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.

MOD 3- Assignment 7- Mobile devices in the classroom

I am okay with students bringing their own technology to class.  I purchase my son his own calculator when he was in high school and he took his computer to school his senior year for dual enrollment classes.  My daughter uses her iphone in class.  It is easier to use what you are most comfortable.

I teach 2nd grade most of my students do not have their own devices.  They are comfortable with the technology because they have used it at school, home and played with Mom and Dad's phone.  In preK-2 we have to share IPAD carts.  I do love the mobile technology.  The students can take them anywhere in the room and still use them.  For example we played KAHOOT! the students sat on the carpet with IPADS to play.  They had a blast.

I looked at squeebles Math app-- I really liked what I saw. I also looked at Math drills.  I am always looking for more ways to get the kids to learn their basic facts.  This is a problem we are having school wide, so we are all trying to find something they like to help with memorization.

 

MOD 3--Assignment 6- Instructional Videos

I was amazed at the number of things that came up with a search of videos. Which reminds you to always preview any video you plan on using all the way through.  Since we have been studying thermometers and measuring temperature. I found this video to use as a hook.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk6rP_4wpvk


I like using videos as an opening for a lesson.  I think it is a great way to introduce a new topic and vocabulary.  Using the video as a visual link for vocabulary development.  I will continue to search for more videos to use in the classroom.

MOD 3- Assignment 5-- Flipped Classroom

The flipped classroom is where the instructor assigns videos and presentations to be viewed at home.  Students then come to class to complete the activities and projects.  After the first two videos I wondered how I could do this since most of my students do not have internet or computers at home. The third video showed an elementary classroom doing a modified version where students watch the videos at school and then come to group.  I would have to explore this idea further before trying it in my classroom.  I think that if I try it in my classroom I would try it with Science first, before reading which is so ongoing or math.  I want to learn more about the classroom management aspect of the flipped classroom. 

MOD 3- Assignment 4- Google Doc Forms

After watching the video, I created a form to choose the next book my class will read during story time.  This is after itinerant and I read aloud to class from a chapter book. Google forms for this could take out the heated debates that happen when we choose books.

<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/a/henry.k12.va.us/forms/d/19bsJsUorRNN-hVpp

I think using these forms for our school improvement committee will be great.  We are constantly ask to poll our grade level for thoughts on different ideas or topics.  I am going to use this in our next meeting.  We could also use the forms for vertical meetings to bring back information from sub groups.

MOD 3- Assignment 3- Google Doc Forms

After looking at some Google Doc forms, I have a much better idea how to use them. Since this is something that is part of our email, we need to be using it. I am going to try to use this more now. 

• Polling faculty on ideas for school improvement committee
• student information
• parent information
• Bell ringers
• exit cards
• reflections of activities ( I like my students to to let me know if it is a keeper or not) 
• faculty info socials so we all don't bring paper plates

MOD-3- Assignment 2- Twitter in the Classroom

Now that I have read the articles and looked  at  a twitter that students do the tweeting.  I now want to start with twitter in the classroom.  I actually think this will be easier than blogging. Tweeting is short and to the point.  For someone like myself who is not a confident writer or enjoys writing. Tweeting is not so intimidating.  I liked the students tweets on what they were doing that day.  This could help with parent engagement.  This also makes students think about what they did and how to explain it.

I also did one thing that was suggest was did my own personal twitter that I use to follow a few singers I enjoy along with some authors that I read.  My school twitter that I am using for this class, I add following some children's authors that my students enjoy.  I am now more aware of all the site that say follow us on twitter.  Many for promotional ideas, I did manage a coupon.  I started following VA Tech, my son will be attending in the fall. I like the to the point feeling of twitter.  Even though I struggle with what to tweet each day.  I think it will come easier as I use it more and more in the classroom.

MOD 3- Assignment 1- Classroom Blogging

When I first started reading I felt that blogging was more of a middle and high school thing.  Then after doing my own search for blogging with younger kids, I was surprised to find several articles and sights about young students blogging. All the articles addressed safety and ways to keep students safe. That is a main concern for me.   

After reading the articles and doing some searching on my own. I am now more committed to try blogging not only for myself but with my second graders. In our district incorporating the 4C's is highly stressed. I do struggle with finding was to get the collaboration going in the classroom that stays focused on what we are learning.  I would like to do some blogging to reading response.  We try to do reflections to what is read, but it feel very flat at times.  Blogging I think could remedy that situation.

http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/12/23/blogging-with-elementary-school-students/

MOD 2- Assignment 9- IPAD

If you ask the teachers in my building, I would be described as a technology person.  I love teaching with technology and embrace it.  That being said the IPAD had been somewhat of a challenge for me.  I continue to bring the cart in my room, but I still don't seem to have a handle of using the IPAD to enhance what I am teaching.  After reading several articles and doing a few little searches on my own, I am feeling better about using the IPAD in my classroom.

