McGuyer Technoids

Got Advice?

2007-12-10T09:19:00.000-06:00

It seems these days everyone has some bit of advice to bestow on others. Eat healthy, get more sleep, study more, work harder, be kind, etc. Most of the advice I receive is great and I definitely need it. But what about you? If you could give someone your age advice about life, relationships, school-what would you say? What is the one piece of advice you have received that you find is truly beneficial to you?

The biggest task...

2007-12-04T14:01:00.000-06:00

I want to know what is the biggest task you have ever accomplished in life thus far. How did you accomplish this task? What motivated you to accomplish this task?
I often think about difficult tasks before me and at times it seems like there are too many for me! I have to put tasks in order of importance and this usually helps me to accomplish many things. I would say though, the greatest task I am working on right now is being a good mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and teacher. These are tasks that I have been given and some I have chosen and most of these will last all my life. In the end, I hope I have done my very best to accomplish what is set before me.

Cool Tools

2007-11-29T09:11:00.000-06:00

As the semester draws to a close, I am thinking about all of the new cool tools I have learned how to use this year. You too, have been introduced to several new cool tools such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, photo story 3 , movie maker, social bookmarking (delicious), Voki, etc. Out of all the tools you have been introduced to this semester or one that you use on your own that I don't even know about (you should share!), tell me which one is your favorite. Why do you like it? Have you used any of these tools in another class? If not, which one do you think you could use in another class? If you have used a tool that I don't know about, please share with me and give me the site where I can check it out too!

A Time to Be Grateful

2007-11-19T09:34:00.000-06:00

During this time of year many of us are more grateful for what we have than at any other time. What are you especially grateful for this year? Who do you appreciate? How can you show your gratefulness?
One of my goals for the coming year is to start a gratitude journal. I really want to reflect on my day and try to think of at least 3 things I am grateful for each day. I recently read in the newspaper that by doing this I could possibly live longer.
What are some things you can do everyday? Remember the KFC commercial...you could start at the dinner table and each family member tell at least one thing they are grateful for that day.
Maybe you already have a way to show how grateful you are for what you have and for the people in your life. Please share with us!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Interesting Comments!

2007-11-19T09:32:00.000-06:00

I enjoyed reading your comments from my last post about items you would take from your house if you knew it was about to be destroyed by a fire. What I found most interesting is that most of you said you take some piece of technology. For example, a laptop, cell phone, XBox, etc. Why is technology so important to you? Why can't you live without technology?

If you only had five minutes...

2007-11-05T08:07:00.000-06:00

On Friday you read an article about the wildfires destroying parts of California. In the path of these firestorms were people's homes. Many of these families were forced to evacuate the area and knew their home would be destroyed. If you knew your home would be destroyed and you only had five minutes to get three items from your home, what would you choose and why.
Be sure to remember the rules for blogging, and keep grammar and spelling in mind.

Who Are You?

2007-10-31T08:37:00.000-05:00

For our first blog entry of the new year, I thought it might be fun if we wrote about ourselves! I mean, don't you love talking about yourself! :)
Your assignment is to tell me eight things about you that I and maybe even your friends don't know about you. Remember your rules for blogging and make sure your response is appropriate for school. Remember to write in complete sentences and use correct grammar and spelling. This is an education blog-not your personal blog.
Happy blogging!!

Public Service Announcement

2007-05-15T08:03:00.000-05:00

For the rest of the week you will create a public service announcement in Photo Story 3. What is a public service announcement? What topic would you like to make a PSA about and why?
Click on the following link and select "Testimonials" (click the word high by the Windows icon). This is an example of a PSA.
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_media_resources.cfm?PageID=42

Culture Defined By Art

2007-04-09T15:09:00.000-05:00

In this reflection, please explain your choices of images, music, and poetry and how they describe who you are. How do your choices "paint a picture" of you-the background that you bring to our classroom and the role that your culture plays in defining who you are? What is your culture? What did you find out about yourself? What are your educational goals for the future? How did technology help in your personal exploration?

You have 5 questions to answer about this assignment. Please take your time and watch your spelling. Be honest. I value your input and ideas.

Student Rights

2007-03-08T08:05:00.000-06:00

Channel One reported a story about schools in Washington State trying to pass a rule that would ban "booing" from sporting events. Do you agree or disagree with a rule such as this? Why or why not?

