PBL and Tech

Wow!  What a week!  I LOVE doing the PBL in my class.  It is just so amazing to see the students excited about what they are learning.  Here is what we have done in just two days:

• Created a class survey and a survey for Elementary students
• Gave the survey to our own class on Haiku Polls
• Interviewed over 200 Elementary students 
• Turned surveys into statistics to be used in project
• Engaged in a presentation from two guest speakers
• Discussed and created a driving question in groups
• Created and began research using Google Drive to collaborate

             

I am so excited to see what my students are going to produce, but you know the honest truth is all I really care about is the process.  What these kids are doing in the process is making them think critically, collaborate and be creative.  I am very proud of them and the work that they are putting into their project.

Okay so super side note!  I love THINKGLINK!  I am using it all the time to share links, connect to Padlet, direct students to websites.  I haven't figured out how to embed directly into this blog, so instead I directed you to the link for thinglink.  The one I made is very simple, but just shows how quickly and easily you can make an interactive image.  Health Thing Link

Infuse Learning

Today I used Infuse Learning.

Our Ipads do not have any apps loaded on them yet, so whatever I use needs to be web based.  So I thought I would try Infuse Learning.

It was super easy to set up and pretty easy to run.  I used the free draw response and the written response and found it very informative.  You of course have to get over the silliness of the free draw response.  

It works much like a whiteboard but doesn't require markers or erasers.  I could see it being used in math on a daily basis to check for understanding!

I haven't used it to its depth yet, as I have only used for quick responses, but it is a good balance to Kahoot!

Infuse on!

PBL

I tell my students that to be scholar you have to be willing to 

TAKE RISKS

So that is what I am doing, better said, we are doing.  I am so excited for what we have planned!  Starting on Monday, we will begin our PBL...

Project
Based 
Learning

We are surveying each other, surveying some Elementary Students, inviting two guest speakers, doing research, creating a health fair for our 3rd and 4th graders to help teach them the importance of staying healthy in order to stay in school and receive a better education.

Our 8th graders are going to be challenged beyond belief, but what they COULD produce, what they COULD learn is amazing.  I am very hopeful for what the results may be.

Questions, questions, and questions

The use of questions has changed my teaching.  The use of Essential Questions has guided and focused my teaching and improved student learning.  The use of higher-order teacher questions has helped me differentiate and build knowledge.

I LOVE good questions.  If I can develop good questions to use daily, I know that my lessons will be successful.  Creating and developing effective questions is challenging.  Most of my time and effort goes into this process.

ESSENNTIAL QUESTIONS:  Universal and timeless questions that can be  answered (in a minimal form) at the beginning of the Unit of Study and at the end of the Unit of Study with greater knowledge and depth of insight.

Higher-Order Teacher Questions:  More specific and precise questions that help build to the Essential Question (the goal is that they be higher on the Bloom's Scale).

Something NEW

I love collaborating with my colleagues!  It makes me a better teacher, it challenges me to try something new, and it keeps my teaching fresh.

This year, in my first topic, our focus is on the following skills:

• building an objective summary of a text
• critiquing a source for its reliability
• analyzing the use of different media to present a topic
• identifying evidence to support inferences

Wow...what amazing goals and skills to have, but it doesn't come easy.  

One of my colleagues presented me with the CRAAP test and I love it because it is memorable and helpful.

Current

Relevant

Accurate

Author

Puprose

 

Kahoot!

What a great year so far!  Today I used some technology that I love.  Kahoot!  If you have not used Kahoot, you are missing out.  It is a quick multiiple choice formative assessment that is very motivating for students.

It is good for:

• Quick multiple choice checks (you do NOT get feedback for gradebook)
• Good motivating practice of a topic 
• Fun review in groups or individually
• Math facts...anything you can do in multiple choice and quickly

This is NOT good for:

• Deep thinking and analyzing
• Short answer
• Use data for grades

Have fun Kahooting!

Canva

Okay, so this has really nothing to do with teaching but technology!  I was just introduced to Canva and am now obsessed!  You should check it out and see what you can create.  The only downfall as of right now is that it can only be used on a desktop computer.

canva.com

Have fun playing!

What is success?

Today I tried some 

NEW TECH

I used poll everywhere to engage students in critical thinking and collaboration. Here was the question:

Students engaged in discussion and I was amazed with their thoughts.  Here are some nuggets:

• Well, Mrs. Joyce, how would you define success?
• Isn't peace the highest success?
• If you are willing to take risks, your return will be greater!

I liked poll everywhere.  It was easy to set up, easy for students to find, and visually clear.  It would be easier if all students had a device (which they will in a few weeks).

https://pollev.com

Deck of Cards

Great 1st day of school!  I did something today that I do every year and once again it was successful.

Yep that's right a deck of cards.  I hand them out as they walk in and they find their partners and follow the directions on the board (usual a short conversation starter).  It's funny how much I learn about my students from this activity.  The loud mouth starts shouting out "8, I have 8, who else has 8?".  The boss finds his group and nicely starts telling everyone else where they should sit.  The problem solver realizes she has a group of 2 but is sitting in a table group meant for 3 and changes.  The...I'm not sure what to call him.  The one who stands there and does nothing, sits no where, and just waits...waits....waits.  These are the tough kids, the ones we educators have to motivate to think, to act, to do!  Here is a video we watched today and discussed.  It was for those kids!  The stuck on the escalator kids.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oRBchZLkQR0

My 1st day pic!

To group or not group....that is the question!

I went in to school today to set up my classroom.  I have generally always set up my classroom in groups of either three (with two people there is NOT enough information to share, with four people there is TOO much information to share).  This year I have decided to try something...

NEW

I have an array of different groupings.  I mostly have groups of three, but splattered throughout the class I have partners and a few single desks.  On the first day of school, I am going to have my students take a survey to assess the BEST learning environment for them and then try to place them in the best spot possible for THEM and THEIR learning needs.

Some of my concerns...

• We do so MUCH collaboration that students in single desks need to be able to access others.  So when NOT doing collaborative work, they sit by themselves, but when it is time to work together, they will have to move and join a group.
• Will any of them want to be by themselves??
• I have to be aware of the partners I put together (ability, friendship etc...)

I'll let you know how it goes!

Here is a video to a very effective collaborative activity easy to use when in groups of three (taken from the Teaching Channel):

Teaching Channel