Thing #3

Ways that I might utilize a blog in my teacher education program is to create a timeline of my progress and experiences. I think it will be amazing to look back and see where I began, and what has transpired throughout the entire journey!

Ways that I might utilize a blog in my classroom are limitless! I can blog about activities we will be doing in the classroom, books we are currently reading, goals and rules that can be reinforced at home, among many other things. I will have the ability to interact with parents without having to bring them in for a meeting, or sending home letters everyday, where I might forget to include something; I can see how a blog could eliminate that problem. I can use one spot that parents past and present can log onto for resources and to gain other information about the classroom! I think it is a wonderful idea, and a great opportunity to interact more than the one or two conferences throughout the year. As a parent, I would really enjoy having a blog I could go check out for my children's classrooms. I plan to use that perspective to create my blog once I get into the classroom!!!

Thing #2

My previous experience with blogs is very small! I have used others blogs for craft projects, or ideas for recipes, adn decorations, however I have never had my own. I love to read others blogs and their experiences with life events. I know many families who have a blog of vacations, or even everyday life. Which is wonderful, it seems to be like a giant, well organized year book. I love to write, so I am unsure why I have not considered blogging, but now I don't want to stop! I decided on my posted name Stephanie Freeman because I want this blog to be a valid representation of ME! I have just embarked on a new journey by getting into Graduate school, and I am extremly excited not only to use this blog in this class, but throughout my time in Graduate school! Creating this blog was extermly easy! I almost thought I was doing something wrong because of the simplicity! My avatar reflects my personality well I belive. I am very happy, I try to smile all the time, and I am outgoing. I think that this avatar embodies those qualities. The avatar looks as close to me as I could get it to! My hair is not that short, but I didn't like any of the long hair styles. I would also probably wear the outfit the avatar has on, I am pretty simple and that is the way I tried to dress her!

Thing #1

Being a Lifelong Learner... The hardest of these habits for me would be to create my own learning toolbox! Sometimes I don't know exactly what I will need, or where to go for information, so I tend to have an overload of tools! Finding specific tools and resources that best fit anything I am doing would be ideal, but I have not quite mastered that! The easiest of these habits for me would be that I take responsibilty for my own learning. Nothing I have accomplished so far in my education could have been done if I did not put this habit into practice. I made a consious decision that no matter what the circumstance; having a child, moving cross country, or financial set back, I was going to make it through college, and continue to graduate school...which is where I have made it to!! GO ME! However I will not stop taking responsiblity for my own learning EVER, there is no time when you can have to much knowledge, as a future educator I find this to be very important to remember and instill in students. Web 2.0 is something that before this class I wasn't aware I had used. After discovering what defines Web 2.0, I know now that I have in fact used it, and will be doing so quite a bit more within this class. For instance just by setting up this blog I am using Web 2.0!! Blogger has made this process incredibly easy. I am very excited to "track" our progress through class, and most likely continue with a blog thereafter!