Crystal+Searles

=**Introduction** =
 * Hello, hello! My name is Crystal Searles. I am a new hire for the 2011-2012 school year. I will have the pleasure of teaching 1st Grade at Elmont Elementary. I am excited to learn as much as I can this summer and meet as many fellow teachers! :o) **

=Wiki*s = **1st Grade in Florida!**
 * Find units, free worksheets, and other fun things from across the country!! **

= = =Professional Learning Assignment =
 * SMART Ideas! :o)**
 * Smart boards are taking over... and this wiki gives you all kinds of fun ideas for the classroom! **
 * I have joined Twitter (SearlesC) and Thinkfinity (csearles). I am already a member of Smart Exchange (csearles@usd345.com) and Delicious (cstars06). **


 * I'm not sure if I'm just so use to facebook that I had a hard time with twitter... or what the deal is. I "followed" a few people, some being friends, others hopefully being educational resources for the future. I "tweeted" an old classmate and wasn't happy with the 140 character limit! However, I am willing to continue to familiarize myself with it more throughout the summer, and my attitude about it may be more open come August! :o) **


 * I love Thinkfinity and have joined many groups. I thought it was user-friendly and has a lot to offer. I was really pleased how the groups are broken down into specific categories. This really helps you narrow down what you are looking for/interested in, and saves TONS of time! In the past year, I have learned that a teacher's worst enemy is time! **


 * Last, but not least... Delicious is a big favorite in my book! I wish I had saved all of my bookmarks from the Mac I returned in May on my account. It is a summer project I have planned to do so please check out my account in about a month! I've spent hours on the computer in the past year, and found tons of good teaching resources! **

=Google Tools Assignment =
 * I definitely see myself using the google Blogger throughout the entire year! I would easily link it to my class website so that parents can easily access it. Depending on what is going on in the classroom, I can update it a minimum of once a week, and it can serve as a newsletter! I believe it would be better than printing something off and sending it home with students in their homework folders. Parents would be able to comment, ask questions, and check in whenever it's easy for them! **

=Web 2.0 Tools Assignment =
 * <span style="color: #009fff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Spell with Flickr : Spelling and vocabulary words. One could easily display this website on the screen and either do a whole-class activity with it, or use it as a center. I think the students would be completely fascinated (as I was :] ) with the idea that the letters change with just a click, or touch. If I were to do it as a whole-class activity, I would incorporate some hands-on writing with students that are just sitting at their desk. After each style of letter has be chosen, the students could do their best to draw it out on paper and color. The more hands-on and fun, the better results! :) **

<span style="color: #009fff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Vocaroo:** **<span style="color: #ff00de; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Reading (fluency). I remember when I was younger, my 2nd grade teacher would send us to an empty classroom to record ourselves reading a book of our choice, every quarter, old school style. In high school, she sent me the tapes of my readings and I thought it was the COOLEST thing ever to hear my squeaky little kid voice! I would use Vocaroo kind of as a substitute for AR. Students can read their books, or writing papers aloud, email it to either myself, or even their parents. I know it doesn't substitute from the comprehension piece, but overall, I think parents, students, and teachers would LOVE it! =) **

**<span style="color: #ff3f00; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">BONUS!! **

 * <span style="color: #009fff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Jing: <span style="color: #ff00de; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">You can use this web 2.0 tool to help leave computer instructions either for your students, or possibly a substitute teacher! **
 * <span style="color: #ff00de; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Check out Jing! **

<span style="color: #b317f2; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Teacher Webpages

 * <span style="color: #ff00de; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">To my website, I added a link with links to free online learning games... which I will continue to add to. I also added a link to better guide parents with online ordering through Scholastic! For now I can't put the appropriate Scholastic link for parents, because during the summer it isn't up and running! :(On my homepage I put the link for my google Blogger! **

<span style="color: #009fff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Come visit my page!