Math Groups from AL to DE- Digital Connections

I am so excited about the math groups we have been doing and I wanted to share. I connected with Mrs. Corey through a #MysterySkype. We decided to do something beyond that with our classes so we started brainstorming and planning.

Using Google Docs and Voxer, we were able to develop an idea for our students to work together even though my class is in Alabama and hers is in Delaware. We started with a getting to know you activity. The kids had video conferences using Appear.in rooms we created. They completed a Google Doc before meeting and then shared information about themselves and had to find 3 things everyone had in common.

Here is the Getting to Know You directions:

Let’s get to know our math collaboration team!

Your Task:

Type some interesting facts about yourself that you’d like to share with your group members.

Make sure to include…

• your name
• age
• favorite subject (not recess or lunch)
• 5-6 facts about yourself

You will meet your group members via your group’s appear.in room on Thursday. You’ll have a chance to share your facts and learn about each other. Try to find things you have in common.

Each roup is challenged to find at least 3 things every member has in common.

Remember to put your name at th8e top of this document in the color you will use to type and reply to your peers!

After our first meeting both classes were really excited! So we planned another meeting, this time the kids had to present a word problem and let the others solve it. Then they had to explain how they solved the problem. As we went we found that not all the kids were engaged the entire time. If they presented the problem they were just sitting and waiting for the other members to solve. So we made some changes. The next time they are going to all be presented with the same word problem at the beginning of their video conference. Then they will each solve the problem and collaborate on Google Slides to share how they solved the problem. Our hope is that the kids will be able to share different strategies they are using.

We couldn't do this without Google accounts and the technology to allow for our Video meetings. Each student has their own Google account so it allows them to create and collaborate on docs and slides even though half of their team is in Delaware.

My homeroom wanted in on the action too so Mrs. Corey recruited Mrs. Marsh. Mrs. Marsh's class works with my homeroom class now too. We are having a great time, using technology, learning about math strategies, and making new friends. I've had a few people ask how we are doing the math groups so I wanted to share in case anyone else is interested in doing them too. If you have any questions don't hesitate to connect with me on Twitter- @MWhiteMES.

I have a little bit of happy news of my own, I took the test and I'm officially a Google Certified Educator, Level 1. I'm really thrilled about this!

Google Chrome Extensions #5

Spheres of Earth Island Challenge

My classes have been learning about the spheres of the Earth. To make this fun, I had each group create a deserted island.


They had to list all the plants, animals, soil type, water, weather, etc. they would have on their island. I reminded them that they would need to have more than one plant and one animals. I told them if I created an island and said I had pine trees and polar bears I wouldn't have a good change of survival. Here is a screen shot of the padlet before they started drawing fate cards.

 After the islands were created they jumped in their boat to take a break. While out in the boat a storm came up and they were stranded on the deserted island they created.

 

So they created their island and added all the information to their group's Padlet. Then each day they drew a fate card. The fate cards can be positive or negative. It has been fun watching them come up with solutions to problems they encounter. Some wouldn't work in real life but I can see some misconceptions that we can study soon. 

 

Some of the groups were able to find their background a take a picture in front of our green screen to make it look lik they were really on their own island. 

Here are a couple of screen shots from the group Padlets. We are almost finished with this simulation but this is one I'll do again for sure!

#MESShowYourSnow Challenge

Google Chrome Extensions #4

Geek Squad- Student Tech Team

This year I decided to start a student tech team. We have teachers in our building that don't know how to update iPad software and apps. I knew there was no way I could teach in my classroom and have the time I need to make it around to do those updates for everyone. So I created a student team that does that for our school. So far they have been updating iPads and helping to set up the new K-2 computer lab.

Each morning we have ipads to update I tell the kids they can come to my room before school. They come in to do all their tech duties before school. It has been working well so far! The kids aren't afraid to get in there and play around with technology to figure things out. I have a great group that are working hard. I'm super proud of them.

Get & Go Tech Tips

Today I had a presentation planned for the teachers at my school. Things didn't work out for me to have the time I needed but I wanted to share with everyone. Just a few tips and tricks that might be helpful to you! Click the photo to view my presentation.

