The COOL Water Cycle Song!

Have you heard it?  Do you know what I'm speaking of?  Oh yes, it's the most memorable, most catchy science song on the face of this planet...it's "The COOL Water Cycle Song" by Mr. Davies! 

While this is not the "original"...it's pretty close...and it has the lyrics typed on top of the video, which I LOVE! 

So today, we started learning about the water cycle.  We took out our boring science books, and instead of simply reading and going over the diagrams, we added in this fun video and then "followed" the cycle with our fingers as it was sung through the song!  So cute, so fun, and my kiddos were singing the song ALL day up until dismissal.  Who could ask for more?!  :)

Following the Water Cycle as it's sung by Mr. Davies in his way COOL Water Cycle Song!

 

So I hope everyone's having a great beginning of the week, and if you haven't already taught the water cycle yet this year, I hope you'll keep this fun video in the back of your mind to pull out of your bag of tricks when you do begin!  Happy Monday!!!  (PS- Sorry in advance if you listen and the song gets stuck in your head the rest of the night!  Enjoy!!!)

Want to "Excel"?!?

Yes, we talk talk talk about teaching our kiddos technology, but when it comes down to it, I'd really love to see some statistics about teachers' use of technology themselves!  Don't get me wrong, I'm GUILTY, too!  All the time, I think, goodness, I should know how to do this! 

So, what a better way then to ease into technology with one of Groupon's weekend deals!  Have you seen it yet? 


Groupon: From $25 for Online Microsoft Excel Training Course and Test for 1 or 10 people

It's a 12 hour "course" teaching the ins and outs of Excel.  (Yes, THAT Excel...the one that a lot of us know has charts and columns, and such, but not a lot of us use frequently...me included!)

So click on over and check it out!  What do you have to loose?!  :)   (Hey, you may even get your administrator to make an exception and count those hours as PD, too!)

What Do Our 21st Century Learners Look Like?

And we're off...
At least I am.  No, school has not officially begun, nor has staff inservice, but I for one, have begun my "back to school" regimen with changing classrooms, redecorating, cleaning, organizing, and most importantly, attending a few various meetings here and there. 

Today I'm off to my Literacy Cadre meeting, however, last week, I attended a new "council" meeting of a technology group our district has just created.  Technology is great, right?  Last summer, I shared various "techie" things I learned at technology workshops, like Alan November. 

Whereas last year's workshops taught me new, innovative, and specific ways to use technology in the classroom, this meeting last week was more broad discussion...all stemming around the question of how can we meet the needs and truly engage, inspire, and teach our 21st century learners?  In a world of constant information, I'll admit, there are many times I struggle to gain my students' attention on "lessons" that I think are pretty darn good or engaging.  But it's not my thoughts or wants/needs that I teach  to.  So that's the question to be thinking about as we start this year...

This little 5 minute video is oh-so inspiring and thought provoking.  I'd love for you to watch it, think about it, and let me know your thoughts.  What do you do for your 21st century learners?  Are you part of the 14% that let your students create, explore, and examine technology or the 86% that barely do?

My Most Recent Thoughts on Technology... (and a giveaway reminder!)

This coming school year, our campus is adding 3 new iPad mini carts to our inventory.  90 new tiny digital tablets with which to use in a meaningful way…when you think about it, it’s kind of mind boggling.  The role of technology has changed so dramatically recently (yes, I know, DUH…we all know that!).  Now, instead of merely one teacher computer and a few student desktops, many teachers have the opportunities, like mine, to put technology in the hands of all their students. 

 

How we use it, though, for benefit of our students, or just for our own ease, is up to us.  By having these new iPad minis, is learning going to get pushed farther or just simply a digital “center” to keep students static but happy? 

The question, I think, is: What do we really want students to accomplish with technology? 

