Thoughts from Third: An Introductory Website

I'm a little hesitant to post the link for my website, considering that many of my colleagues have created some pretty fantastic examples that they've already put to work in their classroom.  My website is a very rudimentary start at a future classroom "hub," complete with access to daily homework assignments, pictures, blog posts, policies and procedures, and helpful links for students and parents.  

If it sounds daunting to you, trust me, the feeling's mutual.  Hence, my website is still a work in progress.  I don't know where exactly I'll be teaching next year, so I used this website a s a general template for information I might want to include.  I plan to expand upon it further in my next class, Computers in the Classroom.  Depending on how ambitious I feel, I may even want to try out a Google Site, considering that West Hartford supports Google apps.  If only there were more hours on the day!  

Nevertheless, maintaining a weekly [professional] blog and website are two tasks on my teacher "bucket list," so it's time to make those dreams a reality. 

Introducing the Newest Contestants on Cupcake Wars!

Just try to keep yourself from drooling when you take a peak at my little one's tasty submissions for The Food Network's sinfully delicious show, Cupcake Wars!  We've been hard at work since mid March, trying to sneak in any time we can find in the "kitchen."  How I wish I could actually bring my little one's cupcake creations to fruition :)  For now, we'll just have to settle on our crafty representations.  Or, maybe I'll just have to sneak in a special treat. Shhh!

Please keep in mind that this is a work in progress. I intended to have each student supply at least one comment for a peer's cupcake, but time has gotten the best of us.  Not to worry!  We will revisit our Voice Thread ASAP, and practice how to give appropriate feedback, such as providing a compliment, asking a question, or offering constructive feedback (i.e. a suggestion).

For now, I am thrilled that we've completed at least the initial phase of this digitally based project.  Anything involving food (and sweet treats, at that!) gives my littles the perfect opportunity to try their hand at descriptive writing, chock full of sensory details. With all of this CMT testing, complete with structured narrative writing, they need an opportunity to spice things up a bit!  You'll notice that some of us will benefit from a review of transition words and sensory vocabulary.  Yep, that's on the agenda too :)

Lucky for us teachers, instruction and assessment go hand-in-hand, with one driving the other.  

Final Reflections

I can't believe that another semester has come to an end.  I went ahead and designed another Popplet (I can't seem to get enough of 'em!) to take stock of all the projects, applications, and concepts we've discussed to date.  And, let me assure you, I've done and learned a LOT!  From creating Wikis to crafting a digital story, this course has challenged me to experiment with new technologies in purposeful ways.  Again, it's not about simply using the tools.

The goal of these applications is to further drive instruction, to challenge our kiddos to think independently and creatively, to take ownership for their learning, to enable choice, to prepare our students for a digitally based world that relies on successful collaboration, innovation, and communication.    

My Love Affair With Popplet

Y'all best be popping on over to Popplet because I can't think of anyone who wouldn't benefit from this snazzy, super easy graphic organizing application.  I started this blog by admitting that I am a self-professed organizing junkie. Did I mention that I want my little guys to be equally as organized?  (We even have a desk fairy, table fairy, and  a bin fairy who comes for surprise visits and leaves treats for those who keep their areas extra tidy!)  You can imagine, then, that I like to present notes in an equally as organized fashion :)

My kiddos have been hard at work learning about animal adaptations. However, there is SO much vocabulary that comes with this unit, and I find that simply copying definitions from the board leaves my little ones with fragmented bits of knowledge.  What's the solution to my predicament, you wonder?  Well, let me introduce you to Popplet.  Take a peak at my animal adaptations themed web.  At first glance, it does look overwhelming.  Yep, there's a whole web of lines connecting boxes, terms, definitions, and visuals.  The beauty of this application is that I can zoom in and out depending on the areas I want to focus on.  We're tackling animal families this week, so I can steer my students over to that particular section.

My absolute favorite part of this application is that it is so darn easy to use! Anyone ever try Kidspiration?  I thought I liked it.  Hate to break it to you, but Popplet puts that program to shame...the navigation on this application is easier (almost has a Prezi type feel), making adjustments to the web is far simpler, and the look is uber sophisticated.  The drawback is that a free version only gets you 5 popplets.  I may have to look into investing a few dollars into this handy app!

Avatars and Adaptations...Shark Attack!

Check out this simple Voki with a scary looking shark, yet a surprisingly cheerful voice, ready to share the definition of "adaptation."  Can you imagine the kiddos trying their hand at these handy Vokis?  Sure, the ones I've produced are sweet and to the point, but isn't that the goal?!  This is a tool that gives children a voice in the classroom, while demonstrating their understanding of content/skills in a creative and succinct manner.  I can only imagine the inevitable squeals of delight...

Let's Vocalize this Voki!

In prior classes, I'd seen several colleagues try out Voki, but I had no idea how to go about creating these neat little avatars. As always, it's not until I try something and realize that it is, in fact, easy-to-use, do I begin to envision the classroom possibilities.  Maybe you'd call me lazy, or just plain practical, but I can't sacrifice any more of my personal time than I already do.  (Sleep is mighty important!)

So, I created a *FREE* account with Voki (isn't "free" the golden word among educators), and started to play.  I customized the character, tweaked the color/ facial features, and added my own narration.  I'm introducing a new science unit on animal adaptations, so I'm sure that my kiddos will get a kick out of this bear posing the unit's overarching question, "How do plants and animals survive in their environment?"

Be on the look out for several more Vokis that I'm in the process of creating, each targeting a different vocabulary term that my littles will have to know.  Maybe, I'll try out one of the pre-programmed British or Australian accents.  I have a sneaking suspicion that these avatars will be more compelling than vocab written out on the SmartBoard.  Oh the beauty of technology...

Introducing Go Animate!

Chocolate Pie Pieces by jmlife on GoAnimate

Video Maker - Powered by GoAnimate.

Familiar with Go Animate?  If not, I highly recommend signing up for a free account.  Upon logging in, I took a few minutes to watch a quick and simple tutorial, outlining some video design basics: character selection, setting, narration, gestures, facial expression, transitions, etc.  You want to know what's even better? If you don't want to worry about all of those decisions, Go Animate offers two different video making platforms:

1. Try out Quick Video if you're in a pinch for time.  Simply choose a theme and characters, select a setting, and type in your narration. Nope, you don't even have to record your voice.  Save yourself the cringe :)  The rest is all done for you!  I'd say this is like the animated companion to Animoto.  As always, you have a limited selection of templates to choose from with a free account.
• Note: I tried out this feature a few months back when Judy blogged about it in this post.  Literally, took 2-3 minutes to design a mini digital story.  Might be a powerful (yet easy!) way to introduce the art of digital storytelling to your kiddos.
2.  Full Video Maker boasts many more design features and lends itself to greater "artistic freedom," if you will.  I decided try this out when I designed the above video.  Still, so simple to use.  I'm all about functionality.  The interface is very intuitive -- the program held my hand walked me through each step of the design process.

If I haven't bored you already, please do take a peak at my short (and rather silly!) video introducing yet another fraction conundrum!  This Common Core math is tricky stuff, so we've been encouraged by the district to use technology as a means of hooking students' interests at the onset of a lesson, while setting a problem to guide our inquiry. It's all about application and analysis of those mathematical principles.  My video targets comparing fractions with different denominators, and the notion that  the more pieces you separate the whole into, the smaller each piece is. (Of course, I had to use the classic pie example in this video, particularly because I have a student who is a major pie aficionado.)  We'll see how the kiddos do with this problem!