Google Reader

A list of the websites I followed:

*CoolCatTeacher Blog- http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/
*Will Richardson- http://willrichardson.com/
*Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day- http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/
*Free Technology for Teachers- http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
*A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet- http://mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com/
*Smart Classroom Management- http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/   (an additional link that I chose to follow)
*PTO Today Blog- http://www.ptotoday.com/ptoblog/   ( an additional link that I chose to follow)

     My favorite blog is Smart Classroom Management. As a veteran teacher, I am always looking for ways to improve my classroom management. To me that is the most important thing to have within a classroom. Kids change from one year to the next, so what worked last year may not work again this year. Therefore I have to find what strategies will work best for the students that I am currently teaching. I really enjoyed all of the suggestions that he has given out so far. They are very realistic and also doable by any teacher. He also stresses that the strategies that he writes about are not grade specific. They can be utilized at any level. The teacher may have to modify it a little to fit his/her students. And if you are still experiencing problems with something he has mentioned he will email you with some specific modifications.  I was actually using one of the things that he discussed in my classroom already.(classroom management packet plan) I would suggest that all classroom teachers follow this link.
     My favorite post would be from Smart Classroom Management and the title was An Amazing, Eye-Opening Follow Directions Strategy. This strategy is used to get students to listen carefully and follow directions when given the first time. It also helps with transitioning from one activity or subject to the next. If you have ever started giving directions and the students start working before you can even finish or if they ask you what to do several times after you have just repeated it twice, then this may work for you. Within this strategy the teacher makes a line on the floor using tape then using a low voice, he/she gives some simple directions (close your reading book). After looking around the teacher sends the students to the line if they are not following directions immediately. The teacher repeats or gives more directions and continues to send students to the line if they are not on task. The students are offered a chance to go back to their desk only if they are standing in line and paying attention. This process continues until the line slowly dwindles down and everyone is on task. The teacher also increases the dificulty of the directions by giving multiple steps. At the end, the teacher does not explain the strategy but the students will figure it out and will be more apt to listen to and follow directions when they are given.
     I enjoyed reading the different blogs even though I did experience a difficult time trying to add them to Google Reader. I was simply overlooking the main icon. I have learned a lot from the different blogs and I often find myself discussing what I have learned with my fellow colleagues and dicussing things that we should try with our students. I will definitely continue to follow some of these blogs and share information with my colleagues.