Write On!!!

I have to share a fabulous resource for writing!  It was featured on the ilearntechnology blog a few weeks ago, but was first tweeted by @johntspencer.  This website http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/ is a tumblr webpage where students can go daily for new, quick picture writing prompts.  The pictures and topics are geared for middle school grades, however, some could be adapted for upper elementary grades as well.

                                           (example writing prompt)


I love the fact that students can quickly go to the website, (either using 1-1 computing or by having the teacher display the site on a projector or IWB) find their creative writing inspiration, and write away!  If students have 1-1 computers, why not have the students blog their responses instead?!?  If students do not have a blog account a simple writing notebook would suffice.  The pictures and topics are really wonderful and can inspire the most reluctant of writers in your classrooms.  I hope you find this website as inspiring as I did!!

~TTT

Back to School: Middle School Tech Style!

This is my first year as a Middle School technology teacher and boy have I already learned a TON! People keep asking me "How do you like it?" I LOVE my new position but it is really different from my last 6 years as a 4th grade teacher. You almost can't even compare the two. I do miss the 4th grade age from time to time, but loving the fact that I know so many of the middle schoolers from when they were 4th graders.:-) I also enjoy the fact that they can do so much more independently! I love technology so the content is awesome. I feel like the first year you teach something new, it's a complete "learning" year, especially for the teacher, as I am already finding out that there actually is quite a difference from 6th grade to 8th grade. Also, planning tech projects for a project-based learning type of class is also different and takes a lot of organization. Overall I must say "so far, so good" and I hope to share my experiences with you right here on my blog....TBC...:-) Lauren <3 Here are a few pics of my new tech lab!