Slowly but Surely

I have switched from a Smart Board to a Mobi and feel like I am starting over....the Mobi definitely takes some getting used to. I have all my "I Can" statements typed on the computer as well as interactive websites that go with our lessons. These are projected so that the kids can work with them. I need to practice more with the Mobi so that I can deliver the instruction better to the students!

Document Camera by Ginny

I started to use the document camera! My students are engaged and love seeing their work on the BIG SCREEN. At this point, I need time to practice in order to maximize its potential.

Poetry and Technology by Chanelle

My topic for our literacy unit is "Weather Poems". I have made PowerPoints for each poem and I have been able to use our new projector/screen to share them more effectively with my students for our Shared Reading activities.
My students respond well to poetry, especially poems that rhyme and use onomatopoeia . I have added animation and pictures to the poem presentations and this aids in their comprehension of the content . This also increases their enjoyment of reading and their motivation to read when the text is presented in this format . They also enjoy seeing the poems that they compose on the "big screen". Poetry is great for helping them to become more fluent readers !

Kay

I'm so excited that we have so many teachers who are interested in participating in the BBE blog on technology and are reading the book, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. When I observe in classrooms, I see significantly increased levels of student engagement in learning when technology is being used. Even reluctant readers appear eager when they have access to the teacher's phonic ear microphone or they are listening to a narrator read a book on the computer and then are able to read the story for themselves. It is not suprising that there is data which suggests computer assisted instruction can be the difference between success and failure for some of our neediest students.

In chapters 1-3 of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, the instructional strategies of setting objectives, providing feedback, and providing recognition all come with practical recommendations for word processing applications, using organizing and brainstorming software, ( including software like Kidspiration, which we have available on all computers,) data collection tools, web resources, and communication tools. In chapter 1 I especially liked the suggestion that teachers have students create a KWHL chart to prompt them to record what they know, what they want to learn, how they plan to learn it and what they learned. There are simple directions about how to make the chart in Microsoft Word which can then be e-mailed to parents or transform it into a Web page that could be added to your Web site. Also in chapter 1 there are several online survey Web sites that I wasn't aware of that make gathering data quick and easy. (See page 26.)

In chapter 2, there are some good suggestions for Web sites that can be used to practice various skills. For example,www.mathplayground.com/index.html is recommended for K-6 students and www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise is also suggested as a good resource for games and quizzes in both math and language skills for grades K-6.

Finally, in chapter 3, there are several resources for providing recognition for students both on the Web and in the form of a certificate or greeting card. Check out the Audio E-mail information on pages 66-67. Think how excited your students would be to hear your voice congratulating them on a job well done via an e-mail message to their parents.

It's inspiring to know we have so many teachers who are willing to learn more about how to use technology as a teaching tool. Thank you to all who are participating in the very first professional learning community blog at BBE!

Reading larger numbers

To get the kids excited about larger numbers, I went to the US Census Bureau website. They display the US and World populations and you can also find the population for any city in the US. I showed it on the screen with the projector. They loved it! They especially loved it when the population changed as they were reading and writing the number. Patti

Reading Counts

We have a new Reading Counts program in the library this year. The students will have a new login and password. The login is their lunch number and the password is humble. Taking tests in the program is a great way for students to test their comprehension.

First Steps by Sheryl

     Thanks to everyone for taking that first step towards commitment to your personal, professional growth. Since TNT is a diverse group of digital immigrants and natives, we are all in different places with our new learning--much like our students. The concerns about confidentiality and posting to a website are understandable and natural. Personally, I will only use my first name, but some of you may want to get creative with a new name! Just remember to let us know your identity through our group email (special thanks to Mr. V). Since this is new for me too, I realized at our training that if you want to comment on a post, just click on Google account and use Elmer Bear's gmail and follow the prompts. His username and password are on your training notes. What a bear!
     Finally, a special thanks to Kay and Kakie for committing resources towards our new endeavor. Each blogger that requested a book will receive a copy for our book study with Using Technology With Classroom Instruction That Works. The Foreword, by Robert Marzano, is author of Classroom Instruction That Works. He is well known among educators, especially for the 9 essential instructional strategies that are considered best practices today and are most likely to improve student achievement. The book links the strategies with technology and recommendations for integration into our instruction.
     I am looking forward to your posts and comments. If anyone has questions, concerns, or just needs help, please see me or Mr. V.
                                             Bear Branch Bloggers are the best!

Today's lesson by Elizabeth Grantham

My kids took tests all day long today. I hope they did well :)

Mobi Instruction by Mr. V.

Mrs. McCrea has been using the Mobi Workspace Software to instuct her students on their 5th grade Daily Reinforcer. I've noticed them being very engaged in the lesson as they hope she will choose them to show their work using this interactive media. Amazing!

What's a blog?

     Blogs have redefined news for the 21st century. We have moved from professional news to personal news 24/7. Its value to education is a 21st century methodology that is now available to excite and motivate learners. It also provides a medium to reflect on your unique perspectives about a topic of interest or inquiry. It can create a community of bloggers that inspire and motivate each other. It's a website for collaboration, communication, reflection and engagement of learners. Simply, a blog is whatever you want it to be!
     As a Bear Branch blogger we can support each other with our new learning experiences and reflect on our successes and challenges along the way. Teachers Networking Technology (TNT) will encourage professional dialogue and develop collegial relationships through our book study and professional development on technology. Welcome to the team!  Sheryl