What are you really thinking????

My final feelings about Nanny Mania!

2008-04-18T08:01:00.003-05:00

I didn't find this game difficult or frustrating.. I actually got pretty bored with it... I wanted to be challenged more... I lost interest in playing the game... In relation to learning, I thought about those kids who get bored really easily in class... They are the kids who are typically forgotten... They don't cause problems... They do all their work... but they are not being challenged; hence, they are NOT LEARNING... I figured out the game and knew easily how to advance to the next level... In schools, kids have figured out how to pass a class or how to take the test but that's all they've done is figured it out... I don't feel that I learned anything with this game.. While, I was thoroughly entertained at first... my interest decreased as the game became easier... I already knew what I had to do to complete the task and the challenges were not difficult... I did find myself being a "part" of the game... I felt as if I were truly the Nanny and got angry with the husband and the kids... My personal involvement in the game was high but my learning was low.. Overall, it was a good game to play when you're bored...

Computer Crash!!!

2008-04-18T07:54:00.003-05:00

I have been without a computer for TWO WEEKS....I bought a new Compaq around four months ago... One day, it just refused to turn on... I called Coompaq and waited for them to send a Fedex box for me to send the computer to them which meant I spent three days just waiting for the box and another three days waiting for them to get the computer back... Then wait for them to find out what's wrong, fix it and send it back to me... I knew I should've purchased the tech component from Staples... They would've come to the house and fixed it... It's better to be safe then sorry... Now, I'm even more behind than I was before!!!

Teachers Don't Read Directions...

2008-03-24T21:38:00.001-05:00

As I was browsing through the blogs, I thought to myself, "Why are these blogs so dag-gone long??? Who wants to read these LONG blogs??? And then as I was looking for the next blog to view, my eyes caught the paragraph above the links to our blogs that states that our blogs should be at least three paragraphs long... Duh!!!??? I failed to READ that part... Well, none of my blogs are close to that... Sorry, Dr. D... Teacher's don't read directions!!! *smile*

Gee's Thoughts on Learning...

2008-03-24T21:18:00.003-05:00

Gee talks about achieving success in video games by practicing and getting better. "Video games create a learning space in which the learner can take risks where real-world consequences are lowered." I thought to myself, "Why can't kids practice reading to get better the same way they practice video games?" Can kids be "sucked" into learning in the same way they are sucked in to video games? Do we reward our students, as video games do, for their successes as they progress (no matter how small)? Or.. do we only reward those who pass the benchmark tests and/or the NJASK???? The one quote that really resonated with me at the end of this chapter was that the learner must feel things are "challenging but not undoable" Students must be motivated and not bored or they will resist... I have had my share of "resistors"

Identity Play

2008-03-24T21:08:00.002-05:00

Identity play, as Gee described it in Chapter 3 can be a good thing... Unfortunately, I don't feel that most of the games our children play are as harmless as "Arcanum"... I think the understanding that the identity of the virtual character meshes with the player's real-life identity and the player decides, within limitations, what the character can do, by bringing their own values into the game, is a wonderful concept; however, I don't see much of that occurring in the violent games "our" children play... Deciding whether you will shoot a cop or steal a car and run over a rival gang member doesn't seem to be "identity play with values"... For most of our children, without a core value system, THEY become the character in the game... They have no sense of reality vs make-believe....

NannyMania Update...

2008-03-24T21:02:00.002-05:00

Tonight, I found myself becoming so "engrossed" in this game tonight that I was "cussing out the family" I (the Nanny) work for... The kids were getting on my nerves because every time I cleaned up something, their bad ***es would make a mess... and the father seemed to just be a "jerk" and make a mess everywhere he went in the house... I made it to Level 7... I'm curious to see what will happen at Level 8... The rooms have changed somewhat.. but the tasks remain the same... do the laundry, cook a meal, clean up behind those bad kids and the "no good" husband... I think I'm just hooked because I can't wait to see the next challenge...

New Literacies...

