Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail...Is It That Time of Year Again?

I am back at work. Recovering from the traumatic switch from slooooooow pace to out-of-control education pace.

This is where I am at with things...."Think McFly..think!"

So what is an educator to do...Did you say...

LIVEBINDER...I think you did!

Here is a great one on Lesson Planning

Lesson Planning Websites by avidlearner
...cause I know...from experience, that y'all are spending this weekend...revamping and crying into your pillows...with your huge, swellin' noggins...

WAIT! that reminds me of a video.




So if you can't plan...laughing is good too!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

What Happens at EdCamp...Some Details Revealed

So y'all heard..I am going to camp!!! Cool!



Not that camp...although...I admit...Wednesday is beginning to grow on me...

EdCamp is the word on the street. I am beginning to find my new heaven. The "out of the box" style is appealing and working with passionate educators is always a plus...

Speaking of passionate educators...here is quote from Kristen Swanson.

"Teacher's Matter"

The Vampire Slayer???

NO silly, that is Kristy Swanson...

I am talking about Kristen Swanson..the organizer of EdCamp Philly!

Here she is giving a TEDx TALK.



I love this Edcamp model...It's seems to be like Porch Talk (which in my family is the talk you have as you are leaving..you know when you end up on the porch talking for an extra hour!)
That extra talk...the informal, powerful stuff that unintentionally is the best discussion that you have ever had! I think...that's Edcamp.

(Trivia: Amanda in the orange swimsuit, from the first video played Harmony in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer T.V. show...isn't that a coincidence?)


Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Other Posts on this Topic
What goes on at Edcamp...Stays at Edcamp

What Happens at EdCamp...stays at EdCamp...

I am going to my first EdCamp this fall.
What's hilarious?...I have no idea what it is?

Never wanting to be left in the dark...I researched...

Of course a Wiki is the first destination: Edcamp

What I Found Out!

1. Apparently, Edcamps are based on Barcamps...right away I was intrigued...

Will I see Carrie and Mr. Big? Not Quite.

2. Edcamp rules are loosely based on the ones in Fight Club!

Will I see Brad Pitt? Probably not.

Check the Edcamp rules here.

3. Sessions are not planned or scheduled until EdCamp morning.




4. Most of the sessions have a technology focus...so you should bring technology to participate and even...

get this Hermione...

Attend 2 sessions at once...


5. There are variety of educators, from all levels that co-mingle...not distinct presenters or attendees.




6.It's free!!!!

Am I more than excited...yes!!! How excited?



Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out

Web 2.0...Can I have a Substituiton Please?

By this time, you have settled back into your classroom.

As you go through the seven layers of the candy cane forest



you wonder...

Why are some really cool, Web 2.0 tools, blocked in my school?




Why is antipasto so expensive?



While I can't help you with the antipasto...here is an alternative option for some of your Web 2.0 discomfort!

Specifically the...

Creating a Painless or (Less Painful)Web 2.0 Classroom by Josh Flores

This LiveBinder is the answer to your dreams...

Here is the

Table of Contents, as listed under Tab 1:

Tab 1: Because Classroom Management Isn't Enough
Start-up advice and help for transitioning into a Web 2.0 classroom. Wiggio, Moodle, EDU Blogs, Google DOCS, Poll Everywhere and Online-Stopwatch will help keep things organized.


Tab 2: Because YouTube is blocked
Free programs to help get some great educational material to your classroom. YouTube, Any Video Converter and Zamzar.


Tab 3: Because PowerPoints are Boring
Are you as bored of PowerPoint slides and endless bullet points as I am? Try something new for presenting directions or concepts in the classroom or let your students unleash their creativity. Prezi, Voice Thread, Glogster, GoAnimate!, EDU blogs and Photo Story.


Tab 4: Because Students Need Study Skills
Here are my favorite sites I promote to get students studying outside the class. Quizlet, Twitter, Lino Pad, Easy Bib, Google Reader and Diigo.


Tab 5: Because we all do Research
The research essay is something all subject areas look forward to each year. Here's some tools to help make it even more engaging. Google Alerts, Fact Check.org and EasyBib.


Tab 6: Because Computers Break!
Technology is great... when it works. When it doesn't work, use CCleaner and ensure your hard work isn't lost with Drop Box.

Please check it out!!!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Building a LiveBinder...Include Tagxedo

What... tuxedo?



No Tagxedo


Another awesome tool to inspire even the most cranky learner:



And that's cranky!

I was going through the feature shelves at LiveBinder again... and guess what I found?

My new favorite LiveBinder...Writing Resources to Inspire Students

Clicked on the tab Tagxedo and my world changed.

Tired of Wordle...try Tagxedo!

This one is easy-peasy to try. Now I will show you the magic...

1) Start by loading words or
2)Just type in any
*URL
*Twitter Id
*De.licio.us Id
*news
*Search
*RSS (look-up)
3)Choose, color, theme, layout, shape..etc and voila...

Here is what my blog url looks like:


Educational Applications101 Ways to Use Tagexdo

Current Events
1)Visit the Daily Tuxedo
2)Scroll to the Daily tagxedo that appeals to you.
3)Click on the INTERACTIVE link below the image.
4)Use your cursor to select a word within the tagxedo cloud and it goes right to an information source.
LOVE THIS!!!

