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=  Welcome to Our MIO80 Pewaukee WIKI=

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**First Things First** - Please view this YouTube Video that explains how to use a wiki in everyday terms!
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[[file:Our School Websites and Professional Pages.doc]]
==Please post a response/comment/question below to each of your colleagues about her/his website. Use a different size, color or font from the person responding before you so we can see each distinct response. Sign your name at the beginning or end of your response. Make sure to click SAVE (and/or "save and continue") after your postings.==

Jessica's Website
I liked that you shared so much of your teaching experience and background. I'm guessing it helped your new parents in the fall to not just think of you as a 5K teacher who got re-assigned to 3rd grade. I was surprised that your district allowed you to write info about you personally, that is not permitted for my district. :) Laura

Jessica-- I really enjoyed your site Jessica. Laura, I am a bit surprised by your districts regulations or maybe confused?? You said they restrict the teacher talking about themselves personally?? That's sort of sad....our district constantly talks about the pros of using your own personal experiences to relate to the students and to help them see how you make text-to-self connections throughout each and everyday. I can't do this without forming a personal connection with each of my students. If it is more about the idea of posting this information on the internet for all to see....well, in my opinion, that is that way of the world, now. Contrary to Regis Philbin's belief that the Internet is "just a fad" it is not going away, rather than shelter students from that exact reality, I aim to help students understand what they can/should make available and what to make more discrete :) --Lindsey


 * // As a parent I would like getting to know the teacher on a personal level. To a certain degree, they'd know you even before they interacted with you. I think your personality really comes out on your web page. I also like the picture, looks like fun! My district hasn't said specifically what we can and cannot share, it is whatever the teacher is comfortable with. //// Kim //**

I like you have not taken the time to look at other's websites but it was interesting to see how you organize yours. I like how you introduced yourself to all of the families and had a picture of you and Chad! ~Katie  I like the personal intro as well as the daily schedule. I am wondering if the specials schedule is on our website or if I should put it on there. Links to the monthly newsletters is nice and I would think very resourceful for parents. -Matt

Jessica, I thought you did a very, very thorough job introducing yourself to your students' parents. Since they will be your partners in education for the year, it's important to make them feel comfortable with you right off the bat. You did this by showing the personal side of yourself in addition to your professional background. Love the picture too! ~Michelle

Katie's Website Your team building unit sounds really great. I was surprised to not see names/faces of the phy ed staff. I might have missed that? :) Laura

Katie-- I had to laugh when I read your part about "sitting out of gym". So true. I have kids that constantly try to tell me, "Oh i'm not suppose to go to P.E. today." I tell them to go anyway and talk to their P.E. teacher....then at recess that are just shocked when I ask them how they can possibly go out for recess if they can't participate in P.E. :) -- Lindsey

Katie, I have to "second" what Lindsey said about your "sitting out of gym" paragraph. As a classroom teacher, this is consistently a dilemma for me. The child says, "But my mom said I'm not supposed to do gym this week." I used to follow up on whether or not the child went out; now I trust that the gym teacher can handle it! If our gym teachers had a written policy like yours, we could avoid indecisive situations. ~Michelle

Katie- I am glad that we had this assignment, because even though I work with you, I have never really checked anyone elses webpage but my own. I guess that is because they are time consuming to keep up. They do look nice when finished though! I really liked the section to parents about the gym shoes and sitting out. It is too often that students forget their shoes. I remember when teaching phy ed to the K5's how often they forgot their shoes and were wearing crocs. I had to have them sit out, because they really could roll an ankle in those. Jessica

//** I'm a big picture person as well, if it's possible, I think you should add one!!! I liked all of the sports balls rotating on the page, it was a good visual! My gym teacher Ms. Acevedo always has to remind our kids about wearing the right type of gym shoes as well. Or maybe more the parents. A lot of times they come to school with their boots on or their dress shoes, for their uniform. Kim **//

