Hangaroo

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to share with you this week something new that I learned which is a new and great way to teach vocabulary as well as spelling to children. Many of you are familiar with the game Hangaroo. If you are not, do get familar with it: http://games.ncbuy.com/hangaroo/
First thing you should consider before implementing the game in the classroom is the volume. Make sure it's OFF because Hangaroo is a bad mouth. Second, you cannot implement the game as it is because it's more related to general knowledge but, what you can do is write a new phrase file for it based on what you want your kids to practice. You can learn how to make a new phrase file through this link: http://games.ncbuy.com/hangaroo/create_layout.html
Basically, what can be done is the following:
1- Teach the new vocabulary to the kids
2- Make a new phrase file
3- Play the game with the kids to practice spelling and synonyms because, in the clue section, you will be putting the synonym so that they can guess the word either by the clue or by  guessing out the letters.
I hope that helps,
Charbel

Benefits of the Tablet PC in Teaching

I knew that a Tablet was recommended for teachers and now I know why. It's so easy and convenient to use especially with all the options you have. All you need to do is hook your Tablet into the LCD projector and then you can control everything that goes on on the board straight from your PC. You control the music, you control the videos, you can write and you can also make perfect drawings especially when you use the ritePen application which makes your circles, lines, and squares just perfect.
In addition to that, the tablet PC is lighter than the laptop and can be used just like a notebook, which saves you the trouble of needing to balance your laptop on one hand while trying to type with the other.
I really recommend a Tablet PC if you want to make your classroom advanced technologically and make your life easier...

Charbel

My new Tablet PC

The easier technology, and especially computers, makes things, the harder it gets when a small glitch happens and ruins your whole project. I had my laptop for 2 years now and, two days ago, it decided to crash. I wouldn't blame it, especially that I trusted it to handle all my work for me. Anyway, it crashed and delayed my work by at least two days until I was able to acquire a new one.
Yesterday, I picked up a way better computer, and I chose a tablet PC instead. I heard that it was much better than a laptop, and especially for teachers now that it has a better handwriting recognition system. Anyway, I'm in the process of tweaking it up and making it ready for Monday's classes. Let's hope it all goes well because I will be expecting many students to drool over it.
Have a great weekend everyone...

Already Learning

Hey everyone,
Despite my overwhelming work this year in between managing a program and writing ILPs, I still could find some time to check out the blogs of many of my colleagues. Some of them have caught my attention such as Hasan and Rahmat's blogs and had really interesting insights. However, Yudi's blog was a real eye catcher especially that she started to offer valuable ideas from the beginning. Yudi wrote about webquests, which was a very interesting online instrument to use with students. In addition to that, I couldn't wait to create my own webquest and so, I made this: http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=71425. I made it for my philosophy students and I know that they will love it. I will keep you posted when I try it out next week.
Have a great weekend all of you,
Charbel

A New Week, A New Adventure

Another week at school just started. Soon enough, it will be over with a lot more work left undone. I remember when I first started teaching two years ago how hectic my year was. I was still nineteen years old, I had no idea what kids with special needs were like nor did I know how to teach them. Today, I am in charge of a program for teaching such blessed kids. As organized and sure as I have become, things do tend to get out of hand often, but it's all for the good. I started using Stephen Covey's time management planner and developed a habit of taking notes whenever it's needed. However, with all the day's work, I still have a lot to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I adore what I do and I wouldn't trade anything for it in the world. I hope you are alll passing through these great adventures everyday.
Lots
Of
Valuable
Energy

Elemental Being

Hey everyone,
I wanted to write about me more here but there was nothing that expressed me more than this poem. I hhope you'll all like it:

Elemental Being

By Charbel Tadros

In my life I’m a fire

Burning, raging higher and higher

My energy fills and moves my universe

And my uses are contradicting and diverse

In my soul I am flowing water

Moving ceaselessly in the ether

Cleansing the lives of countless souls

Helping them set ever higher goals

In my friendships I’m a wind

Caressing the hearts of the chagrined

And yet wiping away the deathly heaviness

Of those who tend to ever digress

In my faith I am the stable earth

Stably progressing since my birth

Unshakable is my faith in me

Clear to those who wish to see

And so, the four elements combine

And in my life they intertwine

They are different and yet they merge

Thus truth is allowed to emerge

Fire burns the decaying pains

Water purges what remains

Wind cools the earth below

Earth contains the rushing flow

From the earth life bursts forth

Through the wind is set the course

Water flows through the way

And fire clears the dark away