90 Second Newberry

My professors are constantly emailing us about good authentic problems, resources for our classrooms, and ongoing contests.  I usually look at them, but never find anything that I like or is realistic to accomplish in my classroom.  Today I was directed to this site http://jameskennedy.com/90-second-newbery/.  This is a a video contest for taking a Newberry winning or honorary novel and telling the story in a very condensed 90 second video!  My fifth graders love to read and love drama.  I thought this would be a perfect way to end my year with them.  An added bonus is this is an authentic problem that I did not have to make up!  Now I'm working on the design of this activity.  Should I assign them groups and the novel?  Should I assign them groups and allow them to choose their novel?  Should I display the list of books and let them choose both the book and their group members?  Should I use flip cameras or try to get video cameras?  Unfortunately I do not have any apple technology available because that would be preferred.  I'm very excited about this end of the year project! As soon as the reading SOL is over we will get started on it!  If it goes smoothly, I could consider doing it again in the fall with my new fifth graders since the contest goes until October 29th.

Science SOL Wiki

This week I am going to introduce the Wiki I made to help review for the Science SOL.  I got the idea in class when we were talking about the possible uses for a Wiki.  One of my classmates, Heather, already created one and has been using it with her science students.  She invited me to her Wiki so I could see how she set it up.  I loved all her ideas and created mine to look quite a bit like hers.  The only difference is my Wiki is part of our blackboard site since I'm not allowed to use anything that the kids have to log in to (with the exception of blackboard).  I created a new page for every science unit that was covered in 4th and 5th grade.  Within the page the students have to list and define key vocabulary, explain key concepts, list noteworthy scientists in this field, write about labs and activities that were done in class, and link resources.  I'm going to show the students in class how to add information and add links to outside sources.  They are going to be responsible for adding to the page at home.  I've created a schedule so they know what page to update and when.  Cross your fingers for good results!  I'll keep you posted about how it goes...

Tossing Out Technology

Yesterday I took my students to the tech lab to use Map Maker's Toolkit to create a map of Africa.  I gave them a list of 11 things they needed to include on their map.  Issues started almost immediately, as did the whining!  Our server was being temperamental and not allowing students to log in.  Once they could finally log in, they were then having trouble accessing the Internet.  Those that got online were having trouble finding the information they needed.  When it came time to save the little work they accomplished, we had trouble saving due to the same issues with the server.  At the end of the class I told my frustrated fifth graders that tomorrow I was going to give them a piece of paper and an atlas and they were going to accomplish the task this way.

Today at Social Studies I had my papers, pencils, atlases, and the Social Studies text book ready for the kids.  Aside from a few reminders on how to use an index and reassuring the few perfectionists that their drawing was good enough, the class went very smoothly.  Now I realize this goes against everything I have been learning about and believe in.  Once in awhile it is okay to do things the "old fashioned" way. 

This lesson could have also been improved had I spent more time in designing it.  I could have found useful websites ahead of time.  I could also spend time learning Google Earth and then I wouldn't have to depend on Map Maker's Toolkit.  This is why reflecting is so important at the end of the day!  There are always lessons to be learned and a better way to do it next time.

Online Testing

     Recently my county and the state has been pushing online testing.  Our SOL science test is online this year and we field tested the 5th grade writing test online as well (after we took it paper and pencil). We also took our third quarter E-cart tests online (County benchmark test).  I have mixed feelings about these online assessments.  It is very nice and easy to take the test online.  It is also nice to have the results immediately and not have to grade them by hand.  At the same time the immediate results can be discouraging to a student that did not do so well.  Especially if that student studied and tried their best.  For example a few of my students were very upset with themselves after they saw their math test score for the E-cart.  The E-cart test was challenging and there were a few questions that we have not taught yet.  It was unfortunate that we took the math test first and the reading the next day.  Some of the students were discouraged and did not try as hard on the reading test. At least the SOL's do not give you immediate results.
    Since next year all the SOL's and E-carts will be online, we have been encouraged to give our own online assessments.  I have been creating and giving my science unit tests online using Horizons, which is the same system that creates the E-cart.  Once again it has been nice to get results immediately and not have to grade them by hand.  It has also been nice to not have to copy 27 tests.  However I  find it difficult to report the results to parents.  The students and parents can view the results on our blackboard site.  Not all parents take this extra step and some parents do not have the ability to check blackboard. 
  My other gripe about all the online testing is that it takes up valuable computer lab time.  It was impossible to get in to the computer lab the last two weeks before spring break because of all the E-cart testing.  It is also going to be impossible to get in to the lab during the two week window for SOLs.  My fifth graders have a Global Awareness Technology Project to complete and this is going to be quite the challenge if we are missing the technology.  If the state and the county want us to use technology to assess, then they need to provide more technology

Video Editing

We have been learning about digital video editing in class right now and it is really cool!  I would love to try this new tool out in my classroom.  I've been trying to figure out a good way to integrate it into my curriculum.  I could have the kids make video trailers for their favorite books or create a how to video based on their how-to essays.  I was also thinking I could use the video editing in science in some way.  The problem with all these ideas is this task is way too time consuming!!  This sort of project may have to wait until after SOLs.

