Instructions for Adding a Header to Your Blog

1. Go to Blogamundo and click on the link to Blogamundo Project Blog (this page)
2. Choose a header from the post below this
3. Click on the header you choose to see a full size version
4. Right click on the full sized picture and choose Save Picture As
5. Save the pic to My Pictures
6. Go back to your own blog
7. Go to Customize (in the upper right hand corner when viewing your blog) or Layout (from the dashboard)
8. Make sure you are in the tab called Page Elements (it should go directly there)
9. Click on Edit in the box that says Header (it is across the top)
10. Click on Browse and look for the pic on your computer
11. Double click on the picture header to add it in
12. Choose the option that says "Behind title and description"
13. Click SAVE in the pop up box. Click SAVE again in the Page Elements page.
14. Tada! You should have a new header.

If you have problems with your old header showing up behind the new header, let me know. That is a more complicated process.

Headers

These free headers were found on this site: http://www.themeheaders.com/gallery/search.php

Technology Lesson

I've finally learned how to fancy up my blog a little bit. I added a header with an apple on it and I think it looks pretty good. What I haven't figured out how to do is replace the other header with the new one. All I can do right now is add the new header on top. Fortunately my new header matches the one under it, so it actually adds to the picture. I will probably have to change the html in order to fix it.

I've been trying to do a technology lesson every once in awhile. Mostly they just learn as they fool around with stuff, but I like to do a formal lesson once in awhile to add to their knowledge base. I think it just makes them more comfortable with this stuff and that can never hurt as they go out to start college or jobs.

I might have to work through this a little more before I actually make this a lesson though. I want to know what the problem spots are going to be before we hit them.

What I know so far is:

1. Get a header from a website with free header pictures
2. Right click on the full sized picture and choose Save Picture As
3. Save the pic to My Pics
4. Go to Customize (from viewing the blog) or Layout (from the dashboard)
5. Choose Change Layout
6. Edit the Header
7. Browse for the pic from your computer and add it in
8. Save it
9. Tada!

Book Reports

The students are writing their book reports on Touching Spirit Bear. I have allowed them to write them in either essay format or business document format (meaning block paragraphs with headings).

They have mostly turned out quite well. The interesting thing is that in this assignment, I noticed a marked difference in the writing quality of those students who have been blogging every day and those that just entered the class. It is absolutely wonderful to see how far those who have been in my class have come since they started. I know, too, that those who are just starting out are going to see great improvement in their writing skills, and that is going to make school, GED tests, and workplace writing so much easier for them in the future.

Sometimes it just strikes me how important this work is and how much good it is doing, even if the students don't really realize it yet.

Yes! It Worked.

The anger skits went really well. The students did a really good job on coming up with skits and acting them out. Some of them were definitely not excited about be filmed, but even so they did a pretty good job!

The one problem that we came up with was the fact that the laptops we use for blogging do not accept new programs and the Flip Camcorders need to upload a little program that comes in the camera in order to upload the video. It worked fine on my computer, but that meant that the students weren't really able to learn that part of the technology. It worked out okay in the end, but it's definitely something I need to work out before I use them again.

You can go to the Blogamundo link on the sidebar of this page and from there you can click on the different students blogs to see their videos. They are pretty fun. :)

Anger Skit by Ron

Awesome! I figured out how to upload video directly from the Flip camcorders and it is super-de-duper easy. I'm really excited about this. I hope the students have fun with their anger skit. At least they won't be totally frustrated by uploading them when they are done. I hope. :S