Oh the places we will go! - Today NYC. Tomorrow?

We have been reading a WONDERFUL book aloud in my classroom.  It is titled Walls Within Walls.  I picked it up to read along with a few others to my class.  In my room kids always vote for what we read aloud.  I want them to decide so that they are more attentive.  This doesn't mean they pick from anything - this means, I pick 3 good books and no matter what - they have made a great choice.  I had not read Walls Within Walls before now.  It is one that is on a list of Blue Bonnet Books for Texas.  These books are ones that are nominated for the Blue Bonnet Award.  Kids read the books on the list and all over Texas 3rd - 6th graders vote.  The kid vote decides which book gets the award.

Blue Bonnet Reading List 2013-2014

Now, the children in my classroom LOVE this mystery.  It is about a family that moves to 5th Avenue from Brooklyn because their dad has made it BIG with his Game Designing Company called LeCube.  The children have new things like a homework nanny, a regular nanny, playdates that are scheduled, and other strange things they have to get used to on 5th Avenue.  The kids have moved into an apartment that has strange rules.  For example, there are walls built in front of the original walls so that the house could be made into 4 apartments.  The original walls cannot be taken down or altered in anyway.  When the kids return a library book that was due back in the 1930's - they begin a journey to find a treasure that was buried long ago.

The story talks about MANY places in New York City.  The children go along with their "weekend" nanny to find the treasure.  The author used real poems to aide with the clues.  NOW - my kids LOVE poetry, too!  To make the book a bit more real to them I have been showing them pictures of the sites each day.  I use "Google Images" to help.

Chirp App

Then TODAY I ran across a site that was a virtual tour of New York City.  IT was GREAT!  I used the app Chirp (which is a phone app, but can be used with the iPad).  I used CHIRP to send out the link to all of my class.  It is fast and easy.  The kids will then push the button that says, "open in Safari" and off MY KIDS go down the streets of New York.

New York City Tour
The site is run through Google Maps.  The site isn't live.  BUT - the Google people have taken lots of pictures and put them together to
form the streets of New York.

My kids really liked the field trip we went on!  They said that they felt like they were IN New York City.  They liked seeing the people on the sides of the street and passing them quickly.  They liked looking at the tall buildings and reading on the right side of the screen the history about the building. They looked for about 20 minutes and then I had to make them "come back" to Texas.  Most said they wanted to continue to explore and I will let them do that if they finish their work or if they have a minute or two between things throughout the day.  I was so proud of the kids!  They were excited, engaged, and eager to read more in the book that we have almost finished.

When we were done today we emailed the author.  We hope that she will Face Time us or Skype with our classroom.  It would be SO awesome to talk to a REAL author and ask her questions!  IF we get to, we will let you know!

Loud MINDS - don't always think the same thoughts

Remember going to school and WAITING to talk to the teacher?  When she asked a question or when you wanted to know more about something - you had to WAIT to be called upon.  AND - not EVERYONE can answer.  Sometimes you might get to answer, sometimes others do.  Sometimes you can feel like your opinion or answer doesn't matter.

GUESS WHAT!  Technology can change THAT problem forever!  (Well, most of the time....)

Today my principal, Beth Van Amburgh sent out a message that reminded me of the site www.todaysmeet.com.  I had seen it used last year when I was blessed enough to visit an ipad classroom in another district.  In THAT classroom the children were seated around a screen and given a short sentence.  Something like, "I ride the bus."  Then- the kids would go onto the "todaysmeet" room set up just for them.  They don't have to remember a password or anything.  They type their name in and off they chat.  The task they were given was to make the sentence better and tell how they did it.  They ALSO have to give feedback to their peers as the sentence grows.  No one had to take turns.  They worked at the same time.  They worked to make the same sentence better.  The feed might look like this:

The yellow bus I ride zoomed into the parking lot right before the tardy bell rang. (Kid 2)
I like the way Kid 1 used an adjective to describe the bus.  (Kid 4)
I ride the yellow bus. yellow - adjective(Kid 1)
I ride the bus. (teacher sentence)

The feed above reads from bottom to top.  You can see that random kids call each others names to give complements.  You can see how some identify parts of speech and look for ways to add them to their sentences.  While watching last year I noticed these things:
1. The kids were taking ownership of what they said.
2.  They could all type at the same time and everyone can see their answers.  Groups cannot TALK at the same time and be heard.
3. This was a KID LED station with about 10 kids in the group.  ONE child was a time keeper and said, "Times up - let's move to sentence 2" about 1/2 way through the time.
4.  People were respectful of each other.  If someone needed to fix something - the peers would say two positive things before telling them they needed to capitalize.