I’ll admit…it’s a big, loaded question with no one correct answer.  That’s why I thought I’d throw it out there and see what you all think.  Here are our state standards, by the end of 2^nd grade:

-Basic Operations—open, save, save as, print, audio, video, close

-Participation in virtual field trips, etc., Skype, Lync, blog

-Use a processfor creative thinking and problem solving

-Use fonts, font size/color, spacing, graphics, copy, paste, cursor, presentation tools, and drawing/painting tools in a simple document

-Describe the difference between search engine and browser

-Use internet 1-2 keyword searches and navigate

-Follow copyright and cite work

-Internet permission, who owns the work

-Know vocab—CPU, document camera, SmartBoard, tablet, printer, mouse, keyboard, storage devices, drives

-Keyboard home row, letters, numbers, shift, spacebar, enter, ctrl, alt, delete, backspace, ESC, capslock

 

That’s a pretty long and in depth list for 7 and 8 year olds, I must admit.  But just because it’s long, doesn’t mean it’s out of reach.  So what do you think?  Could your kiddos do these things?  I’ll admit, thinking back on my students this previous year, I did not do my very best to make sure they were all 100% successful at these technology standards.  Which is where my goal comes in—next year I need to be sure to make my technology use meaningful and purposeful to help my students become prepared for today’s “connected” world!

 

PS—Don’t forget about my Firmoo FREEGLASSES Giveaway!  It’s an easy entry (just a blog comment), and I’d love for you to win!  J  Click on over today.

What Your Social Media Habits Say About Your Teaching Style - | Diigo

Last Summer, during one of my many technology workshops and learning opportunities, I signed up for Diigo Education Updates.  About once a day, I'm sent an email with some online articles on different topics about education.  Almost all are in someway related to technology, and I will admit, there are some days where I don't click to read any...but then there are other days when I read all of the new links to posts they've sent! 

Well, yesterday, I was sent quite a few interesting ones that I'll be sharing with you all over the next week or so.  And, here's the first. 

It's called, "What Your Social Media Habits Say About Your Teaching Style - | Diigo".  Click on over to read the full article.  It's super interesting, and I'd love to hear where you fall and how accurate it was for you!  Although I'm not a 100% "Power User", I do seem to fit in that category the most, and the synopsis of my corresponding teaching style fit pretty accurately!  :)

Like the article and want to sign up for the Diigo in Education group?  It's free, public, and optional:

Alan November Workshop Taught Me About ONLINE TUTORIALS!

ONLINE TUTORIALS!!!  Wait, why is that in all caps, you may ask?  Because, I'm SO excited to share these with you!

Let me first back track and appologize for just now posting this.  My plans were to create this post earlier LAST week, HOWEVER, for this amazing new tool, I did need a microphone for my computer.  (Which, I thought I had one, but after digging and digging, it was no where to be found!)  So, I ended up getting a cheap one from a cheap store, but it is just an "old school" mic that you would use with a PA system or if you were performing in a band . . .
                                a little like this   -------------->

What I WOULD suggest (and I'm going to ask my principal if we have $20 to spare) would be a mic that sits on the desk, so you don't have to waste a hand to hold the mic.  That was one of my biggest struggles while recording, and I especially for children, it may be difficult.  This is what I have in mind (that hopefully would be MUCH easier):

Okay, now that my rant is over, let me let YOU listen to this brand new online tutorial ABOUT online tutorials, using a new (to me) program, Jing!

  

Pretty neat, huh?  I'm very excited to share this with my kiddos next year.  I think these tutorials can be GREAT for all levels of students.  Here's how:

• It will provide enrichment to your higher level students.  They can create tutorials about current topics and subjects in class.  After all, they say you don't really TRULY understand something unless you can teach it yourself!   

• It will provide opportunities for lower level students to hear another student's perspective on things.  They may have an "aha" moment after listening to Bobby or Jody teach them from the video. 

• It will provide yet another techology "outlet" for your students to explore and learn with!  (After all, like I mentioned in an earlier post, our students will be reading and learning more on the internet than from school and/or books in their lifetimes!) 

