Friday Treats: 3.30.2012

…And what a sweet Friday it is!

This is a really fun way of viewing the monthly calendar.  It’s called Human Calendar and if you go to the site, the people move.  You might notice that they all look at the person who is holding the correct date. 

Want to learn a language over Spring Break?  Head to the BBC

Some fun egg hunt resources:  http://www.technologyrocksseriously.com/2011/04/easter-resources-part-1.html

Love this idea for coloring eggs:

Doesn’t smell, uses water, inexpensive and AWESOME colors:

Ways to say said:

*In most cases did not create these, nor am I taking credit for them.  See the links above for the person who owns the rights to them (where applicable) 

Friday Treats: 3.23.2012

HappyFriday!


Untested on my part, but this seems like it could be reasonable…at least your room will smell wonderful.

Isaw this and thought it would be a great treat after a presentation I saw on  Mondayabout encouraging students to choose different partners to do work & learn.  While this is obviously low-tech, I feel like technology can open a lot of doors for positive interaction (not just bullying)  I used to do something similar with my students when I wasteaching, it worked pretty well...

 

40Weather-Related Crafts.

Lotsof ways to use Tangrams …including a sandwich, which takes playing withyour food to a whole new level.

VisuallyLovely non-fiction graphic organizer (free download from Teachers PayTeachers)

 *In most cases did not create these, nor am I taking credit for them.  See the links above for the person who owns the rights to them (where applicable) 

Document Camera

Does your school use document cameras?  At the beginning of this year my answer would have been no.  After starting here last year, I wondered why.  


Document Cameras are pretty amazing.  I'd go so far as to say they are a better use of instructional funds in the classroom than an Interactive Whiteboard (am I allowed to say that?!?).  There are so many amazing uses for a document camera (sure, many of them do follow the old 'sage on the stage' classroom model...or do they?).  I'll get back to that...


So why didn't anyone have a document camera?  Number one reason?  They're expensive...SO expensive, or so I thought.  We're a mid-sized Title I school, so I feel like helping my teachers get as much technology integrated into the classroom for effective instruction is my number one priority.  I would love to hand out document cameras like Santa, but it seemed so cost prohibitive- until it wasn't.  

Through a lot of work (especially with one teacher), we ended up finding a document camera that is inexpensive and works great.  The IPEVO Point 2 View USB Camera* ended up meeting all of the items on my wishlist and (honestly) surpassing them.  So maybe you're like I was...I thought there is no way a $69 camera (with free shipping) can be usable in the classroom.  We ordered one to test out and I was very pleasantly surprised.  


It has great resolution and (though it doesn't have an integrated light), it does really well in low light (teachers frequently turn the lights off for demonstrations).  It will take still photo snapshots, works really well with Skype, too.  The thing my teacher like most is that it has double mirroring, so that they can have the camera facing them and don't have to work around it.  The biggest problem that I thought we had was that these cameras don't natively save video (which none of my teachers have wanted), but if you download Picassa, it will record video.


So in response to sage on the stage...I've been in many classrooms where the teachers have a document cameras- it ends up being so interactive for the kids.  I've seen them used with science, to demonstrate how to mount slides and use the microscope- it ensures that all kids can see & understand what to do.  I've seen a document camera help kids use a protractor to measure angles- they don't have to 'gather around' anymore, they can work with their manipulatives in their own area- which leads them to make discoveries.  I've seen student work go from their desk to being projected in 10 seconds.   I've seen 11-year olds basically running a writing seminar from projected work.  Kids are reading along with the teacher and they're interested & engaged.


These cameras made it possible for all classes to have a document camera, rather than each grade level sharing one and having to wait to use it.  Teachers have been so happy and excited to use them in their classes.


Consider this camera if you're in the market for a document camera.  We're still figuring out all of the specific aspects of these cameras (I will be glad to share our learned knowledge), but I definitely haven't been disappointed.


*I wish I could say that I receive free products from Amazon and/or IPEVO...I don't.  I just like them.

Friday Treats: 3.16.2012

Happy Weekend all!

Bloom’s Taxonomy- a clickable wheel, with activity suggestions & things to learn…pretty sweet & easy to understand.  Bloom's frequently seems vacuous.

Math Clock- this seems like it might be advanced for elementary level (and for me), but you could do a math clock that is more simple (like do 6 x 2) and just tape it over your actual clock for a week- just to mix things up.

Print bookmarks for your students, it prints on 8.5 x 11 cardstock...there are four designs.  These designs are pretty great- simple, elegant, yet fun for kids:

I think this is a great idea:  it’s a month of questions.  It’s made to use at the dinner table, but maybe you could use in your classroom- morning meeting, on Twitter, Journaling...

50 Ways to use a Document camera in your classroom (love a document camera!)

Smartboard & lesson resources

I love Mason Jars, here’s a printable one, this link has more.

How can you use a treat?  I'm thinking of places I can use these Mason Jars.

*In most cases did not create these, nor am I taking credit for them.  See the links above for the person who owns the rights to them (where applicable) 

Friday Treats: 3.9.2012

Happy Friday!  I hope you have a great weekend.

I love this idea:  It’s a super low-tech take on social media.

So you can’t really have your kids tweeting (like as in Twitter), but you could have them write a tweet.  You could make a ‘Twitter Board’ and have kids respond to stuff in ‘tweet’ on paper (a tweet is no more than 140 characters…including spaces).  You could have them tweet about something they learned or what the main idea of a story or a lesson is.  Kids really like Twitter- I used it with my students when I was teaching. 

If you give this a go, let me know, I’d love to see it!

SWEET testing strategy

 

inspired by: http://teachingmyfriends.blogspot.com/2012/03/great-blog-land-find.html

This is a great idea- painting (or coloring) like Michelangelo did for the Sistinechapel!

Wrongis wrong, right is right printable:

 

15 Grammar Goofs that make you look silly (I attached it, too)

  
























*In most cases did not create these, nor am I taking credit for them.  See the links above for the person who owns the rights to them (where applicable)  

How are we using iPads?

...it's the bajillion-dollar question.  How are we going to use iPads?  We've ordered a class set, I'm excited, the kids [will be] excited, we're all excited.  But after the initial glow of 'Christmas morning' jubuliation wears off, where will be?  I don't want to be left with an uber-expensive 'look-we've-got...' sort of operation.  I want teachers & classes to use the iPads, and not just for games.  


So the plan is that I am going to design some lessons that will integrate iPads.  I know it's what I need to do, but it seemed so much easier when I was planning & committing to doing it.  Now that I'm trying to wade through the plethora of iPad resources, it's proving to be a little more difficult.  I think I'm putting more pressure on myself than I need to.  In my head, these lessons will be super-dynamic, engaging, and instructional.  I want them to be {in a word}...perfect.  When the teachers roll the iPad cart down the hall, I want them to be armed with the best lesson that will be exciting, but attainable, and let them feel confident that they can use these iPads for anything.  


Can I do it?  Probably...and I'm not kidding.  I think know I can.  I'm just having flashbacks of undergrad where I'm trying to start a history paper- I just don't know where to begin.  Fast forward a half hour and I'm in the zone.  Once I get there it will happen.  


So, while I'm waiting to get there, do you have any perfect iPad lesson ideas?  I'm waiting...!