Author: kathleen

Next week is #TCEA and I am going for the full day workshop on technology apps and staying through Friday.

I am going to Wednesdays SIG for tech apps and CS. Planning to go to Techsmith's reception after.

Hoping to run into @Alfredtwo and go to @unklar 's presentation.

Everything else I am playing by ear.

Shuttle is supposed to leave from the parking lot at the hotel I am staying at which was really nice if it is like the last time I was there. Wish I was staying closer but oh well. Will need my truck Wednesday and plan to leave mid- afternoon and get it. Both events are off site and the reception is after the shuttles run.

I have downloaded an iPod / Apple app and bookmarked a web based app that should help. Links from the main #tcea page.

Driving as flying is a huge hassle and will have truck there when needed.

Sent from my Windows Phone

So today a sub stopped me in the hall and said, ‘”Hey, remember me, I was in your class?”  I looked at his badge (and name) and blankly said – you subbed for me Wednesday?

No, I was in your class – in 1994.  Oh, by the way he was OLD!  It helped get over the teaching sometimes sucks feeling, and it helped me prove that another teacher had NOT been at Hillcrest as long as I have.  Irritating.

Moral:  If you ever get a chance to look up one of your teachers – DO IT.  It does make our day.

Michael A. Zellner, 57, of Dallas faces charges of having an improper relationship with a student and indecency with a child.

Errant text message led to Plano teacher’s arrest on felony charges of improper relationship with student | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News

Argh – this is SO wrong in so many ways.  Do any of really think this is the first one?  I hope so, but think not.

Though the gal at diet gourmet made a nasty remark the day I started this. She thought my Samsung focus is too big. But that is the beauty. ATT has three different devices. She could probably find one she wants.

I love the predictive typing and using it now.

I have gotten used to the onscreen keyboard and don't miss my slider. I have managed to keep myself entertained with it and only it.

I can manage my email and respond to it. I can listen to my music and play games with it. Keep up with Facebook and Twitter. Basically all the functions I want when I am out and about.

Oh, I can make phone calls • though I am not much into that.

Here is what I still miss:

Audible Books
Kindle
A blog client for Typepad
Client for myfitnesspal

I am sure all of the above will come soon or I will find an adequate substitute.

So i

Sent from my Windows Phone

The plight of the high school homeless

This article really ticks me off because this is NOT a new problem.  It’s been going on in my school’s neighborhood for years.  I think the first case I knew of, was about 15 years ago.  Kiddio in my class was not doing well at all that year, and someone at school discovered that his mother had disappeared, father had been gone for at least a year, and he was living along in the apartment with no income.  I think the neighbors came to school and let us know, but not really sure.  It has been a long time.

But we’re always coming up with the odd student who is homeless.  Sometimes they choose to live home – usually due to family difficulties and sometimes the family leaves them.  We’ve all kinds of social services at our disposal to help – group homes, etc. 

Why?

Well, partly we care, but Texas learned long ago, the longer you keep a kid in school, the more income they make in later life, and the less money we have to spend on social services.   That’s one reason we get paid for each student in school, each day they are in school.

But keeping them in longer, and that goes for the homeless teen, the pregnant teen and the teen father is just going to benefit everyone in the long run.  Better yet if we can get them through college.

I would LOVE comments on this.

Our district blocks YouTube at the current time.  Of course, students, especially but even teacher have found ways to circumvent the block.  However, circumventing the block violates District Acceptable Usage Policy.

So does going home, using your home internet and downloading a video, mean that you have circumvented the block.  Technically yes, but it is not against district policy to do so, I asked. 

Here is the caveat:  I do have to be careful that everything I show is classroom appropriate and fits within my curriculum. 

I believe I should also make it clear to my audience that I am using my own internet, and not the district internet and why.

HOWEVER, downloading the video and not using the YouTube service DOES violate their Terms of Service, so I should not just download the video.  I do need to use my own internet. 

I think.

Am I right?

I came to the realization last night that I am not going to get rid of my iPod any time soon and that trying to converge devices isn't a good idea.

This also means that maybe the point and shoot camera isn't completely dead.

Lets face it. Each device we have does some things very well.

For example the Zune HD plays music better than the windows phone 7 and holds more.

The iPod does some iPhone apps and also plays music well. If Apple tunes worked like Zune pass I would probably stick with it.

There will always be iPhone apps that work better than windows phone 7 apps and vice versa.

By the way typing on the windows phone is easier than the iPod.

In other words we still don't have the all together perfect convigerent device.

Sent from my Windows Phone

When do you get too many things on your start menu.

I might be getting there. One app that is pinned is Amazon shop because for some dumb reason it installs to games and I can't find it.

Sent from my Windows Phone

Not yet.  And it isn’t a Zune HD killer either.

But I did receive an email from Medco and was able to go out to the web and see which prescription they were emailing about without opening a laptop.

I haven’t tried entering a dog show from the phone yet, but I can check for Breed Counts and Judging Panels.

Things I still want – will AlphaJax is good, I’d rather be able to play my friends on Words for Friends.  I’d also like to play Diner Dash, etc. on Windows Phone 7 and I think that will come soon.

Wish Windows Live would integrate Twitter. 

However, I am VERY happy with the Samsung Focus.

The other three apps I really want are Audible, Kindle and Typepad Blogging Client.