Triptico

I investigated the site Triptico.  The word mix was the first activity I looked at.  In my second grade classroom this would be great to use to practice spelling words. Word magnets would be used for sight words and vocabulary in all core subjects.  I like the group tool, that will group students for you.  I can not wait to try out the spinners next week in class.  I think I can use the sight in all subject areas and that it will engage students.

MOD 4- Assignment 6- Flipped Classroom

The idea of the Flipped Classroom is very interesting, but I need to see a primary flipped classroom. I would like to visit one for a few days.  I can see the benefits, I am just not sure if young children can handle the responsibility.  I am going to use some aspects of the idea.  I have started letting my students use the computer and IPAD to explore their Scholastic News/Weekly Reader before we discuss it as a class.  Most of the students use the time wisely and come to the carpet prepare to discuss.  I may try more of the flipped classroom techniques in science and social studies. 

This assignment did help me find some great resources for the life cycle unit I will be teach over the next week or so. Searching for pictures and powerpoints I was able to find a few resources on the whitetail deer.  We now study the life cycle of the deer in second grade.  I was able to find a few pictures and a powerpoint.

MOD 4- Assignments 1 & 2 PhotoPeach

Rach and Ash on PhotoPeach

MOD 4- Assignment 4- Sharing with Dropbox

After reading the short write ups on sharing with dropbox.  First I made a math activities file. Then found an image and a few pdf's to put in the file. Now I am ready to share the file in my dropbox. I shared the file with our teacher for Web 2.0.  Now here is the link to the files.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2zzsciz70xestdx/AABZ7x93eaIfuSTVHI1Hoq5wa?dl=0

Yeah! I did it.  This would be great for sharing all of the pdfs, I seem to keep getting.  Now instead of trying to save to a jump and remember to give it to the person and get my jump drive back. I can click share and the files can be shared with that person. Easy peasy as my students would say.  This will be great for sharing files in our grade level and with our co-teachers in 3rd grade.

MOD 4- Assignment 3- Goggle Docs

Sharing a link on Google Docs, was interesting.  I am not sure when I would use this feature.  it is nice to know how to do it.  After reading the sides and attempting several times to watch the short video that kept freezing up about 1/2 way through. I threw caution to the wind and began to try to do this myself.

First I created a reading log document.  Nothing fancy just a small chart that I would use for a nightly reading log.  Then I clicked the Get sharable link button and copied the link.  Now on to my blog to write about what I did.  Now to put the link into my blog. Ta Da!  It worked!

https://docs.google.com/a/henry.k12.va.us/document/d/1ODyef9f74z7Kbkg9IAdfi2te8RaER8Rf5zudrEMsN3g/edit?usp=sharing

MOD 4- Assignment 7--BYOD

I enjoyed the videos about BYOD, I would like to see how it would work with young students. Both of my children use BYOD in high school. As a parent after the initial worry about theft and loss, I saw an increase in engagement and ease with getting projects done.

I would be very willing to try this in elementary school.  Where I am always try to arrange to get IPAD carts or laptop carts.  When you have an entire building trying to share 2 or 3 carts things get difficult.  I think if students were encourage to BYOD that more time could be spent on learning and less on trying to get an assignment done in the one hour you are allowed to borrow a cart. 

MOD 4- Assignment 5 --Instructional Video's

I love using videos in the classroom.  Video's are great for the visual learner.  Students always seem to a catchy tune or or cute character. We  have Safari Montage and we used to have United Streaming, these sites are great to use.  I have discovered a wealth of new videos using youtube.

I started using youtube with my most recent unit Measurement.  I found great video's on temperature and reading thermometers. Metric and Customary units of measurement.  I can usually fine a cute song to accompany my units. My students enjoy the videos and they add an extra visual element to a lesson that plain lessons lack.