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.