tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112565854108010672024-03-13T04:00:14.503-05:00Unfold Gently"Spiritual ideas unfold as we advance." *
"And that is how I made the acquaintance of the little prince." **Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-13094394998467440582022-01-17T15:44:00.004-06:002023-11-24T23:42:05.736-06:00This Blog Is Still Here and I Am, Too<p>My sister sent me an email with a link to information about the warning signs of heart attack/stroke. It was a caring and thoughtful gesture. I considered following the link, but chose the delete button. I'd prefer for Death to surprise me. Then, I let the dog out into the backyard. </p><p>When he came in, he gifted me with a frozen turd. Maybe he discovered it today in the melting snow. I'm sure he felt disappointed finding it rock hard and impossible to eat. On the other hand, I was pleased to avoid his post-turd vomit session. I headed out the back door with a plastic bag to search for the source.</p><p>And I landed on my butt.</p><p>It was a legs-in-the-air, flailing slip from the icy stoop down to the second step. I think my arm slammed down on the dog's tail, but he didn't hold it against me. My first thought... Well, my first thought was <i>OW!</i> So, my second thought was <i>Wow! I could have died right here and now, falling down my steps. Thank goodness I didn't spend much time this morning worrying about my heart.</i> I soon felt an urgent need to get up. To move. To go forward from the experience. I pulled myself together and headed into the yard looking for the poop pile. Never found poop. Instead, I walked a couple of laps to ease the ache in my left butt-cheek (I believe that's the anatomically correct term) and found some good ideas.</p><p>What I found on my mindful walk was an understanding of life as a flowing stream where I ride the twisting, turning current. I don't want to see my experiences in this flow as bad or worrisome. A stream flows onward in spite of branches and boulders. I want to see myself continuing to learn and loving my progress as I'm carried forward. There's no point fighting the flow. It's a power bigger than the universe. I think it links all of everything in a perfect plan of action. </p><p>I wondered how much perfection of the big picture I could recognize. I made a cup of tea and thought. <i>My dog always poops during neighborhood walks. On Saturday guests delayed his evening walk. He probably pooped in the backyard. How perfect that it snowed and froze the poop. How perfect that he found it this morning in 27 degrees and not this afternoon in 50 degrees. </i></p><p>I thought some more while I made a batch of granola. <i>How perfect that I could chop a handful of almonds left in the fridge to fill in the amount of slivered almonds I lacked. How perfect that I had the exact measurement of brown sugar remaining in the cannister. How perfect that my music video ended in time for me to hear the oven buzzer. </i></p><p>Noticing perfections that manifested this morning reinforced my trust that everything represents perfection in some way. There are folks who might have said the fall, the poop present, and the almond shortage were bad. Last night, I removed ice from the stoop thinking it would be safe this morning. Am I able to explain why I fell on my left butt-cheek? Not really. Maybe I needed a free adjustment to counterbalance a fall on my right hip a month ago. Maybe the fall established a condition necessary to some future unfolding of good. It is easy to accept the neat little coincidences in life. It is more challenging to grasp the idea that life is consistently good. That every moment of the day coincides with a perfect plan of unfolding goodness, even if a moment is a painful "bummer." </p><p>I finished drinking tea from my Kar-ma cup. Karma--a Sanskrit word meaning "action." In Yoga, the broadest sense of karma is that it is action that leads to more action. I appreciated that my morning was filled with so much interesting action leading to more action. So much evidence of a continuity in goodness and life. I thought, <i>after 10 years, this blog is still here and I am, too. I'll write something. </i></p><p>Now, I wonder what this action will lead to. Where is your karma leading you in life?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihpB7-1_Fn_ee8QFLNs-6Ek7m3Je_VqTI4jYrtojO6mHA--VpsUkBVqaRM-GSxjEysdxrJoZYLsT2j3pHUYMUTAInHodROU43eovPYNIlCZJhtBb8q5ON9SEq6u1AIa0Qjx_p1i2p6JBpXxmwVS092l8bUek7O8Uvg2pJvH5wVT9W8tN1keRAq-yN5=s3678" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3678" data-original-width="2758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihpB7-1_Fn_ee8QFLNs-6Ek7m3Je_VqTI4jYrtojO6mHA--VpsUkBVqaRM-GSxjEysdxrJoZYLsT2j3pHUYMUTAInHodROU43eovPYNIlCZJhtBb8q5ON9SEq6u1AIa0Qjx_p1i2p6JBpXxmwVS092l8bUek7O8Uvg2pJvH5wVT9W8tN1keRAq-yN5=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-60210211513835697702011-12-11T09:05:00.002-06:002023-11-24T23:48:43.014-06:00News From The Rose<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I have been following Miss K's posts and learning about technology from afar. How nice that computers can bring us closer no matter where we are in the universe. As a matter of fact, I, a humble rose, would like to share a special thought with Miss K. and others who are tackling the challenge of learning new technology and new digital programs. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Former British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, said, <b>"Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it."</b> You can scroll down to one of my earliest posts to see a photo of a baobab tree. What an interesting thought. Each time the Little Prince pulls up a baobab because its long, strong roots could break apart our home, I will be thinking about all the learning in the world waiting to be discovered. I cannot even wrap my leaves around the tiny baobabs on Asteroid B-612. But to wrap my thinking around the knowledge that an ancient baobab represents...Wow! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Perhaps I could scatter my seeds around the great baobab and grow into great wisdom, unfolding gently. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It's a plan.</span></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-16089883414799934192011-12-03T22:02:00.004-06:002011-12-05T17:25:12.224-06:00Tool #11 Self Assessing and ReflectingFAVORITE TOOLS <br /><div>I think I had the most fun making a video at <a href="http://www.xtranormal.com/">http://www.xtranormal.com/</a>. I'm also eager to continue exploring the activities at TES iboard (<a href="http://www.iboard.co.uk/">http://www.iboard.co.uk/</a>), and I see a lot of possibilities for using Wall Wisher. In the near future, I think I will have students make a poster displaying fractions at Big Huge Labs and respond to a question about natural resources on Wall Wisher. I also will use the TES iboard punctuation and narrative-writing activities at work stations.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>TRANSFORMED THINKING, CHANGED VISION, CLASSROOM CHANGES</div><br /><div>I have a better grasp of technology possibilities and as I plan lessons I often get ideas for technology to integrate with academics. I am getting students to the computers more often and giving them activities that are highly effective learning tools, which are also well-aligned with our content. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES</div><br /><div>It was nice to see that the district had a compilation of suggested sites each time I was instructed to go explore online. That made the task quicker and easier.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I did not expect to be posting my responses toTool #11 one-and-a-half hours after beginning the assessment. I had to look up a lot of unfamiliar language used in the questions and deeply analyze some of the questions word by word. After reading the question analysis at the end of the test, I learned new information from the corrections. I was surprised that the question analysis did not provide correct responses for the questions that had multiple answers. I really wanted to correct my thinking about what I had mismarked. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Some of the tools that asked us to explore various sites and register to do activities took an inordinate amount of time. I did not expect to have to dedicate that much time to 11 TOOLS above and beyond the time-consuming daily obligations of teaching. In the future if teachers are required to do more online learning, it would be a kindness if lengthy online assignments like those were broken down into smaller bits. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I was very surprised to see the video in TOOL #9 with Sir Ken Robinson talking about changing paradigms. I'd seen it before and really liked it. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>I am quite pleased with the technological savvy I have acquired and am looking forward to using it with the new electronic equipment our classroom will soon be issued. I appreciate the informative 11 TOOLS blog posts that got me started each time. </div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-44746897845725205442011-11-26T22:08:00.002-06:002011-11-26T22:15:36.117-06:00Tool #10 Digital Citizenship<span class="Apple-style-span" >First, I'd want to make sure that my students never, ever give out personal information over the internet. In connection with that, I would not want them to carry on personal communication with others across the web while working at online academics. Secondly, I would want them to know how to check the reliability of their sources before they use the information from a site. It is cyber irresponsibility to pass along information that is fabricated or only partially true. Lastly, I would make sure they understood that cyber bullying would not be acceptable. We are researching bullying, and my students should all know by now that a bully is in a sad state of mind. I'd like to use the Brainpop video for cyber-citizenship. My students love to take the post-test using their ACTIVotes. I could also recommend that parents watch it at home with their children if they can log in before 5:00 pm. I would send home the log-in and password for weekdays up to 5pm. </span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-47925847352804194552011-11-26T20:49:00.004-06:002011-11-26T22:01:28.063-06:00Tool #9 Incorporating Devices as Tools for Learning<span class="Apple-style-span">Why tie technology to our teaching objectives? That's like asking why we give out candy on Halloween! It's fun! It's significant! It's memorable. And we are in the business of finding ways to help students remember some very important information. I've heard at workshops that the one who does the talking is the one who does the learning. With technology, I think the one who works the keyboard/camera/microphone is the one who does the learning. And that addresses the question of accountability. Students who apply their understanding of what they are learning are those who will carry it away. When students know at the outset that they will have to provide proof of their attentiveness to the learning, they will be more alert to the learning objective and ready to proving their understanding.