Obviously - the teacher had trained them to discuss things in this way.  Today I began very small by creating my "room" - www.todaysmeet.com/millerclark3 and I had them respond to a question:
"In the story we are reading, which character do you like the most and WHY?"  We are reading a GREAT story aloud called Walls Within Walls.  This is what some of our feed looked like today.  (Remember, this is our first time.)

As you read, think about all of these children talking at once.  In their minds they were shouting their favorite characters.  They are learning to voice their own opinions - no matter what others think.  This was a GREAT activity and one I will use MANY more times!  The kids didn't have to wait to answer.  They answered and read others opinions while they were typing.  We have a long way to grow - but its a good start.

I am so glad I was reminded to use through a random staff email from my principal.  It goes to show - you NEVER know what you will send or say that could INSPIRE others!

millerclark3

Who is your favorite character in the story Walls within Walls? 01:36PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Clark

Elise because she is the dauther of mr.post 02:22PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jenna

Cj 02:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Ayden

cj because he tricks people 02:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Ayden

My favorite character in walls with in wall is Patrick cause he is funny 02:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Casey

Cj because he's cool 02:24PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

My favorite is Brid 02:25PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

I like Eloise since she is wise 02:26PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Gunner

My favorite character is Ray because he helps out and if it wasn't for him they wouldn't know that Elise lived done there 02:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Dillon

Eloise because she's funny! 02:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jessica

And I like Brid because she takes notes on everything 02:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Patrick because he fingers out the pomes. 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Eden

Brid is in second 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

I like brid because she is nice. 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Caitlyn

Cj 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by James

pat because he is smart and funny 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jenna

My favorite character is Eloise. I like Eloise because she helps CJ Brid & Packrick find out the secret. 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Isabella

And I like ray cause he helps a lot and it's cool how he drives them to places and stuff. 02:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Casey

Patrick because he is 02:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Grayson

My favorite is Cj because he is funny smart and creative 02:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jeffrey

My favorite character is brid because he is very funny. 02:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Karlee

I also like Cj 02:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Cj is awesome!! 02:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Rileigh

And I also like Patrick because he can help 02:30PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Ayden

Also I like patrick 03:18PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jeffrey

Brid is awesome 03:18PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Patrick is really 03:18PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

My favorite character is Brid because she is smart and cool 03:19PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Aubrey

I like Carron because she I funny. 03:19PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Dillon

Read www! 03:19PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Patrick is very helpfull 03:20PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

I also like Patrick LOL! 03:20PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jessica

My favorite character is Brid because she is nice 03:21PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jolee

Also I like Brid 03:21PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jeffrey

I also like Cj because he is funny 03:21PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Caitlyn

I also like Patrick 03:21PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

I also like Elwes. 03:21PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Eden

Eloise is cool 03:22PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

I like Raphael is cool 03:22PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

I also like Brid 03:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Rileigh

Great job, guys! Thank you for telling me your favorite characters! You are jumping into Today's Meet very well! 03:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Clark

Rafael digyspy 03:23PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Brid is really cool 03:24PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jessica

Thank you 03:24PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Rileigh

Is cool 03:24PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Thanks Ms.Clark 03:25PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jessica

My favorite character is CJ because he is very smart, kind, my 03:25PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Avery

Thx 03:25PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

I also really like the way Ayden and Casey and Bella tell WHY they like the characters! 03:25PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Clark

I like Brid most because she is always doing something and so am I and she is always curies about something that is why I like her the most 03:26PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Alyssa

My favorite is Elise she dad is Mr .post 03:26PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Autumn

pat because he is smart 03:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Gunner

Try ur best 03:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Georgia

Patrick because he was so funny! 03:27PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Grayson

I like all the caricatures 03:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Rileigh

Patrick is also cool 03:28PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Grayson

And cj is really funny and he knows a lot about every thing 03:29PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Alyssa

and ray is a little bit suspishios 03:34PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Alyssa

I don't like really carron 06:00PM Wed, 02 October 2013 GMT by Jed

BELIEVE you can do it. Find it within yourself!

