Partnership for 21st Century Learning

The Partnership for 21st Century Learning website is a thorough site. This site contains a wealth of information. I was not aware that so many states were listed under the state initiative tab. I wondered why those states are listed and others are not and how these states got involved.
However, I was surprised that there is not a place to blog and or communicate with other educators. The only way to contact someone is through a mailing address. This site contains many recent articles from newspapers and other journals. I couldn’t find anything that I disagreed with on this site. It had adequate resources, reputable members, and a concise mission statement. This is a website that is geared more towards teachers and adults. Unfortunately, it does not really apply to students.

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Utilizing Blogs in the Classroom

Although a blog based on showcasing student work would be ideal, I think that I would use my blog for students to interact through content. I would use blogs in my second grade classroom for social studies and science. I believe that this activity would enhance the lesson by allowing students to share their views and ideas, read what others are thinking, and respond according to what they believe. Blogging will also stir up controversy. Each child will not always have the same opinion, therefore, students can express themselves using their words to provide details for their position. Blogging provides an additional way for instruction. It will undoubtedly get the class interested. They will listen more intently so that they may be able to blog effectively.

Alpha Smarts

Incorporating Alpha Smarts into my classroom is a goal that I have for the rest of the 2008-2009 school year. I have a difficult time getting my second grade class to write more than a paragraph on any given subject. They can construct a web with details just fine. However, when it comes to taking those ideas and writing a thoughtful response many get stuck or put something down on paper just to be done. I have used Alpha Smarts in my previous classrooms but I find that it takes up a substantial amount of time. So many students are working on different levels and this is time consuming. My school has bought into so many programs that writing has become more integrated into the other subjects. There isn’t the time available each day for drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. How can I make Alpha Smarts work in my classroom with a limited amount of time? Also, any tips for classroom management while using such a fun piece of technology with small children?