Word Clouds

I found this activity to be very easy and fun. I was aware of Wordle before, but never had the chance to experiment with it. I chose to do a word cloud in my field first because I thought it would be more fun. I chose to do the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. I feel that this is one of the greatest speeches of all time, so why not have a word cloud to describe it? Here is my Gettysburg Address Wordle.

 

I found this activity to be very easy because there really is not much that you have to do outside of the program. You just type in a bunch of words and they do the rest for you. It was a lot of fun going through the random images and choosing the one I liked the best.

When viewing the NETS T standards, there is some difference between what the standards were in 2000 versus what they were in 2008. In the NETS standards 2000, one can see the main focus is on technology and teachers using that technology for student learning. I think this was the beginning of having lots of technology to use in the classroom, so NETS T standards were built around teachers starting to use different things in their classroom. When comparing the 2000 standards to the NETS standards 2008 one can see there is a change. The 2008 standards are more focused on the student learning how to use digital resources in their classroom. Technology is now an assumed part of a classroom and the focus has to be on using that technology to help in the learning process. It also seems that the NETS standards are promoting more of a student led learning than a teacher led learning. I feel like they are trying to put more responsibility on the students for their learning.

This activity relates to the NETS standards of facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity. Students can play around with this software and create word clouds that relate to classroom topics. Second, teachers are designing and developing digital age learning experiences. This tool would be great to use when learning about wars or cultures of different civilizations. Students could easily pick up on the most important information because of its size and the attention the words draw. Third, if teachers do the word clouds themselves, they are showing students that they are willing to use this type of technology as well. There are many benefits to using Wordle and I am going to start using it as a project for my next chapter.

Change Will Happen

After viewing the webinar on technology, I am both intrigued with the idea of using technology and also worried that it could possibly take teachers completely out of the picture. When looking at the Carpe Diem style of learning, the students are all self-driven to complete their work. Teachers may or may not be needed while they are working in their cubicles on different assignments. I cannot see how that is a beneficial atmosphere for students to thrive in, but as the professor pointed out, test scores are rising for those students. On the other hand, at St. Mary's, they are participating in learning by doing. I feel this is a much better opportunity for students to learn and be successful. As a teacher, I feel much more prepared to engage in a St. Mary's style learning school than a Carpe Diem style learning school. At my school, we do not have adequate technology to create a Carpe Diem style learning environment. Even if we did, I feel that style of learning takes a specific kind of student. Not everyone would be suited to sitting in front of a computer for half a day. I do try and do many hands on learning experiences for my students. We take virtual tours to places that we cannot visit. I create these tours using Microsoft Powerpoint and also by using videos downloaded off the internet. We only have access to computers in our school. With the SOL schedule that is put in place, I find I have a hard time getting my students into a lab to work on projects. It feels like we constantly have to rush to get our work done on time. There seems to be little time to spend on other fun activities.
I would recommend that my school purchase IPads for each department. This way not one department has control over them and there are many sets that would be accessible for students to use. Students would be able to take advantage of some of the history review apps that I have found over the last couple of years. This would also break up the monotony of doing the same thing over and over again. When looking into the future, I am not sure how I would handle this combination of learning. I feel like we, as teachers, are being pulled farther and farther away from what we are actually supposed to be doing with our students. I would love to see more time devoted to hands on learning and students being actively engaged in their learning. I would like to not see a Carpe Diem style learning environment in my school because I do not see how that style of learning benefits anyone, especially high school students who are way to social!
The NETS standards portrayed in this activity are teachers modeling digital citizenship and facilitating student learning and creativity. Teachers would be showing students how to engage the world they will enter after high school or college. Students need to be aware of what technology is out there and also to not be afraid of it. Second, if students are provided more learn by doing experiences, they will be more creative with their learning and possibly take a more active role.