2008-03-22T21:48:00.002-05:00

Since this is my second time taking one of Dr. D's classes, I should be able to define "new literacies" with ease; however, I don't have a textbook definition... What I can say I understand about "new literacies" is that literacy goes beyond reading and writing in the traditional sense. Today's literate people are people who can communicate effectively in today's world... That means people who can surf the internet, use text-messaging, send email, download music/files, and of course, create and post to blogs... There are other numerous forms of "new literacy"... Today is a technological age and in order to be literate, we must be "technologically-advanced." I don't bother to call my friends; I just text them... I choose to communicate through emails and text messages.. My mother, on the other hand, doesn't know how to turn on the computer... In schools, our students are so "literate" that we don't even know how to teach them.. The problem is that many of us are stuck in "traditional literacy methods" and our students are far more advanced...

Okay.. I'm bored...

2008-03-22T21:24:00.002-05:00

Well... I DID love NannyMania; however, I am now TRULY bored with it... It is not challenging me fast enough... The box says it has 150 levels but I don't want to have to start from Level 1... I feel that I need a more challenging level... I have not figured out how to change the level.. It seems you have to progress to the next level... I will admit the game is still entertaining and I can't wait to see what challenges the next level will bring but I am READY to jump a few levels and it doesn't seem to allow me to do that... Bummer...

"Nanny Mania"

2008-03-15T07:02:00.002-05:00

I am playing this game that I purchased at Target... I honestly thought it would be fun but didn't realize how truly addictive it is... The concept of the game is that a nanny arrives to a family home and has to complete all of her tasks within a given time frame... She also has to complete them by their level of importance.. As you progress through the game, it becomes more challenging.. Another baby is added or you have more tasks to complete... I absolutely LOVE this game...

Why should I learn about video games?

2008-03-13T22:05:00.002-05:00

This question has come up quite frequently since the first day of this course... Why, on Earth, am I spending my time learning about video games???? What do video games have to do with literacy???? Aren't we, as teachers and parents, trying to get our children off the video games and into the library????

How I learn....

2008-03-01T07:56:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel "stupid" because no matter how many times something is said to me, it might take me a while to "get it." I don't know if it's old age or not but I could sit in a lecture and the professor could say something and I have noooo idea what in the world he or she is talking about because it just doesn't make sense... It's like I need time to process things in my head sometimes in order for them to make sense... I might need to make a connection to something else in my life or draw a picture or have some kind of visual... I don't know if I was this way as a young learner or not... If students are sitting in a class where the teacher is "just talking" and they learn the way I do, they are probably not learning either...

My thoughts about gaming...

2008-02-02T11:29:00.000-05:00

I grew up with my memory of gaming being the black and white "pong" game.... Watching the little white ball bounce across the screen was the only exciting game we had... Then, we moved up to Atari and that was cool... Then, Nintendo came out... I have since not played video games; however, I find myself addicted to the computer game "Bejeweled." I can sit there for hours and play...

Myths about Writing....

2007-07-31T10:20:00.001-05:00

Myth #4: You have to know what you are going to say before you begin writing.
This myth resonated strongly with me because I am the type of writer who just starts writing and then figures it out as I go along... Sometimes my entire focus changes... I cannot begin with a graphic organizer and plan out my writing through pre-writing... I need to just "freewrite" and then work it out as I go along... That's something I struggle with when it comes to teaching writing... I understand that there are students in my class that write just as I do... I give them the choice to prewrite or begin writing... Whatever works for them... I learned this from watching students sit there and stare into space during the five minutes of prewriting time they are given... I know those students need to just "get to it.."... So, now I have worked it out that those students may just start working and if an adminstrator wants to see "prewriting," I have those students complete a graphic organizer or brainstorming chart of some sort after they've finished writing... Only my good writers can do this... but without that choice, my good writers would struggle sitting there trying to "think of what they are going to write about" and lost the opportunity to produce a great writing piece!!!!

What's Real in this World??!!!

2007-05-06T20:22:00.000-05:00

We spend our childhood dreaming of the life we will have when we grow up.... Then, we grow up and somehow, someway the life we always dreamed of doesn't exist... We ended up living what seems like someone else's life... We walk around wondering, "How in the hell did I get here?????" That's what I'm thinking today??? But, I understand that the universe responds to my thoughts so I will change that thinking to "I'm living the life I was meant to live!" and I'm changing things immediately starting today.... I also realize that with that thought, some people, who are blocking my blessings, need to be removed.... I understand that might mean being alone for a period of time... But, I know in the end that the universe will respond to my thoughts... and I will find myself living the life I always dreamed of....

