4th Grade Elementary Technology

[elementarytechnology-blog]

It's been awhile since I've posted here, but things have been very busy at work. End of the year time is so stressful.

However, I have good news to share. I recently applied for and was accepted into the WV 2014-2015 TIS Cohort. This program will allow me to get my certification as a technology integration specialist and move out of the classroom toward helping other teachers instead. Best part is that this program won't cost me anything as either a grant or my BOE has to pay for it all. That even includes all the costs for conferences, gas, food, etc.

I have wanted to get this certification for some time, and I feel as though I'm in a good place to do it. After this year I will have 5 years of experience in the classroom, and TIS positions I have looked at require at least 3 so I'm set there. It's going to mean a lot of work over the course of the next school year, but it's the first step toward the next part of my career. 

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Our published book from Student Treasures Publishing.

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Check out the club shirts that were made for 4th Grade Stackers, a speed stacks club I run. We are going to be wearing them at the next LSIC meeting, as well as the PTO meeting. Both give us a chance to show off, and the PTO meeting is where we will present to ask for money to make the club whole school next year. Already I have about 19 interested kids, including students from this year. Our numbers this year are 7 typically. Our school only has about 100 kids, so this is a good number so far.

[elementarytechnology-blog]

These are the Math Field Day shirts for this year. This one is definitely way better than last year's shirt!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

My students need a 3 hokki stools to help our active classroom learners better focus on their learning and classroom work. Do you have trouble staying still and working for long periods of time? Is it hard to focus on work and you end up fidgeting in your seat? Students experience the same feeling often in school, and...

Hey guys. I'm looking to get my second DonorsChoose project funded. This time I'm asking for 3 Hokki stools for my classroom. I want to help active learners succeed. We've all fidgeted and had trouble sitting still. As adults, we can usually still get our work done. However, it's harder for children to do that. These stools would help my class this year and in years to come. If you choose to donate, please use code INSPIRE on the checkout page. Your donation will be matched by another donor. This only works until February 8th though. I still need $188 of $398. I'd love to have this funded before then!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Mighty Morphin' Rock Cycle

My left knee has a big black bruise on it. Lately I've been doing the chapter on the rock cycle and such in our science textbook. This year I created "Mighty Morphin' Rock Cycle", which fuses both Power Rangers and the rock cycle together. I would "morph" or change from one type of rock to another. There were actions for everything, such as pretending to be hit with water, wind, and ice and breaking into sediment, only to morph into sedimentary rock and then immediately call for "sedimentary glue", which lead to me obtaining mineral armor.

It was during this sort of sketch that I banged up my knee, as I would dramatically fall to my knees during this sketch. I have no regrets.

The kids have loved every bit of it, and only a few are embarrassed for me. I took a new approach with this chapter where we have oral review questions every day, usually the same ones from everything covered so far. I use an APL strategy in which I have 3 different students answer the same question so that the answer is heard multiple times. I have found that not only do students retain this material (they remembered all the answers after a 2 week period of no science due to snow and weather and delays), but they also have an easier time tackling critical thinking questions when they understand the very basics of the topic.

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Well, we've now had the whole week off due to snow and weather. Even though the snow ended on Wednesday, the back roads are still a pitiful mess, as are the school parking lots. It doesn't help that it's not been warm enough to even begin melting any of this stuff.

I'm sure my students have enjoyed the days off, as have I!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Okay so I've played around on Planbook.com. I set things up using the PC side of things, not iPad. I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch to doing my plans this way. It's similar to what I do now, but better. I was able to add events for all parts of the schedule. Planbook makes it easy to select the standards you're teaching in each lesson, and it allows you to see how many times you've taught a particular standard as well. Plans are easy to view and print. Once lessons are entered for all days, classes will line up neatly in the schedule, as you can see from the sample page I posted. I'll answer any questions :)

[elementarytechnology-blog]

I am so, so proud of my 4th graders.

Yesterday we did a lab called Polymer Playtime. We had the kindergarten class join us. Each of my kids were assigned to a kindergartener. We talked about polymers first before delving in. The kids all experienced insta-snow for the first time, and we connected it to its real world use. Then the insta-snow was connected to the diapers, and students worked to dig the polymers out of the diapers. We poured water on what they pulled out so they could witness the absorption. Finally, we tested how much liquid a size 4 diaper could hold and were able to get it to hold 1200 mL.

All throughout, my kids were doing the writing, and the kindergarteners were telling their observations to write. They made sure to keep their kiddo on track, and everyone was able to comply with the lab rules.

[chibirachy]

Hugs to you all as the year is counting down the days and drawing to a close!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

I got a new book in the mail today... ;)

[chibirachy]

Vote for your favorite entry on our fanpage!

Hey can you guys vote for my entry on Dollywood’s Christmas Wish? It’s really simple to do. I’d love to have a chance at winning, please and thank you :) Signal boosting would help too!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Please take a moment to vote. It would mean a lot :)

[elementarytechnology-blog]

And this is our classroom door, complete with holiday microbes. We had to label what each was, especially after E. coli was mistaken for a cat from afar!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

I love your blog. I am now following you. Would you take a look at my blog about global education and consider following me?

I already do follow you, but under my main tumblr since this is only a side blog and can't follow others :)

[elementarytechnology-blog]

We will be putting these up in class tomorrow. Getting festive with the common cold, an amoeba, the kissing disease, E. coli, and a brain cell!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

Since I got such a good response to my last post about Reflex Math, I thought I would share this screenshot of my students' progress so far. All students are currently working on Multiplication/Division 0-12. As you can see, there has been a huge gain in their fluency. We started on 9/10 I believe, so it's been almost 3 months. One of my students is at 100% fluency, and another is right behind her with 99%.

If you ever have any questions, feel free to send them my way. I will be more than happy to answer them!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

I play Reflex Math along with my students. Currently I enjoy looking like a pirate. An awesome pirate that is!

[readyseteducate]

Reblogging so I remember to look this up!

[myfacewasred-deactivated2019080]

^^^^ Same!

[elementarytechnology-blog]

It’s a great fact fluency program. We started at 15% fluency in multiplication and division 0-12. Our 3 month mark is next week and we are currently at 86% on average. One child already has 100% fluency and another will shortly follow. I’m going to switch my kids to doing addition and subtraction once they are fluent because they aren’t in that area.

The website offers grants for the program from time to time. Sometimes it’s a very short period in which to apply, like during the Thanksgiving weekend. Other times it lasts a month. I have the grant and really want the program for next year again. I could never teach all my students fact fluency this quickly. They love the games. The program is targeted to them and adapts to their needs. They earn tokens during their sessions, which they can use at the store to decorate an avatar or their progress tree when it is big enough.

I will capture some more screenshots next week if I remember and post them.