Reflecting on my GAME face...

I have learned a LOT through this course! The Cennamo book stays with me, not just for quick class review, but solid, usable teaching. I found the simple steps of the GAME plan to be nothing but a new name for the same old trick, but this acronym works because it is easy to follow. I have found new ideas and different applications to use in achieving goals I have set for years. Using the GAME plan has put me on a time-line for completion, and for my 2 NETS-T goals for involving parents and community members with online collaboration, I am set. (Now, let's hope they are as excited to use and communicate with me through such easy means!)

Upon learning of my unrequested transfer from teaching 8th grade earth science to 5th grade self-contained, I have had my world turned around. I find I am now hopeful and entertained by the new minds I will be meeting, rather than boo-hoo'ing over those I am "losing". I have a very small classroom with little storage for this year which means cleaning out all those unused "rainy day" supplies I've held for so long. I will have Mac wireless notebooks in my classroom which will free me from keeping up with all the paperwork that "must be" submitted. I am eager to get their little fingers and minds working through the wonderful technology tools I am bringing to the classroom.

By far away the best tech tool I've acquired this term is the Digital Storytelling. I am so excited to use it, that I have lessons planned for the first week of school! Maybe catching the kids early will let them see the wonderful educational prospects that come with learning online...I know I have!

GAME plan for students

Using the GAME plan to work through and continually monitor and update goals is a simple process. Students also love to take the simplest possible means to completing tasks and are usually willing to work if those means are fast and easy to follow. Keeping that in mind, I believe it will be easy to use the GAME plan procedures with my 5th graders, IF I establish the process early on in the year.

Review of the NETS-S confirmed the work I have been doing on my content area plan and other assignments I have been constructing for the beginning of the year. My own GAME plan relates to the students' NETS for Communication and Collaboration. They will be using a blog page very early in the year and I plan to insert digital storytelling at the beginning of the year, also. The stories will work with the Creativity and Innovation. The other 4 NETS-S are integrated throughout my lessons. I believe I will be able to have my students modeling the NETS-S quite thoroughly without them even knowing what they are accomplishing. Of course, I will introduce them to the reasons behind the work we are completing, but I think I'll let them get comfortable first.

GAME on!

Revising the GAME plan

I just read back over my original goals and found I am moving forward rapidly towards success! This is surprising to me, since I thought I would be working much harder (and longer) to accomplish such short successes. My week is winding down now and I have a clearer mind to focus on my objectives. The goals for my focus, so you don't have to look back like I did, are the #3 goals of the NETS-T: online collaboration tools and digital formats for parents and students.

First off, I FINALLY retrieved the Mac (but it's wireless and my house is not) and look forward to using it for the next month. Thanks to some suggestions, I will be playing with GarageBand first.
I already mentioned setting up the communication links with parents and students (and if you read my initial discussion post for this week, you'll understand) which puts me in the right place for returning to school. I will now advance my focus to online-digital tools for students in the classroom. The blocks and filters in my district are very discouraging, but I have found some success when requesting released links through my principal. We will see...

on a side note...anyone else realize that in just 4 short weeks we will begin our FINAL semester????? WOO HOO!

Progress???

Well, defining progress towards such goals as I've listed could be borderline hazy. I did not yet pick up the Mac laptop, but have one waiting for me. Personal family medical craziness have put my brain in other places. Today I received news of my "aunt" passing unexpectedly and no longer have my head in the GAME. So, progress is not a good term for me this week.

With that said, I have concluded setting up my Google calendar, my Yahoo Group, yahoo email linked to the group, and a Facebook account for the Yahoo group. (Ok, right now, when I find time, I play Frontierville with it, but hey...it's still summer and I can delete all that!) I have made all the progress towards setting up information with my parents for next year that I can until I have a class list and know who to contact and inform.

I cannot remember my other goal at the moment and will look back to see what, if anything, needs to be or can be done prior to returning to the classroom.

Monitoring the GAME plan progess...

Well, I have officially created a Yahoo Group for my new classroom! I had to create a new Yahoo mail account, which I deemed necessary to keep work separate from my personal account. All the steps were easy to do, bar 1...naming the Group! I finally landed on The Olsen Outpost, which seems lame but efficent for the reason it was set up. I have not posted on the wall yet, since I am the only member, but I now have the email & group for my parents to receive at the opening of the school year! I am very excited to get this underway and hope to have enough participation that it will stay useful. Next step is to create another Google Calendar for links between the 2 and access for whichever they prefer. I guess I'm moving forward...

Carrying out my GAME plan...

I would love the think I am getting somewhere with my GAME plan, but I feel like I've only been playing games! Games of checkers, Yahtzee, and multiple card games, as well as ball & tag...games...you know, the ones 2- & 4-year-old little boys LOVE! So, truth be told, I haven't worked on my GAME plan, but I know where I am going to start.

Thanks to last weeks insights and suggestions, I will be starting with John's idea of a Yahoo Group for my parents and/or students. I did send an email requesting information about the availability of internet use for my parents without, but I have not received a response. I know my middle school always recommended the public library, and I'm sure the elementary I'm moving to will not be much different, but I have hope! I guess that means I have at least started thinking about my GAME plan...

As for resources, well, that seems an endless wish-list! I will need to have parental support, staff support & help (we have multiple teachers in the same grade level), and support from the IT department! I will be hoping to receive a Promethean board from a grant writing initiative and look to investigate all the wonders that would mean for a classroom, instead of a school-wide computer lab. Hey, in these economically challenging times, it pays to dream big!

Developing a GAME plan

I have been trying to follow and incorporate the NETS into my curriculum for the last 2 years. I have become very comfortable with most of the 5 NETS, but would still consider myself weak in the Modeling of Digital Material subset. I work in a school district that has very little technology at the teachers' disposal. I keep a school website, a classroom blog, and use email constantly to communicate with my parents; all of this does not mean I am fulfilling the requirements of the objectives set by the ISTE for this directive.

My GAME plan involves the "upgrade" of myself in the Modeling of Digital Material objectives. The primary focus will be of 3b "collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation" and 3c "communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats."

My Goals are to become more involved with communications in digital formats other than those used, and upgrading the use of those in place, for parents & community members. I will update and revisit my website much more often and post a blog discussion each week. I would like to have parents link to Google Calendar with me to see the lesson plans and other critical information I can add, such as field trips, paperwork due dates, and such. I will need to concentrate more efforts towards parental communications this next year, since I will be teaching elementary school after 10 years of middle school. HELP!