Reflection on this Course...

2007-04-28T00:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I must say I definitely love blogging and plan to incorporate it in my classroom as well as keep my personal blog... Already being a lover of technologically and one who considers myself computer- and technology-literate, I am glad to have had the opportunity to be exposed to new and exciting "literacies." I am eager to explore these this summer while I am home ( no work for me... ) I would love to create a YouTube or podcast of my daughter for family out of town.... That's something I never would have thought of before this course... I actually will keep my myspace page as well... I have reconnected with old friends there... Who would have thought.... I have to admit I enjoy meeting in class face-to-face so as to share in discussion and collegial conversation but this class was still enjoyable... Through everyone's blog, we did communicate... We did engage in conversation... It went by so fast... Hopefully, everyone will keep posting so we can keep in touch!

The Secret

2007-04-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

Since I have become enthralled in "The Secret," my life has changed dramatically... I am conscious of my thoughts... I try not to complain... I understand that by complaining the universe will continue to give me things to complain about... I understand the power of my thoughts... Positive thoughts become positive "things" in my life... If I think I won't find a parking spot, then I won't... When I visualize the parking spot, it's there... When I think I'll never make it on time, I won't... but by changing that thought to I have plenty of time, I make it on time.. We all know that what we put out comes back to us but we tend to forget that our thoughts have power... I don't say I have no money or I can't afford things because I understand that I won't have any money and won't be able to afford things... Every day I say, "I'm a money magnet! Money comes to me easily and unexpectedly!" Truthfully, every week for the past two weeks, I've received checks in the mail or money from an unknown source... Everyone should try "The Secret!" It will change your world.. I am the happiest I've been in a very long time!!!

YouTube...

2007-03-25T16:51:00.000-05:00

I get emails with YouTube links... Myspace.com pages are filled with YouTube links... YouTube was in the newspaper last week being sued for over 1 billion dollars by Viacom... Who hasn't heard of YouTube????!!!! Anyone can post anything on YouTube... I've seen things from days after testicular surgery to someone claiming to be a ghost to depressed people crying to a little girl singing her heart out... Mostly teens, or people with a lot of time on their hands, are registered users on this site. It's a social-networking site where you can literally create an "audition" tape for the world... Look at me... Look what I created... or Look what I can do... or you can watch videos of television shows, videos and people doing crazy things... Several countries have banned this site. I find it rarely intriguing that people want to share their lives with the entire world... Didn't the whole lonelygirl saga come from this site??? Again, I wonder... why don't we post videos of teachers in classrooms teaching... or doctors performing life-saving surgeries...??? No, we want to post foolishness... I did enjoy last weekend email link to YouTube...it was of Jennifer Holiday singing at the Tony Awards.... Great performance!!! Why I don't care for is the girl who posted her video of how she cried allll day!!!!

I lost my frog!!!

2007-03-25T16:39:00.000-05:00

When I first saw this assignment, I said to myself, "What kind of name is that?" I immediately thought how "cute" this handwritten note was by some child who had lost his or her "Happy Meal" toy and wanted to find it... I became even more "awwwweed" when I saw that a 16-year-old autistic boy was the author. What I find out was that this all started in Seattle around 2004 (some sites said 2003).... The online community came across this flier for a "lost" frog... and it spread like crazy. I had not heard of this until now. I don't see how it could be a meme because it's not something I've heard before... I think of memes such as "Where's the Beef?"... Something that everyone, everywhere knows... I do think it could be a meme because it has spread via the internet and there are even t-shirts in support of this "frog." It's amazing how something could be started in Seattle and find its way across the world... It makes you wonder just how powerful the internet is... We could use this as a source of information instead of just "nonsense"... If we wanted to start a revolution, it could be done... I think too often the internet is not used to its fullest potential... Just think... if "I lost my frog" could make it throughout the world... what other significant messages could also travel through????

Reading...

