Gabits

I cannot wait to see all of my students' "Gabits."  Gabits are avatars that you can design and make to speak.  The students wrote a paragraph telling what they do on the weekends and then created a Gabit and voice recorded where their "Gabit" went on the weekend. The students felt very comfortable "speaking" in front of the class because they were able to record their voice and self-correct until they got the desired recording.  One can also lower or raise the voice of the Gabit.  They then presented them to the class using a borrowed document cam and connected the speaker jack to their ipod.  We had a lot of Spanish fun listening to and watching the students' projects.  After each student has presented I will sinc the ipods and post a few on our class blog so the Spanish I students can see them.  (purpleinksenora.blogspot.com).

Funny stories, and encouraging news.

First of all, I forgot to write this story last week, so I thought I'd write it now.  From time to time we all say funny things and make hilarious mistakes (see previous post!).  One of my students wrote on his/her resume (this is for my careers class) that he/she was going to be a "valid victorian" upon graduation.  Gave me quite the giggle.

Secondly, I have been so encouraged by my coworkers, principal, and even a former student's mom, that I am in the right field for my particular skill-set.  I am quite the moron when it comes to calculating math problems or remembering my keys, but I am thankful for the gifts of communication and compassion that I have been given, and for the ways I have seen those gifts help others.  A parent of a student I had while teaching in Indiana sent me this email:

Hello, I hope you remember J, you were her teacher in 9th grade @ BHC. Well she is taking Spanish as a Sophomore and she absolutely loves it and is doing Great with it. It comes so easy for her and she said that it was because of you! She really enjoyed you as a teacher. She has 100% in there right now. I am very happy for her and thank you for that too. 

What a blessing to receive that note.  Looks like it's going to be another great week with the minds of not just the future but TODAY!H