Connecting the Dots

Mind Mapping

      Many students have a hard time "Connecting the Dots" organizing their ideas and putting them to paper. This is where Mind Mapping comes in. Students can create a mind map easily while keeping organized. Students are able add pictures, colors, fonts all while having fun and while drawing connections from one idea to another.

Assignment

       Students will define differences between elements in different types of poems, find their own example of each and add a picture.  Students can choose from the following apps Coggle, Mindmap or Popplet.

Link
Teacher example

UEN-English Language Arts Grade 4
Reading: Literature Standard 5

      Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.

UEN Ed Tech-Standard 5

      Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

ISTE-Creative Communicator

      Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals.

Blast Off!

Google Slides

         Have you ever wanted to blast off into outer space? With Google Slides you can! Google Slides is a wonderful tool that students and teachers can use for group work, collaboration, presentations and much more. Google Slides lets  a group submit photos, videos and text to make a beautiful presentation that is able to be used where ever they are, whether they are on Neptune or right here on planet Earth.

Assignment

         Students will use Google Slides to collaborate in groups. Each group will consist of 3-4 students. Each group will choose one planet to present on. Presentations will consist of 5 slides,  have at least 5 facts about the planet, and 5 photos of the planet. Let's get intergalactic!

Links

Moon Phases

UEN-Science 3rd Grade

Objective 1                 
Explain that the sun is the source of light that lights the moon.            

UEN Ed Tech-Standard 5

             Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

ISTE- Global Collaborator

I strive to broaden my perspective, understand others and work effectively in teams using digital tools.

Do Not Fall Down the Rabbit Hole

 YouTube

YouTube is awesome! There is so much information on YouTube that can help with every subject imaginable. There are tutorials on how to do your makeup, how to change your oil and how to make your grandma’s homemade apple pie. Why not use it for education in the classroom?

When writing a story students can get confused with the differences between nouns and pronouns, verbs and adverbs, conjunctions, and the list goes on. YouTube is a wonderful tool to not only help inform students but also entertain and inspire. Below are some great links to videos that will help students with a writing assignment.

A word of caution: Anyone using YouTube should be aware that in addition to entertaining and informative information, there is also information that is not suitable for students to view. Students should be monitored while using YouTube.

Another risk of using YouTube is what I like to call “The Rabbit Hole Effect”. A student can easily fall down the “rabbit hole” when searching topics on YouTube. We’ve all done it, we start by looking up a specific topic and before we know it we are watching cute baby seals play in the water and, what was I talking about?? Oh yes, DON’T FALL DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.

LINKS

MY LIST

UEN-English Language Arts Grade 3

Language Standard 1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Independently and legibly write all upper- and lowercase cursive letters.
b. Produce grade-appropriate text using legible cursive writing.
c. Explain the function of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in general and their functions in particular sentences.
d. Form and use regular and irregular plural nouns.
e. Use abstract nouns (e.g., childhood).
f. Form and use regular and irregular verbs.
g. Form and use the simple (e.g., I walked; I walk; I will walk) verb tenses.
h. Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.*
i. Form and use comparative and superlative adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified.
j. Use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
k. Produce simple, compound, and complex sentences.

UEN- Ed Tech Standard 5
Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, and scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

ISTE- 5. Digital citizenship

Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.

What's Up Doc?

Google Docs

       Google Docs is an excellent way to stay connected with parents to let them know “What’s Up?” in your classroom. However, it has many other uses, it can help students collaborate with each other on group projects, communicate with their teachers in real time, it is also perfect for teachers to share ideas and projects with each other. Using Google Docs in the classroom is a Win-Win-Win for everyone!

       I am going to use Google Docs for a math activity to help kindergarten students recognize shapes in different sizes and orientations.  Teachers can keep this high tech and have students use the paint buttons to fill in the shapes with the assigned colors or it can be low tech using regular old crayons to color in the different shapes.

Assignment: Color all of the triangles red. Color all of the squares green. Color all of the circles orange. Here is the example with the link below.

Link
Google Doc Shapes

UEN- Kindergarten

Math: Geometry Standard 2
Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall sizes.


UEN- Ed Tech Standard 5

Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)


ISTE- Computational Thinker

I identify authentic problems, work with data and use a step-by-step process to automate solutions.

...And Then What Happened?

 Infographics

            Have you ever retold a story and forgot what events took place in which order? Many students have this same problem. Being able to read and then remember characters and events in a story sequence is an obstacle that many new readers have. To help in overcoming this obstacle we will use a tool called Infographics. 
          What is Infographics? Infographics are an awesome way to engage a visual learner.  Infographics are a technology tool that can be used in all types of settings.  A student can use Infographics hand in hand with their creativity to make fliers, posters, graphs, the list is endless.

Assignment: For this project students will use a template to create timeline for the story we read in class The Three Little Pigss. Students can introduce characters and sequence events in chronological order. There are so many possibilities!
          Students can make it look however they wish, try a new tech tool, show that they can correctly sequence events in a story, share with their class mates and most importantly use their imagination!
Must have a title and contains at least 3 pictures.

Links
Make your own Infographic using Vengage
My Infographic Example



UEN- Grade 3
Reading: Literature Standard 3

Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.

UEN- Ed Tech Standard 5

Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

ISTE- Creative Communicator

I communicate effectively and express myself creatively using different tools, styles, formats and digital media.

Is it Living? Is it Non-living? Was it Once Living?

                                    

Pinterest             

There are Living and Non-living things all around us. I am excited to explore with students how to identify whether something is Living, Non-living or Once Living. We will be discussing the differences and doing a few experiments in the classroom to determine the category of different things which will answer the questions; Is it Living? Is it Non-living? Was it Once Living?

We will also be collaborating on a Class Pinterest board to allow students to show what they have learned and help us add to our knowledge!

           Using technology is a fun way to learn new things. Technology in the classroom engages all types of learning styles and helps us to explore our world in different and exciting ways. We can use technology to share the things that we learn with others easily and effectively. Pinterest is a technology tool that allows us to collaborate/share ideas with others and learn with hands-on experiences.

Assignment: Students will add pins to Class Pinterest board using the criteria we have learned.  There must be 3 pins classified as Living; 3 pins classified as Non-living; and 3 pins classified as Once Living.

Link
Living? Nonliving? Once Living?

UEN- Ed Tech Standard 7

Use telecommunications and on-line resources (e.g., email, online discussions, web environments) to participate in collaborative problem-solving activities to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (4, 5

UEN- Contents Science grade 3

Standard 2- objective 1
a. Identify characteristics of living things (i.e., growth, movement, reproduction).
b. Identify characteristics of nonliving things.
c. Classify living and nonliving things in an environment

ISTE- 2 Communication and Collaboration

Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.

Teaching is an Art

As I reflect on my field work observation, I ask myself what did I learn about this experience? What stands out the most?
First and foremost, I appreciate the work and patience that goes into being good teacher. The good ones make it look easy. IT'S NOT EASY. There are so many things that a teacher must know and do behind the scenes, when the class is not even there. A good teacher can multitask, walk a tight rope between administration and parents, while teaching a student that they matter.
The thing that stands out the most is, how much I enjoyed being in the schools with the students. It was tiring, but so rewarding. I am glad that I had the opportunity to do this. I am confident in my choice to pursue this as a career.
"I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit."

John Steinbeck