2007-03-11T22:23:00.000-05:00

I've loved reading ever since I was a little girl... I had subscriptions to book clubs and looked forward to receiving my new books in the mail... I even remember my first magazine subscription, "Highlights"... Those were the best! Growing up, I continued to embrace reading. Now, with my busy life, I only have time to read under the blow dryer at the beauty parlor. It helps the time go by because I can pretend I'm somewhere else through my book... It's also the only "me" time I get anymore...
Unfortunately, I cannot "teach" reading the way I would like to or even the way I know my kids need to be taught. With our Whole School Reform Model, "America's Choice," I have to stick to the way it says teach reading. It says give students reading strategies to use while reading. Okay... that sounds great with students who can read... My students haven't mastered reading yet so how can they apply strategies... Let's go back to the basics of reading... That's how I learned... That's why I am still a reader...
I think technology is a great way to teach reading to my students... With my students growing up in this millenium, it seems only realistic that we, as teachers, embrace their love of technology. If they can teach themselves to understand and master all the complexities of video games, then they can definitely do the same with a book.

March MADness!!!

2007-03-08T15:39:00.000-05:00

March Madness has absolutely nothing to do with basketball!! I am the mother of two children born in the same month... and since I decided to have 15 years difference between them, I have two significant birthdays in 2007... My daughter is celebrating her first birthday and my son is celebrating his 16th... Most boys don't want a 16th birthday party... My son does... He is having a party March 16th at the Robert Treat Hotel... My daughter is having her 1st birthday party at Sandy Deck Parties in Montclair on March 31st... Within two weeks time, I have two big parties... I have spent soooo much money on decorations and favors and renting out places... Anyone who knows me knows that's what I love to do...I love to make moments special... My son's colors are royal blue and silver... I even ordered blue and silver M&Ms from www.mymandms.com... Great site... My daughter has a 1st birthday girl theme from www.1stbirthdayexpress.com... Another great site... Everything must be the same... I even ordered her a matching t-shirt... Even though my head is spinning from all the planning... I can't wait to celebrate these two special days... I've been blessed with two wonderful children...

Free At Last!

2007-03-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

For the first time in a looong time, I feel free... As a teacher, I often feel like anyone can do my job.... We are so wrapped up into the Whole School Reform Model: America's Choice that I don't get to do what I want to do with my students. More importantly, I don't get to do what I need to do with my students... Any "idiot" can follow a calendar and read words out of a guide... What did I spend years in college learning all of amazing things I learned at Jersey City State (now, New Jersey City University) for???? New Jersey and the whole NCLB Act has it all wrong... Models don't work!!! They don't work because there isn't ONE way to teach every student... This week, in last minute preparation for the NJASK, we've been allowed "freedom" to teach... It has worked WONDERS in my room... My kids are responding, "This is fun!" "Can we do more of this?" I'm actually doing activities "my" way and my kids are getting it... We can't be tied down by a "model." I can't wait to bid farewell to "America's Choice."

THE MATRIX...

2007-03-03T23:17:00.000-05:00

"The Matrix" is one of my favorite movies of all time... I love "Neo"... He was "The One" after all... (if you saw the last movie...) He is the coolest "idea" ever... The idea of "Messiah"... One who can restore order and sacrifice his life to save us all... I saw all the "Matrix" movies at least 20 times... from the movie theatre to at home on my couch... The concept of Machines taking over the world and controlling the Earth is a scary thought... If we think of the Machines as "technology" then it's a pretty realistic thought... We are controlled by technology... We couldn't function without it... We use it every second of every minute of every day... Are we inside of the "Matrix?"... Is this life a "virtual reality?"

My Space....

2007-03-02T11:44:00.000-05:00

Completely didn't remember to post about creating Myspace.com page but I did it as assigned... Anyway, I have to admit that I had no enthusiasm for creating this page... I felt it was quite juvenile... Those who read my post know that my son lives on Myspace.com so I definitely didn't want to do it if he does it.... It's almost like bumping into your kid at a club... *smile*.... But, I did enjoy creating my page... I added music and graphics and really got into it... It reminded me of when I was in college and created a BlackPlanet.com page... Actually, Myspace.com is way more advanced than that was years ago... Visit my page and tell me what you think... Don't let "Tom" be my only friend... *smile*
http://www.myspace.com/theclassyteacher

L.A. Weight Loss to the Rescue... Again...