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm very excited to discover games that will support our probability and statistics unit in math with double dice rolling and decision trees. They are in year 5 under Handling Data at TES iboard </span><a href="http://www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm#mathsks2-topicYear55maths_year_ks2year5">http://www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm#mathsks2-topicYear55maths_year_ks2year5<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; "> </span></a> <span class="Apple-style-span">I included a link to the measurement page which also has a great game for practicing calculations for perimeter and area. The calculations students make in their math journals would prove their engagement in the practice. The site also has some very exciting literacy and grammar/punctuation activities. My students need a lot of practice placing punctuation around dialogue and they would really benefit from going to </span><a href="http://www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm#34226">http://www.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm#34226</a> <span class="Apple-style-span">where they can punctuate simple, complex or their own original dialogue for scenes from <i>Goldilocks and the Three Bears</i>. There are activities at the literacy menu for students to practice using There/Their/They're, applying apostrophes, replacing the verb "walk" with a better word, and correcting noun/verb agreements, among the many other choices. I would have students copy their sentences into the "Word" section of their writing binders where we collect examples of great language and punctuation. That would be a record of their participation and a reference for later writing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Some apps that would work well for an iPad station are BrainPop Featured Movie. I use BrainPop a lot for introducing science concepts. Students would be accountable for the post-movie quiz. I will definitely get Dictionary.com. On Mondays, students look up the meanings of their spelling words and write them in their spirals. They could use the iPads and iTouches as well as classroom dictionaries. I think, by partnering, the whole class would be actively participating. <i>Animation Creator </i>and <i>Sock Puppets </i>would be good sites for demonstrating understanding of a science concept as well as correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling. We could print and hang the comics and show the sock puppets on the white board. My students are researching information for a debate and would benefit from <i>Discovery Channel</i>, <i>Time Mobile</i>, <i>USA Today</i>, and Diigo. Our librarian has provided them with a form that guides their note-taking and reminds them to reference the sites they use.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></div></div></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-44101570311507919492011-11-13T17:37:00.002-06:002011-11-13T17:49:42.827-06:00Tool #8 Taking a Look at the Tools<span class="Apple-style-span" >Three things I learned about the new technology:</span><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >The netbooks will have a camera (Cool, because I set up a Skype account)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >That, as a center activity, I should have all the students sign in to every device the first time</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >When I download to the I-Pod Touch, I should select I-Phone apps (I didn't know this because don't have an I-Phone)</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Management:</span></div></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Write the device name on the back of the device</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Assign students the job of taking out and putting up technology tools (and trouble-shooting to inform me). Model for everyone in class how the removal and storage should look.</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Discuss with class what collaboration looks and sounds like when using technology. Add comments to our Collaborator's Code posted on the wall. </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >Post alternate assignment on board for students who find it difficult to live up to technology usage expectations (30 or more math problems or several work sheets, spelling practice, etc.)</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" >First several sessions, walk around room checking screens and behavior. Hope to catch someone breaking the rules, even for a minor infraction, and assign alternate work.All students will come to a clearer understanding of the level of expectation tied to their use of the technology tools.</span></li></ul></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-24874232671233203572011-11-13T17:02:00.003-06:002011-11-13T17:13:23.516-06:00Tool #7 Reaching Outside the Classroom<span class="Apple-style-span" >My students are beginning to find the fun in writing and I would like for them to continue growing in their enthusiasm and comfort level as they polish their ability to critique their own work. At this point, though, they are still not well skilled at analyzing writing with the insight of a writer. I want to use Google Docs to anonymously present a personal narrative or a sample of expository writing by a student in my class and see what feedback will be given by students in another fourth grade class. My class could critique a writing sample from the other class at the same time. This is an activity I see fitting into our writing plans in coordination with up-coming lessons on personal narrative. We could use it several times before the STAAR writing test in the spring. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-7981497000700637242011-11-12T23:32:00.005-06:002011-11-13T16:42:24.765-06:00Tool #6 Web Tools That Promote Discussion<div>With the time demands to research numerous sites, I've left Rose to do what roses do and I, the earth-based teacher, am responding. