Been a While

So many issues. I am hoping to buy my laptop when the district starts to recycle them. My power cord is working, but I need to get a new one.

As soon as TAKS is over. We (my students) should be ok. I still have some technology ideas I want to try with them before the end of the school year.

Can't Retrieve Email from District Server

I can't retrieve sent email from the server. Suppossedly we are switching to Zimba. If I had known this was going to happen, I could have forwarded my email to my google.

Had to Move the Emacs Out due to Read 180

Unfortunately, I had to 86 my Emacs due to the Read 180 class I teach. I was happy to see them go to a good home with another teacher. I had spent time during the summer of 2009 to get them ready for my Dyslexia Reading class and my TAKS 7th grade Reading class and my regular 8th grade Language Arts block. I still have those blocks, and a new block for Read 180.

I need to be dilligent.
I need to do it right.
I need to be ingenious.

from Atul Gawande

Students and Gmail accounts

I was able to set up my students with Gmail accounts, but I think there is some type of filter on the district lan or Google itself that limits the number of accounts you can do.
My next step is to try and set up a google group site for all of my students to turn in their homework.

Resizing Fonts in a Powerpoint

I helped the DRD training instructor resize the fonts in her powerpoint so that when we see it on the big screen, we can actually read it. And when the handouts print out we can read the fine print. I hope it works out.

Student Gmail Accounts

Working to get my students to pass the benchmarks next week. Most of them already have a gmail account. We are using the account to send summaries to each other. We are hoping to increase the writing, English and especially the reading with a high interest, very different approach.

Next step is to have them create their powerpoints in Google documents and sent them to each other. Would you send you friend a piece of junk?

Working on DRD blogsite

Happy Thanksgiving!
This is some of the new stuff I am trying!

I am working on a DRD blogsite for my middle school Dyslexia students. I hope it will help them be more successful with reading.

Here is the link. http://jonesdrdreading.blogspot.com/

I just started this, and I hope it will be a good tool to help my students be successful.