Excel 2

Column1
Mean	216.8470093
Standard Error	1.003809319
Median	217.6995421
Mode	#N/A
Standard Deviation	7.238571944
Sample Variance	52.39692379
Kurtosis	1.19597502
Skewness	-0.601237063
Range	40.39407077
Minimum	193.5975693
Maximum	233.9916401
Sum	11276.04449
Count	52

Column2
Mean	-7.24326109
Standard Error	0.275208873
Median	-6.992761948
Mode	#N/A
Standard Deviation	1.984559403
Sample Variance	3.938476024
Kurtosis	1.033376246
Skewness	-0.835208051
Range	9.957366625
Minimum	-13.99571467
Maximum	-4.038348042
Sum	-376.6495767
Count	52

t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances
	Variable 1	Variable 2
Mean	216.847	224.0902704
Variance	52.39692	42.3109447
Observations	52	52
Pooled Variance	47.35393
Hypothesized Mean Difference	0
df	102
t Stat	-5.36714
P(T<=t) one-tail	2.52E-07
t Critical one-tail	1.65993
P(T<=t) two-tail	5.03E-07
t Critical two-tail	1.983495

Above are the results from the NAEP 4th grade scores. The top chart is the males and the middle chart is the femails. The third chart is the t-test results. My results show that the t-test results are greater than .05, so therefore, I cannot reject the null hypothesis. This activity was a little confusing. I am not very good at reading charts from Excel so I am not completely sure about what I have discovered. I believe I rejected the null hypothesis, but I am not really sure what that means. I looked over the data, but I need to become more familiar with this in order to completely appreciate what I have discovered.

In my class, students can research the various reasons for the beginning of World War I. There are many different aspects to look at and students coulds show what they are most interested in and why. My groups can be the causes of the war including, militarism, alliances, nationalism, and imperialism. I could examine the students research on an individual issue and then compare them to the other student's ideas.

I am still unsure of how I would use this in my classroom setting. I don't completely understand Excel and am not sure this would benefit me until I figured out how to use the program successfully. Until then, I think the numbers would not mean anything to me.

Basic Excel Skills

I never thought that having a Mac would put me at a disadvantage with Excel, but I definitely found a problem tonight. In order for me to complete this assignment, I had to download a program called StatPlus to use with Excel in order to get the statistics I needed. Finally, I was able to get the numbers to cooperate and this is what I came up with.

I am still not sure that I did this completely right, but I think I did. Anyway, I have learned a new trick today. I am not sure how I would use this yet. I am not completely comfortable using Excel and all these new ideas are throwing me into confusion. It will take a while for me to sort everything out.

I am from Maryland and I looked at the data provided by my state. I would say that Maryland is doing okay overall. They seem to be at the top of the pyramid and that is always a good thing in stats. There are 47 states below Maryland and 2 above them. I would definitely say that Maryland is above average and is doing a good job.
When looking at the different NETS standards, I am still not sure where to put this. I feel the best place for it would be the Model Digital Age Work and Learning. This data could possibly allow students to track their progress if teachers keep up on it. Also, parents could see how their children are progressing over time during a conference, etc. This chart could also allow a teacher to see who has what knowledge and who needs remediation. I am still not completely sure of what best to use this for because I am still trying to understand it. I think the more I use this program and test my stats skills, I will find a better use for the program and the numbers.

Google Sites

I have worked with Google sites before and had forgotten how to use them. This was a nice refresher on how to use the sites and also shows the benefit of having something like this for your students to view. I can see how this site would be extremely handy during the summer if one taught an AP course to keep students updated on their work assignments. My website can be found here Melissa Bernal Teacher Website. On my Google site, I have linked to the important documents that I created to explain myself as a teacher. Also, I have linked to the rubric that I created a to show potential students, employers, etc how I would grade an assignment. I like how one can upload a biography to explain a bit about yourself and let people see what kind of person you are.
This activity relates to the NETS Standards in a couple different ways. First, a teacher is designing and developing digital age learning experiences. As already stated, this website would be fantastic for AP classes and keeping students up with that workload. Also, students would be able to communicate with each other quickly and by using this website, along with something like FaceTime or Skype, they would be able to communicate. Secondly, this activity shows teachers modeling digital age work and learning. Teachers are showing that they are advancing in technology and that they are willing to try the different avenues of education to help their students succeed. I think it would be great for students to connect with their teachers outside of the classroom in a learning environment. So much stress is put on not using technology to communicate with students outside of school. This website would be somewhere that students and teachers could communicate about the needs of the student and the classroom. Finally, teachers are engaging in professional growth and leadership. Teachers are showing their willingness to keep up with changing technology to show their students how to use these great sites inside and outside the classroom.

