I just explored a cool site for turning photos into cartoons. Free and no registration!
http://www.befunky.com/index.php
 It’s worth a look. To save the pictures you’ll need to take a screen shot or “print screen” and then paste it into “paint”. Then crop, save, and you’re ready to use your “Cartoon” anywhere. Have fun!

Many months ago I ran across a teacher wiki using glogster.  I loved the tool but was concerned about students accessing the other glogster pages on the site.  Some were not appropriate for children so I never used the web tool.  Now glogster has an educational version where everything is posted as private and yet it can still be loaded on websites and wikis.  You can also have up to 200 student accounts associated with your educator account.  Just think of the possibilities for your students to express themselves with an interactive “poster” that can use uploaded photos, clip art, videos, sounds, etc.  Glogster also has a fairly large library of backgrounds (walls) and clip art.  You have to check out this resource.  It is incredible!!!  I just made a Glogster page on Chris Van Allsburg, the author.  http://dthonus.glogster.com/Chris-Van-Allsburg/     The educator version of Glogster is found at http://www.glogster.com/edu/    

I hosted a workshop this afternoon for beginning users of Discovery Streaming and Teacher Center.  The 8 participants arrived very curious and left very excited.  At the end of the workshop I showed them a sample of what can be done with all of the wonderful resources from Discovery.  Then I pointed out the Professional Development Tab and encouraged them to play around with all of the resources we explored today.  Several attendees asked about a follow up workshop so I will be offering one before the end of our school year.  We all had FUN!  The participants also enjoyed the freebies from the workshop toolkit.  Thank you Discovery Education!

Lights, camera, action!  My third grade class has a triumphant success with our performance of Journey Though the Solar System!  I have uploaded the video to the Educatior Resources section.  The performances are full of information about our wonderful Solar System. Enjoy!

Rocky Planets http://mediashare.discoveryeducation.com/mediashare/index.cfm?event=showMedia&title=Rocky%20Planet%20Weather%20Reports%20shorter%5F0001%2Ewmv&vidPath=http%3A%2F%2Fmediashare%2Ediscoveryeducation%2Ecom%2Fassets%2Fflvs%2Fefd6d17c%2D1cc4%2D4143%2D6aad%2D9c12c5feaac7%2Eflv

Gas Planets http://mediashare.discoveryeducation.com/mediashare/index.cfm?event=showMedia&title=Gas%20Planet%20Weather%20Reports%5F0001%2Ewmv&vidPath=http%3A%2F%2Fmediashare%2Ediscoveryeducation%2Ecom%2Fassets%2Fflvs%2Fefe12508%2D1cc4%2D4143%2D6a51%2Df0839e6cabac%2Eflv

I just attended my first webinar.  It was titled Bend it, Break it, Bust it loose by Matt Monjan.  There were some great ideas and new things to learn.  I will definitely sign up for more webinars in the future.  Thank you Discovery Education and Matt for providing such a positive presence on the Internet.  Check out some great resources at Matt’s site, geekybird.com

Just in case you missed the free offer for STAR Discovery Educators from Tech4Learning, I pasted the notice below.  It was mentioned in the weekly update newsletter from March 27.  I just downloaded the Frames software and can’t wait to play around with it!  Check below to find out how to get your free full version.  Perhaps in the near future there might be some animated videos on this blog.  You never know!

A Very Special Treat from Tech4Learning
Our friends at Tech4Learning are celebrating their 10th birthday this year and somehow we’re the ones getting the presents!  Tech4Learning would like to give all STAR Discovery Educators a personal copy of their newly released Frames 4.

Frames 4 is a frame animation tool for stop-motion animation, cel animation, clay animation, time-lapse, and digital storytelling.  In this latest version of Frames, they have added new drawing tools to help students create animations from scratch, new digital storytelling features, and Flash® export to help students share their stories with the world. To learn more about Frames, please visit: www.tech4learning.com/frames.

To receive your own copy of Frames, fill out the form at: http://www.tech4learning.com/frames/denstar.

Within 2 business days, you will receive an email with a URL where you can download a full copy of the software as well as a Frames registration number.  Be sure to join them for an upcoming webinar to learn how to get the most out of Frames in your classroom!

I’m looking for motivational and exciting ideas for an introductory workshop on DiscoveryStreaming.  I have the promotional handouts but perhaps some of you have ideas for “games”, activities, or “competitions” that will raise the interest level in my staff.  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks! 

I haven’t visited SL for months and months but would like to start attending some events to get back into it.  Tonight I updated what I was wearing.  That’s sooooo important in SL.  My SL name is Deb Telling.  Perhaps I will see you at this upcoming event in SL.

March 18th
Second Life
Please consider joining us this Wednesday, March 18th, as Celestia Cazalet hosts a Workshop on ‘Virtual Instruction”

Welcome to my blog!  I am not by nature a blogger.  I have an extensive online presence with a class website found at http://www.mrsthonus.com , and enjoy providing Internet resources for my students and their parents.  I plan on looking at other blogs to get ideas on what should be included.  This will be a challenge since I don’t keep a journal either. 

I have uploaded a PowerPoint on Wampanoags, People of the First Light.  It is about the Native People from my area, Cape Cod, MA.  I hope you enjoy it.  Just click on the link below to view it.  http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/MrsThonus/files/Wampanoag%20People%20of%20the%20First%20Light.ppt