Student autonomy has excelled my expectations.  Students independently use Edmodo to complete assignments and interact with class friends.  Common conversation in the classroom now revolves around, "What's in your backpack?"....

More information on portfolios:

http://billcarozza.com/category/digital-portfolios/  

How to grade from Scholastic Administrator:
http://www.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/a/administrator_aug05_pdfs_Grading_EPortfolios.pdf

Before beginning things to consider:
http://www.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/a/administrator_aug05_pdfs_questions.pdf

Web source for different assessments: http://www.park.edu/cetl/quicktips/authassess.html

Provides comparisons with traditional assessment and authentic assessment. 

Authentic Assessment Toolbox:  http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/ 
Includes information for e-portfolios.

I'm wondering if Edmodo will work as a platform for e-portfolio for students...

A link for using Portfolios:  http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/portfolios.htm
Provides questions for students to reflect on writing pieces.

Students are using Edmodo more with purpose.  We still struggle to respond appropriately with a positive thought and suggestion when we blog.  However, students are posting more assignments to Edmodo.  They are excited and motivated to show their learning using the website.

It was a great week.  Students used Word to create a document.  Most of them wrote about their running time in PE.  They were really proud of their time.  After saving their work, they were able to upload the file to Edmodo.  Friends could open the file, read their posts, then add a reply to the posts.  With a little encouragement and conversation the students are now blogging using Edmodo.  I still have some work to do because several students simply post "That's cool" or other superficial replies.  So we're working on adding a positive thought and then a suggestion. 

Heading to Washington DC next week;  my students asked how we were going to stay in touch and if I would post pictures of the trip.  I love 5th graders.

A challenge I'm having a difficult time over coming is being able to utilize technology with continuity.  Without reliable access to computers, students haven’t been able to make a seamless transfer to using edmodo.  How is the challenge conquered?

So I'm amazed.  One sweet student shares her parents won't let her use the computer or get on the Internet at home.  So I'm about to ask her how she will use edmodo.  She goes ahead and tells me she can do her assignments on her Nintendo DS.  Just to make sure I understand what she is sharing, I ask her again about using the Internet.  She confirms it's okay to use the Internet on her game DS, but not on a computer.  Plus, she can go to edmodo on her Nintendo.  Really???

I just don't get this one...

Today in 5th grade

Kids began using Edmodo.  They completed assignments, posted replies and asked questions.  Independently one student even added a powerpoint she created.

I love seeing students engaged in learning and working together.

Edmodo:
http://www.edmodo.com/?language=en&auto_selected_lang=true&logout=true

Yeah!  My first parent just posted a question too...