Blog Challenge09 #4

Animated_World3This week’s challenge asked that we add a couple of different kinds of widgets:

  1. A translator
  2. A Widget that tells something about our region

Also, we were asked to visit blogs from five different countries and tell what we learned from these blogs.  Below are listed the blogs that we visited and on which we left comments:

  • http://mistea.edublogs.org/ – This is Miss Trask’s blog from New Zealand.  I was so surprised to see that right there in one of her posts there was a pingback to my own grandson’s blog, Tyler’s Talking.  I immediately gave him a call on the phone and told him I was sending him the link via email.  He once told me that he just didn’t have anything interesting to say and wondered if anyone would ever read his posts. I guess this proves it to him. Thank you, Miss Trask.
  • http://mrtoft.edublogs.org/ – We visited Canada’s own Mr. Toft’s blog where he has his students listed as additional Category links. Under the blogroll, each student is listed by his/her own ID number and first name.  This is an excellent use of categories, and I fully intend to use it with our Gifted and Talented students’ class blog. Great idea!
  • http://p7kw.edublogs.org/ – Mrs. Knott and Mrs. Webster from Scotland have more than one thing in common with us. First of all, we both have chosen the same blog theme, but both look different in their own unique ways. It shows how versatile blogging designs can be to create a personal identity for your class. We also have added the adopt-a-pet widget and even went so far as to adopt THE SAME PET. I see that they teach 33 students and they are listed as Primary 7. I am interested in the significance of that listing. Are there 7 classes of Primary students?
  • http://markaki-fce.blogspot.com/ – This post was written by fan10, but this is the Maria Markaki School in Greece. It is a school of foreign language and students attend daily to practice their English skills. I am fascinated that the language we speak right here in Texas is the basis for an entire school. So interesting.
  • http://rebedominguez.blogspot.com/ – Mrs. Dominguez’s blog (Chile) is written in Spanish.  There is not a translator on her blog, but it is full of interesting videos and I particularly liked the one where the group made the sound of rain.  I left a comment anyway, hoping that she will be able to translate it. We have a translator on our blog and invited her students to visit and read our posts.

Why Celebrate Red Ribbon Week?

redrbbon1Do YOU know why October 23-27th is special?

This week we celebrate one of the oldest and largest organized drug-free campaigns in the United States. Millions of young people will choose to wear red ribbons to symbolize their pledge to live drug-free lives, but do you know why or how the last week in October came to be Red Ribbon week?

Red Ribbon week first began to honor DEA Kiki Camarena who 25 years ago sacrificed his life fighting drugs. Shortly after his death, his long-time friend organized “Camarena Clubs” whose members pledged to live their lives drug-free. His friend was determined that Kiki’s life and ultimately his death would make a difference in the fight against drugs in America. Then in 1988, the National Family Partnership coordinated the very first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.

Today school’s promote Red Ribbon Week in various ways. We too will celebrate this event at White Oak Intermediate with special activities to remind our students the importance of living a drug-free life.

  • MONDAY: WEAR CRAZY SOCKS AND/OR SUNGLASSES
  • TUESDAY: WEAR RED
  • WEDNESDAY: WEAR A CAP OR HAT
  • THURSDAY: WEAR A WHITE OAK, COLLEGE, OR FAVORITE TEAM SHIRT
  • FRIDAY: WEAR CAMOUFLAGE

red ribbonred ribbonred ribbonred ribbonred ribbon

Blog Challenge09 #3

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In response to the third Blog Challenge, we have added categories to the widgets of our sidebars. Why didn’t we think of this before? It makes searching through our postings so much easier. You may now choose the Blog Challenge09 category to read all of our postings for this year and last year’s challenge. Thank you, Miss Wyatt, for this suggestion.

In addition, we are enjoying visiting and leaving comments on this year’s participant’s blogs.  Last year, we were the only class on our campus who joined in on the challenge. This year three other classes have jumped in with us. Please visit Mrs. Carrington’s Bright Spots, Mrs. Johnson’s Four Corners, and Mrs. Saccoccio’s Class Blog and leave a comment. Please tell them that the C-O Connections sent you their way.

Blog Challenge09 #5

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Pics Worth 1000 Words

We want to thank eHow.com for the excellent How-to pictures. We are enjoying this time of the year. You might enjoy visiting a virtual carving and our Projects by Jen Perfect Pumpkin podcast. Also, our class would like our readers to know that we are not the only class participating in Miss Wyatt’s blog challenge. We also have a 4th Grade GT class, Bright Spots, and a 2nd Grade class, Mrs. Saccoccio’s class. who are needing you to visit and comment on their blogs.

We are issuing a challenge to all of you to do just that!

Taking a Bite Out of the World

worldQuite a bit has changed since last year’s blogging challenge, but our commitment to establishing world connections has not faltered. We began this blog with two teachers, Mrs. Cranford and Mrs. Odom,  thus the C-O.  I have now been given an additional responsibility on this campus, but Mrs. Odom and I remain with the student bloggers of the C-O Connections.  We hope that you will continue to visit our blog and continue to leave your comments because we love to read them.

On our “Meet Our Class” page, you will read a little bit about us. Last year we were rewarded for our hard work by winning the 2009 Edubloggers Challenge.  You will see the badge posted along the sidebar of our blog. Our intermediate school in East Texas is a wonderful place to go to school, and we will be sharing our experiences with you this year.


Please let us know what you think. After all, YOU are the reason we continue to grow and make even more connections.

Back to School

arg-dancing-back-to-school-red-on-white-urlWow, August is right around the corner, and I am getting ready for a great year! Already I have seen students out and about town doing some early school clothes shopping. The aisles are lined with school supplies and new folders of all colors. This is my favorite time of the  year.

Last year, we participated in an online blog challenge, and made connections to other classrooms all around the world. This year we will be promoting the newly created blogs of our intermediate classes, so I will be posting some blog challenges of our very own.  I do hope you are up for them!

I will be seeing and reading you very soon.

Summer Fun in 3D

Summer is in full force and it is hot here in Texas.  My grandchildren and I decided to take this time to catch the new Pixar movie, UP in 3D, in the comfort of the air-conditioned theater.  It was a really good movie which taught some valuable lessons. There were some parts that were rather sad in my opinion, but all loved it nonetheless.

The coolest part was the 3D glasses! We were all issued (paid $2.50 extra for issuance) a pair of 3D glasses at the ticket window so that we could view the movie and all of its special effects.  I really didn’t know if the kiddos would leave them on their faces for the entire time, but it proved not to be a problem.

It is a tradition with my grandchildren (One that I began about 7 years ago) that at the end of the movie when the music plays and the credits roll, that we head to the front of the theater to enjoy a celebration dance. This day was to be no different. Below is an Animoto of our day date to see UP in 3D.

What have you been doing this summer? Write me a comment and let me know.