I tried to encourage some of my students to create their own video at home for a skit they created.  They were really excited about the idea and actually all got together over the weekend.  When they left school on Friday they were talking about imovie and their ipads.  However, they couldn't figure out how to zoom out and were having trouble fitting everyone in their scenes.  I was impressed that they tried and wished that I could have been there to help them. 

Stay tuned for a later post when I am brave enough to try this new tool out in my classroom!

Microsoft One Note

   The blog assignment this week is to research and discuss the possibilities of a Web 2.0 tool.  I've been googling some possibilities, but nothing is really catching my eye.  I've already discussed the benefits of blackboard along with blogs, wikis, and podcasts.  Although this may technically be a Web 2.0 tool, I've decided to talk about Microsoft One Note.
    I began using One Note this year as a way of sharing my gradebook with the other fifth grade teachers.  Now that our report cards are online, there is no need to use this tool anymore.  My fifth graders are about to begin their Global Awareness Technology Project.  This is a group research project that is presented with a technology tool like Power Point or Share.  The students have to do a lot of research, take notes, and site their sources.  Our SBTS showed us how to use One Note as a way for the group to share their notes.  The neat thing about One Note is that all group members can be on at the same time.  It continuously syncs all the new information.  This is a perfect way for a group to work collaboratively on a project!

Aldrin Authors

This week our professor has asked us to revisit a lesson we planned during our summer semester.  We learned about web-based learning last summer and for our final project we had to create a lesson involving the world wide web and an activity structure. (What's that? - check here Curriculum-Based Telecollaboration).  Now in our final spring semester we are learning about all the capabilities and possibilities of Web 2.0.  We have been tasked with revising our summer projects to include Web 2.0 components.  Continue reading to learn about my origninal final project and then how Web 2.0 makes it even better!

Aldrin Authors:

Buzz Aldrin Elementary students will now have the opportunity to be published authors!  Mrs. Johnson’s fifth grade language arts class will be responsible for establishing the quarterly theme, reading the submitted work and selecting appropriate samples, contacting the authors if changes need to be made, and organizing the published pieces on the newsletter.  All students K-6 are eligible to submit work connecting to the given theme.  Submissions will be collected for a month and then displayed for a month.  Each quarter the cycle will repeat.  

Web 2.0 allows users to add and edit information directly to the website.  If I were to actually implement this idea in my classroom I would create the Aldrin Author site as a blackboard account.  Blackboard allows me to enroll all students in the school in the course.  I would designate the fifth graders as instructors so they have editing priviledges.  They can upload the students writing and edit the pages.  Blackboard would also allow us to add a discussion board where students can chat about their published work.  A blog can also be added for additional opportunities to publish their thoughts.

I still like the idea of creating a site that publishes student work.  Our PTA does a quarterly newsletter which publishes student writing and drawings.  I could work with the PTA to make a blackboard site and put the newsletter online.  I still think this is an appropriate project for 5th graders since they spend much of the year focusing on writing in preparation for the writing SOL. 

Podcast Possibilities

According to the book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts "Podcasting is basically the creation and distribution of amateur radio, plain and simple." (Richardson, 110).  Technology has made this form of communication very easy to create.  Because of this ease and simplicity in creation, podcasts are ideal for classroom use.  It affords students with a fun, creative way to express their ideas.  There are endless possibilities for lesson ideas in all grade levels. I'm very excited to start using this tool in my 5th grade classroom.

I've been toying with several possibilities for using podcast in my classroom.  We will  be studying the historical fiction genre next month.  I thought it would be fun for the kids to create interviews of the characters in the books they read.  They could think of questions to ask and also come up with answers that they think the characters would give.  Since we will be using historical fiction novels the students would have to some background knowledge about the time period or setting of their book.  I think this would be a great way to really talk about the importance of historical fiction.  It would also be a fun way to do a book project in place of a boring book report.

Now if this is going to be a true ITS lesson it needs to have an authentic problem.  I am terrible at coming up with these creative real-life scenarios.  I've used a few of them in my classroom this year and I feel like I have lost all credibility with my kids.  Any ideas for a really great and convincing authentic problem?

Wiki Wondering

We recently discussed Wiki's in Grad School and it got me thinking about how I could incorporate Wiki's in my classroom.  Blackboard has a wiki tool that can be easily used in my classroom.  After hearing about how other teachers are using Wiki's, I thought I could use it as a fun, interactive way to review.  Usually my social studies and language arts classes are my Guinea pigs for trying out new technology tools.  This time I would like to involve my math and science classes.  I think I'm going to create a Wiki for reviewing our latest science unit before the test.  Students will have to enter information and correct inaccurate entries during class time.  That at home they can use the site as a study guide.  I also thought I could create a problem solving wiki for math class.  We work on problem solving all year round and I'm constantly giving the kids little hints or strategies for finding a solution.  How great would it be if we could keep track of all the strategies we have learned about.  The Wiki could list steps and give examples.  It could also include links to practice sites that have games and sample problems.  My professor also told me about another teacher that created a wiki for book recommendations.  I teach advanced reading and I have a hard time getting my kids to do anything but reading.  They are constantly asking for book recommendations since they read so much.  It would be nice to be able to refer them to a wiki site where they could find summaries and personal recommendations from other students about books. 

