Practicum Hour Log

I have almost come to the end of my journey in my quest for my media specialist certfication and my masters!  As I look back I am absolutely amazed at all I have learned over these past two years.  Believe me I  have MUCH MORE to learn, but I have learned so much.  I can honestly say I have enjoyed being a student at Georgia Southern University.   I have been impressed every step of the way with everyone from financial aid, the graduate studies office, Web CT/Blackboard help desk, and most of all the amazing professors at GSU.  I am glad God blessed me with this opportunity.

I have completed all of my checklist items and projects for the practicum class with the exception of waiting on those few videos to load and the presentation of the portfolio.  I have been almost compulsive in checking and re-checking all links on the portfolio to make sure they are all working! I have completed have completed all of my major projects for this class.  All of my items are posted on the right hand side of the blog.
I have also finished my practicum hours (please see the break down of hours under the check off list items)!!

I would certainly have remorse it if I did not add a note of thanks to my amazing husband, wonderful daughter, and precious family and friends.  They have all been so understanding and giving during the past two years.  My husband has had to be Dad and Mom for so many nights and weekends, and my daughter  has been so understanding and patient with me.  I also have to thank our "fur babies" for keeping me company during many late nights in the office.  I cannot thank them enough.  I thank God daily for them.  Other members of my family(and friends) have stepped in on so many occasions, and I am blessed beyond measure to have them in my life.  I give all praise and glory for this opportunity to Jesus, our Lord!

In essence, it has been a tremendous journey!  Now it is time to write the next chapter (or blog) in my life!
Thank You!
Jaime Franks
Psalm 51:10

Finishing my Portfolio

I am pretty excited to say I have nearly completed my portfolio.  I am waiting for TeacherTube to approve my last two podcasts/screencasts so I can post the link, but other than that I am FINISHED!!!!! Wow - what a task. 

Reading Fun Unit and Media Meeting

This week I finished up my reading fun unit.  We read the Lorax and made trees have tongues and we recorded what we think the trees would say if they really did have tongues. We hope our news coordinator will let us put our sayings on the news!  The kids were fabulous and this was also the day Dr. Repman came for her site visit. 
I also attended a media meeting this week (the school's where I have been doing my practicum have had unique years and so the scheduling of their media committee meetings is during a time I could not attend).  SO... I visited the county wide media specialist meeting.  It was VERY educational for me.  They discussed moving the computers and library materials to a new school, ideas for monitoring proper student use of school computers, new web page for the county, new email system for the students, a survey sent from Twin Towers, and meeting times for the 10-11 school year. This meeting helped me remember once again that media specialists have so many jobs outside of the four walls of the media center.

Shadow Days

Wed and Thursday this week I did my shadow days.
Day One - Gray Elementary - I learned a great deal. The MS there taught two classes that day, we checked and in out ALOT of books.  I had the chance to help students find books and I even got to recommend a few too.  In addition to shelving books I had the chance to help re - catatlog a few books(some books had the same numbers as student numbers so that caused an issue).  I was able to work with Sagebrush (normally I have been working with Destiny).
Day Two - Gray Station Middle - This day was a unique day because it started with a grade level meeting with 6th grade.  We then spent a good bit of time working with Ebooks from Follett.  The MS had just ordered her first Ebook so she wanted to know how it worked with everything.  We had to actually had to call Follett and get a little support from them.  I also checked out a few books, shelved some books.  We also had the chance to take an ID picture for a new student.  I had the chance to help a teacher come up with a catchy phrase for a grant writing effort (Donors Choose).  We set up the projector in the tech lab and we also had a chance to try out new computer usage software. 

Almost Finished wth the Reading for Fun Unit

Today and yesterday I spent 2 hours in the media center.  Yesterday I helped process donated material and discussed the montly activities with our Media Specialist.  Today I did the last section in the reading for fun unit.  We finshed it up by discussing our favorite Dr. Seuss book (and why), and what we liked about the book we read, I Will Not Get Up Today. 
Last week we located the spots discussed in the book on tactile maps and marked them with WikiSticks.  Today we posted our thoughts on the class wiki and answered a few questions about our favorite Dr. Seuss book, our favorite place in the World, how we wake up daily, and what Dr. Seuss character we would be if we could pick one.  After the session for a special treat we made extra durable origami cups for our water and we ate BBQ chips.  The cups reminded us of the cold water being poured on the character's head, and the chips reminded us of one of the places mentioned in the book,  Memphis T.N. (they have World Famous BBQ).  A student requested that we read the Lorax by Dr. Seuss so on Tuesday April 13th we will read the Lorax and do something fun (we are just not sure yet what that will be)!

Week of March 15th - 5 hours

I spent time this week teaching my second installment in the reading for fun unit.  We reread our Dr. Seuss book, but this time we actually found and marked the places discussed in the book on a map.  We used wikistix for tactile marking.  We also make cups using orgami and drank cold water from those cups.  In the book it discussed have to wake up to cold water on your head! 
I also spent time putting together my pathfinder for my Poetry unit, and organizing the dates and locations for my shadowing days next week. I spent the remainder of the time putting the finishing pieces on my staff development unit. I added  a survey to my wiki, created users for the wiki and reserved the location and equipment for the class.

Staff Development Unit - 5 hours

I have been working on my staff development unit this week.  I decided to teach the teachers at my secondary site how to create wikis.  The school system is very "collaboration driven".  They want their two middle schools to be aligned so that there is no difference in the curriculum being taught at both schools.  As a matter of fact they rotate their planning times (and schedules) every six weeks to make sure that each grade level is allowed to meet with the teachers in their grade level and subject area once a week.  Teachers with the last period of the day planning alternate driving to the various locations to meet with their counterparts at the other school.  Having a wiki that allows instant collaboration could be a mighty tool for these schools.