Hello, everyone! This week in Science, we will continue with our force and motion unit. We are a little behind, so our assessment will hold off until next week. Students are working on several activities in class to help them understand the laws of motion better. In math, we are beginning to work on the skill of telling time to the nearest minute. It is important that students master this in order to move on to our next concept of elapsed time. We will use the following clip: https://jr.brainpop.com/math/time/timetotheminute/ and also watch the LearnZillion lesson: https://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/8531-reading-the-exact-minute-on-a-clock#fndtn-lesson Another great tool is the Interactive clock: http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/ClassClock/clockres.html Students will also begin a time recording sheet and different times throughout the day, I will ask them to record the time. This real world practice will help them in mastering this skill. We are working on Math 4 Today #7 with our assessment on Friday. I have attached the study sheet below. The newsletter is also attached. Please do not forget to continue working on your fact practice log for homework!
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As I progress with the goals I have set in my GAME plan, I will document my reflection and development. To recap, the indicators I have chosen for my goals are as follows: Indicator: “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (ISTE, 2008). Indicator: “Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE, 2008). Are you finding the information and resources you need? Yes! I have enjoyed researching techniques for customizing and personalizing. I have also gained great insights as I interview my students and learn about their interest and the technology they have access to at home. As I was preparing to interview my students, I did a quick search online and found the cutest technology survey. I have it saved so that I can use it next year! Do you need to modify your action plan? At this point, I do not feel I need to modify my action plan. The only “snag” in my action plan is connecting community members to our “network”. I am still unsure how to appropriately do this. I considered introducing my students to the board members (virtually) and then introducing the board members to my students (through my blog). I could then solicit their responses when I post student work and production. I think these comments from the stakeholders would motivate students and would also enlighten the board members of what is actually going on inside my classroom. What have you learned so far? I have learned something extremely valuable – there are MANY children that do not have access to technology and/or the Internet at home. Yes, Mom may have a smart phone, but they are not allowed to use it. If I had 3 wishes, I would wish 1 – that each student had their own device for home, 2 – that each student had access to Internet from home, 3 – that each student would use it appropriately and for educational purposes only. …one can dream! What new questions have arisen? I have had many questions as I work with my students to determine their interest. I would think being a parent to a third grader would keep me “in the know”, but apparently not! I have had to ask many questions to clarify the many new technology apps/resources they have shared with me. Another question that I am dealing with has stemmed from conversation with administration. As we are infusing our classroom with technology and customizing their learning, THEIR question is…”What is being left out?” “What are you not doing now (that you were before) to allow time for technology?” and most importantly, “How will this affect our test scores?” Good questions – I’m not sure I have all of the answers at this point, although it has definitely made me reflect and rethink as we plan. References Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers Hello to all! We have started a new unit in SCIENCE on force and motion. I have attached the PASS Coach Lessons that the students already have in their binders. We will not test on this information until next week. We will be doing several activities in class this week to learn about Newton’s laws of motion, speed, force, position, direction, and distance. I am also going to include the links to the different Brain Pop, Jr. & Study Jams clips that we will use in class. Sometimes these help the students understand the concepts a little better. Please feel free to let them watch them at home again. Brain Pop, Jr. http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/forces/pushesandpulls/ http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/forces/gravity/preview.weml Study Jams http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/inertia.htm http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/acceleration.htm http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/action-and-reaction.htm http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/forces-and-motion/force-and-motion.htm In Math we are continuing to work with addition and subtraction. Practice makes perfect! We are working on Math 4 Today #6 and our assessment will be on Friday. I have included the study guide as an attachment to this message. Students will get these on Wedensday. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. Graded test papers and Dojo reports will be sent home today. Please be sure to sign them and return them tomorrow. Also -- do not forget about the Face Practice Log. This is the ONLY homework I assign and it is only checked on Friday. Have a great day!
