Reflection Over The Semester

• Three “Wow/AhHa” Reflections
• Letter Pop – Letter Pop was one of the neatest tools that I learned about that is just out there and if free. I think it is a great tool for teachers to use. I think if more teachers knew about it, they would utilize it. It is so simple since the format is all set up for you, and you can customize it however you want. This is definitely something that I plan to use in my classroom and will share with other teachers that I meet.
• Learning how to make a website – I really think that learning how to make a website was one of the most valuable things that I learned in the classroom. I really liked using eZediaQTI, because it is so simple to use. I am very excited about keeping my website up, and changing it around to use in my classroom. I hope that I can share my knowledge about how to make a website with fellow teachers if they ever need help.
• Learning how to make a podcast – When I first entered the class, I hardly knew what podcasting was, nor did I have any idea of how to make one. I thought that you had to have an iPod. I’m so happy that you can make a podcast on either a Mac or a PC. I hope to do some podcasting in my classroom. I think it would be really helpful to do a podcast in the classroom if there are a bunch of students absent.

• Six Classmates Website Reflections
• Jennifer Meyer

Great website! I love how it is so colorful and fun! I really like the fonts! I’ve got to find out where she got them from. The whole site is very kid friendly. I like how there is a professional tab; I think I will do that on mine too, next semester.

• Nikki Moody

I like how the website is so simple. Very easy to navigate around. I like the idea of putting a quote on the first page; I have noticed I few people have done that. I think I will too sometime.

• Kerri Sherman

I think there are a lot of buttons on the first page. This would probably be okay for a personal website but not for an elementary classroom. Also, I would make all the buttons the same size and same font for consistency.

• Kayla Juenemann

I like the idea of having photos, which I do have. I really like how she split her photos into two categories, classroom photos and personal photos. I also like how easy it is to navigate around her website. There are not too many buttons, so it is not overwhelming.

• Sheila Harvey

Another fun website. I like how it is not appealing to either boys or girls (it is not pink or blue), they are very neutral colors. I think the only thing I would change on this one is to get rid of some of the buttons.

• Jessie Deines

I love her first page! It is so colorful and inviting! I think this is another well put together website. It is very easy to navigate around. I really like the colors of the first page, that is what made me look further into it.

• Reflection Over My Own Website
• I really like my website. I think that maybe over the summer or next fall I will change a few things before I start meeting various schools. I know I will put a professional tab on my website, that way I will have a better place to put my resume, classroom management plan, and things like that. I also like the idea of having a quote that inspires me on the first page. I know there are tons of good ones about teachers out there, so I plan on putting that on the first page instead of information about me. I also may change my fonts. I found a lot of really neat ones on my classmate’s websites that I would love to use, ones that are really kid-friendly. Another thing that I may do is change my photos around. I think it would be a great idea to have a section for classroom photos and then a separate section for personal photos. The last thing that I know I will do before I start teaching is change the background of my website. I will need to make it less “girly”. I really like my website for now though. It fits my personality, and is more about me then the classroom that I do not have yet. I think it will be easy to change because I feel confident in working on it by myself.

• Cyndi – I had a great time in your class this semester. I have learned so much. If it wasn’t for this class, I do not know what I would do when it came to technology in my classroom. I am also so happy that I was with Shannon last fall with the Smart Board. Through you two, I have definitely gained so much knowledge about technology. I don’t know what I will do if all of my students don’t have their own laptops in my classroom, and if I don’t have a Smart Board (or something similar). Thanks for being such a great teacher this semester! - Ashley