End of the Year Slideshow

Every year I put together a slideshow for my students of all our pictures from the year.  I used to try to print pictures and make sure they got to people, but doing a slideshow was so much easier!  Not to mention, much more fun on the last day of school.  I'm always searching for new (somewhat current) songs, and I am loving this Bruno Mars number... I just have to share! 


I'm still working on this year's cover and getting all the pictures popped in there!  It is the perfect way to end our year together! 

**I figured I'd update and add the other songs I included on this year's slideshow. 
Living in the Moment {Jason Mraz}
Count on Me {Bruno Mars}
Breakthrough {From the movie Lemonade Mouth}
Go Get It {Mary Mary}
Good Feeling {Flo Rida}
Let's Go {Calvin Harris}

In the past, I've also used:
Pocket Full of Sunshine {Natasha Bedingfield}
I Was Here {Beyoncé} ...this one is kind of slow so I only used it once.
...I can't remember any more! 

            

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Link Up!- Social Studies Text

I'm linking up again- I swear someday soon I will get on here and do an update!

Ok.  Social Studies.  This is my weakest area, mostly because it is my first year teaching it, I strongly dislike our textbook, and I haven't found a way to pull all our curriculum together so that I like it.  It is on the (rather long) list of things to work on this summer.  So I'm glad we have this little link party so that I can scope out the other books that teachers are using and start to grow my classroom library in this area.

So since I don't have an abundance of awesome mentor texts that I love, I'm grabbing one that we have referenced a shocking amount of times this year- both in and out of our social studies block.   And that book is John, Paul, George, & Ben by Lane Smith.

If you haven't heard of it, it's about John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, and Ben Franklin (and also Thomas Jefferson).  The book itself is written for 3-7 year olds, but the humor goes way above that level- I'm surprised that is what it is recommended for actually.  My 10 year old students didn't get much of the humor the first time we read it.  After we learned more about each of these men, we read the book again and went through page by page to see what the author wrote and why it was included for that person.  After that, my students got the humor and would joke about it with each other.

In fourth grade, we talk about signing the Constitution and who our founding fathers are- and we also study Ben Franklin during our electricity unit in science.  This year my students referred back to this book during that unit and we read his pages AGAIN to see if we understood it more (we did!).

So for a simple story, we have used it all year long!  Even as I'm sitting here I'm thinking of things I can do with this unit (and book) for next year.  Add it to the list...

Link up! 

Flash Sale!

My "big 3-0" is tomorrow so I'm throwing a quick one day flash sale on my TpT store!  All day on Earth Day (April 22nd!) everything in my store is 15% off (because 30 is as much fun as two fifteen year olds....right?!?)!  

Be sure to plant some flowers (or a tree?) to celebrate the Earth's something-somethingth billionth birthday! 

Mentor Text Linky-Science!!

I *love* teaching science, and tomorrow is Earth Day (and coincidentally, my birthday!).  I'm busy planning our Earth Day Birthday celebrations, complete with some art, reading, writing, and science activities.  So in keeping with my science theme of the day, I'm linking up!  You should, too!

I'm linking up with the Collaboration Cuties today to share a science text and resource that we love in 4th grade!  I'm convinced that the textbook is just one resource for our science learning, so I've gone on may quests to find other books and sources of information to present to our 4th graders.  They need to know that information can come from all kinds of places and no one resource is ever "good enough".


Last year I found these great science "graphic novel" texts for ages 8-11.  Every single book in the series that I found aligned perfectly with my curriculum standards for science and had great use of content vocabulary.  It is so fun to be able to hand these books out to students knowing that it will cover everything we go over in our science class.  Last year I had a little $$ to spend on our classroom, so I went ahead and bought a dozen copies of the Sound book, plus a copy of a few others that match our curriculum.  I like this particular book because it is more complex than general sound (sound = vibrations) and gets into the parts of the ear, how sound is measured, and how sound travels.  The illustrations are great for showing students what we're talking about (as far as graphic novels go, they probably aren't the greatest illustrations ever, but they certainly serve their purpose well in the classroom).  We use a bunch of different graphic organizers to help gather ALL of the information found in this text.

  

I've never talked to any other teachers who have used these books, so I'm curious if anyone else has heard of them.  If so, do you like the other books in the series?  There is so much wonderful information crammed in them, that it's not a book you can do in one day.  Next year I may use it during guided reading... oh the possibilities!

Happy Sunday!  

Wonderful Websites: Bing Dynamic

I know it's Friday and everyone's ready for a relaxing (busy?) weekend after a full week of school...  I want to make this short and sweet, so I thought I'd share a silly thing I use in my classroom that has actually turned out to be quite wonderful. 

The wallpaper on your computer screen seems like a really frivolous thing, but can be an effective tool in the classroom.  There are so many times where I've been in a classroom or presentation and the teacher has closed out of a program just to have everyone staring at a picture of their family (Sweet, yes.  Educational?  Not really.).

I used to put student names or our spelling words into fun clouds using Wordle or Tagxedo and change the wallpaper image every week with a new list of words.  While I loved it, it just got to be one more thing for me to remember to do.  However, I do love using both of those webpages for all kinds of classroom fun. 