Last week I described my GAME plan to improve my use of technology in the classroom (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). As review I have the following goals: Indicator: “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (ISTE, 2008). Indicator: “Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE, 2008). I have started working on both goals at this point. For my first goal, I have created a survey and sent it home to parents. I have also started questioning and recording data from students about their technology use at home. For my second goal, I have created a mailing list of all parent emails for my homeroom and my switch class. I have also started emailing messages when I add a blog post to hopefully increase interest and promote regular visits. I have even mentioned my blog numerous times in class, pulled it up on the Promethean board, and demonstrated to students how to navigate through the site. I have also taken measures to display my web address in numerous locations around the classroom, in hopes that students will copy it down and access it from home. The resources needed for my goals will include various iPad apps according to student interests and learning styles, copies of the student surveys, and data recorded from the student interviews regarding technology. Resources such as other blogs and educational articles would definitely be beneficial when working towards my second goal. One website I have found very informative is: http://elearningindustry.com/how-to-use-blogs-in-the-classroom I feel that I am gradually working to organize my GAME plan and get things under way. I would still like to add an additional set of 3 iPads to my classroom. My class set of 24 just is not enough with a class of 26. I just want each child to have access to an iPad when we are customizing and personalizing their learning activities. I think it would also be great to have access to some itunes gift cards for purchasing some of the educational apps that may not be free. I am also still waiting on the information that will be provided in the student surveys. I am hopeful that by setting my goals, putting a plan into action, monitoring it, and evaluating my plan, then extending it I will develop a classroom that integrates technology flawlessly and facilitates all learners. References Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers
Good morning! I have included pictures for our banana observation from today. Tomorrow will be the last day for observations and we will draw our conclusion based on our data. Thank you to those that participated in our prediction survey.
Today we have been focusing on the process skill of OBSERVING. Students were shown the picture below for 1 minute and asked to make observations. After the minute, I took the picture away and asked questions about the picture. Students were amazed at how little the observed. This helped us understand the importance of taking clear notes when we observe and also the importance of paying attention to detail.
After the picture activity, I then showed them the video below. The directions give them something very specific to observe and then point out details that they may have missed during their observation. Try it out!
We will continue practicing the process skills throughout the week with an M&M activity. Students will also add new information to their Interactive Notebook for the process skills.
In Math, we are continuing with our focus on addition and subtraction with regrouping. We are working on Math 4 Today #5, with an assessment on Friday. Do not forget to continue working with the Fact Practice Log for homework. It is checked each Friday. Please remember that school pictures are tomorrow. Since we also have PE, it is appropriate to send a change of clothes/shoes for them to change into after pictures. Also, the last day to turn in Fundraiser Packets is THIS FRIDAY. Have a great week!
I am currently working on my Masters of Science Education, specializing in Integrating Technology in the Classroom. I am currently enrolled in a class entitled "Integrating Technology Across the Content Areas." For one of our first assignments, we are to develop a "GAME Plan", as modeled through our textbook (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). GAME is an acronym created to help guide and monitor professional development. This acronym stands for G - Goals, A - Action, M - Monitor, and E - Evaluate / Extend. As I have reviewed the National Education Standards for Teachers, I have identified two indicators that I would like to use as my goals (International Society for Technology in Education., 2008). G: The first indicator I have chosen to use for my goal is, “Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources” (ISTE, 2008). I would like to improve application of this indicator in my classroom, and also for my third grade math and science team. The second indicator that I have identified as an area for improvement is, "“Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (ISTE, 2008). A: In order to achieve my goals, I have to put a plan in action. For my first goal, I think it is important to get to know each student individually so that I can personalize their learning experiences. I will create a survey to send home to parents that asks personal questions about their child, how they learn, and also their exposure to technology. After receiving this information back, I will then work with each student during group time to observe them and note their learning styles and strategies. Students will then be grouped according to their similarities, and unique activities, digital tools and resources will be assigned to each group according to their diverse needs. For my second goal, I would like to create a "working network" of my students, peers, parents, and even community members by inviting them to our blog community. I would use my class blog to share work, presentations, class experiments, project, etc. and invite students, family, community member to offer feedback and posts replies. I would eventually like to allow my students to create the posts on our blog so that they are receiving the feedback directly for their work. M: For my first goal, I can monitor this by periodically meeting with each group to determine if I am customizing their learning according to the learning styles and abilities. I could create a "survey" to give to students after they have participated in an activity involving digital tools or resources to solicit their feedback and input. For my second goal, this would have to be monitored according to participation from the other members of our "working network". I could keep up with this by monitoring our blog stats and also keeping record of feedback/comments on each post. E: In order to evaluate and extend my goals, I would use the surveys provided by the students. I would reflect upon their feedback and adapt their groups and/or activities according to their success within the activity. The second goal would need evaluation on a weekly basis. As I monitor the stats and comments, I would possibly offer "contests" or "perks" for participating in different posts. If the collaboration through blogging is successful, it could be extended by having them participate in Skype conferences/interviews, completing Google documents/forms, and sharing through VoiceThread or other similar programs. I definitely believe that setting goals is important for all teachers, especially where technology is concerned. The introductory passage for Chapter 2 in our textbook continues to resonate in my mind as I consider goals for myself and my students. It reads: "Over the last few decades, as technology has become more prevalent in our everyday lives, both educators and business and industry leaders have increasingly stressed the importance of developing students' creative and critical thinking skills. As a nation, we want our students to be good thinkers, and we want our schools to teach thinking. One reason for this relatively new emphasis may be that new technologies have allowed computers to do the kinds of work that are readily automated (i.e., require little thinking), which then allows people to move into those jobs that computers can't do readily (i.e., require the ability to make subtle decisions and solve complex problems). A second reason is that, due to the rapid pace at which technologies are changing, the work place is also changing quickly. This puts a premium on teaching students how to learn as opposed to teaching specific skills that will be obsolete by the time they enter the workforce" (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2010). Such a lengthy quote, but of high importance. I hope that in the future I will remember this as I create lessons for my students, learn more about technology, and set goals for myself and my classroom. It's my job to teach them HOW to learn...and right now, I believe technology plays a major roll in this! References Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National education standards for teachers (NETS-T). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers
Today in Science, we learned about the science process skill of INFERENCING. This is a difficult concept for 3rd graders because it is hard for them to decipher between observations, inferences, and predictions.
We discussed that OBSERVATIONS are facts that we collect using our 5 senses or by measuring. PREDICTIONS are our thoughts about what might happen in the future. An INFERENCE is what we think according to our observations, and prior knowledge. I shared the following video with students in class, and I wanted to share it so that they can watch it again at home. Students automatically make the mistake of saying “It’s a candle” as their observation, when actually “It’s a candle” would be an inference.
Having your students practice this at home with everyday situations would be extremely helpful to them. On your way to school, have them make an observation about what they see…infer what they think…and predict what will happen next.
I am also including an example:
We made more observations on our bananas today. Below are some pictures for those that are following up from the survey posted previously.
We are working our way through the scientific method again with The Great Banana Experiment. We will also be practicing our process skills.
Today, we made our hypothesis. Students chose: How we store the bananas WILL make a difference in the freshness (OR) How we store the bananas WILL NOT make a difference in the freshness. We then brainstormed locations and ways to store the bananas and chose 3 different options for our experiment. We placed one in the refrigerator, wrapped one in foil and placed it on the counter, and stored one in a bowl on the counter. We also discussed the difference in a hypothesis and predicting. Students recorded a prediction of which banana would stay freshest. We hope that you will participate and record your prediction in the survey above! We will continue observing the bananas through the next week and recording our observations in our science journals. Check out this cool trick for rotten bananas... we might have to test out this theory once our bananas decay!
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great Labor Day holiday this past weekend. Below, you will find a video of pictures from the completion of our science tool unit last week. These guys are definitely experts now!
This week we will be focusing on science process skills: observing, measuring, classifying, inferring, predicting, and communicating. We will practice these skills within a scientific investigation about banana freshness. Today we watched Sid the Science Kid episode as seen below. Our driving question for this week is "How can we keep our bananas fresh?". We will follow the steps of the scientific method and document in our science journals as we learn about the process skills.
In math, we will be working on addition and subtraction with regrouping. There are some great tutorials for these skills on Brain Pop, Jr. Links provided:
https://jr.brainpop.com/math/additionandsubtraction/addingwithregrouping/ https://jr.brainpop.com/math/additionandsubtraction/subtractingwithregrouping/ We are also working on Math 4 Today #4. We will have an assessment on both this Friday. Dojo reports and graded test papers will be sent home today. Please remember to sign these and return them tomorrow. Also - please do not forget about our fact practice log. This is the ONLY homework assignment from me, and I only check it on Friday. If students do not have 3 signatures, they lose their recess on Friday and receive a homework strike. Those students with less than 3 homework strikes at the end of the nine weeks will be rewarded with a Homework Celebration. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns. I am thoroughly enjoying teaching each of these children and walk away blessed each day! Thanks for sharing them with me! Homework pages, Newsletter, and M4T Study sheet below:
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My dream is to create a 21st Century classroom that encourages collaboration, integrates technology, and promotes thinking deeply.
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