Thing 4

Commenting on blogs of others help create a sense of community and interaction because that is exactly whats going on. The blog world is a community where people share their thoughts and other information that are useful to its readers. When a person comments on a blogger's page, the interaction made develops a connect between the two. Whether the comment is positive or negative, it provides feedback to the blogger about their post. Interaction is good. Encouraging others to post comments of their thoughts and concerns also lets the readers know that their opinions are important and valued.

Showing the author of a blog that you are hearing them and what they have to say would be the most important factor about commenting. If you did not comment on the post, more than likely you were not listening to what the blogger had to says anyhow. Setting the stage of allowing the readers to leave comments and inviting them to your blog to make such post freely is another important factor. Its important that the readers feel that their responses are important so they will leave comments. Asking questions and leaving open ended questions for the readers to respond to are helpful ways to interact with the reader. Make sure your readers know that you want them to leave comments.

I read one of Vicki Davis also known as the cool cat teacher's post about 10 ways to being a terrible teacher. The title is what grabbed my attention, but as I read her post I began to laugh because I believe everyone have had at least one terrible teacher that meets all of the 10 things listed. The information she shared was very useful because going into the teaching field, I do not want the reputation of a terrible teacher or a TT as she called it. Her is the link to this blog. I think its very inspirational on what not to be. http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2011/10/10-ways-to-be-terrible-teacher.html


Steve Smith had two pretty good pictures on his thing 7 post of the sunrise and sunset. Those pictures were the first things I saw when I got on his page and they caught my attention. He said he had taken them himself when he was camping on Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tennessee. http://morwessar.blogspot.com/

Reading a post that Emily Howell made about ways she would use her blog in her classroom and why made me nod my head agreeing. She brought up a good point about how military families are often set away from the rest of their families or spouses, parents, or siblings maybe deployed and using a blog is a good way for those away to stay engaged in what the student is doing in their classroom. This is a very good point being a military spouse of  a solider who is deployed currently. http://elihowell.blogspot.com/

Jessica Baggett brought up a good point to post lesson plans on her blog so that when students are absent, they can go to the blog and view everything that they had missed for that day. This would be very useful. Even in the college setting. http://jbb23things.blogspot.com/

Rumming around Google. It is the title of Shaka's post. She blogged about 2 tools on the Google website that are very useful. The Google translator and Google alerts. She made very good points to why these tools are useful, but in all honesty, I went to her page out of curiosity because I say that she was already on thing 12 and its taking me forever to complete mines and manage to do my work in my other 5 classes.  http://technology-twsfinalfrontier.blogspot.com/

Another great Google tool that was blogged about in a blog of Christine Luke was the Calendar. The Google calendar allows you to share your calendar with whom ever you wish, making it great to keep parents and guardians informed about what is taking place in your classroom. http://cluketacklingtechnology.blogspot.com/

23 things in bling caught my eye when I clicked on Michelle Clark's page. She found a website that makes logos. It was different and unsuspecting. She did mention however that the website did not give as clear instructions as she would have liked. The logo was an eye catcher though if you are up for the challenge. http://clarkmv.blogspot.com/

Thing 3

Using a blog in a classroom can be very beneficial. It can provide classroom management, be used to inform students of class requirements, post handouts, notices, and homework assignments, or act as a question and answer board. Blogs are a great way to meet the federal and state literacy requirements allowing the students to read and write on their own blogs as well as others on a wide spread of content. Not having much experience with them, I can say thus far it has been fun and that the students like participating in activities that are out of their norm. Blogging would be a great way to set a new atmosphere while keeping them aware of the latest technology and expanding their computer skills. They will be able to interact with the computer, learn the keys, how to insert hyperlinks, upload pictures, and make graphics such as avatars. If any child needs any extra help, on the blog they will have access to additional worksheets, websites, and myself for any assistance need. Parents involvement would be encourage so the parents would be well aware of what is happening in the classroom, their children's grades, and it would be a helpful communication tool for those who have a difficult time meeting with me. 

Thing 2

Prior to this, I have no experience with blogs. I have never read or wrote in a blog before taking the Educational 3040 Instructional Technology course. This is a first. Overall the experience was easy and fun. On occasions I may run into a few minor hiccups such as placing my avatar on my page. When I decided to post a name for my blog, I wanted something more appropriate for the school setting. Whats better than Ms. McCombs's Classroom? My avatar is there as a symbol of what I represent. I am black American who loves smiling, learning, and teaching. Teaching is a gift that everyone does not have. My clothes represent professionalism. It's my captains uniform. The laptop is an indicator that I am always aware of the newest information, important for the success of my students. Its the playbook where all my plays rest. I too am a student (player) and the only difference between me and those I will teach is I will have more experience. The background of my avatar is my playing field. It's where all my plays come to life.

Thing 1

Which of the lifelong learning habits were the hardest and easiest for me? HUM?? I found habit 2 of the 7 1/2 to be the hardest and both 1 and the 1/2 to be the easiest. When ever I go about doing something, I usually have a goal already in mind. This is what I want, so now what do I have to do to reach my goal. But typically when I come across an obstacle, I would marinate on it just a little longer than I probably should. I have the tenancy of over thinking everything. Which in some ways can be good, but I also know how to enjoy the learning experience. What doesn't kills you only make you stronger!!!! So why not have fun on the journey?!?

Then the question was asked, "While playing with the web 2.0 tools and setting up this blog, what did I learn and experience?"  Well I learned how to obviously set up a blog and make a post. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. The experience was rather memorable, so I am excited to use more of this blog to express my feelings, thoughts and concerns about this classroom, and take the experience to help students when I get in my own classroom.