So, sorry about the delayed blog post. I have not been MIA, but simply launching a new website, The Classroom Cafe. The new site resulted after my friend and co-worker, Kathleen, and I left Curriculum Camp so excited about the many ideas shared by presenters and our co-workers alike. At the camp, we had talked about incorporating fun curriculum challenges into next year's faculty meetings (kind of like they do on all of the Food Network shows like Cupcake Wars and Top Chef). We hoped those of us who chose to participate would be stretched professionally as we attempted to incorporate new ideas and strategies into our classrooms. We knew we wanted a place to share successes, show pictures, reveal challenge items, and host weekly videos; thus, The Classroom Cafe was born. The website creator of choice was Weebly! I am sure I am late to the party (it was listed as one of Time's 50 best websites in 2007!!!) , but I must say this is the quickest and easiest website builder I have ever used (so, of course, I felt I should share with you:). If you are unfamiliar with it like I was, it something that YoU CaN SO dO!
It was LitErAlLy a drag and drop process with extensive choices to customize my very own site. I spent most of my time creating original artwork using my favorite Promethean software, but I could have just as easily used one of their many templates.
It was fun and satisfying to build the site in a weekend, which caused me to wonder how my students would respond to a similar challenge. Weebly has educational accounts for both teachers and students. Besides the obvious class website for hosting study guides, class notes, and tutorials, Weebly can be utilized by students to communicate research, house an electronic portfolio, share favorite books, report school happenings, demonstrate content knowledge using video, podcasts, and demonstrations, or host an online art gallery. Truly, the possibilities are endless. If you have not tried Weebly, I highly recommend it. It's free! It's easy! It's worth checking out!
My mind is still spinning with ideas as I reflect on last week's Curriculum Camp. Switching to Block Schedule, 90 minute sessions everyday, has me thinking about the number of activities I need to plan for each class period. We will be on 4 x 4, where the students will take 4 classes for the 1st semester and 4 classes during the 2nd semester. I was thinking that if I were teaching the same subject to different students both semesters, I could simply reuse the ideas and activities that worked during the Fall and tweak or discard those that didn't quite go as planned. However, I do not teach the same subject twice, but I do teach the same students both semester - aaah! No re-gifting activites :)
I like to have one extra, over the top little something going on once a week. Often, it centers around some sort of assessment of knowledge, which allows the students to continue to practice the big ideas beyond a worksheet or problems from the end of the chapter (Eww - Who really likes 40 practice problems lined up like neat little soldiers?) During the Curriculum Camp we briefly touched on using games in the classroom, so I started ReALly thinking about "beyond the normal" ideas. My motto is AlwAys: Go BIG or Go HomE!!! Here is what I came up with so far: Human Graphing: Use tape to make a huge coordinate plane on the floor. Assign each student a number. I thought it would be fun to pin their numbers to their shirts like runners get at a marathon to make them true Mathletes! This would be their "number" to plug into parent functions. They would then graph themselves on the coordinate plane. Human Fooseball: How can this be educational??? I don't know, but it looks so fun that I have to try it!!! The only thing I can come up with so far is have teams who score a goal, answer a review question for an "extra" point. If the team, cannot correctly answer the question, the opposing team gets a turn to steal. Giant Sorry: The game Sorry has about 20 -24 pieces - perfect to get all students involved. I thought I could tape pre-determined questions to the floor in the shape of the Sorry game board. As the students move around the game board, they would need to correctly answer questions or face a penalty of moving backwards. Dance, Dance Revolution: I ordered these last year and have yet to unpack them :/ Amazing Race with Google Earth: I have found lots of ideas online for creating a classroom Amazing Race. I am still sorting through this to make it applicable to my subject matter. GeoCaching: I love online caches, but I was thinking something outside. QR Code Scavenger Hunt: Finally, found something that will work. I will share more later! Snapguides: Have students create tutorials using Snapguide Screencasts: Assign each student a question from the study guide to create a tutorial. Post screencasts on an interactive study guide using Dabbleboard, Google presentation, or Prezi Write a Short Story: The Story of X and how he found himself. Publish short stories on class blog. 100's Chart Game: One of my all time favorites that I usually use on St. Paddy's Day. Algebra vs The Cockroaches:Online flash game Graph a Wave Party: Intro activity to introduce graphing trig waves complete with a little beach ball fun.