• It creates a "stage" for students in our classrooms!  No longer are students simply creating work for the teacher's eyes only (because let's face it, that's normally what we expect...our students to do their best work on something for only our eyes to see, grade, and give back).  Now, though, students will be accountable for something even bigger!  Children can ultimately share their work with the whole world (depending on how private and/or public you set the videos)!  Through online tutorials, we can "create creators", and every classroom can be an auditorium-- because now your students will know that eyes other than YOURS will see their hard work and creativity!

So, go play around with it!  Try it out, experiment over the summer, and get comfortable with it!  I'll have to admit, I'm still learning LOTS about it, but my goal is to be a PRO at it by the end of the summer, so I'll be ready to use it with my kiddos once the new school year begins.  (I'm envisioning LOTS of video topics, not just math!)

Here are a few links to some websites that have examples of online tutorials that we can use in the classroom:

• Mathtrain TV: The site I showed in my Jing video above.  Real tutorials made by kids!
• Khan Academy:  A site I've mentioned before, has many many video tutorials for ALL levels.  Sal Khan creates and records all videos.
• Always Learning:  Has a great article of her students online tutorial project.
• And I'm sure there are LOTS LOTS more, if we just search!

Okay, so I'm wondering now that you've made it through...what are your thoughts?  Like it?  Used it before?  Seen it before?  Have any other similar things?  Please share with the rest of us!  I know I, for one, would love to hear it!  Happy "Hump Day"!

Alan November Workshop: Part 3 of ?

Do you know how to Google?  Yes, yes, I’m sure all of you are thinking, “Yeah, all you have to do is go to Google and type in what you want.  Duh.” 

Well that’s what I thought, too!  Dear, sweet Jennifer Beine over at my November Learning workshop definitely changed my mind, though!  (AND, changed my mind on how to TEACH my kiddos to “search” the web!) 

So here are a few, quick, “did ya know”s:

1. There is an operator in Google.  Yes, just like for phones.  The Google operator can aid in all of your searches!  Just type “site:” and it will help pull up the most relevant sites.  Pretty neat.

2. There are Country Codes for the internet.  I never knew that!  So, any site outside of the U.S. has a 2 letter code.  For example, England’s is “uk”.  Furthering that example, if you needed help locating schools in England, you could use the Google operator and search “site: sch.uk”.  This will pull up VERY different sites than if you just “googled” “schools in England”.  Very cool.

Okay, okay.  Now you’re probably thinking what this has to do with teaching elementary school.  (To tell you the truth, after my initial amazement with these things, I was wondering that, too!)  Well, here’s the deal!  Just like I posted earlier about teaching our kiddos critical thinking skills on the internet, we also need to teach our students HOW TO SEARCH online!  I’m sure if we asked, most of our students (even the young ‘uns) would say they knew how to “google” something.  BUT, the chances of them getting the EXACT info the want/need the first time is probably pretty slim!  (And I know you and I are good at “skimming” the blurbs on Google to see if that’s the site we need, but I know my students are not!)

So, again, dear sweet Jennifer Beine shared some neat tools with me that I’d love to share with you!  (By the way, if you click on over to her site, she has LOTS of info there that is SO helpful and informative to teachers!)

-First thing she shared is the Google Advanced Search.  I’m somewhat ashamed, but I’ll admit, I’ve never really used it before this past week.  After playing around with it, though, I can see HOW helpful it can be to our older students.  Keyword, though…OLDER.  I doubt my 2^nd graders could make good use out of this site, but who knows…maybe after lots of whole group practice and modeling, they will at least be aware of it!

-So, if the Google Advanced Search is too much, here is MY newest favorite thing to try with my class next year: Boolify! Boolify.org is a kid friendly search site (YES!  FOR ELEMENTARY LEVEL KIDS!  YAY!).  It is interactive and colorful—so what’s NOT to like about it!  Students can pull the puzzle pieces over from the left, and the site with prompt them with a question.  THEN, as each puzzle piece is added, the results pull up on the bottom of the page! 

It automatically changes the results as students’ searches become more specific, so it’s very user-friendly, too!   When you have time, go play around on it, because it’s definitely something I could see using in 2^nd grade during our Research Project Unit!

