Students should put there videos in the shared folder and then comment on which ones you liked the most. What did you like?
In the shared folder create a folder titled "Finished Commercials". Put your finished commercials.
Which commercial was the best? Only comment using your first name and last initial.
What did YOU think of Anne McCaffrey's story The Smallest Dragonboy?
Post your thoughts by clicking on the word "comments" at the bottom of this blog post.
Please only use your first name and a last initial when posting.
Posts must use complete sentences and have proper punctuation.
Our cat Stuart loved drinking out of the bathtub. He also drank out of the toilet.
Besides these obvious cat character flaws, he was the fluffiest, kindest, most gentle cat we've ever owned.
He passed away this weekend. My son Silas and I drew this picture of him and wrote things we remembered about him on the picture.
Rest in peace, Stuart.
Stuart Guiles 2003-2007
I couldn't not read the last Harry Potter book, so I'd cast my vote for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was a great book that provided a wonderful ending to the series. It was dark AND hopeful. Reading interviews with J.K. Rowling (rhymes with "bowling") reveal that much of the inspiration for the themes in her book come from her family and her struggle to deal with the death of her mother. I found reading more about the author really enhanced my reading of the books themselves.
So, what did you read this summer and what did you think of it?
I'm assuming that if you're reading this right now, you're on a computer of some sort. What kind of computer do you use and what do you primarily use it for?
I find that I use my computer for email, music, and random surfing. During the school year I use the computer to do my grades, take attendance, correspond with parents and students, and to communicate with my fellow teachers.
I find that I use Microsoft Word a lot, but I also have found that Google is my friend.
At home I have a digital recording studio and I record almost all of my music using a program called ProTools.
I recently discovered iGoogle.com. It's a new tool that Google offers: a customizable homepage that you can easily move and change content. You've got to try it. It's lots of fun.
Ok. That's some of what I do with a computer. How about YOU?
(When posting please don't post using your full name--first names only so as to keep your identity safe). That's all for now.
See you next week!
Mr. Guiles
I am a sucker for stupid songs. As a musician, and general goofy person, I like writing song that make my own kids laugh. Impressing a 2 and 5 year old isn't really that hard. Any song with monkeys or chickens in it works wonders.
So, this year two of the songs that I wrote at school have become classics. (At least in my mind...).
Here are links to the songs. I think it will ask you if you want to save or download it. Say yes. Then you can play it on whatever mp3 player you have.
Enjoy!
The Unicorn Song mp3
The Chicken Song mp3
Here's a DigiCom student's video for "The Chicken Song". It's pretty funny.
(My brother made a video for the Unicorn Song and posted it on YouTube.
Here's the link. It's definitely weird. But, it's a weird song to begin with...so it's really not so odd.
Please be careful, though YouTube is wonderful, it is just like any widely-used webspot: there's good and there's bad. I've found another great site called TeacherTube. No weird advertising. You should check it out sometime.
Surf safely!
Did you know there are multiple versions of the Harry Potter book covers? My source of the most up-to-date reliable facts concerning all things HP can be found at MuggleNet.com. These are true fans of the series. J.K. Rowlings personal website is the next best thing, and will always be THE MOST FACTUAL as far as information is concerning rumors regarding the HP series.
Here's a picture of the US version of the new cover.
Generators generate things. In this case, you can generate THESE things:
The Horrible Sounds Generator
(Make sure you turn down your speakers to a normal or quiet level before trying this. They really ARE horrible sounds.)
Polaroid Picture Maker
Make any picture you have on your computer (or online) look like one of those old-timey Polaroid pictures. This is great way to snazz up your slide shows.
The Modern Art Generator
Really. If you could get this printed out on a canvas you could be a gazillionaire!
Concert Ticket Generator
Wow. The things you can do with computers are amazing. And stupid. But amazing too.
Do a google search for "Generators Blog" to find a whole bunch more if you feel so inclined. If you have important things to do, I would NOT do the search, as you will probably spend hours messing around when you should be washing the dishes or feeding your pets or something like that.