Clue: Maybe this year I can add costumes??? I found a great example of how others have embellished the activity with lots of props. I can't wait to transform my own classroom!!! You Tube Turkey Hunt: Ok, technically this is a worksheet, but the students find a prize on You Tube and then get cupcakes at the feast. CuPcAkeS and MaTh - no better morning!!! Jenga: Not sure about this one. I need to have someone who has actually played Jenga help me, but in the meantime, I have found a great example of how the game was used as a test prep tool. Virtual Piano: I will be using this at Christmas time this year. Self-checking activity in which students complete multiple choice questions and then play their answers on the keyboard. If the answers are correct, the answers should yield a recognizable tune. The students did not recognize the fight song last year; maybe they will get Jingle Bells easier. ClassTools' War of Worlds: This is my standard "go-to" activity that I use for Open House, Back to School Night, and test review. The students never realize they are working 30 plus problems in a matter of minutes.
Socrative's Space Race: I need to think of Space Prizes to make this activity OuT of ThiS WoRLd. Maybe this is where I can use the black light and glow in the dark bracelets. I still trying to think of a way to incorporate these into an activity.
Hula Hoop Venn Diagrams: Why do graphic organizers need to be limited to a sheet a paper. Why not make them a group activity by making them life size? (I know, it is obvious I have become a bit obsessed with life sized games, but they look so fun. Take a quick peek at Scrabble and Chess. I am thinking these might be fun to play at lunch one day:)
While this list is in no way comprehensive, it does give me a spring board for planning lessons on the block. Some activities I have done before; others, I still need to wrap my mind around. WhAt am I MiSSinG? Do YOU have an AcTivIty that YOU will ShAre with me?
This year marked Evangel's fourth annual Curriculum Camp! The three day, fun filled event was packed again this summer, as participants learned more about teaching on block schedule, using qr codes to enrich lessons, flipping the classroom, and professional development opportunities accessible from home. On Day 1, Cathy Carroll introduced a quote by John Strebe, "Teaching in a block schedule is like eternity, and eternity is spent in one of two places." According to Cathy, planning will make all of the difference. She was supposed to share a wealth of ideas for teaching English on block. What we quickly realized however, was that this mAstEr TeaCHeR was sharing GreEAt teaching StraTeGies that would work in AnY SuBjeCt. Her practical tips included having students record notes on butcher paper posted around the room, allowing students to write on the board, giving students graphic organizers to complete during direct instruction, whiteboard races, red ticket review, exit slips, pipe cleaner structures, old timey show and tell (students bring something from home related to content being studied), incorporating music in the classroom (maybe have the students select songs that relate to content), work one - check one (pairs of students are assigned two problems each works JUST one and checks the other), and voting with your feet (students stand by a poster with a number 1 - 3 that reflects how much they agree or disagree with the topic being discussed). This veteran teacher of 37 years encouraged us to inspire students to become lifelong learners by making the content relevant to their lives. She said, "If you show the kids how the subject relates to them, THEN they will learn it."
Kim Caise was booked to discuss QR Codes in the classroom. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties we were unable to connect to Kim live, but we were able to link to a previously recorded Classroom 2.0 Live session. With phones loaded with QR readers like I-Nigma and BeeTag, we followed along as we saw QR codes placed in textbooks, on artwork, in libraries, and more! The webinar made such an impression that everyone continued to discuss the use of these quick read codes for the duration of the camp.
On Day 2, our own Kathleen Frey introduced the idea of flipping the classroom. In a flipped class, a teacher leverages technology outside of class in order to maximize class time for student interaction, discussions, and projects.This idea caused quite a stir as camp attendees contemplated the possibilities. Paula Naugle joined us via Skype to present PD in Your PJs. She shared a wealth of free resources in which participants can use learn about anything at almost anytime. Some of Paula's favorites include webinars, YouTube channels, podcasts, Twitter, Diigo, and Pinterest. From #edchats to Saturday morning educational programming, resources are readily available to continue to grow professionally.