-Not impressed with Google Advanced nor Bolify (or want another fun site to try out)?  Try NoodleTools!  It is a step-by-step questionnaire that helps kiddos know WHERE to START searching.  (It may be another site that takes whole group instruction and lots of modeling, though.)  I could see it being useful for older students, with time and practice!  It gives a few options of sites to help you search after you fill out the questions on what TYPE of info you’re looking for.  Definitely a different approach than anything I’ve ever done!

So, it’s clear to see that there are plenty of other options to help us search the internet.  And, just like how I shared that we need to teach our students how to “read” the internet, we also need to teach our students how to “search” the internet—because a good search can take half the work out of having to determine if information is legit or not (or even what we NEED!).  I’ll admit, I’m guilty of speed searching…typing into Google something quick, hastily scanning the results to see if it’s what I need, and if not, retyping and trying again.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.  But, why do all that if we can narrow it down to search correctly the first time?  This is definitely something I need to teach both MYSELF and my students!

Alan November Workshop: Part 2 of ?

Hi all!  Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends so far. 

I can't believe the positive response I got to my 1st Alan November post (both comments and emails, too!).  I'm so excited that there are others out there that get excited about technology, just like me!  (Actually makes me feel like less of a nerd!)

Today IS Saturday, though, so my "Part 2" post will be short and sweet (for both of us).  It goes along with part of my post yesterday: teaching students to think critically online. 

Have you ever been online and come to a "dead" link?  Click on it and you get "page not found" or "page no longer exists"?  I'm sure we ALL have had that happen!  And sometimes it can be quite maddening! 

Well let it frustrate you NO LONGER!  Mr. November introduced me to the "Way Back Machine" over at archive.org.  All you have to do is enter the web address of the site you would like, and it will go find it for you.  It has recorded almost all sites since the beginning of time (not really, but maybe the beginning of the internet?).  It will show you when the site was created, when ANY changes were made, and even when it was taken down (if it had been).  It will also show you screen shots of the page on any/all of those days!  So you can see what it looked like the last time you visited the page!  How neat is that!

(Screenshot of TpT on Way Back Machine.  Shows when it was created, then I can click on any blue date to see what TpT looked like then!  Also shows the "activity" on the timeline up top!)

You might ask, "What does this have to do with teaching our students to think critically about the internet?"  And to that, I will reply, "We're building our detective skills!"  Yes, by using a site like this, it helps us add a bit more information when trying to determine if a link is legit or not!  It also helps us find things that no long "exist" online (even though they may be quite helpful)! 

So, I know it's a short post, but go play around when/if you have time and see what you think.  I thought it was a super neat site!  I can't wait to use it and/or explain it to my kiddos next year.  Even though they're 2nd graders, the more exposure they get earlier on, the more likely it is to "sink in" during the later years!  (Right?!)  :)

Keep coming back tomorrow (and next week!).  I've got more info to share from my November Learning Workshop and many tidbits for you to use in the classroom!  (Can't wait and need some "sneak peeks"?  Well, how do you feel about Google Apps/Tools, teacher AND student created online tutorials, student blogging, and other helpful links & online tools?)

Alan November Workshop: Part 1 of ?

Back in May, I was blessed to be asked to attend a 2 day Alan November Workshop this summer.  I eagerly accepted, because I have heard SUCH amazing things (both from teachers at my school and outside the district)!  The incredible things they learned really intrigued me (you know me and my technology!), and as always, I want to know more about…well…pretty much everything! Haha!

 

I will admit, when Tuesday rolled around, I wasn’t quite excited to get out of bed earlier than I had been the past week (it’s funny how quickly we get into summer mode).  But, I did wake up, wash my hair, put on make-up (and a happy face) and off I went to day one of my workshop.