Rubrics

Rubrics are a standard way to grade a student's performance on a specific activity. Using the Rubistar website, teachers can easily make a rubric to fit any of their classroom needs. Sharing the rubrics is even easier. If you save the rubric on the website, you are given an access ID number and can type it in to find the rubric that you need. I found this site extremely easy to work with and loved the fact that I can make a rubric for any assignment that I present to my class.

 I decided to create a rubric for a project that I do with my World History I class. It is a fun way for them to review important people, but also a way to get out of the classroom for a while and into the computer lab.

The worst part about this is that I cannot figure out how to upload this document as an Excel sheet. I will keep trying to figure it out, but as of right now, I am stumped...

This rubric building site is perfect for my department at Warren County. It fits into the NETS standards and it promotes building an environment of communication and collaboration. We could all use the same rubrics for students. Students would then know what is expected of them no matter what the situation is.

Self Grading Form

Gilded Age Quiz

We have just started learning about the Gilded Age in class and I think using this form is a way for me to check on the student progress that is made. Also, I believe that students can monitor their own progress if they take these quizzes on a regular basis. The video that was linked on the assignment was helpful, but I am finding that these online forms are hard to access in my school. The computer labs are always book and it always seems like we cannot get in there, even to do a short 5 minute pre-test or post-test for a unit. I am working to get a hold of the mobile labs more often, but they hardly ever work. I wish I could use this technology more at work so my students could benefit from it.

If you click on the link above, you can test your knowledge about the Gilded Age and see how well you would do based on the Virginia SOL standards. Below, is the link to the results page.

Quiz Scoresheet

This assignment connected with many of the NETS standards. I am promoting growth within my classroom community because my students are checking their own progress and seeing how they are doing in class. Also, we are big on tracking performances right now so this is a great way for students to track what they are doing. Also, I am continuing to use technology that furthers my understanding of these programs as a teacher. I can help my students become better learners if I can share all this new found knowledge with them.

Google Forms

I think that I have come up with a good way to do a pre-test and post-test with the Google Forms. I can have my students do them before and after a unit so they can track their progress. For example, if students were to go to this page Unit 1 Pre-Test, they will be able to take the short quiz and let me know where their knowledge is about this unit. This will give me a quick way to see where they are before and after every unit.

This type of document is already used in my building. We have our computer lab schedule set up on a google doc so teachers can edit and add dates they wish to use the computer without having to leave their desk. It saves a lot of time and people are quickly able to access the document.
The results would allow me to focus more on what material my students need to concentrate on. The google programs allow me to grow as a professional and also allow me to show my students the value of using technology in the classroom.

Prezi

World War 2 Prezi

I have never used Prezi before and it was definitely a challenge for me. I had to ask some of my students to help me figure out a few things. Its a good thing they know what they are doing!
Even after watching the videos, I still had a hard time understanding how to use Prezi. I feel that powerpoint is much user friendly and easier to operate. I like that there is a different option for presentations, but I was having a hard time doing this presentation quickly. Powerpoint is easy to fly through and get the necessary information added.
I can see the advantages of doing a presentation like this. If you are covering a topic that is quicklyaddressed, I would use this format. Anything that requires more than 20 slides, I think should go into a powerpoint. It is much easier to follow and is less time consuming to produce. Also, I think that Prezi is would be great for students to get a varied form of instruction. It would probably be boring to see a power point in every class. Atleast with a different program, they could see a different way of presenting the material. Also, this could be good for their short projects they do in my class. I would want to train them on how to use Prezi first before I turned them lose on this one. I can see how someone could get distracted when using this program. There is alot to absorb.
Finally, Prezi addresses the teachers inspiring student learning and creativity. Students can be encouraged to develop a different way of seeing the material and also, they can be challenged to make their own version for projects. Second, teachers are modeling the digital age work and learning. Prezi is a new presentation software and more and more teachers should pick up on these ideas to explain matieral to students and other teachers. Finally, teachers are engaging in professional growth by trying out these new programs. Without teachers experimenting with new software, students would not be encouraged to do the same. How can we ask our students to do something that we are not willing to try as well.

Digital Movie

Causes of the Civil War YouTube Video

I made a digital movie about the unit I did last week with my US History class. It is a short over-view of the all the major topics we would be learning about within that unit. This activity shows teachers modeling digital age work and learning and also teachers design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. Finally, teachers are engaging in growth and leadership within their schools. This is a new type of technology that can be used to reach students who are home sick or out on a vacation. There are many possibilities for uploading videos to YouTube for your students.

