These are some sample pictures from my Picasa. 

5 Rules for Safe Blogging

Number One Rule!!!

• Don't give personal information!If you use names, use only first names or even aliases, never first and last.  Don't post addresses, phone numbers, names of friends or relatives, birthdate, or screen names.  Don't EVER meet someone you meet online.  And don't reply to crude, mean, or inappropriate things that may pop up on your blog.  And if inappropriate things come up, make sure that can't happen again.   

Number Two:

• Be careful of the pictures you post of yourself and of others.  Be careful that pictures don't reveal too much physically or any of the things from rule number one. Pictures speak a thousand words so be careful.  Make sure that pictures posted are appropriate and are in accordance with school rules. 

Number Three:

• Things that go on to the internet are most likely permanent.  Even if you delete a blog or a post, it may still be accessible.  Blogs and pictures posted can easily be printed and reposted. 

Number Four:

• Use blogging sites that have clear user  standards for use.  These sites will be protected by a username and password.  Even if a blog is private, it could potentially be hacked into.  So be careful about information you give out concerning your username and password and what goes on to the blog.

Number Five:

•  Don't use blogs to be negative or to hurt someone else.  Keep them positive and upbeat.  Use blocks to make sure only allowed users and comment.  You can't control what other people will put on your blog for comments, but you can control who can comment. 

I think these rules are pretty self explanatory as to why you'd want to follow them.  By keeping our personal information personal, people can't contact us or find us.  And by being careful about the pictures you post, it's just another way to protect your personal information.  Most of these rules seem like common sense to me.  Be careful about what you post and who can see it. 


Sites:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/blogging.aspx
http://kimseducationalblogging.blogspot.com/2009/09/safe-blogging-tips.html

Blogging for Teachers

I love the idea of blogging when for teachers!  I think it's such a fun, creative, and easy way to post about things your class is doing.  I also think a blog could be really great for the parents.  As a teacher you could put links to things like project instructions, homework assignments, etc.  Then the parents can get onto the blog and see examples of what their student's homework and projects should look like.  It could also be a tool for the teacher to put up links for homework help, especially for math.  Then the parents can use this as a tool to help their students with homework.  Plus, what better way for parents to actually see what their student's are doing in school all day!  The blog can be a private blog, so the teacher can make sure that only approved people are looking at the blog, that would eliminate a lot of privacy issues.  You can post pictures, videos, and like a journal entry type thing to explain!  I love the idea of it!

I love THIS blog!  I love how it talks about what is happening in his class, it has lots of cool things to look at on the side, and it has links to other teacher's in the school blogs.  This blog looks cool, and he has a lot of widgets on the side and whatnot. And THIS BLOG is great too.  It's simple and clean.  The very first post I read was a reminder for the students about a project coming up!  It's so great!  This specific post has links to maps and geography sites.  And like I mentioned before, this teacher has links to math sites for help with math!  The next site isn't technically a blog, but I like it.  It's all about classroom management.  It  has fresh  ideas about classroom management.  The site, classroommanagement101, is chuck full of links and videos all about classroom management.  That's the thing that scares me the most at this point: how to manage so many kids! 

Beware All

For a class I'm taking I have to write about blogs.  I'm going to use my personal blog so I don't have to create a whole new one.  I don't have time for that.  So readers...bear with me while I blab on about blog pedagogy and yadda yadda yadda.  :)

Just Thinking

Once upon a time I told someone that my life motto is "Come what may and love it."  I have not been living this.  I have been letting things come and have not been loving it.  I need to love it.  I have lots to love.  And I think it would help me do better in life, it'd give me a better attitude.  I need that too.  So I'm going to do better.  I have to.  For myself.