:)
This is fun. My Language Arts class is working on developing a newspaper, so I found this while googling newspapers. It's a fun little "newspaper clip generator". It looks really real. Really.
Here's the link:
Newspaper Generator
A student of mine loaned me a book recently. The tagline on the back read "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will break your spirit."
I couldn't agree more.
Here's a great article about stopping cyberbullying from a great teacher who is online like myself.
Tell me what you think about it.
Stop Cyberbullying!!
picture copyright 2007 Marc Gutierrez
Ok, it's not really new, but it has a brand new look and I've updated the links on the left with some new information. I made a snazzy new banner/header (see the picture with the pencils that says "G-blog"? That's a banner/header.
Here are some important questions you might be asking yourself right now:
What is a blog?
It's short for web log. Do a Google search for "What is a blog?" and you'll find all kinds of opinions and information on the matter. Some use them as diaries, others as places to post information, and still others to educate and teach.
Why do you have a blog?
To keep in touch. To write. To challenge my students and myself to continue writing. To post links to things I think are interesting or thought-provoking.
I like blogs because they encourage us to communicate in written form. Many once thought that the internet would be the death of writing as kids clicked endlessly and mindlessly on pictures, but instead it seems to have created an even bigger need for us to write. The quality of the writing may be questionable at times, but there's no doubt that being able to communicate in a written form is more valuable now than ever before in human history.
That's why I have a blog.
Do students have to blog?
Of course not. If I give an assignment that encourages students to post on the blog, the may submit their answers or thoughts in a written form and turn it in for credit, but if they have the ability and access, I'd like them to learn how to post comments.
How do I post a comment on your blog?
Here's a good link on how to post a comment.
I hope this helps. I will be sending home a form for students to get permission to post on the blog.
I moderate all comments, which means I have to see it and approve it before it is allowed to be posted. I will be posting basic rules for student posts, but I will never allow a student to post their full name or any personal information on the blog, nor will I allow them to post anything I find inappropriate.
Students can also post anonymously if it's just an opinion post (like the post following this one about video games).
This blog is for students in both my Digital Communications class and my Language Arts class. It is also for parents and other teachers who find something interesting or noteworthy. It's a great way to share resources that we find in the community and online.
There are so many different types of games out there and I have to admit with two kids I find it pretty hard to invest too much time...but summer is coming and I'd love to know what YOUR favorites are.
There are different categories of games too. Sure, I've heard of Runescape and World of Warcraft. WoW's so popular that at a teacher's technology conference recently they had the game set up for teachers to try.
Games are great for stimulating our brains. The flip side of course is that we spend TOO much time in front of our computer and not enough with real human beings.
Hmmm...food for thought. I'd love to hear your comments.
For now, why don't you share a few of your favorite games that are free online-based games.
I have two younger kids, so they enjoy simple coloring type games and things were they get to build various different objects.
I like Make-A-Monster. It's cute.
I tend to appreciate game sites with minimal advertising and more games.
Let's see what's out there.
:)
One of the best books I've ever read was Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I loved the main character, Ender, because I felt I could relate to being the underdog and being bullied as a kid. Ender did things that I wish I could have done. He also did some things that I never would have done...which is what made the story very interesting. I loved how the story ended. It had a "trick" ending that I really didn't see coming. Great story.
Mr. Guiles
Period 3
Well, I wanted to kick off this return to blogging with a topic inspired by my visit to the library today. There's a contest going on at the San Dimas library that involves Middle School students choosing the WORST book they've ever read! I thought that was kind of fun, so I made my own blog entry to get this started.
As I understand it, they will offer prizes to everyone that enters and some sort of grand prize. See me if you're interested, but for now, I'd like to get some class involvement.
I'll give extra credit to all who give a paragraph response to the worst book you've ever read, or the BEST book you've ever read.
Here's how I want the post to look:
The worst/best book I ever read was
Then put your first name and last initial and your period #.
Like this.
Joe S.
Per.1
Alright, writers. Get writing!
p.s. The book in the picture above is another of my favorite books, but not in the traditional story sense of books. It's a rhyming dictionary that helps me when I'm writing songs. It's helped me many a time when I was stuck looking for just the right word.