When children come to me in 3rd grade - it is a whirlwind of new information.  The kids are taken from the first floor and placed on the second floor in classrooms.  Just walking up the stairs can be intimidating.  Making sure they have everything and watching the steps closely so that they don't trip.

We have been working on getting INTO reading.  Really trying to relate to characters and find the LOVE for the books - no matter what genre.  After reading a story called Walls Within Walls we turned our attention to nonfiction.  I passed out the Time For Kids magazine that we get weekly.  I gave them a little time to read it.  THEN - I was able to hand every child in my room an iPad for the first time this year.  (The last 5 my cart needed just came in.)

We have been using iPads daily in my room - but this was the first day that I said, "This one is YOURS.  Treat it kindly."  We talked about the expectations.  We took pictures of ourselves and set it on the home screens to that we could easily see who's iPad it was if we picked it up.

Then we dove in head first.  We looked at www.timeforkids.com and were able to see articles about things going on in the world.  Some of the articles related to the magazine we read and had more information.  There were videos online that brought the articles to life.  The kids wanted to read more and more on the iPad.

I believe the iPad is just a tool.  So is the magazine.  BUT - when my kids went to a safe made for kids site to learn about important news events they became hooked.  Several even asked when they could go to the site again today.  One said that it felt like the WHOLE WORLD was in his hands - all he had to do was power it up and find what he wanted.  He said, "Ms. Clark - THIS is better organized than my DESK!"

Yesterday I took my kids on a journey and they didn't even leave their seats.  They went from kids who sighed when we passed out nonfiction reading to kids who dove into articles and could not get enough information.  They could choose which articles they read.  They were proud when they could tell about things that happened to a buddy who read a different article.  They have always had this love - it is inside of all of them.  The love for knowledge.  The hunger for things new.  But - Sometimes they have to learn it for themselves.  We, as educators need to take ALL of the tools in our buckets and find what unlocks their excitement and passion for learning.

This Sound of Silence..... (song reference- sing in your head)

"Silence speaks when words can't."  SO DO PICTURES! This is the first year that I have begun my school year with iPads for every child in my classroom.  OF COURSE in everything school - some things take time.  My class has 18 iPads for 23 kids.  So I thought I would share with you the things we have done in groups, pairs, and even by ourselves through learning. I will share my thoughts over the next few posts.

The whole "Silence" theme today is mostly because I haven't written since August 22.  Kids came and just like that - everything was a whirlwind of excitement and learning!  On "Meet the Teacher" night (the Thursday before school began) I set up 2 accounts for my classroom.  You are welcome to follow us.  We post an average of 100 things a week.

Twitter - millerclark3rd
Instagram - millerclark3

For those of you who don't know much about these - Instagram was explained to me like a Facebook without many words - mostly pictures.  It is very visual.  I heard growing up that "A picture is like a 1000 words."  This is what it looks like on a computer.  When it is pulled up on a phone the viewer can see a picture and the words about what we did in the classroom below it.  The viewer can also add comments.  I enjoy reading the kind words they have for their children.

Twitter has hashtags (#) to group things when writing.  It has links to pictures, sites, articles, etc.  It is a wonderful place to learn new things and get into chats online about educational topics.  I am not good at using the hashtags yet - I am still learning.  This is what a couple of my "TWEETS" from my class look like:

MANY of the parents in my classroom didn't have an account on either.  I didn't have an Instagram account personally until this summer.  So - we are all learning this together.  Learning together is fun and scary at the same time.  It can give you that rush of joy when you all learn something new and someone to smile at when you learn it together!


