in a variety of resolutions suitable for the range of Web2.0 applications.

Mrs. H xo

Word Clouds are very much like Wordles EXCEPT you can save it to your computer or print it out.  It’s not quite as versatile as Wordle (colour changes etc), but it’s still a pretty good alternative.

How do YOU use Wordle (or Word Clouds) in YOUR classroom?  Here are some ideas I have so far – let me know of any others and I’ll add them in …

• Introduce new vocabulary
• Highlight sight words
• Practise spelling words
• Focus on new words kids will find in a book
• Use it to show understandings in a Unit of Inquiry … eg Who I am (my personality, the things I love etc)
• Here’s a Word Cloud of the Web 2.0 Tools page of this blog:

For MORE ideas … check out …

• 43 interesting ways (and tips) to use Wordle in the classroom – a Google doc
• 23 ways to use Wordle in the MFL classroom – teaching languages
• Using Wordle in the classroom – a slideshow of ideas from Ann Mirtschin – a Vic teacher
• Ways to use Wordle in your classroom – another slideshow

After watching these you’ll never be short of an idea again!

Give it a go and see what you think!

When you look at the Word Clouds take some extra time to look at the rest of the ABCya! site.  It’s a wealth of free computer games and activities for primary school age children.

Mrs. H xo

Smilebox allows you to transform your photos into  a slideshow.  You can choose from hundreds of free slideshow designs for all occasions, add captions, music and up to hundreds of photos. You can then share your slideshow via email or post it to your blog.

Check out the Smilebox the (2M gems) have on their blog.

This tool look likes great fun!

Here’s mine … sorry about the ‘schmaltzy’ subject … but hey, I’m a mother!!:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Mrs. H xo

HOW many times have you heard me say this?  OVER and OVER again I keep trying to emphasize it … but it seems to fall on many deaf ears.  When I talk to lots of teachers and parents (and kids) they are STILL putting the emphasis on the tools … well, It’s NOT about the tools. It’s about the SKILLS.

Think about it … WHY are we pushing integrating ICT into the curriculum?

Think about it … is it VITAL for our students to be able to blog?
Dare I say it?  NO!

Think about it … is it VITAL for our students to have these skills (look at the chart) … ?
HELLO!  YES!

DO read the blog posting – and THINK about it when you’re planning and teaching.  You are NOT doing it so the kids can play with the tools … think SKILLS … like you do with everything else you teach.

Simple, really.

Mrs. H xo

Joyce Valenza helped develop and share this interactive Kids’ Search Poster of free search tools for primary age kids.  It is still a work in progress, so check her blog to see if she updates it.

Mrs H xo