Powerpoint

Dropbox Powerpoint

I have heard of Dropbox before, but never have actually used it. I like the idea that my folders can be accessed even if I am not on my home computer. I think I will start using this with any computer work that I want to bring home. No more flash drives! I really liked how easy it was to upload a powerpoint and create a link. I have made so many powerpoints for my classes and this would be a great way for me to put them on the web so my students have access to them if they are not in class. I may have to start that sooner, rather than later. This assignment relates to the model digital age learning standard. Teachers can use this program to show their students how to store information on the internet and have it saved for them. This is really easy for them to be able to access their work no matter where they are. I really like the idea of students being able to access something at home that they started in school and didn't get a chance to finish.

Google Earth

I really enjoyed learning how to use Google Earth. This program is much more interactive than Google Maps and it allows students to get an actual image of what the place they are searching looks like. I like the fact that people have posted pictures taken at the different landmarks and you can actually see them on the page.
Once I got to look around the Google Earth for Educators site, I found that there were not that many options for high school history. The best I found was a lesson for 7th Grade Renaissance. Although I do teach this topic to my 9th graders, it would be nice to have something directed at the older students as well.
A KML file is a Keyhole Markup Language file. In order to import information from Google maps, I simply clicked on the KML link and then I was prompted for where to put the information. I clicked on Google Earth and it loaded quite easily. This was an easy way to go from one map to the other. Also, the Google Earth map was much nicer to look at. It was clearer and had more detail to view.
As an educator, this program covers the designing and developing digital age learning experiences and also modeling digital age work and learning. Students would be able to be hands on with their learning and visualize all these places we talk about. Also, they would get to see how others view them as well with their pictures they have posted.

Virtual Field Trip

Civil War Field Trip

I like this idea for students to be able to collect data and place it on a map. This would be great to show troop movements during wars and also to get an aerial view of the world and how people migrate to new locations. I think this activity shows teachers developing digital age learning experiences and assessments. Also, this shows modeling digital age work and learning. Teachers are using the newest technology to show their students how great it is to learn and be involved with their education.

Batchgeo

SU Class 2012 Map

I have a ton of ideas for how to use the Batchgeo technology! As a history teacher, this allows me to visually show my students different events on a map. First of all, I can show movement of troops during different wars. We live in the heart of Civil War country in the Shenandoah Valley and this would allow me to show the movement of different Union and Confederate troops. Second, this would be awesome to show how far someone would travel during the early exploration and colonization through the Manifest Destiny era. I could do so many things with this program and the students could be involved in putting in the information that is most important to them.
Also, this could be used in other classes as well. Science could use it for topography purposes and math could use it for calculating angles from a student's house to another. I feel like this could be incorporated into any class, no matter what the content material.
When looking at the standards for NETS-T, I believe this could be included in the facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity. Students would be able to choose the information they wanted to be mapped. Therefore, students have control over what they are learning and how they are interacting with it. Second, this can be included in designing and developing digital age learning experiences and assessments. This is a new form of learning for many people and I believe my students would be very interested in seeing how the maps work and how their information can be displayed in this format. Third, this models digital age work and learning. A teacher is demonstrating a new technology for their students and then the students are able to use that on future assignments. I believe this website is probably the most useful out of the ones we have looked at so far, concerning history lessons of course!

Jing Video

http://www.screencast.com/t/40kdWJ1Kt  Jing Video Link

Making this digital movie was actually quite easy. I was dreading it at first because I wasn't completely sure what to do. I googled how to do a screencast on a macbook and the search came back with use Quicktime. It was a really easy program to use and once I watched the video on what to do, it was a breeze. In Quicktime, the user can see how much of the screen is being recorded. I had mine set to record the whole screen the first time so I could see what was being recorded. That worked perfectly because it caught everything I did the first time and I didn't have to do it for a second time. The option for saving was just placing it on the desktop. I put all the things I am working on there so they are easy to find. Once the video began, it was stored there and I had easy access. To upload this video to the internet, a user would go to the Screencast.com website. From there, you can upload your videos and then share them with others. The Jing file is a MP4 file and it can be easily played through itunes or anyother movie based program. Finally, the Jing sun has multiple tools. First, the sun allows you to capture the image that you want to use. Second, you can use the history to preview other pictures that you have used. The last prong sends you to the more screen. There you can provide feedback about the software and you can get help.