I am still checking on many of the apps recommended.  I did download Sight words for Reading and Spelling City.  I have used Spelling City on the laptops. Now after downloading the app I can see that it can be part of our daily 5 word work.  I liked the Sight Words for Reading for the sheer fact is that I can drill sight words for those students who need it and not bother those who don't. I want to use the video feature with the students the next time we are presenting projects or activities.

MOD-2- Asssignment 8- Dropbox

The assignment was to put a document in a shared file of dropbox.  I shared my schedule for this school year.  I also had to read about using dropbox.  I currently carry around in my book bag 7 jump drives.  Not exactly sure what is on each one so it is sort of a scavenger hunt to find anything on them. Dropbox may become my answer to the little game I play with myself trying to find what I am looking for.  By organizing the files as I put them in dropbox, by subject area and semester I might can quit carrying my 7 jump drives.

I  think the best part will be that I can access the files on my IPAD too.  I hate carrying my school laptop around.  It is so heavy.  So now if my files are on my IPAD, I can look at them when planning or looking for activities.  I like that I can control who I share files with.  I work closely with the SLD teacher.  This would be great that we can share activities and lessons that we plan to do together. 

MOD-2- Assignment 7- Google Docs

After reading all the uses for Google Docs. I am asking myself why haven't I been using this all along.  I am definitely going to start using google docs more.  My first attempt will be to make a form for parents to fill out at the beginning of the year to help me keep in touch electronically.  I am getting rid of the Friday newsletter that no one seems to read.  I think by using google docs to create and send out updates I can keep parents in the loop better.

I am not sure how using google docs with my students will go.  I teach 2nd grade, my students are 7 & 8 years old. They still have great difficulty using the keyboard.  My students also do not have email accounts to use.   I do think we could use this in our grade level meetings when we need to write collaborative lessons and activities.

MOD- 2- Assignment- 6- Pinterest

I found a few fellow teachers on Pinterest. By connecting to others I might find even more ideas.  After searching for ancient China and Egypt, I was  very surprised at how many ideas were pinned.  This is one of the units we teach, that is so hard to find things for that are age appropriate.  Also found a few new things for life cycles.  This is hard because it is covered in K and 1st. So the kids react with we already did that with most of the things I have found in the past.

I like all of the anchor charts I have found on pinterest.  I don't think I make very useful anchor charts.  Having models has helped me very much.  My charts seemed to have gotten better since searching and looking at so many examples on pinterest.  

MOD-2- Assignment 5- Diigo

I bookmarked 7 more sites to my Diigo account.  I searched for some probability sites.  I was looking for something different than the traditional coin toss and spinner activities.  I still haven't found very much.  Those seem to be the best way to explain probability to young learners.  I also searched and bookmarked a few sites for ancient China and Egypt.  I did find some new sites geared for kids.  I look forward to exploring them further.

Next I searched for friends on Diigo.  This is the part of the site I am interested in exploring further.  I am hoping to connect some teacher friends who live a few hours away to hook in to share resources and sites we find on line.  I feel like sometimes I get lost when I am searching on line. I think Diigo may make my searches more useful.  I can look to see if a friend has  found sites and resources. 

MOD 2- Assignment 4 -- Micro blogging with Twitter

Now that I have been trying to tweet everyday.  I said trying, I seem to forget at least 1 day every week.  I am trying very hard, to get myself in the habit of tweeting daily. I am enjoying reading the daily tweets and sharing of tweets. I am still learning how to find more people to follow on twitter. 

I am trying to get my parents to follow me on twitter.  I think this can take the place of the unread weekly newsletter that I use to send home.  I would find it weeks later still in the folder or the kids would tell me their parents just threw it away without reading it.  So I am trying to tweet daily with something that we are doing in the classroom that parents can use as a conversation starter with their children about school.  Even if it is just about the chapter book we are reading during storytime.  Also twitter can be used for quick reminders like P.E. tomorrow or picture day.  i think it will benefit my students who live in two households to keep everyone in the know.  How long does it take before something become a habit? 

MOD 2-- Assignment 3 -Tagxedo

I created this using tagxedo.  I used the words for the 1st Corinthians13: 4-13. I have always loved these verses and they were part of my marriage ceremony many years ago. Besides using this to make a very meaningful gifts.  It could be used to identify a common theme.

In the classroom, it could be used to help students focus on the main words of a unit of study.  By copy and pasting in text, students could use it to help focus on the theme of a narrative or poem.  i think I would use it with poetry for my young students.

MOD 2-- Assignment 2 - Blog Page

After reading how to add a page to a blog. I added a page to my blog.  I called the page about me. My page is basically a narrative about me and my family. Just basic information.  I thought just a few insights of who I am, would help the reader of my blog.