Have you heard of Bing Dynamic?  It's not made for classrooms at all, but I keep sharing it with teachers in my building because I have enjoyed it so much.  Bing has fabulous photography featured every day.  Bing Dynamic takes those pictures and makes them your computer wallpaper (using Windows 7).  It automatically refreshes the pictures- you can choose to have them change every 30 minutes (pure craziness in the classroom at first, I don't recommend it) to every day.  I think my classroom computer changes every 3-4 hours. 

I l-o-v-e it because it sparks so many science and social studies based conversations!  "Where is that?  What is that?  How does that work?  That's so cool!"  And I guess I should note, I have never had anything even semi-inappropriate show up. 

The best part is, I don't know what's coming next either.  It's so fun! 

Happy Weekend, fellow blog readers!

Flipping Your Classroom: A compiled list of resources

I keep hearing about flipping the classroom, so when I was in Houston I made sure to stop by a session about it.  Our speakers gave so many great options to start flipping your class, so I went ahead and compiled a list of  the best of what they gave us (in my opinion!) and a few things I scrounged up.  I guess I should start by saying that I am not in any way, shape, or form, associated with these companies or webpages and am just posting them because I found them to be helpful and wonderful for the flipping classroom concept.  I'm trying to cram a lot of information into this post while not writing a novel, so here it goes...

First, here's video from Aaron Sams about how he uses the flipped classroom approach in his teaching.  If you're curious about what flipping the classroom is, watch this real quick:

 

So...what is it?
Basically, flipping the classroom has instruction happening at home and the practice happening at school, instead of the other way around.  This way, students can review on their own, watch again, take notes at their own pace, and then come to school ready to apply their learning from the night before.  Does that sound intimiating enough??  The key is starting with just one class at a time and making it work for you and your classroom. 

The BIG Question: How are students held accountable?
I know what you're going to say..."Sounds great, but what about my little darling who never does their homework and how do I know they even watched or listened to it?"
Typically the assignment (video, podcast, etc.) is given with a small assignment attached.  For instance, watch this video and complete this graphic organizer.  On some of the hosting sites, you can include a short 3-5 question "quiz" about the information. 

We all have students who don't do their homework. That's not going to change.  If a student comes without having completed the assignment, they simply do it in class and miss out on the application activity you had planned for that time (what a bummer!).  Whenever the student finishes, they hop in and join the group.  If you know there is a student who does not have access to technology at home, you can arrange a separate time for them to complete the assignment- again, you have to make it work for you and your classroom.  You can use a bunch of different ways to assess students.  Click on the links below to check out Edmodo, Google Docs, TodaysMeet, and Socrative.  Do you have a favorite? ...or one to add?

    

 

     

Where can I find pre-made media sources?
There are SO MANY great options out there.  Here are a few great resources:

YouTube

TeacherTube

Khan Academy

TED

Hippo Campus

Do I have to make my own videos? 
You don't HAVE to... but as our presenters mentioned- your students have a connection to YOU (because, after all, you are the best teacher ever!).  While sending them to watch something that is already created on the web is fabulous, they will tune in and do more active learning if you are the one presenting.  No pressure.  You don't have to make every media source yourself, but throw in a few to keep them coming back for more.

What website and programs can I use to create and/or host my media?
Again, so many options out there!
I think the "easiest" way to create a video would be to record on your tablet, phone, or webcam and upload to YouTube.  However, if you want to get a bit more complex you can use some programs to help you out. 
Audioboo
YouTube
I Said What?  (app)
Garageband
...or my favorite, any apps that turn your voice into a talking sockpuppet or animal! 

Once you have your video made, you will want somewhere to host it.  Some people use their own blog or webpage to showcase their information.  However, if you are wanting a hosting website to send your students to, here are some that were mentioned:  YouTube, TeacherTube, Edmodo, iTunesU, Podomatic.


Awesome blogs to check out:
(either about flipping your class or great for teacher education)
Flipping with Kirch (Julie was one of our presenters)
Learning in Hand (Tony Vincent)
Copy/Paste (Peter Pappas)
TechSmith

Ok, I saved my favorite for last (as an added bonus for those of you troopers who read through this entire thing!).  Have you heard of Sophia?  A-maz-ing.  The website is partnered with Capella University, Bill Nye (the science guy!) and some other great places.  You can create and host all kinds of media options for FREE, plus it has tutorials and FREE professional development videos.  Check it out.  It is awesome and worth a look.

So I'm curious- have you tried flipping your classroom?  What resources do you use?

TGIF + April Currently

Hey y'all!  I spent the week at the NCEA national conference in Houston, Texas and just returned late last night.   I had a nice little blog post all set up earlier this week, but my tablet won't publish it so I'm not sure what happened there.  Since I didn't take my laptop on the trip, I ended up just not updating!  Between company from Germany and Easter last week and Houston this week, I'm getting caught up today on everything at home.

Learned a bunch of fun information at the conference and can't wait to share a little in the next few weeks.  Some session topics I attended included:

- flipping classrooms

- iPad apps

- centers/workstations

- classroom management/minimal disruptions

- professional learning communities (PLCs)

- using manipulatives in for reading instruction

So since I don't quite have my act together yet, I went ahead and linked up with Farley's April Currently for today and I'll get back to you on some more interesting tidbits later.

Have a lovely Friday!  I hope the sun is shining in your 'hood!