Podcasting

2007-02-20T10:35:00.000-06:00

Over the next few days you will learn about podcasts-what they are and how can you create one. I would like for you to read the following article and answer the following questions:
1. What was the podcast about?
2. What is the average time of a segment produced by "Coulee Kids?"
3. How does the article characterize teachers currently using podcasts?
4. Why might producing a podcast be better than learning out of a textbook?
5. Why might podcasts be useful for absent students.

Click link for article.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20060126thursday.html

Need More Sleep?

2007-02-01T08:12:00.001-06:00

Channel One reported a story this morning about starting school one hour later in order for teens to get more sleep. The report cited experts who claim that one more hour of sleep may make a difference in student performance. What do you think? Would you be in favor of starting school one hour later? Or having the option of coming in at 7:00 and others coming in at 8:00? Do you think a different time schedule could improve student performance? Share your thoughts!

Movie Making

2007-01-29T09:27:00.000-06:00

Over the next couple of weeks we will be taking a break from working on our newspaper wiki and start the movie making process. I want to know your ideas for movies that you and your peers can make. The movie needs to be educational in nature-maybe a movie about issues teenagers face in life or at school. Maybe make a movie about a world issue. Maybe a documentary type film. The possibilities are endless!

First Amendment Freedoms

2007-01-25T08:05:00.000-06:00

Channel One reported a story about the limitations of freedoms in Cuba. The government monitors the Internet usage of its citizens as well as what citizens may watch on television or read in the press. But what about your first amendment rights here in the U.S.?
Check out this video about your first amendment rights while hanging out at the mall with your friends. http://livewire.channelone.com/livewireplayer/livewire.html?releaseid=169011225
Do you think the mall policy is fair? Why or why not?

Sharing Knowledge

2007-01-19T13:12:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to take a minute and tell you how amazing you are as a class. The wiki pages are fantastic! I am so excited that we are using this technology. Thanks to all of you who are working at home! I am learning so much from you. Continue to share with me and your peers ideas you have for the newspaper and Internet sites where we can get awesome graphics! Keep up the good work! I can't wait to show your work off to the rest of HTMS and the world!!!!!!!!

My Space to offer Spyware for Parents

2007-01-18T08:44:00.000-06:00

The New York Times released an article stating that parents will now be able to monitor a child's MySpace account. Follow this link, http://www.weblogg-ed.com/, to Will Richardson's Blog and then click on the first post of the blog. Read what one technology expert has to say about this new development.
If you have a MySpace account, did you and your parents discuss how to be safe while online?
Do you think the age limit to have a MySpace account should be raised from 14 to 16?
Feel free to leave any other comments you may have about this issue.
Respond to at least one other classmate's response as well.

Pass It On!

2007-01-17T08:48:00.000-06:00

Suppose I gave you $1000 today! You would probably be very excited. But as always there is a catch! You cannot spend it on yourself. Describe how you would spend the $1000. Take the challenge and be creative!

MLK Day

2007-01-16T08:04:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we were out of school in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. King was one of the most significant figures in the Civil Rights movement. Do you think racial discrimination still exists today? Do you think it exists at our school? What are some ways we can all bridge the gap of prejudice and racism?

Boost Up!

2007-01-12T08:14:00.000-06:00

Check out the following website about boosting up your friends. Identify 3 ways you can boost up your peers in your class-they don't have to be your best friend either! Everybody can use a boost.
http://boostup.org/flash/index.html

Controversial Issue??

2007-01-11T08:53:00.000-06:00

I would like for you to post your thoughts about the posting of the number of A's, B's, C's, D's and F's out in the foyer of the school. Do you think this policy would actually encourage more students to try and do better in class? Even though no names are mentioned, do you think some students may feel embarrassed? Name one idea you might have to encourage others to do better in school. (Remember to use capitalization and watch for spelling! There is a spell checker on the blog!)

The Best Gift

2007-01-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

What is the best gift you received this Christmas season? What is the best gift you gave to someone else this year? How did it make you feel when you gave the gift? Did you get the response you were hoping for? Elaborate!

New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-07T22:26:00.000-06:00

Do you have any New Year's resolutions? Do you usually keep them? What makes a good resolution. Your answer should be at least 5 sentences in length.