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my investigation of tools to encourage expanded dialogues, I researched what "back-channeling" meant. I also spent a great deal of time learning about Edmodo. I found a very helpful YouTube video that offered a number of ideas for Edmodo: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAzKwC-Jz9Q&feature=related">20 Ways to Use Edmodo</a> / I'd like to use the voice feature to have students take dictation in order to check their punctuation and spelling. It would be cool to use a Voki with my own voice. I also think parents would like seeing my homework posted on Edmodo because I have several students who don't write legibly or who forget to write their homework. When I tried to set up the Edmodo account, I saw that I needed a special password from the district. So I emailed a request for that and moved on.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next I researched Diigo as a replacement for Edmodo, and I watched two YouTube videos. When registering, I couldn't seem to drag a diigolet up to my Favorites bar. So, I abandoned that effort thinking that I would register with Edmodo later anyway and that's the one I really wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still intending to complete this tool this weekend, I moved on to Wallwisher. That site was cool! I made a bulletin board with a question supporting our science content. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/<iframe%20src=%22http://www.wallwisher.com/embed/g6UgAQFoYI%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20width=%22100%%22%20height=%22400px%22%20style=%22border:%201px%20solid%20#999999"></iframe>">Weathering, Erosion, Deposition Bulletin Board</a> / I uploaded a picture and a video to see how to do that. There's plenty of room for more notes. I'm eager to make another bulletin board to support math content. I'll write, "If the answer is 24, what is the question?" That should spark a flow of responses. Once the extra technology comes to my classroom, I'll make Wallwisher a regular workstation, simply changing the question periodically. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly, I set up a Skype account. I was thinking that I could link up with an author I know in Jakarta, Indonesia and have my students learn about her writing. I also know someone in the Patagonia mountains in Chile. I thought that my students could ask questions about that biome because we will be studying the topic soon. </div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-75627505134695916502011-10-30T18:24:00.003-05:002011-10-30T18:46:29.917-05:00Tool #5 Producing with 2.0 Tools<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--o0d-UeQAis/Tq3g_wPDAVI/AAAAAAAAATE/csAHh3KVFww/s1600/mosaic5364d2c0bcd9139e6ec3c5e245e358e629947012%2B%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--o0d-UeQAis/Tq3g_wPDAVI/AAAAAAAAATE/csAHh3KVFww/s320/mosaic5364d2c0bcd9139e6ec3c5e245e358e629947012%2B%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669434891813716306" /></a><br />This is Miss K. posting for Rose while the Prince waters and cares for soil around her on their asteroid. <br /><br />On earth, I found the 2.0 offerings interesting and exciting to consider in connection with teaching. I made a comic at Make Beliefs Comix, but am not totally happy with the site. I found that you can only put one of any type of item into a frame. So I could not make two characters holding cell phones in one frame. I also did not see any "go back and edit" button after I went to the print screen. So I used the back button and lost the whole thing. I wanted to go back and see if it would come out larger when printed in landscape layout. Fortunately, I did get it printed, but I had to scan it to save it to the computer. I also forgot to title it. <br /><br />When I watched the YouTube about Make Beliefs Comix I saw other videos for Toondoo, which I learned about at Teacher Summer U. I watched a video for that and think that site would be more satisfying to use. I'd like to have students make cartoons to explain earth science concepts and steps in math operations. <br /><br />The other thing I did was make a poster in Big Huge Labs. The poster shows many things that have measurement scales and the purpose is to make students notice that not all scales advance with the same number pattern. I'm going to use it when we study measurement in math, but it is also useful as a reminder to students when we read beakers, thermometers and other tools in science.<br /> <br />I'm not sure how to get the pdf of my comic into this post. When I upload the message says my image is corrupt or in an unrecognizable format.Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-57171939842242440742011-10-16T12:52:00.004-05:002011-10-30T14:49:43.418-05:00Tool #4 Moving Up to the CloudsOh joy! Technology is getting closer to Asteroid B-612 as it moves up to the clouds. I used my four thorns to type out a little poem in Google Documents and shared it with friends thinking they might find it a useful example of free-verse. Hopfully, they will comment on how to punctuate it or improve it.<br /><br />Before I attempted to make a document form, I thought there would be a lot of possibilities for various form styles. It would have been nice to make a form to show the sixty-four times the sun rises and sets on our asteroid. Miss K. would have liked to create a form with the names and times for her parent conferences. But I discovered that the form is only for various test or survey questions. I created a survey question for my teacher friends back on earth. As a single bloom, I have only one small head that can manage just a single question at a time. Thank goodness the Little Prince waters me and keeps me in full and beautiful health or I might lose many petals over even that much! <br /><br />Sadly, I do see a few petals on the ground. Perhaps they fell during my frustration with how to use the documents and forms as I could find no instructions or button that offered an uninformed rose some help.