I found adding a page not very hard. I think pages could be added to a classroom blog to feature different projects or different subject areas.  For example is you went on a field trip, you could add a field trip page with pictures and narratives about the field trip. If I did a classroom page I would make a STEM Fair page with pictures and links to help parents. The pages would be used for information that would need to be used over and over again.

MOD- 2- Assignment 1

Using classroom blogs, up until now most of the blogs I have seen are mostly this is the wonderful activity I did in my classroom and here you can go buy it on TPT.  Not all bad. I do shop for resources that way. What I have discovered is that a blog can be more of a home/school link.  Also a way to connect student learning to real world experiences. What I found useful:

• Videos- Student made showing their learning.  Explaining to parents and when a student is absent a good resource.
• references for students to use for assignments.  
• Daily Pictures- that encourage writing and creative thought.
• That blogs do not have to go on indefintly.
• Assignments can be listed along with rubrics and showcasing student work.
•  
• http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fmrcsclassblog.blogspot.com%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGYC_wZK7sOcCTHsa8neOQGRhbirw 

Assignment 9- IPADS in classroom

I enjoyed the videos of using IPADS in the classroom. I even got a few ideas of how to use them better in the classroom.  In my school K-2 must use the IPAD cart and only for 1 hour at a time.  This means when you check out the cart you need to be prepared.  I am still learning about all of the apps that are loaded on the IPADS on the cart.  I could see us using some of the drawing apps to encourage writing or as part of math.

I am going to be trying out the dragon app.  I could see many uses for this app. For my struggling writers could use this to get the ideas down and then go back to add and revise.  It would be also good when my students work in group ensure they can get down all of their ideas.  Then go back and edit.  I had not fully thought about how useful IPADS could be in the classroom.

Assignment 8- IPAD apps

 

For this assignment I used the Scholastic Magazine app.  I just discovered this app and felt it would be perfect for this assignment.  This app allows you to access Scholastic News/Weekly Reader on the IPAD.  I have for sometime used my Scholastic News/Weekly Reader on the SMARTBOARD.  This app allows the student to have control over the issue.  I like that I can adjust reading levels for my below grade level readers, and the students can't  tell the difference.  It looks the same.

The students loved that they could watch the video's over and over.  Which they did. They could also play the games multiple times.  This app also allows to change the language to Spanish.  This has been a great tool for one of my ELL students who is just beginning to learn English.  He listens to it read to him in both languages.  In two short weeks it has become one of their favorite apps to use during free time on IPADS.  They like to go back and reread some of their favorite issues.  Students are now accessing the app at home and showing their parents what we are reading at school.

 

Assignment 7- Dropbox

I set up my dropbox on my desktop and my IPAD.  I moved a file that is a math game I plan to use next week for review.  After moving the file, I could see how it would be useful to access pdf's.  I use lots of pdf files that are simple one sheet games.  Pictures can also be stored on dropbox which would be great for sharing with others for documents or powerpoints.

I think dropbox will be useful in sharing documents with my co-teachers.  It would be great to be able to go to the file and fine a document when I need it.  Not having to remember to ask a co-worker for a sheet or to try to find it.  Also saving photos from grade level activities and field trips on dropbox would make it easier to share photos with administration.

KAHOOT!

This was not an assignment, but I had to share that I used KAHOOT! with my second graders.  They loved it.  Our class is still struggling with our addition and subtraction facts.  So for a Friday treat for Math I made an addition KAHOOT  based on the flashcards we use in class.  My students played the game three times. I only planned maybe twice but they begged to do it one more time.  I found that a student who does not like math and is very reluctant to participate in math drills or fact races was all about the KAHOOT!  I have already started working on a KAHOOT Quiz to review Social Studies for the year.  I guess for the rest of the school year we will be having KAHOOT Fridays.

Assignment 4--Pinterest

I have been using Pinterest for a while.  I love to use it find recipes, knitting patterns and other craft projects.  I do use it for school too. Now that I have the Pinterest button on my tool bar I am noticing that I am pinning more and more as I search for classroom activities and ideas.  Now that I have the button on my tool bar I am using pinterest more efficiently, before I would log on and then I would start searching for 1 thing and hours later be looking at something totally different.  Now with the button if I am searching for something and I find something I might need in a few weeks I pin it and get back to the task at hand.

I am now also following more boards of fellow second grade teachers from all over.  I like that new pins appear on my page each time I open the site.  I am now trying to use pinterest each week when I start my planning to see if I can find some new activities to do it the classroom.  Anchor charts have been hard for me, after seeing so many on pinterest I am using more in my classroom.  Pinterest is really helping me keep the fun aspect to teaching while trying to make sure my students engaged in their learning.