TIME SAVING TIP: When I post, I make Twitter and Instagram mostly the same.  I load the picture through Instagram and then share the post with Twitter.  I am finding many of the parents like either Twitter OR Instagram - not both.  By posting on both - the parents have the choice of what works best for them.

TIME SAVING TIP #2 - When the kids have a lesson they have learned - get them to explain it and type it in under the first picture in Instagram.  THEN - copy the words before you send it and paste them into the pictures that belong with the same lesson.  Notice the example above from Twitter about our Our Time meeting this morning. Both posts tell the same thing about the lessons.  While we don't ALWAYS do this - sometimes it is great for saving time.

Finally, I will tell you that my classroom has "Instabugs."  (I don't need an exterminator.) We created the word.  We defined the job.  We have 5.  Instabugs in my classroom are assigned days of the week.  When it is their day - they take the class mini iPad with them to specials (like Music and Gym), to lunch, to recess....  Their job is to take pictures that will tell about their day.  We have a list of classmate's names on the front.  Each time a photo is taken the Instabug quickly puts a tally mark beside each name.  This helps to make sure that everyone in the classroom is included a few times a week in our feeds.

In my classroom the Instabug and I take turns with pictures.  If I am working in a small group - the children can go and talk with the Instabug about learning stations, lessons learned, acts of kindness, etc that need a picture.  The Instabug takes the picture and then when we have a minute - we work together to think of words to express the learning that took place.  I am the only one that can give permission to hit "SEND."

I like to share instantly with the parents.  The parents feel as if they are in class with us.  They can have the feed pop up on their phone or computer all day - or they can check it at night.  They don't have to check it at all if they don't want to.  BUT the information is out there.  I have shared things like when Grandparents Day was.  It was a reminder on that day that the Grandparents could eat lunch with their grandkids.  Reminders about Scholastic orders or bragging on Random Acts of Kindness.  With all of the positive information going home daily about what they are learning and doing - everyone has a positive attitude about learning.

On a final note - I am continually amazed at the engagement with the children.  The iPads are just tools,  but in that one tool we have camera, video, productivity apps, notes, journals - everything in your hands.  We have been SO engaged and into our learning - I have no time for anything else.  Which is WONDERFUL!

My goal was to light the fire in them that will bring them joy as they learn more and more this year.  I think I am doing just that!

Testing. Testing. - Anyone Out There Yet?

Today as I sit in my classroom and look out across the desks I see names of children I haven't met yet.  I smell the new crayons and memories of my childhood come rushing back.  I hear chairs moving up and down the hall as teachers prepare for "Meet the Teacher Night."  I feel a spark of energy flowing throughout me - ready to teach the ones that come through my doorway.  

I know every parent worries about their child.  I know because I have a 3rd grader myself this year.  No matter what door my daughter walks through I will worry about her.  We all want the best for our children.  

If you are a parent in my classroom or a person in the community - I want to assure you that I am putting the needs of my students first.  I will teach them what they need to learn.  I will help them to grow.  I will teach them about books, technology, to think for themselves, to be kind, to respect, and to let their light shine on those around them.  

I ran across this cartoon today.  (Actually, it came up in a Pinterest search...) 

Your child's classroom may not look the same as ours did growing up.  We have desks like before - but we have more tools now.  Our kids were practically born with technology in their hands.  Do not be afraid you don't know enough about technology.  Nobody knows everything - including me.  Go on this learning journey with us as we explore the world with ALL available tools.  I want to light the fire of learning in your child.  We can do it together.  

"May Your Adventures Bring You Closer Together - Even as They Take You Far Away From Home" ~ Mysterious Benedict Society (Day One)

Texas is a beautiful place full of exciting things.  The last two days in my classroom we have been taking the state assessment STAAR.  It is a very important assessment.  The children are in my room for four hours straight - laboring over their test with pencils laying about them.  Sweat pouring down some of their faces.  Yawns escaping from some mouths.  Feet tapping, restless, nervousness.  Complete silence except for the occasional sneeze or cough.

