Thing #3: RSS

I've always had a difficult time catching up with tech tools that involve lots of comments or info.  It seems I want to read everything, but don't have the time.  That's how I came about signing up for google reader.  It kept all of my different sites organized so that I wouldn't miss any topics of interest.  

I knew there were similar "readers" like google's but had never tried them.  

For this course I tried Netvibes and I like it.  I am seriously considering it as my new homepage since iGoogle will soon be gone.  (Netvibes has much more flair anyway).   

One of the things that I like about RSS feeds is that for me they are a one-stop shop.  I can add different feeds from all of my favorite news sites, web pages, library updates, and most importantly they are all in one spot.   Just sign in and everything is there for you to read, view and/or listen.

As a public librarian I used Google Reader to connect with relevant blogs, book review sites (children's, teens and Spanish), and stay on top of current library events.  As a school librarian, a RSS reader can connect me with lesson plan ideas, blogs from fellow educators and one of my favorites, PBS Teachers.  :)

I'm glad to have yet another cool tool to "play" with.  It helps me get ideas for use with my seventh graders.  My own kids like it too because they get to use the tools as well.

Thing 2: Online Communities



stephanandmike.files.wordpress.com

Online Communities are a great way to stay connected.  At first I was hesistant to join Twitter and Facebook because of privacy issues.  However, the more technology courses I took, the more informed I became on how to keep connected in a safe way. 

Using Facebook became a necessity to connect with family and friends who live out-of-state.  It also connected our family when my sister moved hundreds of miles away.  In my opinion, keeping safe online should always begin with the choices we make... So I am careful to "read the fine" print when posting online.

Twitter on the other hand did not really interest me until I began taking a school technology course.  Our professor had us connect with her on Twitter and we were required to "follow" edtucators who were focusing on Web 2.0 in the K-12 classroom/enviornment.  For me, this was an eye opener.   The connections I made with other educators has been fantastic.   Everyday there are new tech topics and things to learn from. 
 
Speaking of new tech tools, I tried the Paper.li and I love it.  It's my Tweet feed but in newspaper format.  Very Cool!  

This is the "Word Wall" poster of one of the Second Grade classes.   They drew the characters and listed the words to describe them.

We worked on a round table and had a lot of fun.  The giggling got stronger when we got to Ms. Viola Swamp.  :D

(Click on the photo for a closer look)

Thing 1: Blogging

Hello All!

I am so glad to be back to blogging.   I kind of missed it but never seem to have time to write.  The Cool Tools PD is a great "excuse" to get back to it.

Let's see, my name is Rosa and I have worked as a Children's Librarian in a public library, a reference librarian at a college and currently a school media specialist at Lincoln Park School 44 in Rochester.  I absolutely love reading to children.  It is so much fun to see their reactions when different things happen in the stories.  Today we made a "word wall" of Miss Nelson is Missing and the second graders drew pictures of the characters along with the words.  (Will put up a photo later).

I decided to take this PD because this is my first year as a librarian-teacher.  I want to be better equipped to teach fun technology to my students.  In the beginning I was focusing a lot on making copies and having the students work on worksheets.   (How they whined and protested).  However, I realized that the school library should be a fun place where you can check out books and learn how to be tech savvy.  With this in mind, I hope to incorporate all the fun things we will be working on in this program.