<br /><br />Miss K. likes the instant feedback from ACTIVote surveys with her flipchart, but she mentioned that she would use the Google Document forms to make a test or ask for feedback from students and parents on issues that allow time for responses to flow in at a slower pace. I am excited to share the results of my survey question with her. Then, maybe she will be more enthusiastic about writing a survey question of her own.Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-31097762224842880532011-10-08T21:26:00.005-05:002011-10-09T18:55:07.946-05:00Tool #3 - Videos and Images by flower and friend<span class="Apple-style-span">Can you hear it? That's the sound of a flower wilting on Asteroid B-612. And I am the only flower here. I have learned much during this venture into videos and images. I loved looking at the images in Picasa in an album labeled "By Giles REVEMONT." I am not sure if that is a first and last name or a first name and a title for the album. There were lovely flower photos and a scientifically useful one of a bee. I even figured out how to download photos to my computer. One is now displayed under my blog profile in hopes that it will make you think of me up on Asteroid B-612. As I am in my fourth hour at this, I must stop and absorb some energy from the sun. So, I have reached out electronically to a friend I met while on earth. Miss K can attest to the usefulness of videos and images for her needs. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Thank you Rose. I am very excited to see the close-up photo of the bee with loads of pollen on its legs. I will definitely use that in my science class. Another photo in that Picasa album will serve as a perfect dandelion illustration for a poem my students recently wrote. I know that I can use these photos based on Fair Use because I will repurpose and add value to them with poetry and science notes. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Also, my sweet smelling pal, I went video hunting. At Blinkx, in a search of the water cycle, the website turned up 19,000 videos. That's nineteen THOUSAND!!! I searched at Khan Academy but could not figure out how to embed from there, so I found two videos on YouTube (see below). The parents of my students will appreciate these when I embed them on my classroom blog. With different methods to multiply and divide, my students quickly learned new math skills, but their parents remain confused. Your venture into videos and images has enlightened but exhausted me as well. It would have been nice to absorb some energy from the sun, but now the moon is out. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: medium; ">Love, Miss K.</span></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-46094265603395277842011-10-08T19:24:00.003-05:002011-10-08T22:18:33.074-05:00Tool#3 - Embedded Videos<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S3z4XqC_YSc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sufu0cix72E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-7685478438128965372011-09-26T18:19:00.005-05:002011-10-01T12:40:48.180-05:00TOOL #2 - BUILDING A LEARNING COMMUNITY<b>Our intercosmos server on planet B-612 makes it possible for me to communicate with others who are learning new things on earth. Since I began my computer adventures several years ago, after the Little Prince had returned from visiting earth, I am adapting to my new situation. Of course, a rose knows that adaptation is key to survival. I think the Little Prince could have adapted easily to life on earth. I'm so grateful he came back to take care of me. </b><br /><br /><br /><div><b>So what I did was log into the SBISD Google account in order to view and comment on the blogs of teachers at Valley Oaks. I looked at many, but just commented on two. Sometimes, I can be a blushing rose among bushes of blooming beauties. I also commented on the Technology Tidbits and Fischbowl blogs. Perhaps later, I will revisit the piq website, which I arrived at through a link on Technology Tidbits. It is pixel drawing, and I do fancy myself an artistic rose. I saw such lovely, bright pinks and purples there.</b><br /><br /></div><br /><div><b>Finally, I commented on the blog at the Steve Spangler website. It was also exciting to sign up for weekly science experiments to be emailed to me. Perhaps I will invent a scientific treatment to eliminate baobab trees. Won't the Little Prince like that! I hope you will visit Steve Spangler's website and get some great ideas for yourselves. <a href="http://www.stevespangler.com/">http://www.stevespangler.com/</a> </b><br /></div><br /><div><b>Now, in order to post a comment on my blog, I've logged out of my SBISD Google account and into the Google account I previously set up for Unfold Gently. </b></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-32865276118423217352011-09-19T16:08:00.007-05:002011-09-22T09:47:25.074-05:00Tool #1 - CONTINUED UNFOLDMENT with a Voki<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oh joy! After three years, we have returned to Asteroid B-612. We left the sheep back on earth as that seemed the most reasonable place for him (seeing as he ate flowers and all). In our absence from our home the volcanoes filled with dust and intergalactic debris. They looked in great need of cleaning, and the many baobabs that sprang up looked in great need of pulling. Since the Little Prince could not uproot them when they first sprouted, he has toiled many days to clear them down to their deepest roots. It requires constant diligence as they continue to sprout again and again. While the Little Prince works long hours tending to our asteroid, I have taken to entertaining myself with an image of him to keep me company. The steps at <a href="http://voki.com/">http://voki.