Coyote Walks: Coyote Talks

Every day on my drive to school, I pass this image formed by basalt talus (crumbling rock from a cliff or steep slope). I see coyote, standing on his back legs to pick huckleberries. I greet him every morning, both thanking him for another wonderful day and wishing him a good day, too. And every day, I ask and hope that I can reach the students in my care, helping them to walk and talk, and read and write in ways that bring them hope and success.

Just as Coyote has traveled far and wide, so have my students. We have participated in contests, scientific endeavors, and technological adventures. One of my students won a year-long project sponsored by the Michael Jordan Foundation, resulting in a trip to meet Michael Jordan. Another year we, as junior scientists, helped scientists decide which planet the Hubble Space Telescope should study (Live from the Hubble, a NASA Passport to Knowledge project). At that time, we believed Pluto was a planet for three reasons: it orbits the sun, it is round, and it has an atmosphere. So we are disappointed at the news of today :) Live from Mars allowed us to learn about Mars and our local area as the rovers practiced for their trip to Mars. We joined the Global School Network and created a website for Cyber Fair. Generation Why and Generation Yes participation allowed us to help students and staff learn more about technology. My eighth grade students paired with fourth grade students to create a "Signs of the Past" website about local history with other students around the state. We studied hydrothermal vents with Dr. Craig Cary, and spoke with him as he descended into the abyss of the Pacific Ocean in the submersible Alvin. We have won local essay and poetry contests. And we are grateful for the Macintosh computers purchased as a grant from the Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation Teacher Leadership Project in 1999. The computers and training allowed us to easily move into twenty-first century learning.

I believe all children can learn, and the projects above piqued their interest and motivated their learning. I believe that today's world and today's kids demand connected, applied education, as the integrated projects above did. Although this year I teach only Language Arts, my goal is to continue with 21st century projects and learning, with the Internet as our extended classroom. Students need to communicate clearly, read with comprehension, and write clearly and concisely so the reader comprehends his/her meaning. Those goals are top priority, yet today's kids communicate with different tools than we did. I hope to guide students in comprehending and expressing themselves in visual, verbal, electronic, and written discourse. I know that students must take responsibility for their own learning, and I must help them realize that mistakes help us grow. I will provide choices as often as possible, and support as often as needed to help students grow intellectually and emotionally. I will help them use what they know to learn what is new.

My students apply our state objectives as we work on our projects, and technology has always been a part of that work. And today's technology brings us into a social network of learning that surpasses any possibilities of the past. As as coyote goes walking, picking up his ideas from here and there, so I pick up the ideas of the twenty-first century and venture into the future. I have continued my learning and will share with my family, my students, and their families.

This site and its companion sites*, such as coyotetalks.pbwiki.com are part of my journey, and a virtual extension of the classroom. Participation is invited, although it is not required. While all links at the time of posting were kid appropriate, some links may change without my knowledge, and some have links outside the referred site. Please remember to advise an adult, especially myself (ms_edwards@mac.com), of anything inappropriate so I can remove it. Of course internet safety is everyone's responsibility, so I have created links on the sidebar for families to study. I have created sites for my grandchildren also, and they are required to sign the parent and kid contracts before we set out on our family journeys. I suggest that every family do the same: download, read, and sign the Internet safety contracts. Please indicate your permission for your student by downloading, reading, signing, and returning the permission slip.

Rules for the Internet

Please read and agree to these by checking the appropriate line on your permission slip. The downloadable permission slip includes family contracts and a teen brochure for teens and their families. The class permission slip includes only the rules below and permission levels.

1. Please, no last names, addresses, IM screen names, photos, etc. Never EVER EVER give out or record personal information on your Internet work. Your Internet work exists as a public space on the Internet. Don't share anything that you don't want the world to know. For your safety, be careful what you say, too. Don't give out your phone number or home address. Remember, what you say today may still be there in ten years--when you don't what it to be. The Internet is a public space requiring public civility and appropriateness.

2. Do not link to your personal blog/journal from your school Internet work; you might reveal information on there that you don't want to reveal on your school Internet work.

3. If you want to write your opinion on a topic, make sure you're not going to be offensive as you write it.

4. Always make sure you check over your post for spelling errors, grammar errors, and your use of words. Paste your post in a word processor and run spell check, or download a spell checker for your browser. Do not use text-messaging abbreviations —we're writing for learning.

5. Never disrespect someone else in your Internet work, whether it's a person, an organization, or just a general idea. You don't want someone making a stab at what you are passionate about; don't do it to someone else. Again, your Internet work is a public space. And if you put it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. Always. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for an employer to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that anything you write-- you are proud of. It can and will come back to get you if you don't.

6. Don't write about other people without permission; if you can't get their permission, don't use their name. Never share someone else's last name. Remember our rule on using initials.

7. Watch your language! This is part of our learning community. Language that is inappropriate in a public place like school is also inappropriate in your Internet work.

8. Make sure things you write about are factual. Don't be posting about things that aren't true. Link to your sources. Never link to something you haven't read. While it isn't your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should probably not include it in your Internet work.

9. Keep it education-oriented. That means that you probably shouldn't discuss your plans for the weekend, the last dance, etc.

10. All your searches and Internet work must be classroom project oriented; no personal surfing or writing.

Disclaimer

I designed this site as a resource for myself, my students and their families as well as for other students or teachers. The information here has been created by myself, other educators, and others, with credit provided as needed. Since there are some general guidelines (see above) for being able to add to student sites, we know that following the guidelines will enhance our learning process. Remember to contact any technology specialists to help you with any problems or concerns regarding your computer as I have no control over settings or other changes if you download to your computer.

Additional Information: If any inappropriate content is found on this site, it will be removed.

Students not following the guidelines will lose participation privileges.

Please contact me with any questions: ms_edwards@mac.com

 

Sources:

Bud, the Teacher: http://www.budtheteacher.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

The English Companion: http://www.englishcompanion.com/index.html

Landmarks for Schools: http://davidwarlick.com/landmark/index.php

2 Cents Worth: http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/

In the Know: http://intheknow.wikispaces.com/