You have on there what I need- gym shoe policy and sitting out policy. Very well written and very important as those two issues come up everyday in class. -Matt

Kim's Website
I like your website and pictures too. Another person who mentions a master's program, I need to update my site soon! :) Laura

Kim, your kids are sooooo cute! What sweet faces and smiles! Your website is very well organized. I like your monthly newsletters (so important at that age) to keep parents informed and in-the-loop. You've got some great outings planned too; they are such little sponges at this age, aren't they? :) ~Michelle

Kim-- I loved your site, KIm and cannot believe how much everything has changed in just the 2 short years since I was at BGCS. The pictures are great too! I always gravitate toward pictures if a website has them, like most people probably do, so those were what I looked at first. So cute. I also liked your newsletters and almost forgot about having everything translated into Spanish. Do you feel like you can speak Spanish any better than before you started at BGCS?? I never felt that way, but by the time the students I had were with me, in 5th grade, it never really came up?? --Lindsey


 * //Thank god they updated the website, it is awesome now and very user friendly! I'm a picture lady, always have been. To a certain degree I think I've learned more just because many of my kids come to school knowing no English and with young kids you're interacting with parents a lot more and there are some that don't know English. Kim //**

Kim I really liked your newsletters! They were very comprehensive and easy to read. . . I almost feel as if I could bring my child prepared to your class even though I have never been there! :) Do you essentially have to write 2 newsletters? One in English and one in Spanish? Just thinking about myself when I was in Spanish in high school and how long that would have taken me, yikes. I also liked the pictures of the kids on the field trips! ~Katie

Kim- I really liked pictures on your webpage. I am always afraid to put pictures up due to needing permission. I also realy enjoyed reading your newsletters. Wow! Did you have to write that in spanish, or is there a program for changing it over to another language? I think it is really important to have that parent/teacher communication on your website. Then there is no excuse for anyone to say, "I didn't know!" Jessica

Great pics! I also like the banner pic of your school at the top, very nice. Like Laura's page, all you have to do is keep scrolling down for all the info. I like that. I was going to ask about writing the Spanish newsletter but you already answered it. The links to the websites for the field trips is a cool thing for parents as well. -Matt
 * // Katie and Jessica-I have an aide that writes my newsletter in Spanish, thankfully, otherwise it would take much too long! Actually, I have only written one so far (January) we take turns between all of the K3 teachers and then we share them with each other. Our librarian checks to make sure we update our site montly and with pictures, otherwise we get email reminders to do so! Kim //**

Laura's Website
Laura- I enjoyed reading the information on your class page. Does your district require you to fill out a sort-of "template" on your website?? We need to, on our opening page, but then our encouraged to utilize our websites to the fullest. I guess it just depends on administration, right. I do LOVE using my website but it is definitely a time commitment that I could've maybe avoided if I never started...now it's a bit addicting :) --Lindsey

Laura, your website info reminded me of my own! We put similar info on it. It was interesting to see how you run your day (I student-taught in kindergarten, so it's fun to compare what I remember doing with what you currently do). What I remember most about kindergarteners is: you can't have 1 minute of disorganized downtime in their schedule, or chaos will erupt! ~Michelle

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> Laura- I liked that you had your availability for parents to know when to e-mail or call you and I also really liked that you had your schedule listed right on the page for parents to see what kind of day their little ones are having. I think that it is important to have a schedule in mind, but I do like the block schedule for more flexibility. Jessica


 * // Laura-Your webpage looks professional, I like the way it's formatted. Although you said your school restricts what you put up, I feel like you still get an idea of who you are as a teacher. Is there anything you wish you could share more of? Kim //**

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Kim, I'm actually ok with not sharing my personal info. I'm not on facebook or other social networks. I do share info about me personally at my PIN (parent information night) meeting that is held near the start of the school year. I also talk about my kids often with my students too. :) Laura

