InstaWiki

I totally stole this idea from @Catlin_Tucker and it worked beautifully.  In groups they were relased out into the wild of the outdoors to take a picture and then create a caption using sensory details and figurative language.  Then they had to assign a hashtag.  They loved it!  I loved to see their creativity break through.   Here is one groups:

This is what I love about technology.  This activity took 15 minutes and students produced something creative and full of depth!

4 New Tech Tools

I was absent from my classroom yesterday in order to attend a fabulous training by Discovery Education.  Being absent from the classroom is always challenging because my students sometimes do not receive the information that they need.  But this time, it was like I never left the classroom.  I did a screen cast of my lesson for my students usiing Screencast O Matic.  They loved it, the substitute loved it and I loved it.  They were able to learn the content like I was still actually in the classroom and to be honest it only took me about 10 minutes to create.  

Screencast O Matic is:

• user friendly
• allows you to go back a few seconds to fix mistakes
• easy to publish to your youtube channel

Now at the actual training I learned a ton!  The resources provided by Discovery Education are amazing!  I can't wait for my students to be able to build a board using content from Discovery Education.

During the training, I was introduced to Answer Garden.  Wow!  Answer Garden is a smash of Padlet and Wordle.  It asks for short responses to questions that it compiles into a Wordle.  Words that are repeated become bigger showing more emphasis.

The last tool that I learned about is Symbaloo.  This site serves as a sort of bookmarking system for websites, apps, etc.  I love how simple it is, how you can change the color of the images and how you can add titles.  Here is my Symbaloo for resources that I have used and love or want to learn more about:

http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/toolsoftheweb

Substitute -- Time Saver

Okay this will be a quick one!  Thanks to a fellow Digital Learning Coach,  I have discovered and now use Baker Bingo.

It is really simple.  You type in your "answers" in the bingo card.  You generate the card and copy the link provided on the right hand side and then paste it on your webpage, Haiku site, shared google doc or email it to the students.  They click on the link and every kid gets a different card and they can press it on their ipad and the squares turn colors.

One aspect of technology that I LOVE is how much it saves time.  I was able to do two bingo reviews in less than 10 minutes.  It is so quick, direct, and engaging.

Who's on First? Abbott and Costello

Something New...

So this week I did something new to introduce my next topic.  So the main standard I am teaching is RL 8.3 (analyze dialogue and how propels actions) and RL 8.6 (analyze how different points of view create humor).

I love both of these standards and was super excited to introduce this unit.  In order to introduce this unit, I used a classic:  "Who's on First".  This was a perfect and fun introduction because it clearly shows students how different POVs (Abbott, Costello, and the audience) create humor and how dialogue propels actions and causes characters to act.

The activity was so successful.  I began by focusing our time with focused questions (you know how I love questions):

• How do the different points of view create humor?
• How does dialogue propel the action?
• How does dialogue cause a character to act?

Then we listened to the skit, the students created a tree map that showed the different points of view and then I had them frame it up with the questions above using a Google Form.  I LOVE google forms!

This was a great activity and reminded me of my Grandpa.  This was his favorite skit!  He is the one who introduced it to me and I remember laughing with him and discussing it with him.  A very sweet memory and I love bringing that to my class.

ELD Class

I LOVE my ELD Class!  They have all the characteristics of a perfect class!  They are:

• determined
• intrinsically motivated
• teachable
• involved in their own learning
• not afraid to try 
• super fun

I know ELD can be a tough class, but this year our school tried something new and I have implemented a new format to teach this class and I have found it to be super successful.  There are many factors that make it successful.

1. Administration has set up the schedule so that I have my ELD students (23 of them) in Language Arts and Social Science for 1st and 2nd period with other students.  There are 42 in all!  My ELD students stay with me 3rd period for ELD instruction.  Successes:  My 1st and 2nd period are heterogeneous which is SO beneficial for my ELD students.  My ELD students are getting access to CORE content and being supported in my 3rd period class.
2. I am able to connect the curriculum.  I introduce concepts 1st in my ELD class, so that when they are introduced in my Core class, my ELD students are now the "experts".  
3. We read, write and present SO much!  Everyday they are practicing the language through genuine conversations and organized writing and presenting.  

Here they are presenting!  

Accountability

Someone shared a tidbit with me today that was very encouraging.  She explained that students in my class are engaged because I hold them accountable (paraphrase).  That made me smile.  I like that an outsider observed that my students know that THEY are responsible for their learning.  They can't come in and just be observers or space out or only participate when they think it is "fun" or "interesting".

My students are responsible for their learning, for participating, for sharing out, for pulling their weight, for thinking, for analyzing, for fixing mistakes, for asking questions.

I haven't always been good at holding my students accountable, but I learned from a dear friend, Mrs. Rodriguez.  I implemented jobs this year and they have been incredibly successful.

• Leader/Notetaker
• Reading
• Reporter

Students in my class are just used to having to share out (using a microphone).  They have grown accustom to reading out loud together.  More importantly, leaders have taken their responsibility seriously and have asked their groups good questions, led their groups in good discussions, and kept their group focused.

I thought it would be too challenging to implement, but I kept it super simple and use the jobs daily and it has been successful.  I know Mrs. Rodriguez uses a rubric to assess each other in completion of jobs, but I am not there yet!  Maybe in January! :)

PLN (Personal Learning Network)

Today's post is about ME.  So this school year has been AMAZING so far.  Mostly because I have stepped into a new position that has challenged me to grow, given me confidence to share what I know, and sparked a flame in my passion for teaching.

I am a part time DLC (Digital Learning Coach) for Tustin Unified School District.  I have the privilege of working with some amazing educators who have CHANGED education and teaching in TUSD.  Everytime I gather with them, I am challenged and encouraged to pursue growth in my career as a teacher and to share that with others.

I also enjoy sharing that knowledge with my site and can't wait to see the amazing ways in which all staff members at my site can grow this year and become better educators.

One of the concepts that the DLCs have taught me this year is the importance of PLNs.  So one of my goals is to expand my depth of knowledge as a teacher through different networks.  I would like to try to participate in a few online seminars and some educational chats.  I want to redefine my learning as an educator just like I want to redefine my teaching.  Any suggestions of good webinars or educational chats, send them my way!

Teaching and Learning!

All day and Every day!

Image from:

http://teacherchallenge.edublogs.org/pln-challenge-1-what-the-heck-is-a-pln/