After these thoughts I was looking through my lesson plans on what I needed to teach.  We are learning about maps.  Directions.  I began to think of my summer trips planned.  I thought about REAL WORLD applications.  When I plan a trip I think about HOW to get there.  WHERE it is.  How much MONEY I will need.  Then I began to GOOGLE.  

I found a link to:

Google World Wonders Project

Under the "Primary School" button, I downloaded a basic "plan" on how to use their site to take my kids from Miller Elementary virtually into other countries.  Although I read their "plan" I am embellishing as I go along this journey.  

We are currently reading a book called The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.  It is  the second book in a series.  In the book the children get on a ship and travel to Portugal.  After reading the book to my classroom and talking about the need for maps and directions, my kids were given the task of pretending they were in caveman times.  We then pretended that we wanted our friend to come to the pond to play with us, but when we got to the friend's cave our friend was asleep.  Our friend's mom said to leave directions written in the dirt.  Since neither of us can write or read - we were tasked with drawing pictures to make a map for our friend to follow.  

Next - we flashed forward to now.  We thought about how we get around today.  Some thought about how their mom's typed in an address on their phone and the directions would come up.  Some thought about how their dads "just knew where to go."  I then told them about the Google website.  They formed their own groups (some decided to work on their own) and they had to pick one of the places on the site to "visit."  They explored and told me the name of their place.  

The Great Barrier Reef

Next, we talked about HOW to get there.  We walked through getting to the Grand Canyon.  We could fly OR drive.  We talked about how it would be cheeper to fly if it was just one person going BUT if 3 people were going - driving cost less.  Driving was only 24 dollars less and one child pointed out that 15 hours in a car wasn't worth 24 dollars.  He wanted to pay the extra money to spend a longer time in the Grand Canyon.  

Kyoto, Japan

Prague

So - I sent them on their task of HOW to get to their destination.  Some tried putting in directions like we did for the Grand Canyon.  Since ALL of their places are not in North America - no one could drive to their destination directly.  One group found the site http://www.distancefromto.net/  It is a GREAT link that will tell the distance from anywhere TO anywhere!  The group began to share with others.  For this part of the project they have to find the distance TO their destination, the cost for one person to go and for a family of 5 to go.  They are looking for the cheapest, most logical way to get there.  Some are going into great detail figuring exactly how much gas from their house to the airport and then adding plane tickets and things.  Others are just counting the plane tickets.  But - the idea is the same.  They are using math, logic, and their ipads to begin to plan their journey.  They are 100% engaged! 

Next - where will they STAY?  Hotel? Tent? How much more money will they need for a place to sleep.  How will they get around?  City bus?  Taxi?  Walking?  Rent a car?  They are pricing each of these things.  We are planning for a 5 day trip.  

When asked about what they thought of the project I got these responses:

- "I liked getting to explore a different place on my ipad!"

- "I liked working with my friends."

- "I liked planning a trip so that I know how much money I need to save to go to Japan!"

- "I think I might want to be a travel agent when I grow up!  Looking up trips is fun!" 

Although we have just begun our trip and diving into maps and directions, my kids look forward to working on this project.  More to come on these exciting adventures across the sea!

Not just words - actions.

This morning at LaRue Miller Elementary we began with a huge assembly (like we do every Friday). But, this Friday we had all of the volenteers come and visit to show our thanks we had a program and breakfast ready.

After the assembly one of the student's moms I taught four years ago stopped me in the hall.  We chatted about many things.  Then she said that her daughter was recently asked in a committee meeting what she had been taught at Miller that stuck with her.  It needed to be an activity or lesson they remembered.  Everyone else picked something they had done in 5th grade.  Jessica didn't.  She picked the clay animation project she had done in my classroom with technology.  They had to write a script retelling the story, create the characters out of clay, and use a camera to capture the story.  Finally, they recorded a voice and they had a movie.

For those who want to see - you can visit this link to see what that particular class created.
The Three Cabritos

For Jessica - it was the actions - making the story come to life that she remembered.