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> felt fairly straight-forward and easy to follow. I found an image of my dear companion quickly. Fortunately, a wise librarian on earth typed the instructions for transporting my Little Prince to the blog site or I would not have know what in the universe a rose should do. Now, whenever I feel a bit lonely or ignored (for you know a rose like myself requires a lot of attention), I can click on the arrow with one of my thorns. Then, I listen to the Little Prince wisely admonishing all to keep their volcanoes clean.</span></span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-54455807252756309562008-07-19T11:22:00.002-05:002008-07-19T11:34:22.539-05:00Other ThingsRegretfully, I will not be completing 23 Things this summer. The little prince has settled me comfortably in a flower pot and we are departing soon for earth and other things. There has been a death among those he came to love during his adventure on the planet, and we will be spending much time with others on earth connected to this event. Be comforted that the sheep has still not eaten the flower (me) and that the stars pour out fresh water to drink, which sounds like five hundred million little bells on earth.Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-56711168217789014612008-07-04T23:15:00.004-05:002008-07-06T00:16:09.249-05:00Post Haste - Thing #12<span style="font-family:arial;">I have spent many hours exploring sites, blogs, pages, links, and more. It feels as though I've seen not even a milliliter of the large measure of technology on the World Wide Web. This does not seem to concern the little prince. I overheard him say, "...if I had fifty-three minutes to spend as I liked, I should walk at my leisure toward a spring of fresh water." </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">With my four thorns walking the computer keyboard, I've found fresh ideas at two writing blogs. They have been the water to nourish my extra-curricular writing life. (Some day, I will write a book about Asteroid B-612.) I made posts expressing appreciation for an interesting poetry idea, and thanking the blogger for a well-expressed writing strategy. I also posted on blogs from 23 Things--commenting on the usefulness of the blog information or the effective way in which it was said.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It has been quite pleasant to be the recipient of posts to this blog, as well.</span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-91454005369895123842008-07-03T22:01:00.008-05:002008-07-04T22:55:04.078-05:00The LibraryThing, #11<span style="font-family:arial;">Before visiting Earth, the little prince stopped on a planet where a geographer wrote voluminous books. "Geographies," said the geographer, "are the books...most concerned with matters of consequence...It is very rarely that a mountain changes its positon. It is very rarely that an ocean empties itself of its water. We write of eternal things." On the other hand, the little prince's flower (me) is ephemeral--in danger of speedy disappearance. He later told me he felt a moment of regret over leaving me alone on our asteroid. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Any book is a matter of great consequence. Readers of fiction as well as nonfiction discover eternal things, such as underlying concepts or principles. That is why I have begun an account at LibraryThing, and I have listed 30 of the books that the little prince and I have enjoyed reading. I am very excited about posting a book review on the website at a later date and talking with people who love the inspiring works that I have also loved. LibraryThing would be a useful vehicle for helping students select a good read, and later, publishing a review for the book. Students could also use the site to find reviews of books they have been considering reading. </span><br /><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://www.librarything.com/jswidget.php?reporton=PippiLongstockings&show=random&header=1&num=12&covers=small-fixed-width&text=none&onlycovers=1&tag=self-discovery&css=1&style=5&version=1"><br /></script>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-64874482649439697662008-07-01T23:40:00.004-05:002008-07-02T00:30:48.782-05:00Sheepish Image Generator - Thing #10<a href="http://www.fototrix.com/"><img alt="Make your own free clipart like this @ www.TXT2PIC.com with free web based tools (hundreds of image generators that run through a web broswer, no software to buy or install)." src="http://buy4cheap.biz/spiffytext/saved/www.txt2pic.com_722008-6616716421-0121-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.comedysearchengine.com/"><br /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Made with free image tools @ <a href="http://www.txt2pic.com/">TXT2PIC.com</a></span><br /><a href="http://www.txt2pic.com/comic-strip/">http://www.txt2pic.com/comic-strip/</a><br /><br />Dear Little Prince,<br /><br />This comic blew out of the sheep's box today. Apparently, you've brought back a very clever sheep who can sketch and make jokes. I hope it is a sheep that prefers to eat something other than roses. Students on Earth would enjoy using the online image programs to get inspiration and understanding linked to spelling words, make a comment on world events, practice sentences with correct spelling and punctuation, discover or deliver inferences, write dialogue, and even more than my little petalled head can think of in these wee morning hours.