https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix Made students in mind en-us 2017-10-29 14:32:25 UTC 2025-10-08 19:48:11 UTC hello@padlet.com laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201494897 Middle School Principal Jim Asher shares his value of social media in the classroom, school and district. Asher shares different ways his teachers and students are connecting with the world. My connection is with Middle School and being a tech leader in our building and district. Similar to Asher, sometimes the push has to start with one person, as I often feel that "one person" is, me!]]> 2017-10-29 14:34:10 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201494897 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201497088 Tech savvy middle school, English teacher Jenna Smith decided to add a twist to her literature circles and had groups of students Skype and discuss a common read with students in another class, at another school. I connected with this article as I also teach middle school and run a techie classroom. I plan to work on arranging this for my students ;) ]]> 2017-10-29 14:56:20 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201497088 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201498280 Teacher Alice Keeler set up a class Twitter account and tweeted that her students needed soil samples to test. The class asked for soil sample to be sent to them- how fun! I couldn't help but think of how I could bring this idea into a Language Arts setting. Perhaps, this is a way to connect with our community and get new/used books for our classroom library :) 

]]> 2017-10-29 15:08:28 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201498280 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201499108 Scroll down to #6 and you will find Orono Middle School who started a Tech Wiki for students and teachers alike. The school (students) have created a space/blog where students and teachers can ask questions and find answers. I would love to see something like this on my 1:1 team, or in our building. The building could start a club, or intramural to gain interest. The best part is the teacher-student connections, as there is no differentiation between because we are all learners. ]]> 2017-10-29 15:17:02 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201499108 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201499869 "By the time they get to seventh grade, "they want to do something else besides presentation. They want to actually make their own videos: downloading them, cutting them and making a presentation, so it's really neat to see."

Co-creating around the world. I have to start thinking deeper with my 1:1 pilot program. Students creating and working with students globally. I loved hearing the success stories and teacher comments from these projects that incorporated Edmodo, Skype, blogging and much more!]]> 2017-10-29 15:24:57 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201499869 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201500995 Microsoft Innovator and teacher Pernille Ripp shares her experience with bringing Skype into the classroom. Ripp works hard to personalize learning experiences for her students. I enjoyed how she pairs her middle school students with younger elementary learners for writing projects. She also Skyped with a Canadian Iraqi refugee! What a powerful experience and way to bring in global view points to the Language Arts classroom. I'm in!]]> 2017-10-29 15:35:58 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201500995 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201503991 "I wasn't having my students write enough. In an attempt to follow Kelly Gallagher’s advice that students should write more than we can assess, I decided to have them blog weekly." I was impressed by the success of the blogging exercises in this class, as students' weighed in on their experiences. As a teacher who also follows they ways of Kelly Gallagher, I would like to start having my ELA students blogging. At this time, I just need to decided when and where.]]> 2017-10-29 16:05:12 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201503991 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201505221 Lauralee education blogger shares her experiences with social media projects and how they have challenge language use and definitions in the classroom. I enjoyed reading about the realness; the dynamics of debate that came up in the classroom because of social media. I can see this happening in my ELA class as we start to explore social media projects and blogging! A success to say the least- true arguments and conversation.]]> 2017-10-29 16:17:44 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201505221 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201505733 "I wanted out of this project was to have it become an extension of what was already happening in the classroom, not an ‘add-on’. So, we emphasized that the kids should teach Teddy about what they are currently learning." This project is similar to that of "Flat Stanley," as he travels the world and teaches others about that location. Schools have the option of sharing via Twitter or Skype. 

English Language Arts standards include communication and collaboration expectations, as I feel there are many ways someone like Teddy could be involved in our classroom. Yes, he could travel the world and teach us of new characters and settings, but also share our love of books and reading! ]]> 2017-10-29 16:22:46 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201505733 laura_hamill https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201506819 Author and gamer, Sean Fay-Wolfe teaches students, through Skype,  about the writing process and how he blends his love of writing and gaming. 

To say the least, Microsoft Education and their partnership with Skype has endless opportunities to expand learning experiences beyond classroom walls. I have many ELA students who still love Minecraft and would enjoy hearing from this author. The compliments and shared comments have persuaded me to incorporate this project into my classroom!]]> 2017-10-29 16:32:04 UTC https://padlet.com/laura_hamill/fqahny3xg9ix/wish/201506819