Change

This is the time of the year when people begin to think about changes they want to make in their lives.  People make resolutions, break resolutions, and some avoid resolutions altogether. I don't even want to talk about my resolutions to live a healthier life and loose weight. After reading a blog post from Pernille Ripp, I was was inspired to reflect on my changes for the next year.  For some reason I am better at making changes related to my classroom routines. So I'd like to share two changes in my class that I will begin once we get back to school.  The changes I am implementing involve classroom management and writing workshop.

Classroom Management
I have used "Class - Yes!" from Chris Biffle's Whole Brain Teaching for several years as a way to get my students' attention.  Basically whenever I need to get their attention I say a version of  "class" and the students respond by mimicking my tone with a "yes". The kids love it!  I try to add variety by saying "class, class" different ways. Depending on how they respond and whether or not I have everyone's attention, students can earn or lose points which translate into earning or loosing a privilege.  In our class we typically work towards earning extra recess.  

So what's the change?  Instead of keeping track of the tally marks on a chart, I will be using a number line with positive and negative integers to keep track during the day.  When the class earns a point, a student will move the arrow to the right.  Lose a point and the arrow moves to the left.  Even though negative integers is not in our standards, I think this is a great way to introduce this concepts.  The number line is posted near the door, so before we leave for recess it will be easy to take a quick look to see where we stand.

Here is a video explaining how "Class-Yes" works.



Google Drive
The second change involves using Google Drive during writing workshop.  I have been fortunate to attend a couple of technology conferences this year where I attended sessions about integrating technology during Writer's Workshop.  For some reason I just didn't think I was ready for that change before. It just sounded too complicated.  Then literally one day during the last week of school before winter break, it hit me like a ton of bricks.  The students were already typing their essays and then submitting them to me on Edmodo or ebackpack to review.  (Click here to read my previous post about ebackpack.)  If  they typed their essays using Google Drive and then shared that file with me, then I would be able to see what they were typing as they typed and I could write comments that they could instantly see.  At least that's what I remembered from the sessions I had attended. 

So I tried it out with a couple of students who were helping out in my room after school.  I shared with them what I wanted to be able to do during writing workshop.  My students' parents had already set up Gmail accounts for them so all they had to do was use their Gmail account to begin using Google Drive. We had already downloaded the app but hadn't begun using it.

Since we got our iPads this year my students have become comfortable with the idea of trying something out to see how it works. We were working on informational writing so they just typed their introductory paragraphs using Google Drive.  The students then shared their file with me by entering the address I had created specifically for our class.  With the click of a button I could see what they were typing and  I was able to make comments and edit their writing.  When I told them we would have to show the rest of the class how to do this, they suggested we make a video.  So off they went to make the "How to" video for the rest of the class.

Lessons learned 
Somewhere I read "The only person who welcomes change is a wet baby".  I guess that could be true.  Change challenges us.  Change can be hard.

But change does not have to be a grand gesture.  It could just be a little tweek here and there to make something you are already doing work better.  Change for the sake of change is unnecessary but change that results in a better you or a better me is well worth it! What changes will you be making when you return to school next year?

What's the Matter?

 
We are studying matter this nine weeks.  Instead of using valuable class time to watch a Brain Pop video, Property Changes,  and a Bill Nye video States of Matter, the students watched them independently. If you have a  subscription your students could also watch Flocabulary's  States of Matter. Students were able to watch the videos at their own pace on their iPads. Then we were able to take time to complete these two labs.

For the first lab we were investigating that mass of an object is equal to the mass of the sum of its parts.  The students used Legos to construct different objects. What fun!  

They found the mass of their total object.  Next they separated their objects into smaller parts and weighed the individual parts.  Then they compared the total mass to the mass of the sum of the smaller parts.

The students took pictures of their work in progress and used PicCollage to share their finished work.  Thanks to our wonderful Science Mom, Mrs. Carter, for bringing in tons of Legos!

  For our next lab we used pheynol red, baking soda, and calcium chloride to investigate the difference between chemical and physical changes.  The students could actually see evidence of a chemical change taking place:  color change, change in temperature, and gas was formed.  All inside the safety of little baggies.  If you Google Sunset in a Bag you can easily find the directions for this lab online.

Every Child Deserves 1 Hour!

Coding.  It is at its basic root a 4 letter word! But it doesn't have to be.  
December 9-15 is Computer Science Education Week.  Sign up to host an Hour of Code.  There are self-guided video lessons that you can use with laptops, tablets, and smart phones. You can even use the Smartboard for whole group instruction if you prefer. No technology? No problem. There are lesson that you can use without computer access.  I tried some of the lessons. They are really fun!  Oh, Did I mention the first 100,000 educators who sign up to host an hour of code will receive 10GB of free DropBox storage?