This activity relates to the designing and developing digital age learning experiences and assessments. This program allows a teacher to create an assignment and students just have to follow the directions on the video. Also, this activity allows students to develop something that is creative for them. They have the ability to create a very fun and creative presentation. Also, this is a model of digital age work and learning. I have learned how to use this new software and I can see how it will be very useful to know in the future.

Jing Image

http://screencast.com/t/1F9B1sO4    Screencast website

I use a lot of political cartoons in my United States History class and the Jing software is the perfect tool to allow me to show and explain the different concepts found in the cartoons. The process was extremely simple and in no time at all, I had an image that I wanted to use and was using the text boxes and arrows to point things out. This tool is going to be very useful for my classes. I can use this tool anytime I need to explain a process, picture, cartoon, or historical event in my class. I could probably find a use for this everyday if I wanted to. I feel that my students will get a better understanding of processes if they can see a picture or event with the captions explaining what is important about each piece of the puzzle.

This describes the NETS-T standard of Model Digital Age and Learning. I am using a new software program to show my students the information they need to know. Also, this program could be used during an open house to explain to parents how your classroom works. Also, this program allows teachers to design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. You could allow your students to create a jing image and upload it to their h drives. Once the students have the assignment complete, the teacher can grade them for accuracy of analysis of the cartoon, picture, etc. There are many ways this software could be incorporated into the learning atmosphere.

Diigo

I have used other bookmarking sites before, but none can hold a light to the Diigo site. Diigo is a wonderful way to collect bookmarks that are used frequently and are at your fingertips anytime you need them.

In the film, the narrator mentioned many things that would help someone get started on Diigo. First, a user can highlight any text within a webpage to help you remember what was so important about that text to make you want to bookmark it in the first place. Second, you can take notes right on that page. This would have been so useful as an undergrad doing all my research for history papers!!! Where was this technology then??? Third, this tool allows for maximum networking. You can see what your friends, co-workers, and others from around the world are bookmarking and viewing. This is a great opportunity to see what others around the world think about the same things you are viewing. Web 2.0 is a better version of the web because of the additional things you can do as a user on the internet. First, you can use this site as a researching tool, notetaking, and also a paper saver tool. Without have to print off all the pages you don't want to forget, you constantly have access to the materials you need or want. Social bookmarking is a way to connect, engage, and create networks among your friends and others who are interested in the same things you are. It enables you to build global communities and also recommend web content for others to view. Perhaps the most important fact is that reading is now more fun for everyone. I believe this could definitely be used in the classroom for anyone who is interested in keeping bookmarks for different useful sites and also to help students organize their research.

Currently, I use a combination of Safari and Firefox. Some things you can do on Safari and some things you can't. I had to download a different browser to be able to do things on Firefox. The add-on worked fine and I have used others that are similar. For example, Pinterest is kind of similar to Diigo. Pinterest allows users to post images of things they like and pin them so others can view them. I feel add-ons are very useful because they allow you to share information very quickly and also they allow you to remember that information you are looking at. I know for a fact that I forget some websites if I don't write them down. This will be great for me while I am surfing the web at school looking for info to put into my lectures and powerpoints.

As far as NETS-T standards go, I feel this is linked to Model Digital Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. In the Model Digital Age standard, a teacher is demonstrating fluency in technology systems. This is definitely a new form of bookmarking that can be used no matter what your interests are. Also, teachers are communicating relevant information to their friends, co-workers and people who are interested in the same material you are. In Engaging in Professional Growth, a teacher would be participating in learning communities that would allow students to improve their learning. These bookmarks can be very useful to allow students to access SOL remediation games and pages and also just link to any information that may be interesting to them.

I'm Picasso!

http://www.picassohead.com/create.html  The Picassoheaad Website

http://www.picassohead.com/search.html?submitted=1&where=&query=Melissa+Bernal+Self+Portrait&x=22&y=12 My picture located within the gallery.

