Promethean Planet Hunt

I use flipcharts a lot in math, so I decided to find one for science. I found a flip chart about making circuits. Students were able to manipulate graphics to create series and parallel circuits. Students were very engaged at the active board, but less so at their seats. I had everyone get a turn, but the students at their seats were not engaged. Even with them drawing it in their notebook it was not hooking them until they got to go up to the board.

BYOD YouTube Reflection

So I watched the YouTube video about Carson Middle School. One take away that I had was that I want to find out more about that flashcard app! Also the engagement piece is so true! My student LOVE to use the technology so I need to incorporate it more. My students are bring 10+ devices a day. So I am constantly feeling challenged to think of innovative ways to incorporate them. I have been thinking that word study is typically a mundane assignment, maybe it can be better with technology...not sure what I will do yet. I also liked the quote about breaking the barriers between school and home.

BYOD Reflection

I have been incorporating BYOD in my math centers. In honor of the holidays I had students shopping online to complete a budget project. This project was engaging and fun. Students wanted to work on it more and more so they were encouraged to bring their devices to school. I know have 8-10 regular device users daily! Also 3 parents have e-mailed me to tell me that they are purchasing devices for their students for Christmas because their child is excited to bring them to school!

Writing Re_Launched: Teaching with Digital Tools

This article was so fitting with some conversations I had with parents during conferences this week. Students have so many great ideas and creativity that pen and paper are not always sufficient. Today we live in a time that they don't have to be restricted with pencil and paper. We have technology, but as teachers we are still restricted by the pressures of testing. Until testing changes, I will still have to teach the conventions and rules of the friendly letter to all 4th grade students because it will be on the test. Students are being tested on how to write a friendly letter on paper when in reality they will use e-mail and text to communicate as adults.When is the last time you wrote a friendly letter on a notepad...really!

 As the article states even college applications and entrance essays are digital. I had a parent tell me at parent-teacher conferences that he was concerned about his child's spelling. My response was, "Adam's spelling is close enough, spell check will catch it so I wouldn't be worried." I have hard bound dictionaries in my classroom, but only the students who publish writing on paper with pencil use them. Students using computers never touch them.

Finally, I like the part of the article with teachers giving 1:1 instruction as students write on Google Docs. This is ultimate differentiation! Why  teach the whole class a mini-lesson when you can write and make instant comments to individual students about their needs. I would totally implement this if all my students had computers or ipads. Unfortunately  with 5 laptops in the room and a laptop cart for 1/2 day once a week this is not something that would be time efficiently used since I would still have to teach a traditional mini lesson to my non-technology using students.

Cool article!

Pintrest in the Classroom

I have been using Pintrest to expose my students to videos that require inference making. This allows my students to view media and apply critical thinking skills. My students then make comments on the blog to share their thinking. These have been amazingly powerful mini lessons. I would have never been able to find all these videos so easily if it was not for pintrest! Check out these video I found on pintrest. My students were able to watch these simple animated film and infer so much about the story! Video From Pintrest

I have also used Pintrest to use in my math centers. I created a Pintrest board that students are going to during their computer center time. I linked the Pintrest board to my blog. Pintrest Board-Math Games

Exciting BLOG Connection

So my students watched a video during an inference lesson and made comments. Then the author of the book that the video was based on found our blog and wrote to us! My students got to see how far their learning/blogging could reach! Such an awesome experience! Check out the blog post and the comments left by the author! Bigger Than Alexander

Reflection on a lesson

I have 7 LEAP students, so on Tuesday my class is smaller giving me more flexibility to use technology  I am more confident helping a smaller group. I attempted to you Glogster for a science review. It was great. The students explored the features and I did not help them. I told them they couldn't mess it up, just to have fun and try new things. This lesson went so well I decided to continue it the next day with my whole class. During this lesson Glogster did not work. I was so upset and discouraged. I expect a website to function when I need it. The problem was not my students, computers, or devices, it was the actual website. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Unconference

I presented at the unconference. My topic was taking your blog to the next level. The last time I presented all  my "students" were new to blogging. Because of this I was able to start at the beginning  This year everyone had a blog and was on a different level. This was challenging because not everyone was in the same place. I opted to not formally present and instead I went around to help people. This made me reflect on using technology in my classroom. I need to differentiate in technology just like I do in all other subjects.

Reflective Practitioner

I find myself reflecting most often laying in bed at night. That is the time of day/night when my mind runs away with new ideas and regret of things gone wrong. In hindsight this is not always the best time to reflect. First, it keeps me awake at night. Secondly, this is not a time when I am able to make changes. I know that I need to set aside a more productive reflective time, but with work, marriage, two small children, and keeping up with a house time is precious. So right now as it standing I am reflective between 1-2 am LOL.