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Laura - I can tell that you are limited in the way you use your website but it still looks very professional. I liked how you put on there the best way to contact you. Parents always try to call me but I am very rarely near a phone so I should put on my site that the best way to contact me is through email. I also noticed you gave a different number for parents to leave a message on. . . was that a personal phone number? If so, do you get a lot of phone calls on that? ~Katie

<span style="color: #ff2100; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Katie- One number is the school office number. The other number is my school voice mail. That number does not ring in my classroom, but goes straight to voice mail and lights up a red light on my phone. A lot of parents use it for a quick message like I can't volunteer today or "Johnny" isn't feeling great today, call me if he needs to come home etc. I just ask parents to make sure they call the office with anything related to dismissal, this would be especially important if I had a sub. :) Laura

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">I like the way your website is set up. Everything on there was easy to read and find. After clicking on 5K Homeroom, I liked how all the info was on that one page. All I had to do was keep scrolling down. -Matt

Lindsey's Website
<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I like your website. Again, I am surprised that your district allows the personal info. Your goals for the kids fit right into some of the topics we have read about in class regarding community building. :) Laura

Hi Laura- I kind of addressed your post in my posting to you. It is interesting to hear about the different restrictions amongst different districts. It's not like we are all that far apart or even all the different as far as the make-up of our students...again, I guess it just boils down to administration and those above :) --Lindsey

Lindsey- I really like pictures too and I am in the construction process of updating my site to have more pictures in the mystery reader tab as well as the author of the month tab. I really like the tabs on the left side of your site. Having a links tab is always a great plus for parents as well as the students to use as extra practice or searching for new ideas and resources. Do you have the students check out their daily assignments on your site? That is another great way for parents to double check their students work. We have asignment notebooks to fill in, but then I also tell parents to check our Nightly Homework calendar on our webpage as well. Jessica


 * // Lindsey-I love the Packer ticket contest. It's great to get your students involved and excited about things that aren't specific school topics. I also checked out your room on the Spruz site, it looks like you put in a lot of time! Kim //**

<span style="color: #e36d6d; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lindsey, oh my gosh, where do I start? I'm ashamed to even have my dinky website linked to your fabulous one. You're the best at trying technology out, and making the TOOLS work for you. :) Not all of us can say that we view technology as a friend.... ~Michelle

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lindsey - I really like your website! It has so much information on it. . . how do you find the time! I always feel like parents/students don't take the time to even look at my website so I don't put too much time into it but maybe if I did it would be a bigger deal. I really like the quotes that you have on your pages as well as the funky pics!

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Lots of great stuff on there! Similar to the way our websites are set up with the tabs on the left side. I like that. It is very easy to navigate through all of your pages. You definitely have to update it everyday but hopefully your students and their parents are on it everyday as well. A great resource for parents and a great way to get your students involved online with the blogging. -Matt

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Matt's Website
<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">I like how you have your students grouped into a few grade levels to see what they are doing in phy ed. Adding the photos is a great idea too. :) Laura

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Matt-- I really enjoyed how you organized your website. Being a "list-maker" and a "checker-offer" I really liked how the webpage began with the use of a Calendar. Basically, anything you really need to do on a specific date is readily available. We are somewhat limited in the formatting of our school web pages, as I'm sure you are, but I will have to see if I can make my calendar more of the "focus". --Lindsey


 * //<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes, add a picture, if you can! I do like the calendar aspect as well, it is like our class map, I feel lost without it. My school splits up the grade levels as well by kindergarten and then 1-4 and 5-8. Kim //**

Matt- I liked how the tabs grouped the students to tell the parents a little bit about what their children are working on. I also liked the pictures of the winter olympics and the track and field. The calendar is a great way to stay organized and keep the families up to date. Jessica

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Matt - I really like the videos and pictures that you use on your website. I need to get up to par with that. . . just one thing you do better than me ;) The calendar is neat to show all of the families what is coming up for the month and that could be helpful as well (for certain months anyway). ~Katie

