Video Chat Etiquette

We teach our babies to say "please" and "thank you".  We teach young schoolchildren to raise their hands when they want to speak. We remind kids to take turns. When we chat face-to-face we remind our students of all of the etiquette that they have learned in their lives.  The same should be expected when we video chat.

We start our video chat etiquette session by talking about the different types of video chatting and in what situations we might want to chat.  We video chat for a reason. When we chat with Grandma, we do so to say "Happy birthday" or "I miss you".  Before we make the call we determine our reason for calling.

In order to be prepared for a time-sensitive call, we encourage kids to have some questions ready to ask the caller.  The correct type of question is also important.  For example, the questions that you have when you  are talking to a zookeeper should have to do with animals!  Little kids love to tell stories and teaching the difference between asking a question and sharing a story about your new, naughty puppy is important.

Digital Citizenship and creating a safe digital footprint is necessary even at the youngest grades. When conducting a video chat, we encourage children to introduce themselves when addressing a guest speaker.  We teach children to look directly into the camera and introduce themselves safely by using their first name only.  During the chat, being aware of your body language and paying attention to the caller is stressed. At the end of the call we say "thank you" and "goodbye!"

These sessions have set our kids up well for the SKYPE virtual field trips that we have done in our elementary schools.  So far we have connected with South Africa, Iceland, Mt. Rainier and Florida!

Recap, Padlet and Stemscopes! Oh my!

Today I got to venture into an exotic land. A land where I had never traveled before.  I had come close but had never been brave enough to enter.....

5th grade.....

I always had so many reasons to avoid it.  The content was hard!  All those hormones!  They were, almost definitely, TALLER than me!  Lame reasons, I know, but they always seemed valid to me.  

In this new position, I get the fabulous opportunity to experience different grades and work with some excellent teachers.  Today I tackled 5th grade science.  My district is piloting a science program called STEMscopes.  Our grade-level team leaders are leading the charge with the pilot program and 5th grade is working on a gravity scope.  

The first class that I went into this morning was completing the last activity in their inquiry.

The egg drop.

They had already learned about gravity, all of the ways to counterbalance gravity and had to design a structure/vehicle to protect their egg from cracking when dropped from the tallest point on their playground. They had tested with plastic eggs and today was the real deal.  This project needed cooperation, creativity and communication in order to work.

Making changes to protect that egg!

Teamwork was essential.

Before their test, Mrs. Young had them introduce their teams and explain their design in the web-based application, Recap.

She gave them 60 seconds to introduce and explain.

Recording and previewing their Recap entries

Then it was time for the test, so off to the playground we went!  The groups each went to the top of the slide deck and dropped their eggs!

Ready to drop!

Upon their return to the classroom, they had to unwrap their eggs and determine whether or not they were cracked.The results were good and all passengers survived the fall.  

My second 5th grade adventure involved the very first lesson of this same scope. I decided to teach the students a new tech tool since the content and lesson itself was not too complicated.  The tool that I chose was Padlet.  

The students had never used this tool before and caught on VERY quickly.  I had them record any thoughts, questions or wonderings about gravity.  We did this activity at the beginning of the lesson and at the end of the lesson.

Working on our Gravity Padlet

Padlet also gives you the option to print out all of the great thinking done by the students.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math all culminated into a fantastic, meaningful activity for these 5th graders.

Well what are my thoughts on my 5th grade experience?

Although I had never been there before, I would totally go back (and I promised them all I would do another Padlet lesson so I have to, right?).....even though some of them were DEFINITELY taller than me!

Words to live by

5 for Friday (2 days late)

 I am participating in this week's 5 for Friday hosted by Doodle Bugs Teaching!  I am a former vigilant blogger that is hopping back in the saddle with my new blog and a new position in my district!  Come over and follow!

I have stepped out of the classroom for a couple of years to work in a new position as an Instructional Specialist.  I have started a NEW blog to chronicle all of the exciting things that my new job gives me the opportunity to do!  Follow me!

I have a Senior.  I can't believe it really.  The reality hits pretty hard when you are standing on the court during Senior Night.  Nate has played for his school's volleyball program for 6 years so it was a pretty great accomplishment.  I didn't cry.......much.

Did I mention that I have a Senior????  On top of attending the first of 4 Senior nights this year, I got his Senior pictures today.  I must have blinked.

Click HERE to visit Amazon

Have you read this book yet?  I am running a book study with a group of teachers in my district and we are focusing on this book.  We are learning how to integrate technology into classrooms.  I am traveling to Buffalo this week to see one of the authors speak about this book and am really excited to come back and share some great ideas!  I will be blogging about the conference and about each chapter as we journey through the school year.  Click on the image if you would like to purchase it from Amazon!

Tis the season for pumpkin..........everything........

This is a rough time of year for those of us that do not like pumpkin.........anything..........

Alas, soon it will be peppermint time. 

Amplify Book Study

Currently in my district we are embarking on a 1:1 /2:1 technology initiative.  We have a core group of teachers in grades 2-5 that are piloting a 1:1 classroom experience.  These teachers have 1:1 laptop computers, some are experimenting with alternative seating options and the Instructional Specialists provide training and support formally once a month and informally, whenever they need it!

In order to provide some professional development and get some great new ideas, we are also doing a book study on this great book, Amplify: Digital Teaching and Learning in the K-6 Classroom by Katie Muhtaris and Kristen Ziemke.  We will be tackling one chapter a month and implementing and sharing ideas from the "3 Things to Try Tomorrow" section.  

Stay posted for some great ideas and sharing!

A New Beginning

The beginning of the school year brought a new beginning for me.  I have been teaching first grade for all but 3 of the last 13 years of my teaching career. This year I decided to interview for a different position within my district.

This June I packed up my entire classroom (why did I hoard all that stuff??) and moved it home and took on the TOSA position of K-5 Instructional Specialist.  It has been a challenging and exciting adventure.  I get to work with all of the extremely talented K-5 teachers in our district and am learning about things that in past years, I would just put on a "to think about" list.

There is definitely a learning curve though. My brain hurts at the end of the day.  I wonder if I will ever learn all of the things that I need to know to do my job? I am not bringing papers home to grade but instead am on the internet looking for resources for teachers or professionally reading to keep myself up on the latest and the best new methods and innovations.  I even had the opportunity, with my incredible co-worker, to write up a proposal for a national conference!

I want to take the 2 years that I am in this position to make a difference.  Make a difference to me, my family and my profession.  I have used blogging as a way to communicate to families and fellow classroom teachers. I have used blogging as a way to help my first graders understand the concept of globalization.  I will now use this familiar platform to share all of the wonderful things that are happening in my new job with a new audience.

Thanks for joining me on this new adventure!