Would love to hear thoughts!

I always do a summer writing project with my students.  I send home a stamped envelope and have students address the envelope to my home address.  I put a letter inside letting parents know that students are encourage to write to me over the summer and I will write them back.  I also include some blank stationary in the envelope.  I usually only get about 25% of students who will actually send a letter- and after 2 or 3 back and forth letters- the writing project stops.  This year, I was talking to my class about this activity and one of my kindergarten students asked, "Can we just have your email?  It would be easier!"  I told him that this activity was to practice their letter writing skills and I wanted them to practice their printing and spelling as well.
Now, a day later, I don't know if I need to update this activity or not.  I really do want them to practice the paper and pencil writing - but I would probably get more responses from more students if I changed this to an email.  I was looking at one of the optional tools and saw a kidblog.  I'm wondering if setting up something like that would allow all of the students in the class to keep up with each other in addition to just me?  What do you think?
Is writing a letter and sending it through the mail with a stamp not a good idea?  Is using technology an improvement for this activity?   Writing so others can read is am important part of early literacy.  I can't decide what would be better.  Any thoughts?

Web Tools

I was just looking at some new web tools and discovered Time Toast.
It sets up timelines in a quick and easy format.  You can add pictures along with the text.  I was thinking that I would use this tool to keep track of all of my PGP points for our School City requirements for license renewal.  Currently, I keep the forms in a folder and have to type them into a document that our principal needs to approve.  Each teacher needs a minimum of 45 PGP points to get an increase in their salary.  I was thinking that I could set up a timeline each year and anytime I go to a professional development training I could add it to my timeline. It would be a quick way to record what I do, how many points I have and I could even include a picture of any certificates for documentation.  This would still be at the substitution level of SAMR - but as I use it more I may be able to apply this in my classroom.  We can possibly make a classroom timeline each month that can be shared with parents.

Cool Tools

The tool that I started using since I signed up for this class is Symbaloo.  I can download the page to any computer at school.  I find myself searching other Symbaloo web mixes to find new sites for my students to use.  My students use the page daily at our math and literacy stations. I also shared my Symbaloo page with the other kindergarten teachers.  They weren't familiar with this tool.
Symbaloo allows students to choose where they would like to go when they use the computers.  The computer screen looks like a cellphone screen full of apps.  Previously, I chose one website that all students would use for that week.  Starfall was a favorite because it has such a wide range of skills.  Now, I can use each activity within Starfall was a separate icon.
Now, the screen allows students to choose what skill they want to review.  Right now, I have the icons grouped by literacy or math.  I have literacy at the top and all of the math sites at the bottom.  I started out with only 3 or 4 choices for each- but within a couple of weeks I was able to search other web mixes and now have over 30 tiles to choose from.
Students that still need help with rhyming or letter sounds can choose to go there - but my above grade level readers have more choices to work on blends or digraphs, or read a book, or write a story.
Now, I can create pages for various levels of math or literacy in the classroom.  I can see how adding more pages and levels will help individualize learning. My goal over the summer is to have a literacy page - maybe even two different pages for literacy at different levels.  I can do the same for math.  I feel that using this tool is in the modification range of the SAMR model.

Module 3 Reflection

Where would you rate yourself in each area?
I would rate myself at the entry level in almost all areas.  Students are at the adoption level for some of the station work they do.  I watched all of the kindergarten videos and I use Starfall in the same way.  Students are able to go to the website and learn about letters, letter sounds, or reading based on their ability.  I also use my Smartboard to work collaboratively with groups.
We don't have access to iPads or tablets.  At the kindergarten level I still have between 30 and 40% of students who don't have access to a computer at home.  During ISTEP testing our computer lab is unavailable to the K-2 classrooms.  So for last week and this coming week  the students aren't able to use the lab at all.
There was a video I watched where the classroom teacher was talking about using Powerpoint presentations but she wanted to be able to make her lessons much more interactive.  That's how I feel.  I have some presentations and lessons but know there is so much more I could be doing.
I wish we had more training and a technology coach to help us move to the next level.
Where do you think you could be next grading period?
I am going to try and individualize more with my math stations next year.  I want to move from entry to adoption in all areas, if possible.  I would love to try and plan a couple of bigger projects in writing.  I think I could have students write about themselves and include pictures and the color feature text.  It probably sounds simple, but I am excited. I think it could even move me into the Adaption level.
What steps will you need to make in order to make the growth happen?
I am going to need a few things to move along the continuum.  First, my symbaloo page is going to be very helpful because right now I have to type in each website and students aren't able to move from one program to the next.  They will be able to choose the literacy or math activity they want to work on. This will be more engaging for them.  I need to plan on using technology as more than a substitute for paper and pencil.  I liked the Starbuck's analogy from the video.  I need to find websites that assess where students are and can move them along at their own rate.
I also need to add a technology piece to my writing units.  Students can publish and insert graphics.
Even though I don't have access to a computer lab every week, I can rotate students to the 4 student stations in my classroom every day.  If I did that, students would be writing 4 days a week and typing one day.
Finally, I can continue to look for webinars and on-line classes for me so I can keep learning.

Moving Mindsets

How could you adapt or change one of your current policies to reflect a moving mindset?

I am thinking of making a change with the homework assignments that I send home.  Currently, students have a short homework assignment that goes home 4 times a week (Monday thru Thursday).  I don't assign homework on the weekend.  After reading through the homework article I am interested in doing more research on homework policies that impact student achievement.  If I thought that students reading scores would improve if I went to a straight reading homework policy - I would make that change.

Is this a change you are willing to make?  Why or why not?

Currently, our grade level team worked together to implement the homework policy. I would need to talk with them about making this change for the following school year.  I would be willing to make the change to reading only - but I will need to do more reading on the subject before I do that.