This week will a big one. It will include the teaching of real content, not just manners, names & precedures. Our first topic will be seeds/plant lifecycles. The ESL, Kindergarten & 4th grade teams will plant spinach, kale, radishes and lettuce in our first-ever school garden! I'm wondering how to integrate technology into this new aspect of our school's livlihood. I'll surely photograph the process for the school website. I was also thinking about using the photos to make "photograph real" readers for the kids re: the process of planting a garden.

I'm very excited about Back to School Night. I'm going to teach the parents how to record comments on their children's Voicethread presentations. Ginny, you have to look at this program called Voicethread. Educators sign up for free. Monday my students will record their introductions. Thurday night the parents will record messages back to them wishing them a successful year, telling them why they're proud of them, etc.. Some may speak in their native languages (I'll encourage that.)

Anyway, I'll give you both my Voicethread password in case you want to check out my account and the on-line projects we are publishing. Nothing is private or confidential. It's open for parents and administrators as well.

Go to: http://voicethread.com
Username: lisa.waters@loudoun.k12.va.us
Password: may21981

Open the Back to School Night one (after Thursday you should see parent comments - hopefully!) I'll blog how that goes next week.