Format Pixel

One Web 2.0 tool that would be useful in many classrooms would be the Format Pixel tool.  The format pixel tool is where you can create your own online magazines, brochures, catalogues, portfolios, and more!  You can design page based projects, upload your own pictures, layout the text, and customize the appearance of the page.  You can also move, insert, or delete pages to create multi-page presentations.  You can also add text objects, adjust the many properties, and attatch shapes.  I think this tool would be very helpful/successful in a classroom because it is a very fun and creative activity for the students to work on.  I think creating brochures and portfolios are a way for the students to organize their information.  Usually when you go to Microsoft word and work on a brochure it is very hard to do because it limits you to what you can change and do to it.  This format pixel tool lets you write whatever you want as well as pick your own pictures, colors, text, font, and anything else you want to do to it to make it fun and exciting!  I think it would also be a very good tool to use when one wants to make a portfolio of themselves because it can organize their information about themselves which is a good thing when you need to go to an interview for a job and they ask for a portfolio of yourself.  This tool can also make the portfolio look professional and neat.  I think the format pixel tool would be great in any classroom!!!!!

The benefits of recess in schools

A lot of people think that schools need to eliminate recess.  However, research has shown that  is not the case.  Studies have shown that a daily break of just fifteen minutes can play a role in improving learning, social development, and health in a childs life.  There was even a research done where a teacher split up a classroom in half and made one half stay inside and the other half go outside for recess.  The class that went outside for just fifteen minutes showed better academic qualities.  Free unorganized oplay or activity is important in keeping children healthy, and helping the student reach a good level of social, emotional, and cognitive development.  It is shown that many schools have reduced the amount of time childrens actually have for recess.  For those kids who may have a disability of some sort and can not go outside at their own home and play because their parents dont have time to watch them, recess at schools may be the only opportunity they have to do so.  All in all, recess is a very good thing to have and we as teachers need to make sure we provide this for the classroom.