Not a good blogger...

Hello all! I apologize for the lack of blogging. I have had blog sites for a long time and have never been good at keeping up with them. I never was a journaler either. Like all of you, I have been busy. I am trying to figure out how to manage my time between a new teaching position and all the it entails and grad school. Hopefully I will do better. Although this isn't gaming related, it is technology related--One of the things that has taken a lot of my time is the school website. The library-media specialist caught wind that I had some experience with websites. Several weeks later, she and I have created a whole website for Russell Middle School (check it out at www.russell-ind.k12.ky.us/rms/ and let me know what you think.)

Anyway...games... I have been playing some, but not as much as I would like (I could play some games all day if I'm not careful)! Here are a few that I have experienced in the past few weeks:

WiiFit: What a brilliant piece of technology!! When we first got this game, my husband and I were amazed. The game comes with a balance board. Once your Wii character is registered in the program, you are measured, which includes your weight, center of balance and BMI. Wow!! I was not prepared for that. The game allows each character to set fitness goals and timelines. The workouts are divided into four categories: Yoga, Strength, Aerobics and Balance. The yoga portion is great because you cannot easily cheat. The poses that you are required to make are measured by your center of balance. The stength exercises are very challenging. The aerobics and balance activities feel more like a game than a workout, which I liked. Needless to say, I have become sore from this game before. I am looking for application in my classroom (any suggestions are welcomed) so that my students can benefit from this game. Many of them see the physical therapist and/or occupational therapist so I think that there is application that is worthy of some instructional time but I am still weighing this out.

Geometry Galaxy: Well, I'm not even sure if this is the game of this game. I rented it for the Wii system in hopes of a semi-educational game but was wrong. It was not what I had hoped so not much time was spent on this game. Someone should create some more educational games for Wii. I am dying to try it in my classroom and if proven effective write a grant for one to stay at school. So far, I'm not sure that adminisrators and others who might observe the class would deem this gaming system educationally appropriate at this point. I'm still keeping my eyes peeled for some educational games. (If you know of any that I am just missing, please let me know).