SO- the story Jessica's mom told me was one that made me smile.  I thought of this quote, "In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for 20 years." ~ Jacques Barzun.   I thought it was a GREAT time to try out a new journal app.  I have noticed that my students enjoy putting visuals with their words.  We have the APP called "Private Journal" by Yoobee Version 2.0.
  

This journal lets the kids add music, photos, tabs to a page, stickers and so on.  For now the app is free.  Free is good!  (See note at the bottom of this blog for multi-user ipad tip.)

I started class with small groups of them getting the assignment to think of an adult in the building that taught them something.  It could be a teacher or someone else.  I wanted them to think of a specific time that they remembered this person and what they learned.  Next, they had to go and take a picture of that person alone and then a shot with both in the picture.

We then began with the topic of: Tell me about someone who taught you something at Miller.  Working with technology always engages them!  Many sat and thought for a long time.  One child was worried about how to spell something and then quickly found she could sound things out and spell check.  Journals are not places to worry about spelling.  They are places to let your words flow freely from your heart.  After a few minutes I let them know that I would be sharing this with the people they picked.  One student said, "You mean I am going to get BUSTED again?!  I picked discipline.  She taught me NOT to cheat!"  The things they remember.....

Other sweet things they said about Miller people:
"...So I tried my best, she pushed me to do better on reading.... So I did my best in all subjects and sometimes I didn't try my best and I remember that she said to me "try your best" so I will never forget Mrs. King."

"Mrs. Bolgiano taught me to read and today I thank her because now I LOVE to read."

"She (Ms. Daniel) was very fun and she dressed up like a superstar."

"Mr. Fio is an art worker.  He draws and paints art.  Also he is a good art worker.  His art is awesome and sweet.  He is funny and awesome."

Kids thoughts on this app/project:
"It's cool because you can add pictures and write."
"You get to add your own music, bookmark it where you want it, make as much pages as you want..."
"I really like it because you can do it about someone and it can be exciting for the person who gets it."

One SMALL thing I should mention.  The journal app doesn't export TO anything.  We took pictures of our pages and then CHIRPED them to each other.

If you don't know about chirp it is found under iphone apps.  (It works for the ipad, too.)  My students LOVE the technology sound it makes while it sends information. You do have to be kind of close to the other ipad to get the information. It is a way to share photos, text, etc easily.  I use it daily.

Morel of this post?  Kids remember most when we love them and push them to do their best.  We may have to dress up like a superstar or be able to draw to get our point across - but we do make our points. So, teachers - keep on making GOOD points and let your children grow wings and fly!

"The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher." ~ Elbert Hubbard

Tip for multi-user ipads.  

I found another journal app that lets you create more than one journal at a time and lock it with a code.  It is an app called: Max Journal by Omaxmedia.

This journal app allows many journals inside of the app.  This is great if more than one student uses the ipad.

You can add up to 30 pictures per journal entry and even have them scrolling at the bottom of the entry.  I am using this one personally to keep up with the scrapbook journal for my family.  Not an official scrapbook - more like a string of thoughts with pictures and stories that go with the pictures so that when I come back to scrapbook later - I remember more.

Clouds and Getting the RIGHT Fit

 This week has taken me to new places with technology.  My technology Project Launch buddies met on Monday and Tuesday with Ken, a trainer from Apple, to discuss Challenge Based Learning.  It was a wonderful two days.  (More will come from those days than this post.)

Student showing that he picked the
"right size" book!

Yesterday, my first day back in class my students took a benchmark test.  It was in reading.  As they were taking it, I was thinking about things I can do to improve their love of reading.  After school, I brainstormed with two of my techno friends about what we were going to do to relate reading and writing to their lives.  We want to help them develop that love while still bringing out the concepts of context clues, setting, character traits, summary.....(the list is quite long.)