<span style="color: #e85e5e; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Matt, as a parent, I love the calendar part of your website. It's easy to reference, clear, and to-the-point. Parents don't necessarily have the time to read pages of notes; a quick reference is good. I also like that you update what's happening with the different grade levels' gym classes. Fun to see, good to know about from a parent's perspective. ~Michelle

Michelle's Website I like how you included all of the school districts you have taught in. Your site also reminded me that I have to update my site to include my master's work. :) Laura

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Michelle- I must say, I was pretty impressed with your site. Certainly a step-up from our former colleague, Neil Rand's :) haha! My favorite part was probably the "Math Links" tab...hehe, just kidding. I should also add that I am working toward my Masters Degree on the intro. page, good call. I truly feel that the reason some of my parents avoid the website is because they can't remember all the "oasd.k12.wi.us" junk! Really, you're telling me there's another www.oconomowocschools.edu out there! haha :) Can you please fill out a "help ticket" for that, so we can get that changed?? Thanks :) -- Linds

Michelle- I liked the book chat link. This really gives the parents a chance to utilize your website as well as the students. Just incase they lose their book chat papers, they can definitely print them off on their own. I think I might use your book chat ideas as well if you don't mind of course!!! Jessica

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Michelle - I liked how your page was clear cut with fewer words. I have a feeling I will be a skimmer as a parent (the kind all teachers hate) but I just want to get what I need to know without having to search high and low for it. Frills are nice when you have time but I am guessing most parents don't need them. That would be something kids would enjoy more. ~ Katie
 * // Michelle-I like that you have links for different subjects available. I'm sure some 5th graders fail to tell their parents what's going on in class or may leave parts out, so having that online is a great tool for them. Kim //**

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">I like your resume on your page. If I do an introduction/welcome page on my site I would add that on there. -Matt

Geri's Website
<span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">WOW! I was shocked at how much was on your site. How do you find the time to do what you do? :) Laura

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Geri- I second what Laura said!! Your blog is amazing :) It reminded me a bit of our class journaling assignments. What a great "keepsake" for you to have. If you are wondering what you were thinking about a particular event or how you felt about something at a given time, you have it documents in one safe location. Also, while reading some of your blog postings, it is just so obvious that you a // writer // ! You have a way with words. I have thought about blogging before but, like my journals in high school and diaries before them, I was utilize it for a day or two and then completely lose interest or forget about it. However, now that I have students that I blog with via our class website, I find myself checking/updating much more often. Thank you for sharing this :) --Lindsey

// Geri - This is amazing! You certainly are a writer. . . I really found myself liking the way your write. It was easy to follow and yet I could feel the emotion in it. Not too often that I can feel that so consider it a "job well done"! ~Katie //
 * // Geri- I only know one other person that has done a blog, so it is very interesting for me to look over, because I have no idea where i'd even start. I'm also a book lover. I have been in a few book clubs and I definitely always have one on hand for when I have to kill some time. Kim //**

Geri- Wow! your blog is amazing! I loved the pictures of the altered books. I really thought they portrayed the thoughts and feelings of the book and the personailty had come out. I never really knew what a blog was really about, but now I have a better understanding! Thanks for letting us browse your blog. Jessica

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Whoa! I would consider that your own website, not just webpage or blog. Very well done, very cool setup. There is so much to see, watch, read, link to, and blog about. The archives are also a neat aspect. When I first did a webpage for our district it was with a different website program but I did have links to school records, similar to your archives. -Matt

<span style="color: #e76a6a; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Geri, I have heard of blogging, but never really seen what it is for myself. What you've created here is really neat. A treasure of sorts to be able to reflect on where you've been. I absolutley loved the poem "Afternoon in March." It reminds me of my childhood, but moreso of my older son who runs "just to run." We were just talking about how fondly he remembers last summer when he'd run from our house to downtown Delafield to meet a friend or two. I think we're ALL itching to just run on sun-bare sidewalks this time of year!! ~Michelle