2007-02-28T12:03:00.000-05:00

I have gained an incredible amount of weight since I started teaching in 1999. I almost don't recognize myself at times... How did I allow myself to get this biggg!!!???? I have closets, literally, full of clothes I cannot fit... and I truly refuse to buy a new wardrobe at my current size...I did the L.A. Weightloss program a couple of years ago and it worked wonderfully. I decided to get pregnant so that fell by the waysideand regained all the weight I had lost plus some... SO... I joined a couple of weeks ago... I didn't have the money but I decided it was a financial sacrifice... I waste soooo much money anyway... I should spend it on something productive that will make me happy.... Well, in two weeks, I lost 6 pounds... I cheated a lot!!!! I probably could have lost 10 or more... The last time I did L.A., I lost 7 pounds in the first week... but I will persevere... Wish me luck!!!! By the spring, I hope to have dropped 50 pounds...

My Teenage Mutant Ninja My Spacer...

2007-02-18T14:32:00.000-05:00

Okay... I know the name is corny... but my son, who's 15, lives on myspace.com.... He has a cool page... I must admit... nice background graphics, things floating all over the place.. and cool music playing... He has 1,000 friends... I do worry sometimes about some of the things I've come across on his page but my mom worried about me too... The computer is in a common location and he leaves the page up so I peek on it every now and then...
I don't believe he blogs... although myspace has a blog space... I noticed he sort of blogs by adding to his page often... He tells how he feels or what's going on with him... I can't see him, Mr. Cool, blogging every day... It does seem more like a "girl" thing...as the article stated.
Anyway, teens and technology.... it's amazing... They can figure out how to do everything... Why can't some adults do the same???... Technology is the way of the world... It's how we communicate...
My son, however, loves to communicate at my expense...I was trying to figure out why my cell phone bill was so expensive since adding my son's line... Come to find out, my son sent over 1,200 text messages... Who in the world sends that many text messages??? How do you have time???
Back to myspace.com....Just today my son found an old friend on myspace... It's actually a great tool to communicate with people you don't see everyday... and to meet new people... Between his MP3 player, his cell phone and myspace.com, I rarely see my son except for an occasional trip to the kitchen or to ask for money and a ride... But hey, he's a good kid...

This Class Isn't What I Thought...!!!

2007-02-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

I've been missing in action... but I'm back!!!! Truthfully, I wasn't expecting this class to require soooo much reading... I honestly thought I was signing up for a technology class... (at least that was MY understanding of the notice we received at school)... I am already taking courses for my M.A.T. at Marygrove College... and I definitely wouldn't have signed up for "pedagogy." I thought I would be on the computer "creating" projects to use in class... learning new ways to infuse technology in my lessons and activities and becoming more of a "tekkie" than I am... Instead, I found myself "READING huge stacks of paper" and I honestly tuned out for a moment... but, I'm back... I wish, however, there was more hands-on technology because that's what I was looking for... I think for those teachers who are not "digitally literate," they could use more hands-on learning than reading... I am not afraid to jump right into anything dealing with technology and explore... That's how I learn... I teach myself... but I know there are others out there who aren't quite so confident... I'm sure they were expecting to gain that confidence from this course... (I really like Dr. D though... *smile*)

Candle Party Poop

2007-02-17T20:32:00.000-05:00

Today I had a PartyLite Candle Party...
If you haven't been to one, you've gotta go...
Well, about 10 of the people I invited
"couldn't" come...
It was no surprise...
People are "funny" like that..
If you don't invite them, they have something to say...
If you do invite them, they don't come...
At the end of the day, I had a great time and can't wait for my new candles...
Thanks to all who came...

Oh No!!! Dr. D's gonna get me....

