C4K Summary for February

BRIAN'S AWESOME BLOG

Today I wrote a comment for Brian's Awesome Blog.  Brian had won a contest sponsored by his teacher Mr. Avery.  The contest was designed to get family members from each student to leave a comment on the class blog.  The students with the most comments at the end of the month would get their own personal blog.  Brian made a wonderful blog complete with a slide show/video about he and his dog.  He has a great knowledge of how to implement widgets on his blog which is immediately obvious upon arrival.

In my comment, I congratulated him on his work so far.  I noted that I would like to implement some of the same widgets in my blog as well as the slide show/video idea.  I was blown away that a sixth grader could create such a wonderful website.  Brian is a very gifted writer and I hope he continues to build on his blog. I will be dropping in on his blog from time to time to check on his progress.

I got this response from Brian.

Dear Even Bailey,
Thank you for leaving a comment. When we did the Vegemite tasting I tried it, and I thought that it was OK, as long as you didn’t eat too much at a time. It is really fun, when we make math videos in Mr. Avery’s class (and we’re learning).
-Bryan


MELISSA'S CLASS BLOG

This week I wrote a comment on Melissa's blog contained in her classroom blog for her A.P. U.S. Government and Politics course at the Online School For Girls.  Melissa was taking her first online class ever, and in high school of all places.  She said she was very anxious about it at first, but soon found that online courses are easier than she originally thought.  In the end, she claimed to enjoy the fact that the internet can "facilitate meaningful communication" in what Dr. Strange calls the "global classroom".

In my comment I told her that I could relate to her anxiety with taking online courses, because I had taken many of them while attending Troy University.  I told her that I found more understanding and retention of information easier in most online courses I took.  Math was the only exception, and I told her I would rather be in a classroom for a math course.  I asked if she planned on taking online courses in college.

I was really impressed by the fact that she was taking an online course in high school.  I never had that opportunity in 2003.  That must be a reflection of how fast technology is moving into education.  I took Government (although, it was not A.P.) in a class room in high school, and it was the most influential class I had in terms of preparing me for what the world had to offer.

Melissa's class blog was different in format than any other blog I have seen in my short time exploring blogs.  I'm don't know exactly how to describe it, but as far as class blogs are concerned, I think this would be a great format for class blogs.  For anyone viewing this blog, I would invite you to check out Melissa's class blog just to see the way it is set up.

I got this response from Melissa's teacher.

Evan,

I thought I'd send a quick email to both thank and congratulate you on a fine comment on my student's blog post. The time and thought you put into it really shows, and will help Melissa tremendously.

Best of luck in preparing for your teaching career. If you have any questions about our course, or OSG, or about education technology in general, don't hesitate to email me. I'd like the opportunity to return the good energy you gave to my student's post!

Cheers.

Mike Gwaltney

OSG, AP U.S. Government & Politics

AMY'S POEM BLOG

This week I left a comment on Amy's Blog which is a part of Mrs. Garcia's Awesome Class.  Amy wrote a wonderful poem called "The Knewts" in which she recalls a dream.  She thinks the Knewts are out to get her and are coming from everywhere.  Finally, she realizes she is dreaming and wakes up to her mom asking if she wants some jam.  This poem is the work of an outstanding 4th grade writer.  The poem has a certain flow to it that just seems to make sense.

I my comment, I told Amy how wonderful I thought her poem blog was.  There was a line in her poem that said, "I would like to achieve."  This line was the focus of my comment.  I asked her about her dreams and what exactly she had in mind in terms of achievement.  Former UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesner came to her class on Valentines Day, so I had to ask her about that as well.  Amy and her classroom blog is a great insight into what the "global classroom" can do.

I got this response from Mrs. Garcia.

Hi Evan
I just wanted to stop by your blog to thank you and your classmates for commenting on my students' blogs. It is very exciting for them to know that someone is reading their work. Please thank your prof for me. I am so glad that he assigned this task to his class. (or her class???) Obviously he understands the value of writing to an authentic audience.
The students were quite impressed to have Brock here to read to them. He and his brother own land in the area and he can be seen around the town of Virden quite frequently. Several families in town are friends with him so his appearance was the worst kept secret in town! Besides reading a funny story he really has some important messages for our students about working hard and not always being a winner. We truly enjoyed his visit.
By the way, the time lines you have done are very cool. I will have to investigate this program. Thanks again.
Lorie Garcia


I got this response from Amy.


Hi Evan,
I would like to be an actor. When I wrote that poem I thought it would be something you would have a little laugh at. Evan I also have some questions for you. What is a EDM? Sorry, I don’t know that it’s just that I’m 9 and your like,19. I do like to write funny and goofy stories I’ve written about 20. Some of them are on the blog as you can see. Having Brock read to us was awesome. He read us the book called “walter the farting dog” it was funny. My friends dad actualy set the whole thing up because my friend and brock are close friends. How old are you? Please read some more of my stories on the blog. Maybe I’ll post some more, please comment! 
Thanks for the time, Amy. 



E6 SUPERSTARS
This week I left a comment on Mrs. Graham's class, the E6 Superstars at Eastern Hutt School in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.  In their newest blog, entitled E6 Super Star Readers, they read a story together about Greedy Cat.  The author is Joy Cowley and the illustrator is Robyn Belton.  I would assume that Mrs. Graham posted the video of some students in her class reading the story.  They read very well to be so young.  Good things are happening at Eastern Hutt School.  

I commented on the wonderful books in their reading list posted on the blog site.  I also left a comment about an earlier post in which a puppy named Fred visited their class.  I like the fact that Mrs. Grahams class blog allows the parents of these children to keep in touch with what goes on at their child's school.