Assignment 2- Twitter

I have been attempting to Tweet everyday.  I tend to forget on Saturday.  Saturdays are my catch up days where I do not do anything to do with schoolwork if I can help it.  So far I am enjoying tweeting each day.  It is also encouraging me to find something positive to focus on each day instead of the things that can get you down this time of year.  My students have begun to ask me at the end of the day what am I going to tweet that day.  They have enjoyed being part of my homework.

Now that I have been tweeting a week, I plan to continue.  I hope more of my parents will start following our classroom tweets.  As a parent I follow my daughter's cheer squad on twitter and find it a great place to keep up with events and last minute changes to the schedule. I am hoping my parents will feel the same about my classroom tweets. I also want parents to use it as a conversation starter to ask their child about their school day. I have been trying to mention something specific that our class is doing that day, so that parents can ask specific questions to engage their child in discussing his or her day.  After I am more comfortable with daily tweeting I can start having the students tweet too.

Assignment 3-- DIIGO

 

I have started using DIIGO.  Now if I can remember to click the button every time I find a new sight and to go back and bookmark all of the sites I use on a regular bases.  I would have loved to have had all of my sites marked when my old computer CRASHED!  I feel that once the habit is established for me to always book mark with DIIGO.  It will be great to be able to find all of the great sites you encounter when looking for ideas.

After watching the video.  I am very interested in the social networking aspect of the site.  I have 2 teacher friends who live some distance away and I can not wait to get them to start DIIGO the sites they find.  I think this is the aspect I wish to continue to explore.   It would be great to be able to share sites with them and them with me.  You don't always remember where you saw that idea but being able to find it again and instantly share it would be a great time saver and sanity saver.

Assignment 6-- Sharing Google Docs

I just made a list on Google Docs and shared it with a few people.  Nothing Earth shattering just a grocery list.  I can see using this to work on lesson plans with co-teachers.  Especially now that the new plan we are using is so very detailed.  Being able to share , collaborate and edit could save time in writing plans that we all use.   I like the comment feature.  Sometimes when you write you assume the reader know what you mean, but using the comment section lets someone comment if you are clear in your writing or if you need to add something. 

Assignemnt 5-- Google Docs

We have had a recent inservice about google docs.  It was presented in such a hurried manner I didn't really get the point of using google  docs.  After viewing the video I decided to give google docs another try.  So this week during our grade level meeting we did our minutes using google docs to collaborate on lesson planning ideas and sharing of ideas for future units. It did help make our meeting go faster.  The hardest part for me was getting use to more than one person typing on a document at one time. 

So I decided to use google docs to share a document I needed for a cheer booster meeting.  I shared it with the other mom I was working with and we were able to make a document to send out for donations.  I liked that we could both work on the document and leave comments.  This was much easier than our old method of emailing back and forth working on one document.

Using this with my second graders would be a challenge, but I do think it could be done with forms and very simple writing.  Second graders often get frustrated trying to type. For a more elaborate collaboration I would borrow some fifth graders to serve as typist for second grade.

Assignment 1 -- Blogger

I follow several 2nd grade teachers' blogs.  Most of this has come from searching for activities and finding links.  My favorite blog is Step into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons.  Amy Lemons discusses what her class is studying, sharing neat ideas and her journey through adoption of her daughter.  Right now she is sharing her journey through a book study with other bloggers.  Through following her, I have found several other blogs to follow.  Now after taking a closer look at blogs and blogging, I want to start blogging about my own teaching experiences.  

After looking at student blogs, I think these would be a great way to get parents involved with school.  One of our goals this year on my school's school improvement plan has been more parental involvement.  I  think that if students were making daily post to a classroom blog, that parents would be quicker to check and read about the daily events of the classroom.  It might have a side benefit of saving paper.

After searching google for other 2nd grade blogs, one of the things I discovered was that some blogs are merely nothing more than a way to try to sell products on TPT.  Most blogs have links to TPT but still manage to convey some of what is going on their classrooms.

Benefits of Blogging

After reading the 10 benefits of blogging I can agree that blogging could replace a classroom newsletter that parent do not read.  It can also be used to add videos and class materials for students who are absent.  This would be great when the flu strikes.  I like the idea of using smart phones being able to access the blog from anywhere to be kept in the loop.

Adding Images

I went to Google and found this image of google blogger.
Then click the image and save the image to pictures.
then click the photo icon and click select image.

How to add a picture

Choose the picture icon.
find a picture on your computer
click the photo and selected
then add the picture to your blog

How to link to another page

I went to the Scholastic News website. I highlighted and copied the url.  This site is the 2nd grade site for Scholastic News. 

1. Go to the website
2. Copy the url
3. Go back to the dashboard
4.  click the pencil
5. Type in a few words about the site in the blog.
6. Highlight the words about the site.
7. Click the link button.
8. Paste the url and click ok
9.  Yeah! you did it!