What am I following? Personal Learning Network

Note: Screen Shot is clickable.
In looking for my own "personal learning network" I tried to find different types of resources from lesser known, teacher run blogs to more trafficked sites.
1. http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/
This blog caught my eye due to the post on "Cloud File Storage, Sync, Backup." The Author provides a much needed update on the technology world in general with a focus on the benefits on education. The Author is a science teacher so if that is useful for you, great! It isn't for me as a future history teacher but I couldn't say no to following this blog. I mean, he offers links to online whiteboards! How awesome is that!
2. http://multimedialearningllc.wordpress.com/
A fabulous source for resources for history history. I was drawn to it because it had a post that came with a blank map, a quiz and a key for a possible quiz. I am game for anything that means I don't have to repeat what someone else has already done. This also has great links to videos online. I find it hard to find truly useful historical videos on youtube. Most are in the realm of US history but their are topics on World history as well. Also to note about this blog, it may seem odd and unnecessary, but the posts are very well organized and very welled tagged to find exactly what you need.
3. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
This a great blog that I found via Dasily's Blog. The new technological advancements shown in this blog blows my mind. There are some many useful things showcased here! It is very cutting edge, and I suspect shows things that we in the future might use quite a bit in our teaching careers. I found the post on how google earth is useful in all kinds of fields and not just in the hard sciences.
4. http://ushistoryeducatorblog.blogspot.com/
This blog talks about the subject I will most likely be teaching: US History. Now, I love all types of history but US history I find the most boring, second only to ancient history. I need ideas on how to keep US history interesting not only for my sake but for the sake of my future students. Students can always tell when the teacher is bored with their own class. This blog provides the much needed support of technology and lesson plan ideas when dealing with US history.
5. http://weblogg-ed.com/
this is a very different blog compared to the other ones that I am currently following. It mostly talks about teacher technology as a science and dives into the successes and failures of different mediums. Technology can fail and hurt the classroom at times. Cell phones are in fact a major problem in the classroom as well as cameras used for cheating. This blog provides thought provoking questions and a conversation starter on the specific advancement and downfalls of technology in the schools.
6. http://worldhistoryeducatorsblog.blogspot.com/
This blog is much like the US history one but obviously, dealing with world history, my much more prefered subject. So I added it for the same reasons as the other one-- to keep me fresh and on my toes about World History and how technology can add to the teaching environment of the classroom.

High School is like a dirty novel . . .

Honestly, I didn’t think that Walden Charter School (located in Provo, Ut) was all that different. I admit that I did jump a bit when I saw one student walk into class completely barefoot and the mild swear words certainly caught my attention, but other than that, nothing shocked, scared, astounded, or offended me. (No desks were different for me though). The students were diverse and trying to discover themselves just like anywhere. The teachers wished to inspire and educate through respect and friendship just like anywhere else. Also, there are pros and cons in attending and teaching at Walden, just like in any other school. My own personal experiences might have something to do with this fact.
I went to school in California and Illinois. Both happen to be quite “blue” states.I went to high school in a suburb of Chicago and it was certainly a more liberal experience.I often joke that my political values were taught to me by my teachers rather than my parents. As I talk about my experiences and thoughts on Walden, keep in mind that any of these teaching methods were used in my education, further showing that Walden is not all that different from other High Schools. High School can be related to Romance Novels: the cover and the setting may change, but for the most part the plot and the characters remain the same. And it is not at all a bad thing.

Who the . . .?

Paperback= Paperback Writer
Tripper= Day Tripper

Why, yes! I did go through a huge Beatles obsession-- how did you know?

My non-interweb name is Krista Lee Twitchell Burkhart.
I have been married for 2 weeks, so my name still confuses me.

What do I like? hmm
raspberries. sporks. giant slippers. frozen chocolate. rubix cubes. warm fuzzy towels. floating in water. blowing bubbles. nighttime. clementines. endless circles. best friends.the word spunky. kitchen floors. laughter. butterfly kisses. hammocks. wet sand. whoever chooses the sweet love letters. acoustic guitars. the ballet. beautiful smiles. peanut butter m&ms. random discussions at the dinner table. old ladies with crazy sweaters. sleeping bags. irony. "b is for basil assaulted by bears." singing in the car. learning from mistakes. men who arent afraid to cry. clear straws. romantic comedies. optical illusions. movies in english class. Joel Mchale. medical history. funny names. swing dancing. grapefruits. untouched snow. magic erasers. homemade moccasins. men who wear turtlenecks. drawing on cds. olives. light sabers. spelling words with the english u. adorable dogs. patriotic christmas trees. unicorns. nachos. screaming your head off. having 10 of your best friends change your flat for you. compliments. piano. fulfilling dreams. new friends. 5 stringed guitars. buzz lightyear. long conversations.& the feeling you get when you just had a perfect day.


Picture of me looking all kinds of awesome.




More pictures (of me looking all kinds of awesome) found here