Picture captured from Pinterest

Today, I began implementing one of the many things that was brainstormed by the three of us last night.  I began with a youtube video on how to pick the "perfect fit" book.  It details that you need a book that fits the purpose, one that you seem to enjoy, and one that fits you.  For example - Green Eggs and Ham is a wonderful book, I could summarize it, I could read it and look through it for 30 minutes, and I LIKE it - but it isn't a good fit for me because I really need something that has more depth to it.  The teachers in the movie compared picking a "right fit book" to picking the right pair of shoes.  After watching the video and discussing what WE thought might be ways to look for good fit books we came up with this:

• Good fit books for our classroom and this project probably need to be found in the chapter book section of the library.
• I Spy books and comic books would not work for today.
• Good fit books might be ones recommended by our friends.
• Good fit books would be something that we could read the first page or two and not stumble on more than five words.

Excited to go pick out their new books I walked my class down to the library.  We searched high and low to find the right fit books for us.  Some searched keywords in the computer, others asked each other or me if we knew of any good books.  Some kids even went and found old books that were their favorites.  One child when walking back into my room held a book up to his foot and said, "Look - this is a good fit book for me!" 

Google Doc App Picture

Picture captured from Pinterest

Back in class I decided to use Google Docs as the "app" they will use.  Google Docs is also on a website and available everywhere.  All they have to do is log in.  They created their document with their first name, title of the book, and the words "book journal."  Then they shared this document with me.

After giving my students time to read today, they were asked to open their Google doc and write a summary of what they read.  They also had to answer the question, "What about this book was interesting to you and made you want to read it?  How did you pick this book today?"  As their little fingers fly over their ipads I am noticing how engaged they all are.  They WANT to share what they read.  They know I am going to hold them accountable and care about what they are typing.  In a few days I will allow them to share their document with a friend and they will begin to peer edit.

Picture captured from Pinterest

I am excited about this teaching in the cloud.  Google Drive saves everything into a "cloud" so that it can be accessed anywhere.  This account will not just be on the ipads in my room everyday.  It can follow them wherever they go.  One student even asked as they were typing in my email if they could type in the email of their parent's email!  The kids like to share and to get feedback!

I found the picture to the right (of the clouds) one day on Pinterest.  It got my imagination going.  Everyone's cloud is a different size.  Some are more full with information than others.  Everyone can just instantly pull information down wherever they might be (as long as they remember their passwords).  It might be difficult for some to visualize where their information is going- this picture might make it a little bit more visual. Before, we stored information on disks and flash drives.  Now - it just goes up and somehow someone knew how to make the information come back down on command!  WOW!  I love this!

The point is - we need to keep pressing forward.  Moving onto things that work with new tools that are given to us.  We will engage learners, partner with families and communities, and change the future with just small steps...  Today's step was a new found book and sharing in "the cloud".

Love is.... (edited with directions)

Love is... edited (directions)

Love is Video Link

Picture with our background.
Picture was taken with book buddies
and glyphs we made.

My students love to video things.  When handed an ipad - they turn on the camera and smile!  My students have created bullying videos and public service messages even during recess.  They are trying to save the world through movies!

How did I get them there?  At the very beginning of the year we read a book called "How to Be Perfect in Just 3 days."  After 3 days of reading and trying out what the author suggests - my students create a video on their reflections.  It is amazing that each year children step forward - without me asking and naturally jump into the director and film maker.

After this first video I have an application for jobs.  The kids get to "apply" and convince me that they need specific classroom jobs.  Technology Gurus are always on the list.  Some years I take 3 some years I have more.  I use the kids who are interested and try to get the others interested in the technology process.  The Gurus are usually taught first and/or they are on the front row when we work with different technology tasks.  These children help others when I am teaching small groups.  They are thought of as experts.  Although - we ALL know about technology - if we don't know something - these are the kids to ask.

So, for the Love is movie - I looked on Pinterest and found a link to the letters for LOVE.  We needed a good background for our film.  Here is the link for the letters:

Banner Letters Link

Animoto App Picture

Next, we created our "set" and set up the flip camera.  The students filmed.  We didn't go in any specific order.  The students had brainstormed what love was to them before we began.  As the discussion went on - the thoughts got deeper.

After filming, the students went back through the clips and cut the ones they didn't need or were not audible.  They then used the video creating site called Animoto.  You can go to www.animoto.com
This can be a free site for teachers, but you have to apply for the free account.  Videos can be shared on any mobile device.