Parents Aren't Necessary

This was quite a different perspective on parent's involvement.  It first started out with “parent bashing”. Then it explained that teachers have the children for over 15,000 hours so the teachers have actually more time than the parents with the children.  I think the article didn’t consider that classrooms are bigger in the number of students than previously.  If teachers were able to, I’m sure they would love to spend more time with the students, but because of the number of students this is realistically not possible.  

Parents Aren't Necessary for Students to Learn

Social Bookmarking

I just read a paper on social bookmarking called "7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking".  Most people understand bookmarking as a way to identify a site you want to save.  What I found really interesting is that these social bookmarking sites periodically try the site you have bookmarked to make sure it works and then lets you know if it doesn't.  I think this is a particularly useful tool.

7ThingsYou Should Know About Sociabookmarking

7 Things You Should Know About Wikis

I was amazed when reading this that so many people use Wikis and their different environments, from schools to taking board minutes.  It is such a universal tool.  The only draw back is that people can edit each others work.  However, I think and hope that people will only make edits to clarify or correct wrong information.


7 Things You Should Know About Wikis, Educause.  Retrieved on July 15, 2013. 
http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-wikis 

Teach Social-Emotional Learning for Better Schools, Safer Neighborhoods

This is an article about a teacher awakening to the problem of neighborhood violence and taking steps to help resolve the problem.  I found this article to be interesting because it doesn't matter where you live violence affects everyone.

Morgan, Laura (2013) Teach Social-Emotional Learning for Better Schools, Safer Neighborhoods, July 16, 2013.  Retrieved on July 20, 2013.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/SEL-better-schools-safer-neighborhoods-laura-rabb-morgan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

7 things you should know about Skype

I found that this article about Skype to be very interesting, especially the low cost or free service it offers.   The potential for video conferencing between classes at different schools without the cost of having the equipment or event a phone line is very appealing.  The drawback is the security and large amount of bandwidth it uses have led schools to band the use of it on their network.  I think for Skype to be available to schools, it must address the security issues.

7 Things You Should Know About Skype, Educause, http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-skype

Want to Amplify Student Voice? Write a Book Together

This is a great article showing ingenuity on how to get students involved and to take ownership of a project.  The school is Oslo, Norway and the teacher, Ann Michaelsen, came up with an idea for her and her students to write a book together.  Ms. Michaelsen teaches a mandatory English class and said the students were struggling.  The book is called Connected Learners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Global Classroom.  

Boss, S., Want to Amplify Student Voice? Write a book Together, retrieved July 11, 2013, from
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/amplify-student-voice-write-book-together-suze-boss?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Chapter 4, Wikis

This was a very interesting chapter to read.  After years of hearing all the negativity of Wikipedia and the inaccuracies of it, this chapter presented the information in a different light.  You still have to double check your information but most people post accurate information on it.  Additionally, I found the aspect of people worldwide posting on one wiki really inspiring. 
Richardson, W., (2010), Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, 3rd Ed, Chapter 4.

Recreational and Educational Value of Math Puzzles

This article was interesting because I enjoy puzzles and am not good at math at all.  I think the author is correct in saying that teaching math through a puzzles is motivational to a student.  Solving the puzzle is a great motivation tool.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recreational-educational-value-math-puzzles-deepak-kulkarni?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Teaching At-Risk Youth: Looking Back at 50 years

This article states the so obvious.  To turn at risk students around to be productive, the most important thing to show the student is that you care.  Short and so simple.

Edutopia - the Persistent Appeal of Technology in Learning

I  found this article to be interesting due to the combining education and technology.  It basically said that technology can reach multitudes, has "bells and whistles, and can be personalized.  To me this is a perfect direction we want to go in.  I took it as we can reach our students in their home territory; we can provide interesting features in the material to keep their attention; and finally, perhaps more importantly, the educational program can be personalized so that is meets their style of learning.
Edutopia-the Persistent Appeal of Technology in Learning