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />RoseRose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-79729641262062099432008-07-01T21:11:00.009-05:002008-07-03T21:57:12.480-05:00News Feeds My Sheep - Thing #9<span style="font-family:arial;">The little prince hurried off to investigate the new green shoots, and I am investigating the RSS Reader on his computer as well as a Rose is able. I find that for ease and usefulness, I prefer Technorati's subject search. I was able to find news stories about the recent death of Clay Felker, the editor of the "New York" magazine, who changed factual news reporting into fascinating non-fiction narratives. When the little prince set off on his travels, I remained on Asteroid B-612 and am now the authority on all the planetary news to report during his absence. Perhaps later, I will look for news about the downed pilot who befriended the prince in the Sahara Desert. I wonder what has become of him since the little prince's departure. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I explored the other suggested sites for feeds and had a little bit of difficulty understanding how to navigate Edublog, although it was quite enjoyable and informative. I read postings by the top-selected and award-winning bloggers, such as SBISD librarian Vaughn Branom and Cool Cat Teacher. It was very exciting to discover the link to Bluebonnet book reviews from the Eagles Read blog. I am a literary loving rose<em>--impressed </em>rather than just <em>pressed</em> by a good book<em>.</em> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Next time I am hunting for information in blogs, I would like to try Bloglines. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In a rose's life here; with our frequent sunsets, volcano cleaning, and baobab pulling; there is little idle time to aimlessly explore all the postings and articles on the World Wide Web. I would find it most useful for researching specific topics such as recent discoveries of marine creatures in Earth's oceans, or what to feed the earth sheep that came back with the little prince in the box with the holes. What do you think might happen if the sheep goes wandering about hungrily? </span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-16381537835778476082008-07-01T19:40:00.003-05:002008-07-01T21:11:23.647-05:00On Matters of Consequence and RSS - Thing #8<span style="font-family:arial;">"On matters of consequence, the little prince had ideas which were very different from those of the grown-ups." He once told a businessman, "I myself own a flower...which I water every day. I own three volcanoes, which I clean out every week (for I also clean out the one that is extinct; one never knows). It is of some use to my volcanoes, and it is of some use to my flower, that I own them."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It seems that the computer has become a fascination for the little prince, and he discovered how to employ it in matters of consequence. By setting up R<em>eally</em> S<em>imple Syndications</em> of web articles, he has been able to peruse and quickly select information that helps him clean his volcanoes faster and better. He also shares his RSS file of Inspiration with the fox back on earth. They keep journals and write letters to each other prompted by articles discussing uniqueness. The fox even suggested that the little prince create an RSS folder about roses (especially searching for articles about my particular variety), and offer it to the library for students to use in their research projects. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Oh! I believe I see several harmless looking green sprouts shooting up where the little prince rested after his return. Perhaps he inadvertently brought good seed (stuck to his shoes or pants?) to grace our planet. As soon as the leaves are recognizable, we will know whether to uproot those sprouts or to attend to them with great care.</span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-26062368816637604242008-06-25T17:09:00.004-05:002008-06-25T17:46:31.364-05:00Web Notebooks and Picture Albums -- Thing #7<span style="font-family:arial;">I am not at all afraid of tigers, but I have a horror of computer programs. I asked the Little Prince if he wouldn't have a look at the screen for me. "A flower is a very complex creature..." he mumbled. A long while later, though, I heard him mutter about how very much time it was taking to set up a Google notebook and a Picasa photo album. He missed looking at many sunsets today because there were not clear or easily accessible, step-by-step instructions for each of the tasks. I think he may have also left the inactive volcano uncleaned, as well. After way too many hours (and I will not even whisper the number for fear that the Little Prince may become even more sad over the sunsets), he created a web album of a fishing trip on earth and set up a Google notebook of humorous sayings. This is not to say that he looked confident and satisfied as if he understood exactly what to do. It is only to say that he was able to accomplish those two things after many trials and errors. As for me (<em>sigh)</em>, I am forsaking my glass globe and learning to endure the presence of two or three caterpillars in order to become acquainted with the butterflies. Trials teach us how to triumph.</span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-81896830166003341972008-06-24T22:32:00.005-05:002008-06-24T22:58:58.977-05:00The Sahara Desert -- Thing #6<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGHAPosz1mI/AAAAAAAAACs/4VqOpNoWS14/s1600-h/deck4658819.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215661218327680610" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGHAPosz1mI/AAAAAAAAACs/4VqOpNoWS14/s400/deck4658819.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGG_nZhzJXI/AAAAAAAAACk/QX4GpP5DJBA/s1600-h/deck4658819.