Google Chrome Extensions #1

I recently learned about a lot of different Google Chrome Extensions and I"m doing a newsletter for teachers. The lady teaching about them said she felt like a fire hose when sharing with others about technology. She gets so excited that she just sprays information out and most people get very little of it. I love that analogy because I feel like a fire hose when I'm sharing my love of technology. I wanted to share my first Chrome Extension newsletter. As I send these out to my teachers I'll share them here as well! Enjoy!

Week 16- Cell Projects & Colonial Day

This week we only went to school for 2 days. We'll have the rest of the week off for Thanksgiving break. Even though we were only there a couple of days, we had a lot of fun.

Last week I shared #projectrippleeffect with you. We started making happy posters for all the adults in our school building. We finished making them this week. Since I was guiding this I didn't include my name in the list for a poster. So while we were making the other posters my class snuck and made one for me. It made my day and also made me happy.

Today we had colonial day at school. This was a traditional colonial lunch. We made butter and had biscuits and stir about (colonial stew). It was delicious!

The kids had a great time making butter. They kept asking if it was ready yet. We shook jars for a while before the butter was finally finished.

After lunch we played marbles and jacks. I told the kids we were going to play colonial games with a twist. I had each group choose what they wanted to play and then use the iPad minis to find out how to play the game. Most of them had never played these games before and we are keeping them in the room to play when we have indoor recess.

We are almost finished with our completely digital cell projects. Some of the finished videos are coming in now so I wanted to share a couple of them. They were a little stressed about getting their assigned cell correct. My students have not had any experience identifying cells when looking at real pictures. So I told them not to worry about it. I'm looking for a completed project and evidence to show why they think it is a plant or animal cell.





STUDENTS: What was your favorite part of our colonial lunch? We had a lot of yummy food and fun games. I'm curious to find out your favorite. I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

Tech Presentation & Room Work

This week I started off by presenting about Technology I Use in My Classroom at the North Alabama Technology Conference.

I was super excited to be able to share a lot of the tech tools I use in my class. There was no way I could share everything but I did share the things that I use the most.Click here to download the pdf of my presentation!

I've also been working on putting the finishing touches on my classroom. I've been looking and deciding exactly what I want to put up and what I'm leaving down this year. I was able to move my bulletin board to the front of my room for the math wall. I'm planning to use this board for our daily math board.

I also purchased a couple of floor lamps for my room!

Here are the cabinets that were added to my wall (top cabinets). They are not brand new, just new to me but I am so happy to have the extra storage space. It helped me to clean some of the clutter off the filing cabinets.

I moved my meaningful mistakes and number crunchers signs to around my door. I'm planning to use my back wall where the new cabinets are to display stuff for the genius hour I'm planning to implement this year!

We have to keep a data wall inside our classroom this year. Last year we tracked data in the hallway but not in the classroom. I didn't want to call it my data wall so this is what I decided to use! 

We only have 2 more weeks of summer before school starts back for the teachers. We return July 30th and the students return August 5th. I can't believe it is almost time to start back but I think I"m ready!

Week 28- Triangles w/Technology & Mystery Powders

We started the week with a review of triangles. Each group started with a Mobi and listed everything they know about triangles. I found that most groups thought all triangles have acute angles. Then I gave every group a wanted poster with the name of a triangle at the top. They used the iPad to research their triangle and record the information. 

The posted had a place for them to list a description and place last seen. There was a $180 reward so they had to figure out why that was the reward amount. I forgot to take pictures of their posters when completed but they did a great job. They posted their research on LinoIt.

Find my triangle wanted posters in my TpT store by clicking here. 

I had each group share their poster and we used their information to create a flipbook about triangles. Then I called out a triangle and my students used Play-Doh to make them. 

Here is Avery telling you about her triangle. She created this using YAKiT Kids app on the iPad. 

Our focus this week in science was acids and bases. My students tested powers with BTB to find out if they were acidic or alkaline. 

They also tested the same powders with iodine to see if starch was present. Then each group mixed 2 powders to create a mystery powder. They used the data they had been collecting to figure out which two powders were mixed to create the mystery powder from another group.

I loved seeing all my students synergize!

In the end, all the groups guessed on of the powders right but only one group was able to determine both powders in the mystery powder mix.

STUDENTS: This week with Mrs. Smith you have been writing a persuasive essay. Do you think cell phones should be allowed in school? Why or why not?