Can you Digitalk?

Do you think you can interpret student messages? I can't, and I'll be the first to admit none of that comes easily to me.  Entering technology from the background of teaching English, I have an especially hard time using digitalk in any form.  You might see me use a smiley to show that I'm trying to soften a message, but if I mean "you", I write or text YOU and not U.  If I want to say "later", I type LATER rather than L8R. It's like forcing myself to say "ain't"--just can't do it without sounding affected.

For those of you who want to know some of the latest digitalk, take a look at the short list below from NetLingo.  Some of it you may want to use, some you may need to know, and some are just good for a laugh.

ACORN: A Completely Obsessive Really Nutty Person
AITR: Adult In The Room
C-P: Sleepy
CICYHW: Can I Copy Your Homework
E123: Easy as 1, 2, 3
G2G: Got to Go
GI: Google It
J/C: Just Checking
KIPPERS: Kids In Parents Pockets Eroding Retirement Savings (my fave)
LTTIC: Look, The Teacher Is Coming
potato: Person over 30 acting 21
r u da: Are you there?
soz: Sorry
w's^: What's up?
wru: Where are you?
X-I-10: Exciting
zerg: To gang up on someone
10Q: Thank you
*$: Starbucks
,!!!!: Talk to the hand
CWOT: Complete Waste of Time
HBASTD: Hitting Bottom And Starting To Dig
NNWW:  Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink
SLAP: Sounds Like A Plan

Take a look at the entire list on NetLingo.  Be sure especially to read through their "Top 50 Internet Acronyms Parents Need to Know".  It's always good to be aware.

Create a Mixbook with Your Class!

Mixbook creates scrapbooks that you can share online--free. Your class can create a scrapbook with photos of projects, a timeline of what they've learned, or even activities such as D.A.R.E. or a field trip that can be shared with families at home.  The scrapbooks are beautiful and easy to make with your own digital photos.

Classic Mixbook creation screen

Text pages can be added by creating them in PowerPoint, choose Save as .jpg, same as a photo, then uploaded along with your other pictures. 

Have fun making a class book, or play with Mixbook at home during the holidays.  These make great gifts!Hardbound copies of the books can be purchased from the website, and softbound copies start at $6.99.