 

OMG.  Let me just stop right now and tell you how thankful I am that I got to attend!  I learned SOSOSOSO much, and I can’t wait to get started on some of it, and of course, I can’t wait to share some of my newly acquired info with YOU ALL!  There is SO much, though, that I am going to break it up into a few chunks, partly so you won’t get bored of reading, and partly so I won’t get carpal tunnel from typing a novel about it!  :)

 

So, on to “Chunk One” of Alan November Learning:

Alan November's Keynote-

Alan November opened the whole 2 day workshop with a fun (and FUNNY) keynote.  It’s hilarious when you first see him, you think he’s going to be a techy nerdy man who is dry and boooring.  BUUUT it’s quite opposite!  He is SO random and SO funny!  His voice CRACKS me up, and he definitely kept me on my toes and listening throughout his keynote speech! 

Mr. November in action!

Here are a few of his thoughts—I’d love for you to “ponder them” and tell me what you think:


1. Technology is about 2 things: information and communication.  When we talk about “advances” in technology, we’re really talking about advances in how we get our information or how we communicate. 

(*My thoughts…hmm…he’s totally right!  EVERY piece of technology I could come up with was for one of those 2 purposes (if not for BOTH!).  Blogger: communication AND information.  Teacher mic: communication.  Facebook: communication.  Websites: mostly information.  TVs: mostly information.  Phones: mostly communication…except when I’m looking up info on my iPhone…and the list can go on and on…)

 

2. We need to start using technology as a student directed resource.  There are so many great tools, programs, and more out there that students can use on their own to aide in their learning.  BUT, these require students directing their own learning.  No teacher “telling” students to get online and play this math game on this level for this long.  It’s about teachers letting go of some control and asking themselves, “What control am I willing to give up?”  Hanging on to all control in our classrooms is one of the biggest barriers of technology.

(*My thoughts…Guilty (partially)!  I do try to “control” the technology in my classroom.    BUT, at the same time, I do teach 2^nd grade.  They definitely need some guidance.  For example, I have my “Computer Card” envelopes that allow students to get on to the computer with 2 options of sites for the day.  So, I think I KIND OF give students some choice in allowing them to choose their own direction.  I would never just let them have free range of the computers, though!  Keep in mind, this workshop was for K-12, so maybe Mr. November hasn’t worked a lot with the younger kiddos… )

 

3. Children in elementary school will be reading more on the internet than in books (throughout their lifetimes).  We need to teach children how to “read” the internet.  This includes critical thinking skills, common sense, and learning how to evaluate information online.  Mr. November then went on to share a story about a high school boy “Zach” who wrote a whole research paper claiming that the Holocaust never happened.  Research you ask?  It was all online.  Click here to see the whole story written byAlan November.  It’s short and interesting.  *There is also a great blog post on the November Learning site, here.

(*My thoughts…YES!  I do this!  Ding ding ding!  Finally, something I do correctly!  I ALWAYS tell my students to THINK about the information they’re reading.  Does is make sense?  Does it SOUND correct?  We also talk a lot during our “research report” segment about reliable sources online.  So yay for me!  Gold star for starting my kiddos early on this one!)

 

So that’s where I’m going to leave off today.  It’s a lot… I know.  But, I promise, if you’re a techy like me, and you love to share technology with your class, it’s so worth it!  I’m going to be sharing LOTS of fun tips and information over the next week or so, so please keep checking back!  I’ll try to keep them short and to the point!

 

One last thought to leave you with (courtesy of Mr. November): Yes, Texas is a standardized testing state, and that tends to have many teachers “teaching to the test”. (I know many of you all out there aren’t from Texas, but you can read on, anyways, because it still applies!)  There is no testing, though, for internet or computer skills.  These, though, are going to be a LIFELONG aptitude our students need.  So, how are YOU going to make sure your students get the technology education they need?

Technology in the Classroom!

Well I'm not sure if you can tell (but you probably can), that I love to use technology and fun new things in my classroom!  I have been so blessed over the past year with new "techie" things to use with my kiddos!  Last school year in January, I was one of the first teachers on my campus to receive a SmartBoard.  Since then, they have installed each classroom with one, and I LOVE using them!  (They are so versatile-- I can use them with all levels of kiddos, whole group instruction, small group centers, and even during my reading intervention time!)  My document camera is also in use almost every hour, too!  (We have a neat little cord that connects the SmartBoard and the document camera, so we can intertwine and use both at the same time!)