With this assignment, I created a self portrait as if I was Pablo Picasso. I thought it was going to be pretty interesting since I knew a little about Picasso and also the fact that his paintings were definitely abstract. Once arriving to the website, artists have a choice about what type of face, eyes, hair, etc to pick in order to create their self-portrait.
I learned that art can be really fun. I have never been very skilled at drawing, but I can trace a picture off of an overhead like a champ! This is a great activity to get students introduced to Picasso and let them play with his art and his style. I wish I taught art just for this activity! Maybe if I have some spare time in class, I can show this to my students.
This activity relates to the Facilitating and Inspiring Student learning and creativity. Art teachers especially could use this website to help introduce and reinforce material learned on a lesson about Picasso. Students are able to go through his steps and use his designs to help create their own masterpiece. Also, this can fit into the Model Digital Age Work and Learning. Teachers would be communicating relevant information pertaining to Picasso and also this activity shows students have an understanding of Picasso and his artistic techniques.

Resume Revisit

When looking at my resume, I have to wonder how I was able to get my current job. The website says to mainly work on the language that is used to make more of an impact on my potential employer. Also, rezscore.com said to have a longer resume. My only concern with this is my lack of work experience. This is my first and only teaching position and I am not sure what else I should include to make a potential employer impressed.

The second time through, I was able to update my education information to show a potential employer that I am working on a higher degree in my field. I am still struggling with how to make the resume longer. I was always told a concise resume was the way to go and this website keeps telling me to make it longer. Also, I wonder how reliable this one website is. I would like to search around to a few other websites to see what they have to offer as far as evaluating resumes.

I would use this tool at any point in time. If anyone needed an idea for a resume builder, I would recommend this as a good place to start. Also, this is good to have for when you update your resume throughout your professional career. It is nice to be able to go to rezscore.com and view what they have to say about your resume.

This activity relates to the modern digital age work and learning standard. I am learning how to update my resume using a new program I just found out about. Also, I am able to keep my information current and available to anyone who would need it. I feel this is a great tool to use, especially if you are searching for a way to stand out above your competitors for a job. This would be a way to get information that could really help you land your dream job!

Snipping Tool

I have added a new technique to my electronic usage list this week. I had no idea how to do this, especially since I am on a Mac and had no idea where to even begin. After some googlizing, I found what out what to do. I think this tool could be used for a variety of things. In my class, I do a lot of virtual tours for my students. Since we can't go on a million field trips, I bring the sites to them. In particular, with my World History I students, some of the locations might be so far away that none of us get to see them. For example, we study Ancient Greece. There is a website called wingedsandals.com that is a great interactive site for my students in the computer lab.  

Once students are logged onto the website, they can begin their exploration of Ancient Greece. Hermes will guide them through story time, games, the history of Greece, and students can even ask the Oracle questions. (Which they usually get a kick out of!)

 I would definitely use this tool in order to show my students where they are supposed to go on certain websites. This would allow me to use classtime more effectively and lose less instruction time. This tool relates to the facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity. This is an interactive way for students to learn important historical information in more of a fun way that just hearing their teacher talk for their entire class.

Google Docs

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13sxuvtjyh3GcCIpAy8PH8MnrOl6yDkSAUcbncBWNcao/edit

The Google Docs Resume was a chance to practice web-based publishing and to post that online so others can view the information at their leisure. I had never done a Google Document and realized that it was quite easy to work with once you understood what you were doing. I feel that I did a good job, but I do wish Google was a little easier to understand. I feel like the buttons I was looking for were nowhere to be found. I can see using this process in my classes. We do a newspaper project where the students post their articles to their H-Drives. I could see using this as a way to get them to write their articles and then publish them for me all in one location. Once I feel more comfortable with this, I might try that and see how it goes.
The NETS-T standards that are met include the Model Digital Age Work and Learning and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. Under the Model Digital Age Work and Learning, letter a is met. I have learned how to use the Google Docs system and with practice, hope to become fluent in it. These docs allow many people, from various parts of the world, to view and access your information. Also, once I incorporate this aspect into my class, I can use it to communicate with students and parents. Under the Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership, I feel that I am improving my knowledge of Google and the amount of different things that I can do with this program and resource. By using this in my classroom, I am promoting the life-long learning because I have learned a new skill to be able to produce this document, and also once I share it with my peers, I have demonstrated the effectiveness of using a communication system, such as this, in a school setting.

One of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes.

Hi. My name is Melissa and I am a high school history teacher in Warren County, Virginia. I also coach two sports, basketball and softball. I am currently working on my Masters Degree at Shenandoah University, which is also where I completed my Undergraduate Degree in 2008.
Here are a few things that I love...I Love Lucy, shopping, playing and coaching softball, and of course, my husband, Tony. I also love my job!!!