Ms.+Catlett's

My READING LOG... starting March 6, 2009 I typically have at least one professional book that I'm reading as well as a fun book. Sometimes, I do not finish my fun books very quickly except in the summer time. My log will consist of both types of books.

3/9/09 - //Empowering Students with Technology// by Alan November This is a professional book that I am reading. I heard the author speak at a conference in Williamsburg last December and I've also listened to some of his podcasts. He is an educator that has many ideas on teaching in the 21st century. I love the preface to this book as he shares a real teacher story about a student that broke into a computer lab to do work about 15 years ago! This was a student that was failing and not doing well in school, but he was brilliant and had high interest and focus on computer programming. Alan was a part of an alternative high school and claims that he personally had never really touched a computer. (I find that hard to believe!!) Alan learned a lot when he was asked to meet with this student and "punish" him for his bad deed. Alan listened to the student and gave him a second chance by allowing this student to take a computer home over the weekend and complete the course work as well as other advanced problem-solving that the student was very interested in learning and solving. This student impressed Alan and he saw how motivated and engaged this student was when given a chance to work what was relevant and interesting to him in a problem-solving and authentic way. This was a turning point for Alan November. One skill that I have learned already from this book so far is how to check a website for who is linking to that site. Alan thinks that all web consumers must authenticate the knowledge on the web. Understanding teh structures of URLs is one way. Link checking is another. This is one of many techniques he advises that we teach students so that they can check resources for validity and integrity... I cannot wait to keep reading and learning about other techniques that will certainly empower me as a teacher and a web user! I'm thinking it will be a while longer before I finish my other "fun" book!