OCD awareness

Tonight as I created my old school tri-fold board for the expo tomorrow, I realized my OCD tendencies were in full force. An avid scrapbooker, I am not satisfied with just white and black...so I went a little overboard. And then, being the perfectionist that I am, it had to be straight, level and evenly spaced. I beleive that this has been the most time consuming part of my AL project, but only because of MY ISSUES! : ) In the end, I'm really pleased with my board, and even though I know I will catch some slack tomorrow, I can't wait to show it off!

The Big Tah Dah

Today was the day I revealed my webpage to my students. We spent the last half hour of the day checking out the new webpage and podcasts. My oh my how they were excited! After they listened to their own podcast, they asked to listen to everyone else. They had the best time listening to their classmates' voice as well as their own. Another day filled with big hugs and lots of praise...and I thought that was MY job! : )

I also sent the webpage to parents for their big reveal and I sent it to the EC and speech teachers that work with two of my students. They were both excited to see their progress and growth from their desk.

Trouble in Paradise

So, I come in today with my podcasts ready to upload. I have downloaded the MP3 changer and have all my files ready to export as MP3s. I figure my best bet is to upload them to my class webpage, because Lord knows I am not skilled enough to create a new one. After an hour of diligently updating and uploading my new webpage (complete with podcasts!?!), I realize it is not accessible through the school webpage. (I realize this in the middle of lunch and have a mild heart attack)

After finding the web page guru across the hall, she informed me that it was an easy fix, and she would take care of it right now. Hallelujah, angels singing! My webpage is up, complete with podcasts, and up-to-date information. This class has really gotten me motivated! My principal is going to be super impressed!

I think I can...part 2

I took home the laptop full of booktalks with the intentions of editing them and adding music, perhaps some other sound effects and stabilizing the sound. Boy was I wrong.

About three booktalks in, I realize just how long a night this will be. Let's just say, we will be working on our fluency and pauses and breathing into the microphone! Two hours later, they are all edited, without music, without noise reduction and without sound effects! Let's just hope the kiddies enjoy it...if I can figure out how to post them!

I think I can...I think I can...

After spending the weekend downloading Audacity onto my laptop (because the school computers blocked it) and trying to figure out how to create a podcast, I feel like I'm finally ready. I had my kids finish their book talks and read through them to practice, and explained to them what we would be doing. It was a hushed amazement as it sunk in...they would hear their own voice!? I have never had so many hugs for something I hadn't even done! So now, there was no turning back and NO dissapointing.

I had my first two guinea pigs try recording and it seemed to be going well, so I figured I would just record the whole class and learn how to edit later. My third or fourth student, Bailey, was beaming when he finished. He looked at me and said, "Thank you Ms. Long. This is the coolest thing ever!" Aw shucks...I really must pull this off! 22 little podcasts later, I am really tired and cross eyed.

Part one of my audio recording day was almost painless. The hardest part was keeping the entire classroom silent while we recorded. That was a feat that is almost unobtainable! Who knew dropping a pencil could be so loud!?

He stood me up!

So, my big meeting with the IT guy was a let down. He was a no-show on a Friday afternoon. So, determined to do it on my own, I found some great websites for teachers that walk you through the process. I downloaded everything to my laptop (because audacity and garage band is blocked by the county) and prayed that I would figure everything out on Monday morning.

AL project..dun dun dun

I am meeting with Chris Goodson, our county IT guy to walk me through the ins and outs of podcasting. He seems really excited about working on this and getting it going. He teaches a workshop on podcasting, so I am comfortable that he will be able to guide my weary mind!

I have however, realized that I have left myself a very short amount of time to implement my AL project. With our fun run and book fair this week, time was stretched throughout the school. But I totally left out the part of Thanksgiving next week! (Duh! I SO do not forget that when I am in the school frame of mind!)

Therefore, I am planning on podcasting my students next week (before break), and teaching my faculty workshop the week after Thanksgiving. So, I will have most of my project implemented, but not schoolwide...yet!