Oh, so many ideas packed into just three short mornings! Thank you to all who presented and those who attended. I don't know about you, but the collaboration and camaraderie left me feeling ENeRGizEd, ExciTed, and EaGeR for next year.
I installed Apple TV into my classroom this week. I was so excited about adding a component that would allow students to be an integral part of the teaching and learning process by making it easy for students to share their work via the "mirroring" application. The students were able to use their phones or one of the iPads in the classroom to be actively engaged in the lesson. I am still planning for 1:1 iPad integration next year and am beginning to organize lessons to include a variety of apps. This week, I introduced Dropbox, Screen Chomp, and ShowMe. We had several students out due to sports playoffs. It was so easy to upload their assignments and Study Guides via a shared folder in Dropbox. The students loved the ease of the app and actually used it for an English assignment later in the week. With Screen Chomp and ShowMe, "early finishers" created content tutorials for their peers. After we watched the students' creations via Apple TV, I added QR code links to the videos and posted them on practice problems hung around our classroom. Students were able to use the video tutorials as a helpline as needed. As hoped, the students found the screen castings to be especially helpful. During one class period, a few students actually passed an iPad around the room to watch the videos to jog their memory for a Bell Ringer activity. I can certainly see the value in having student created videos. It is a real and relevant addition that allows students to get assistance anywhere and at any time.
Mobile 2012 was amazing! Thanks to Tony Vincent and the Arizona K-12 Center for hosting another great learning opportunity. From meeting awesome educators to being challenged in my thinking, it was everything for which one could hope. There was certainly no shortage of apps or hands-on learning opportunities! I came home with so many ideas my head was spinning, but it was others' beliefs about teaching and learning that I found myself reflecting on most. Here is a recap as told in tweets:
Education is the most powerful weapon that can change the
I am here at Mobile 2012 learning so much about effective integration of iPods, iPads, netbooks, laptops, tablets, web tools, and phones into the K-12 classroom. Today is Geeky T-Shirt Day, so I thought I would share (via a QR Code on my shirt) a few of my favorite apps that I use in the classroom and at home and podcasts that I listen to regularly.
Apps for the Classroom: Splashtop, Socrative, Rover, Cinch, Skitch, Evernote, iTunes U, Skitch
Apps for Fun: HootSuite, Flipboard, Echofon, Buffer, Pinterest
Podcasts/Vodcasts: Classroom 2.0 Live, Two Tech Chicks, Learning in Hand, TechChef4U
Spring Break is about to come to a close and I am excited to go back to work. I have spent the break learning through blogs, webinars, podcasts, and twitter. I have so many ideas I want to try before my students leave for summer break - many with iPads and Apple TV.
I have had 1:1 computers in my classroom for the past several years and the students have used them to complete projects, assignments, and reinforce ideas. While I am an avid Apple fan (I camped out to get the new one :D ), I have been hesitant to migrate to iPads due to the lack of flash capabilities. I teach dual enrollment math. All of the students' assignments are online and most require Adobe Flash Player. However, over the break I investigated Rover. While Rover has mixed reviews with noted concerns regarding bandwidth, the two web-based services we use worked fine.
Excited about the possibilities, I have generated a mind map about the various ways iPads could be integrated into the current classroom structure.
This preliminary list is by no means exhaustive. In fact, I know I am only scratching the surface; it doesn't include project based learning activities, vodcasting, blogging, or wikis.
I have access to three iPads and I am installing Apple TV this weekend. I plan to begin experimenting Monday. If it works as I hope it will, I will just need to convince IT to let us try 1:1 iPads next year. Fingers crossed!
So, sorry about the delayed blog post. I have not been MIA, but simply launching a new website, The Classroom Cafe. The new site resulted after my friend and co-worker, Kathleen, and I left Curriculum Camp so excited about the many ideas shared by presenters and our co-workers alike. At the camp, we had talked about incorporating fun curriculum challenges into next year's faculty meetings (kind of like they do on all of the Food Network shows like Cupcake Wars and Top Chef). We hoped those of us who chose to participate would be stretched professionally as we attempted to incorporate new ideas and strategies into our classrooms. We knew we wanted a place to share successes, show pictures, reveal challenge items, and host weekly videos; thus, The Classroom Cafe was born.
