- We have several digital cameras, flip cams, and our iPad 2 that capture our experiences that we upload to our private Facebook page and Youtube Channel.
- Our iPad 2 also has many apps that we use on a daily basis--CNN, BrainPop, dictionary, weather channel, iBooks, AirMicroscope, among others.
- Students also type their work on our classroom wiki that makes it easy to share and continue work on writing when students are not at school.
- Our class website keeps everyone in the loop about learning topics and upcoming events and resources that aid in extending learning beyond the classroom.
- We have also used Capzles timeline maker to share our reading lives and will use Blabberize to share what we've learned about Utah state animals.
- This term we explored audiobooks on our class set of iPods that allow students to engage with reading in a different way.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Actual Technology Use in the Classroom
This year I have the pleasure of teaching 26 4th graders. We have utilized many types of technology in our learning.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Not nosy, curious
What? How? Where? When? Why? These are the questions that resonate in my classroom, from both my students and me. Exploration is encouraged and viewed with positivity so being nosy is actually a good trait! Every day we observe, listen, watch, and think about what we are processing, which leads to asking questions. This shows that we care and are actually listening to one another. I expect my students to be just as nosy as I am about what they experience in our class subjects and with each other.
When I question students or make mental notes as I observe them, they know that it is so our class can be stronger. If I know them better and understand where they are coming from, I can be a better teacher and guide on their path of academic and social growth. Without asking questions and making sense of what I'm seeing and hearing, I am at a disadvantage of understanding my students and their families. Cheers to those educators who proudly state they are nosy! I say, the nosier the better!
When I question students or make mental notes as I observe them, they know that it is so our class can be stronger. If I know them better and understand where they are coming from, I can be a better teacher and guide on their path of academic and social growth. Without asking questions and making sense of what I'm seeing and hearing, I am at a disadvantage of understanding my students and their families. Cheers to those educators who proudly state they are nosy! I say, the nosier the better!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Ultimate Booklover's Survey
When most adults find out I'm a teacher they usually share their most memorable teacher or school memory. When I also add that I'm a librarian the reaction is different. Either they love or hate reading and they feel compelled to tell me. Children, on the other hand, are quite different. The most common reaction I get from children when they find out I'm a teacher-librarian is an inquisitive one: what is your favorite book? I think they are just trying to stump me, which they do, but over the years I have developed my list of faves to share when asked.
On a librarian list-serv I came across an interesting post by Teresa Schauer. She had gotten this book survey from one of her students and I found it just fascinating. I am a book lover, no doubt, but this questionnaire made me reach far beyond my comfort-zone (ahem, number 29) when discussing books.
I will put my answers up as soon as I have sufficiently thought about them...
If you want to read Teresa's answers they are on her blog.
On a librarian list-serv I came across an interesting post by Teresa Schauer. She had gotten this book survey from one of her students and I found it just fascinating. I am a book lover, no doubt, but this questionnaire made me reach far beyond my comfort-zone (ahem, number 29) when discussing books.
Here are the questions:
1-Your favorite Book:
2-Least Favorite Book:
3-A Book that completely surprised you: (bad/good)
4. - A Book that made you laugh out loud:
5- A Non-fiction book that you actually enjoyed:
7- A Book that’s hard to read:
8- A Book you want to read, but never have:
9- A Book you’ve read more than once:
10- The first novel you remember reading:
11- The Book that made you fall in love with reading:
12- A book so emotionally draining you couldn’t complete it or had to set aside for a bit:
13- Favorite childhood Book:
14- Book that should be on hs/college required reading list:
15- Favorite book dealing with foreign culture:
16- Favorite book turned movie:
17- Book turned movie and completely desecrated:
18- A Book You can’t find on shelves anymore that you love:
19- A Book that changed your mind about a particular subject:
20-A Book you would recommend to an ignorant/racist/closed minded person:
21-A guilty pleasure book:
22-Favorite Series:
23- Favorite Romance Novel:
24 - A Book you later found out the Author lied about:
25-Favorite Autobiographical/Biographical Book:
26-A Book you wish would be written:
27- A Book you would write if you had all the resources:
28- A Book you wish you never read:
29- An Author that you completely avoid/hate won’t read:
30 - An Author that you will read whatever they put out:
If you want to read Teresa's answers they are on her blog.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Google Search Stories: Digital Storytelling
After seeing the Super Bowl ad last year, I've been wanting to explore using Google Search Stories in the classroom. Before integrating it into the curriculum I decided to make one to see if it is as user-friendly as Google claims it is. The verdict? It is! I took our recent moving adventures as the "story" in my sample:
I think that students will enjoy using this new tool in many class topics. The one that jumps out the most is that of writing: organization, voice, content and reading: making inferences, cause and effect, summarizing, main idea and details. Students can make these for characters in books in they're reading, describing events in history, exploring science topics--the list goes on and on. Hopefully I will link my new class webpage to this blog so that actual student examples can be viewed as well.
I think that students will enjoy using this new tool in many class topics. The one that jumps out the most is that of writing: organization, voice, content and reading: making inferences, cause and effect, summarizing, main idea and details. Students can make these for characters in books in they're reading, describing events in history, exploring science topics--the list goes on and on. Hopefully I will link my new class webpage to this blog so that actual student examples can be viewed as well.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Digital Media Literacy 2011
Working with elementary-aged students, I find it imperative that school librarians and teachers communicate and demonstrate how to be digitally literate on the Internet. This Prezi below (made by Sandra Carswell) is a great step in opening up the conversation about what it means and how it can impact their lives. Just as we teach procedures for learning and working together in schools, students must also be taught how to act and understand on the World Wide Web.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Using Prezi in the Classroom
Keeping student attention in the classroom is a must for educators. For the last year I have been exploring and sharing my experiences with Prezi with fellow educators and am impressed by the improvements the team at Prezi has made in its ease of use of its product. The Prezi below, made by Paul Hill, succinctly demonstrates why the tool should be used more in schools.
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