A little shot of my grant
application.  If you would like
more details or even a copy,
feel free to contact me!

I always wear my teacher microphone that hooks up to the PA system in our room (nerdy, but useful).  I also use my 4 classroom computers EVERY day with my students.  I know it probably sounds dorky, but I want them to have as much exposure with them as possible, since they will grow up in a major "techie" world!

I'm also really excited, because our PTA has graciously (informally) accepted my grant application to purchase one iPod for use in my classroom, and hopefully, (fingers crossed), it should be approved and coming to my school pretty soon!  (I'm SO overjoyed for this one!!!)

So anyways, earlier this week, my principal asked if she could "use" me as an example at her "End of Year Principals Meeting"-- and of course, I eagerly said yes!  (Not even knowing what all it entailed!)  Well here's what it entailed:  4 different "videos" of me explaining the use of technology in my classroom and then 4 different "videos" of my students actually using certain things.  Then, I helped our wonderful librarian put it into a cute Powerpoint (along with another teacher's "videos" to give to our principal to share at her meeting.  (This meeting, I would later find out, will include ALL the district's principals, many admin members, AND ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS!!!  No pressure there or anything...)

You can see now, my stress level has begun to rise...  Lots of thinking went in to WHAT I should have videos of...  I certainly need it to be educational (especially since all those important people are going to see it) but at the same time, I want my kiddos to be having fun and using things we normally use each week!

Well here's what I ended up with for my 4 "chunks" (each one included a little blurb of me talking first to explain by myself, then later, the video after it would show my students using it):

1. 1 "chunk" about using the SmartBoard during Math "Fluency" with GregTangMath.com. 
2. 1 "chunk" about using the SmartBoard during Spelling with 1 SmartBoard lesson and 1 website game
3. 1 "chunk" about my students using the computers to incorporate ThinkCentral.com for independent practice that ties directly into our textbook
4. 1 "chunk" about my students using the computers for enrichment with KhanAcademy.com

Here's a quick little breakdown of how I use each one, just incase you want to go check these resources out!  They're all VERY teacher friendly!

1. GregTangMath.com is an AMAZING site that I picked up this summer during the big, week-long math conference, "CAMT" (the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teachers).  This site has a TON of great games, activities, and even some of Greg Tang's books as online versions!

2. I am constantly looking on SmartExchange for great (already created!) activities to use with my kiddos.  If it's not already there, I make my own, but why invent the wheel if someone else has already made something?!  (By the way, everything listed there is FREE once you sign up!) 

I also use other sites for games to tie into our weekly spelling rules.  This week, I used a Suffix Matching Game that I found through Google.  It worked GREAT with our SmartBoard, too!

3. ThinkCentral is a website that is from the makers of our Math Textbook (Houghton Mifflin)!  It not only has an online version of our math book, but it also has fun games, math concept readers, practice workbooks, and more!  My kiddos log in both in class and at home for extra practice.  (Your school does have to have an account for this one.)

4. KhanAcademy.org is a FANTASTIC non-profit website with video lessons for students to watch and learn almost ANYTHING!  After watching a series of videos on a certain concept, students can then "practice" with timed questions.  In general, this website is geared at older students, however, it is WONDERFUL to use as an enrichment tool.  (I will tell you that I have a very specific system set up, that takes a lot of teacher time on the front end, but my students know exactly what they can watch and practice, and in what order!)

Whew!  So there's my little breakdown of this week's fun.  I can't tell you how crazy it was, everytime we were video taped!  I think my kiddos were more stressed out than I was!  (and of course, there are those little gems that need even MORE redirection while the film is rolling...)

But, all in all, it went very well.  I haven't seen the end product yet, so that will be very interesting!  I just hope there were no MAJOR boo-boos that the principals, administrators, and school board members will be laughing at next week!  Keep your fingers crossed for me that it goes well! :)