2007-02-04T07:28:00.000-05:00

In all of my craziness, I completely misunderstood that I was supposed to post a comment regarding the reading here... I posted a comment on BlackBoard... So... please, please forgive me... My feelings about the reading are that I love media... All sorts of media... I have two children (15 years apart...)and they both enjoy media as well... I do not fill my daughter's day with media, however... My son was born in 1990... there was a lot of media but not as much as there is now... He, of course, grew up watching every single Barney video there was... Barney was no substitute for me, his mom, but Barney definitely taught my son a thing or two... We listened to music, played computer games and eventually he had his Gameboy with him everywhere we went... I, as a responsible parent, monitored what he played with as well as what he watched... We spent every Saturday morning in Zany Brainy (now closed) buying new books or listening to Story Time... Now, with my daughter who's 10 months old... we watch shows in the morning... There's an entire baby network that shows programming all day... We also play together with her many toys and we read books...(she tries to tear all the pages...) My husband and I are media junkies as well... It's never quiet in my house... My husband plays music from the computer to get dressed... My son walks around with his IPOD attached to his ear while he is texting someone... The TV stays on...(Thanks Directv!)... Do I think children growing up in a household with lots of media don't or won't read?? Absolutely not... Do I think they don't or won't learn as quickly as others??? Absolutely not... I think they will, in fact, be ahead of those students who are not exposed to media... (That is within the guidelines that a responsible parent has presented....Nothing should ever take the place of a parent teaching their child!)....

Mi Vida Loca!

2007-02-03T19:26:00.000-05:00

My life is a never-ending saga... First, I must say I am truly blessed... I recognize that and I thank God for all of his many blessings... However, I am constantly running... running... running... It never seems I have a moment to relax... I work until 2:40pm... At work, I am the 6th Grade Advisor and Sunshine Committee Co-Chair...tutor from 2:45 - 4:00pm... meet with my study partner for my Master's program at Marygrove... work on Saturdays from 9:00-12:00pm at school...go home, try to spend quality time with my baby... play with her.. feed her... then I usually get a phone call from my son around 7:30pm..to come pick him up from basketball... (He doesn't want us to come to his games because they lose them all!) At some point, I have to cook dinner... Do some school work... and maybe have an opportunity to just breathe...On days when I don't have to fit in food shopping, washing clothes, running errands, etc... (My husband works at night.. so I'm SuperMom!) But even though it's "Mi Vida Loca", I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world...

I'm gonna lose my job....

2007-01-30T13:21:00.000-05:00

I have this student who i want to smack the living day lights out of... She is rude, disrespectful and just a little *@$%#. My own child doesn't talk to me in a rude manner and I'll be damn if I'm going to let someone else's... She's freaking bipolar... One minute, she's smiling in my face... The next minute she's acting like the demon seed... She's a freaking nut and I can't stand her... Some people might read this and say how could you say that... Well, try teaching her for a period... You'll lose your damn mind too!!!!!!

Are you freaking kidding me???!!!!

2007-01-26T07:42:00.000-05:00

Good thing I had a day's warning before I got the email from Dr. R at MSU... I am expected to bring two checks tomorrow to class... one for a $60 registration fee and one for a course fee of $295... What kind of crap is that??? An announcement comes over the p.a. system Thursday afternoon telling all Literacy teachers to check our boxes for an important opportunity... I check it and WOW!! -- there's a free graduate course for us at Montclair State... It's starting this Saturday so I fax my registration... Well... first day of class went great... I'm really excited about this course... but oh now, East Orange... good ol' East Orange... they failed to inform us that we would have to pay these fees.... (perhaps they didn't know...what--ever!!!)... Last I checked, I was a teacher... My bank account doesn't have money just sitting in it to give... I have two kids... That is a lot of money for me when I'm not expecting it...Hmmmm.... so, what should I do??? Should I not pay my son's high school tuition??? How about not pay my car insurance??? What a great opportunity...Yeah... well, now it's all screwed up... You know, I wouldn't have a problem with the fees if I had known... but I have one day's notice... and frankly, I'm pissed...

Hopes and Concerns

2007-01-23T22:35:00.000-05:00

I love technology as much as I love literacy. I hope that I will gain new knowledge of technology and experience the cyber world in a new and exciting way. Although I am extemely excited about this journey, I am a little concerned that, with my other graduate studies, I may have taken on a bit much. I'm sure this concern won't last long because technology to me isn't work, it's fun. I'm here because my wonderful school district is paying for this course and who know when that will happen again. I hope to continue to excel in my quest to master technology and expand my expertise in this field.