Bp3_littlebirdtales.com

littlebirdtales.com

This post refers back to Bp_2 and the recommendation of littlebirdtales.com.

The littlebirdtales website is fairly simple and has good directions. YouTube had tutorials for littlebirdtales, and there were also some great examples of completed projects. I think the simplicity of this Web2.0 tool is what makes it great. Introducing it to my students really was the impetus for a great discussion about stories. Then as everyone began to write stories there was a lot of sharing of ideas. Both about the written work and how to illustrate the story. As I observed the students the collaboration was awesome!

I had heard of other teachers using littlebirdtales, and although I stayed away from this Web2.0 tool thinking it was “too juvenile” for my adolescent students I finally decided to just do it. I created my own tale about a field trip we took.  Then I showed it to the class. We went though the program noting the recording capabilities, the drawing section and all the other great features of littlebirdtales. We also read other “public tales”.  There was a wide variety, one was about boyfriends.

Then the fun began. The  first part of the assignment was to write a short story. We reviewed what made a story a great story. Everyone was involved in brainstorming so we created a mind-map so everyone would have a visual to refer to as they began to write.

As a teacher I am always amazed at what works in the classroom. There are times that I have spent many hours developing a lesson plan. Then when I share it in class the outcome was not what I planned. Sometimes that is just fine. We go in another direction.

This is really wonderful learning to jump in and explore Web2.0. Now thanks to Pete and his recommendation to try Schoology   I am going to that site and plan a lesson for next week.

http://littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/38179

BP_2 i Google Screen Shots

Getting back to iGoogle and adding to it was really fun. I am so amazed at the options for iGoogle. I have been using it as my home page, but that was really just the beginning there are so many other uses for it. I choose a new gadget. It is similar to a tide chart. It shows the wave height at Waimea Bay on Oahu. We often check the surf report for Maui, and then compare it to the surf report somewhere else in the world. Now I have the Waimea Bay surf report at my finger tips.

A shout out to WIMBA! On Tuesday everyone was sharing different 2.0Web Tools that they are using. The site, littlebirdtales.com was mentioned. So Tuesday night I went to the site and created a book. At school on Wednesday I shared the book with my students. I asked them to write a short story. Then I explained that they would use that story to create a book, using the littlebirdtales website. They loved it! They had fun writing the stories, and even more fun illustrating  the books. 

BP1_Welcome to my blog post.

Hello! My name is Melinda Lyle-Javier

Being a teacher at a small independent school on the island of Maui is wonderful. Last year as I observed my students I realized I really wanted to continue my education. I wanted to improve my understanding of the use of technology in the classroom.

The majority of my middle school students are either gamers, write programs, or are Facebook fanatics. I knew it was time for me to jump on the superhighway of technology so I could move ahead of my students. Along came Full Sail University and I am definitely on my way.

Using this blog will help me interact with other teachers and educators. I am looking forward to this experience.

As for my life outside of school and Full Sail, I have 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters. Both of my daughters were teachers for a few years and now they have both returned to college. My oldest granddaughter is 13. She will be attending high school next year, which can't be possible since I am so young! Anyway, I love my family and they are along with my on the Full Sail ride.