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">The Little Prince asked me to share his Sahara Desert trading card with everyone so people could see how very few people he met while on the earth. He says this picture does not show the magnificent sunsets over the desert, although he could only see one each day rather than the forty-four he might see walking straight ahead in one day on our tiny planet. (In my opinion, it is also not nearly as beautiful as Asteroid B-612.) I had much difficulty saving this file for you until I discovered that I must not change the file name. When I kept the original name and saved it into a subject folder, I was able to capture the whole image rather than a half-chopped-off version. So, you can see above why I think the desert would be a very harsh home for a rose and a very unhappy home for a joyful Little Prince.</span></div><br /><em><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo by Eugene Reshetov</span><br /></span></em><div></div>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-27044081121138645942008-06-24T18:55:00.014-05:002008-06-24T23:05:49.084-05:00Thing 5, The Thing About Baobabs<span style="font-size:85%;"><em>photos by Kumasawa</em> <em>from Flicker</em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGGdXVYQzLI/AAAAAAAAACM/u4d_u9nUgq4/s1600-h/hollow+baobab+by+kumasawa.jpg"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215622867673205938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGGdXVYQzLI/AAAAAAAAACM/u4d_u9nUgq4/s200/hollow+baobab+by+kumasawa.jpg" border="0" /></em></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><br /></em></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Upon the Little Prince's return, he shared with me many of the conversations he had during his travels on earth. In one such conversation with a pilot, he explained about the baobabs that grow on our little planet (Asteroid B-612). He said the pilot made a great mental effort and finally understood that seeds "push a charming little spring inoffensively upward toward the sun. If it is only a sprout of radish or the sprig of a rose-bush, one would let it grow wherever it might wish. But when it is a bad plant, one must destroy it as soon as possible, the very first instant that one recognizes it." This is a very important principle on our planet.<br /><br />The soil here is infested with the bad seeds of the baobab which can never be gotten rid of if they are attended to at too late a time. As you can see from the photos I have included here (having found them quickly in Flicker and uploaded them with ease* using the Add Image button), baobabs could grow to be as wide as our asteroid, blocking the sun from my leaves and the sunset from the Little Prince's view. Their thirsty roots could bore clear through the ground splitting terra firma into little pieces to float apart in space.<br /><br />The Little Prince sees to it that he regularly pulls up baobabs at the first moment he has distinguished them from a rosebush (of which there are none others like myself). The pilot on earth realized that the danger is so little understood he has taken it upon himself to say, "Children,...watch out for the baobabs!" </span><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGHDlAOrrtI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-hD3ZpGQv3E/s1600-h/baobab+view+by+kumasawa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215664883955904210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NiqUt60aWmw/SGHDlAOrrtI/AAAAAAAAAC0/-hD3ZpGQv3E/s320/baobab+view+by+kumasawa.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">*After four failed tries, I discovered I had not checked the "accept agreement" box at the very bottom of the page. Once that was selected, I uploaded with ease.<br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></span>Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-19553128486608186422008-06-12T17:58:00.001-05:002008-07-13T17:16:56.238-05:00An Avatar - Thing 3As the little prince is now watching the sunset, I have found it possible to capture his likeness using my four thorns to manipulate the keys on his computer--a machine he brought from Earth on his return to our planet. It was simple enough to select a picture of a boy with tousled hair, but I had difficulty finding the proper clothing to represent my little prince. I'm so grateful that there was a long scarf among the items. That addition helped capture his essence, and I placed the character in the Sahara from which the little prince has just returned. I've learned that this new image is called an Avatar. (Certainly, a very other-worldly name.) I don't care much for the picture as it lacks the warmth, beauty, and spirit of true Life, although I felt a bit playful in creating it.Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11256585410801067.post-42724559880428772332008-06-11T14:36:00.000-05:002008-06-12T19:07:10.771-05:00Playfulness - Thing 2Sometimes, I find it difficult to play. Life's challenges can loom so great that they block the view of beauty and joy. I've learned to gather inner strength and lean into the wind or threaten with my thorniness, but I often forget to relax and really see what surrounds me. Leaves still dance in the breeze and stars still sparkle in the sky whether my challenge is great, small, or none at all. Play provides a counterpoint to challenges and responsibilities. It is a refresher for the continued advance. Play allows a life-long learner to discover the pleasure in learning. Play reminds me to breathe deeply and smile, which spreads joy to others as well.<br />I think I would like to learn of many ways a single rose could be playful because the little prince is often busy pulling up baobab trees or cleaning his volcanoes.Rose and Sydnie Kleinhenzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15718946562688135402noreply@blogger.com0