Dropbox

I am in the process of getting permission slips signed from parents allowing me to use photos of their children on my website. I have been meaning to do this for a while, but was just now able to sit down and create the form. I will send it home tomorrow and hopefully (fingers crossed) get to post pictures of my students working this weekend.

Until then, I just realized that I have said nothing about an app/feature that my colleagues and I use all the time. I'm less of a fan of it than they are; however, it does have its advantages. It's called Dropbox. (www.dropbox.com)

Dropbox is an app that you can download to your computer, laptop, or iPad for free (unless you need more storage, then you can purchase it.) Drobpox is like a big sharing file. I can put items into Dropbox, and invite people to view those items. Only the people that I invite can see them. Our team (first grade) uses it to share information and keep the things we need instead of using a flash drive. I can also create a file and invite my the parents of my students to visit the file. I can even add pictures of my students working.

So give it a try. It is beneficial, once you get the hang of it.

Until next time...

Introducing: Loki (a Guinea Pig)

I purchased my new classroom pet yesterday. And I have to say, he's pretty awesome. He's going to be a lot more work than I ever imagined. But, he is definitely adorable. He's getting used to me, and is even tolerating my dog pretty well. The only thing he has not figured out is how to go up the ramp to get his food. I put him on the second level last night, and he was still there when I returned while later, having eaten all of his hay.

I just moved his hay ball down to the bottom level, and he went to work on the hay immediately. I also moved the food bowl from the top level and set it on the bottom. As soon as I walked out of the room, he knocked it over. I think he will eventually come around to using the ramp; he's just not comfortable with it.

Oh, by the way... his name is Loki. Yes, named after THAT Loki. And I am pretty sure I named him aptly, seeing that he is going to cause mischief. He was the only one left in the pet store. I have held him a few times, trying to get him used to me. He nibbled my hand the second time I held him, but it didn't hurt and he didn't draw any blood. Thank goodness.

So, without further ado:

There's Loki, in the upper-left side.

He's hiding in his igloo. He sleeps in the igloo, and is supposed to go up the ramp to get his food and snacks. My dog, Mara Jade, is peeking in on the left side.

I moved the hay ball to the lower level, since Loki hasn't figured out how to go up the ramp.

Just a picture from a wider angle.

Another picture.

Aerial view.