Now that I have all these great ideas, I have to find the time to implement them.  Stay tuned to see how it goes!

Blogging blues

I started using the blog tool available on our blackboard site last year with my second graders. I would post prompts like "What is your favorite winter activity." or "what are your plans for the weekend." The second graders loved it, but often only replied in short phrases or one sentnce. When I moved to fifth grade I created similar prompts and the fifth graders responded with more detailed answers. They also started treating it like I chat room. I would hear comments like "I'll be on the blog at 6, meet me there". Then I would see posts like "hello..where is everyone." After a class discussion the fifth graders understood the purpose for the blog. As this year as gone on the students have been asking for their own blogs where they have more freedom to post their ideas. I made an account with Edublogs and was all set to introduce it in the computer lab. Then I had a conversation with my SBTS and said technically those sites are not permitted in my school district. Apparently anything that requires a username and password are not allowed. Since I'm already breaking that rule with spelling city, I thought that it would be best not to add another. So that left me with the blog tool on blackboard. I played around with the tool and discovered that you can create individual blogs that serve as private journals. Only the student and the instructor can view what is written. While this is not ideal for a blog, I thought this would be perfect for reading response journals. So next week instead of writing in their composition books, the students will be posting to their blog. This not only saves paper but it saves me from lugging 24 composition books home each night.

I still would love for the kids to have a blog where other students can comment on. Apparently our blackboard is being updated over the summer with new features and becoming mobile friendly. Maybe they will improve the blog tool.

Computer Counter OCD

Okay now that I just vented about my technical frustrations I will tell you about my frustrations with the computer counter set up.  Each morning I arrange the laptops on my counter so they are evenly spaced and has a chair pushed underneath.  Each afternoon I find the computers all scattered on the counter, not plugged in and chairs missing!  I ofcourse have vented my frustrations to the students, but that doesn't seem to have helped.  My latest idea was to put stickers on the counter and telling the students to make sure a laptop is on top of each sticker.  This has somewhat worked, but I don't think it is a permanent solution.  Any other anal teachers out there have any ideas??

Technical Frustrations

One of my biggest pet peeves in my classroom is when the technology does not work.  I have 5 laptops in my classroom and more often than not only 3 of them are in good working order.  The usual problems include freezing, no internet connection, or the students are unable to log in.  When the computers do not have these three problems the students still complain that they are running too slow. 
I recently planned two days of math stations in my classroom which promoted differentiation and individualized assignments for my students (huge push in my county right now).  I was so proud of the hard work I put in planning these centers and was very pleased when the students were enjoying their work and actually learning something.  Right up until the fabulous algebra games I found online could not be accessed because the computers were not working - surprise, surprise!  I had to stop working with my small group in order to try to remedy the problem with the computers.  I was unable to fix the problem and had to tell the students to go get a laptop from the cart in the hall.  This is a terrible solution because it takes those computers at least 5 minutes to start up and then halft the time they have a problem.  Needless to say I was no longer proud of centers.  The group on the computers were not learning anything and I abandoned my small group. 

However, this Tech Savvy teacher is not discouraged.  Next week I'm going to incorporate math menus and if the computer is not working then the students just have to go to the next thing on their menu.

Check out two of the fabulous algebra games that my students did not get to enjoy...
http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/alg.cgi

http://www.vectorkids.com/vkvariable.htm

Blackboard 24/7 Learning

My school district uses Blackboard 24/7 Learning and it is required that every teacher or grade level team maintain a page.  My team decided that we would create a 5th grade page.  Our goal for our site is to include links to useful websites, teacher contact information, digital copies of flyers and newsletters, study guides and project details, and quarterly plans.  We have also included a tab for each teacher so they can add any additional information.  My tab includes homework assignments and unit outlines.

I have done a decent job of maintaining my blackboard site for the past few years.  Since I moved to fifth from second grade this year, I made it a goal to utilize more of the tools that blackboard offers such as blogs and discussion boards.  I created discussion boards for my Language Arts class as part of their requirements for book clubs.  Each week I required the students to post one new thread and reply to someone else's thread.  This worked very well and the kids seemed to enjoy it.  I also used the blog tool as a way to allow students to post their thoughts.  I would post a prompt or a question and the students would reply.  It got challenging to read because the strands were so long.  Since we are required to write a lesson plan using blogs, I thought I would create a blog thread for each student and allow them to post their thoughts about something.  My plan right now is to use this blog as a replacement for their reading response journals.  Instead of writing in their journal about the book they are reading, they can post on the blog.  I can then check the blog and respond like I would normally do in their journals. 

Any thoughts on my idea?  Suggestions for improvement?

Here is a screen shot of one of my blog posts.