Ice Breakers

Break the Ice At the beginning of the school year,
ask each student to make a Tagxedo about himself/herself
Show a sample (e.g. one about you, or previous class)
What you like, what's unique about you
Normalize Frequency make the exercise much easier (just give an ordered list of words or phrases)
classic cloud: >40 words/phrases shape: >100
Each student gets a few minutes to talk about themselves
Easiest - each makes a list, teacher makes Tagxedoes
Hardest - each makes own Tagxedo (with shape)

From slide 33

Summarize Chapters of a Book

Use text from the chapter
Highlight selected words to summarize the chapter or lead to the next
Use related shape
Example: Tom Sawyer, steamboat (silhouettes

From slide 50


Try any of these, and I can guarantee that your students will feel like this:


Other posts on this topic:
Digital Textbooks...Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig
Digital Textbooks...It's a Matter of Definition
Building a Textbook From Scratch...5 Reasons to Try LiveBinder
5 Tips for Starting Your Own LiveBinder
Need Videos for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources
Need Images for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources
Building a LiveBinder...Brick by Brick
Building a LiveBinder...Let it Bloom With These Tools

Let me know how it works out for you!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Building a LiveBinder...Let it Bloom With These Tools

And she Blooms, she Blooms, Oh baby! Then she moves, she moves...(Major liberties taken, as per usual.)

My obsession with LiveBinder continues to grow. It has become my new Google. I guess it's because I know each binder was created by someone who used their blood, sweat and tears to create it. (Their body not the band.)

I have this recurring dream though...that Bloom's Taxonomy keeps coming back!

"Bloom's came back...the very next day...Bloom's came back, I thought it was a goner...but."

Wow! Lit Maven...too much sun!

Ya think?


LIVEBINDERS THAT ROCKED MY WORLD...TODAY

Anyway, I am keen to share these new LiveBinder resources under the theme of Bloom's Taxonomy. I absolutely think they offer anyone a crash course in understanding Bloom's as well as incredibly helpful resources. (SO helpful that I continue to have them swirl in my mind.)




TEACHER AS THE AUDIENCE

1) Bloom's Digital Taxonomy by Colleen Young
Check out the second tab, "Quick Sheets". Here you will find definitions, key verbs and possible activities. The last tab, "Posters" has the most amazing Taxonomy wheel. I loved this! I would marry it, if I wasn't already. Please explore...OK one more thing...Under the visual tab, are APPS that relate to the different Bloom's levels...seriously exciting.


STUDENT AS THE AUDIENCE

2) Digital Bloom's Taxonomy by Kelly Tenkely
This LiveBinder is neatly divided into the Taxonomy levels. This one is intended for the students and would be great to share with parents.

So as you create your brand spankin' new resources...consider your Bloom's Taxonomy...you can't ignore it...


Other Posts on this Topic

Digital Textbooks...Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig
Digital Textbooks...It's a Matter of Definition
Building a Textbook From Scratch...5 Reasons to Try LiveBinder
5 Tips for Starting Your Own LiveBinder
Need Videos for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources
Need Images for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources
Building a LiveBinder...Brick by Brick


"What's that scratching at the door?"
"Oh...hey Bloom's...I thought you were a goner..."

And in case you missed it the first time...

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Building a LiveBinder... Brick by Brick

Do you remember last year when you borrowed "stuff" from another teacher. Usually it involved the digging out of a teacher closet, sifting through an entire filing cabinet and then waiting for everyone to go home so you could photocopy without glares.....

Well...No More!!!

Is it a bird, a plane...no it's LiveBinders

So in a sense... instead of stalking the teachers at your school and feeling all sheepish and needy, you can peruse what already exists and build your own "monster" resource without the guilt, constant photocopying and the smell of mildew. (That was all in one sentence. Is that even legal?)

My first year of teaching, I borrowed "grade one" boxes from my friend. So it is a given that just like making bread there is always a starter loaf.

So when I decided to create a LiveBinder, I looked for my "starter loaves"...places to collect information and to "Make it my own"...something that Paula Abdul might say. Whoa Lit Maven! How do you come up with this stuff?

In my current role, I have a recurring request to talk about Guided Reading. Personally, I don't think it is difficult but for some reason it strikes the fear in the hearts of many teachers...

What I Found
I looked up Guided Reading in the general search and found 11 binders. LiveBinders' searches, return binders from the most viewed to the least. Some binders came back from the search and were not complete. But the best part, I searched from home and did not have to politely turn down anyone's "stuff".

LiveBinders that Provided Some "Bricks"

As I looked through each binder I thought:

*What do I notice?
*How does this relate to the criteria I have set?


1. Mrs. Lash's Leveled Library and Resources by Audrey Lash
Tabs Organized by reading levels A to Z.
When you click on a tab, leveled book lists are revealed, AND the sub tabs reveal resources on the Internet that can be used my teachers or students to support their learning.
Amazing amount of work! Great for students and use in the computer lab or shared with parents at home.

2. HHES Fifth Grade Reading
Tabs are labeled Teacher Resources and then books organized by Lexile.
The teacher resources have sub tabs for supporting teachers, students and parents.
The book levels have lesson plans provided for each book.
Besides the templates, I appreciated the parent information.
These resources are more like a collection of paper documents.

3. Communication Arts Resources by Klista Reynolds
Specifically I looked at the tabs are labeled, Guided Reading Resources. However the other tabs provided me with interesting ideas to use in the future. This binder was also geared for higher grades.

4. Guided Reading/Reading Recovery Resources
This LiveBinder was organized by components surrounding guided reading as well as the actual instruction. Definitely a great spot to collect ideas.

5. Balanced Literacy
Incomplete but I liked where it was heading. It complimented what I was thinking.

So what is your topic?
Have you found your starter loaves?

Let me know how it is going!

Other Posts on this Topic

Digital Textbooks...Like Putting Lipstick on a Pig
Digital Textbooks...It's a Matter of Definition
Building a Textbook From Scratch...5 Reasons to Try LiveBinder
5 Tips for Starting Your Own LiveBinder
Need Videos for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources
Need Images for Your LiveBinder...Top 5 Sources

Hey did you know Keanu Reeves was in a Paula Abdul video? No?...Well now you do!
Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!