Make sure you have a DropBox account before your sign up for the Hour of Code.  So sign up to participate. No one is paying me to promote this.  I just think that every student deserves at least 1 hour!  Don't you?

PEMDAS

Photo: Fisher

I was reviewing the basic Order of Operations with a group of students who were still having a little trouble.  When I initially taught the lesson I used a video, a rap by Ron Clark, and a model of a hop scotch board to teach the order.  Still they needed more.  One thing I had neglected to do was to actually have them jump on the board.  So I used painter's tape to make the hop scotch board on the floor.  The students had to say the operation and the part of the written expression that correlated to the step. We talked about why multiplication and division as well as addition and subtraction were on the same level. When they reached the end of the board they gave their answer. 

Even though we used the board on paper to learn the order of operation, it wasn't enough for some students.  They actually needed the experience jumping on the board. Now whenever they walk across the board they can hop as long as they whisper the order of operations that go along with it. You try: What is 8-2+1(6-3)?  Write your answer in the comment section below.

"Ask 3 before me" - There's an app for that!

Image from Ask3

ASK3 is NO LONGER AVAILABLE!  (INSERT SAD  FACE)


If you follow my blog, then you probably already know I got a class set of iPads this year!  And when I find something great I just can't help but share it. Well this time I have found a great FREE app that  encourages collaboration among peers.  It can be used for homework, classwork, in just about any subject area.  So what is it? Glad you asked.  It's Ask 3!   How many times have you found yourself saying "Ask 3 before me"?  Well now there's an app for that!

This app allows students (or teachers for that matter) to post questions on a class bulletin board and then other class members (or the teacher) can leave a text response, a drawing, or a video to explain the answer. It's great for a flipped classroom or any classroom where collaboration is valued.  You sign-up and are given a class code.  Students join your class using the code and the fun learning begins!  

The only concern I have is that you cannot "lock" your group once all of your students have joined.  That just means you have to make sure you don't post your group code where others can get it.   You should also probably monitor your student's submissions.  But you would do that anyway, right?

I used it in math class the other day to review test items the students had missed.  Students took pictures of a problem and posted their questions on the bulletin board.  I responded to some and other students responded as well.  It was nice to see the collaboration among students.  I am already thinking of other ways to use this in my classroom.

If you have used this before, please share how you used it in your class.  If not, what are some ideas you have for using this app?

Making Connections

Image from Vector Templates

I recently connected with some awesome teachers through Edmodo. Yes, Edmodo.  I signed up to participate in The Global Read Aloud this year for the first time. It seems I am experiencing a lot of "firsts" at this late stage in the game of teaching, which proves that you are never too old to change or should I say grow and learn!

So, I will be reading the book Out of My Mind along with several thousands of other teachers all across the globe. Yes! The globe!  There are other titles you can choose from depending on the level of your students.  You choose the book you want to share with your students and then connect with other teachers who are reading the same book. Students can comment on each others posts using Kidblog or collaborate using Padlet or TodaysMeet to discuss the book.  You can read my post on using TodaysMeet in my math class here.  Some classes even use Skype and Twitter or have set up student groups on Edmodo for book discussions.  The sky's the limit when it comes to how you connect with other classes. 

I was just reading some of the comments written by my students and students from other classes.  Here are a few of their blog posts:
 

 Nice!

What better way for my students to really develop and practice their writing skills!   It's not too late for you to make that connection! Teachers are still looking for classes to connect with.  Go to The Global Read Aloud page, scroll down to One Month to Go #GRA13 , and you will see the Edmodo group codes for the different books.  Once you join the group on Edmodo, just connect with another teacher. It's that easy! 

Read News Article about Pernille Ripp, the creator of GRA

PDF Split

Image from dreamstime.com

I was smack dab in the middle of working on my plans for the upcoming week when I had to stop and share this.  I wanted to assign a math Exemplars to my students.  I figured I would post the page on Edmodo or I could try using Evernote.  I am working out the whole process of sharing files and notebooks with my students and having them write on it using their iPads, then resubmit it to me to grade. All using the iPad.

The problem was I only needed my students to see the first page of the PDF file not the entire document.  If you know Exemplars, each problem also has possible students solutions and other teacher resources attached to the PDF.  Then I remembered reading somewhere about a PDF splitter.  So I thought I would give it a try.  I went online and searched "PDF splitter" and there it was.  It was so easy to do.  You don't have to download or join to use it.  Oh, did I mention it was FREE!

Step 1:  Save the original file to your desktop.
Step 2: Browse and locate the file (upload to site).
Step 3: Enter the page numbers you want split. (for me I entered pages 1 to 1)

Click on Split!  and you're done!  Easy Peasy!

Now I can attach just that 1 page the students need on Edmodo or Evernote.  If anyone uses Evernote to send and receive student work, please share how you are doing that.  It would make my life so much easier!