Email is Exciting?

I introduced the world of e-mail to my fifth graders this week. The classroom teacher had an e-mail project for the students and I wanted to make it happen. I have young children who do not use e-mail. However, I teach grades K-8, the older of whom seem to know what e-mail and instant messenging is all about. It had not occurred to me that e-mail, which until now I have not covered in my computer classes, would be a foreign concept to fifth graders. Most of my fifth graders knew what e-mail was on some level, but had never used it. When I explained some of the things they could do with e-mail, it was like openning up a whole new exciting world to my students. It was a wonderful teaching moment! It's nice to know there are things that I can teach THEM. I don't know when (or how) kids learn to e-mail, but judging my experience this week, it is AFTER fifth grade. But they were truly empowered and jazzed up about this new world I had just openned to them. It was great!

One of the reasons I haven't formally taught e-mail was my reluctance to open the door to spam and virus threats. I checked out gaggle.net and discovered a SAFE way to use e-mail at school without the immense time and resources I would need to devote to it. I am a computer teacher at a small school with no IT person (besides me, that is). In this way, I have to be careful what I take on. I looked into setting up a linux server but I don't know much about linux yet. Gaggle lets me control student e-mail activity for a small cost. Now THAT'S what schools really need. If you are a teacher, check out gaggle.net. You won't be sorry. Sign up and spread the word!

The Pope's Death

We are all saddened by the death of Pope John Paul II. He was a great role model who truly loved his flock, especially the youth of the Church. As a non-catholic teacher at a catholic school, I am witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime (OK, maybe twice or thrice), historical event unfold. The process of honoring a passing pope and selecting a new one is one that I have never before experienced. It is a fascinating time and I have learned much about what faith means. Please keep the Catholic Church in your prayers at this time.

At this same time, our second graders are getting ready for a very important spiritual event in their lives - their first communion. To be sure, these two simultaneous events provoke interesting discussion about what is means to be a Catholic in the modern day.

For an interesting look at the Vatican during recent and present events, catch the Catholic Insider Podcast. Catholic Insider is a podcast by father Roderick Vonhögen, catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Utrecht, The Netherlands. He does an excellent job of explaining the Catholic faith, traditions and lifestyle in a simplistic way that even non-catholics can understand. He does a great job!! Check it out