Famous Scientist

We are using http://www.factmonster.com to research a famous scientist; then each student will write a paragraph about their famous scientist. The finished products will be published in an ebook. We will share when our project is completed.

The Important Story

As you remember I love to integrate writing into everything we do. I started by reading The Important Book to the students; then I wrote my own version of the important story. My story was called The Important Thing About Me. Then the students wrote their own important stories about themselves. The final products were typed on the computer; two students typed their stories using the iPad. I was amazed at how well they typed using the iPad. The forth graders and I hope you use our idea to have fun writing your own important stories.

Back to the Classroom

I completed the circle from low tech classroom, to high tech classroom, to technology facilitator, back to the classroom. I have my own classroom again this year; and couldn't be happier. I love my new students; they are energetic and eager to learn. I just can't wait to get to the classroom each day to see their smiling little faces.

My challenge this year will be to integrate the technology into the curriculum with less equipment then I've had for the last four years. I'm working with seven computers for twenty-two students, one digital camera, a document camera, and a Promethean Board. The first thing I did was dig through my own closest at home; I discovered two more digital cameras that I'm taking to the classroom. I will also take my own iPad to let students use. Even with my own equipment I am struggling not having that two to one ratio computer usage for students. However, I am bound and determined to make it work.

Book Box

Update

I haven't blogged for quite some time on this particular blog. I really miss being in the classroom this year. I am now in charge of a Tech Rich Grant and helping others to learn how to integrate technology into the curriculum. The main focus of the grant is integrating technology into the math curriculum; therefore, I have been helping students and teachers create the following blog: http://eaglesdoctordata.blogspot.com/ We hope you check it out, and please feel free to ask us a math question. We will do our best to answer it.

One math project we are working on is the intersection project. There is an extremely busy intersection close to our building; so we are collecting data by counting how many vehicles go through the intersection, during peak hours of the day. Students are using the data to make charts and graphs on their computers; then they are comparing the results. The students will decide whether or not to write letters to the city council to persuade them to make a change at the intersection. It could be they request a stoplight, a speed reduction, a four way stop, or speed bumps.




These are just a few of the Project Based Learning Activities that students and teachers are involved in at this time.

Also, I have just started a Tech PD website. It is in the very beginning stages. I hope to add much more to it in the future. http://eagles4601.weebly.com/index.html

Integrating Technology Into the Math Curriculum

The challenge this year is to integrate technology into the math curriculum. It seems harder for teachers to integrate math and technology. It dawned on me the other day as to why when a teacher ask "What am I suppose to do throw out the textbook?" Good reading teachers learned long ago you don't have to use just the textbook to teach reading. They pull resources from everywhere-novels, magazines, newspapers, websites and etc. However, that's not been the norm for the math curriculum. Most math teachers follow the textbook exactly; with the exception of skipping around in the book to get the curriculum taught by state assessment time.

This made the light bulb come on for me. Why don't we teach math like we do other subjects. There is math in our daily newspapers, shopping carts, and households. It is a given that math and science go hand-in-hand; many teachers do teach math as part of the science curriculum. If you don't, that is a great place to start extending the math curriculum.

My friend MacMare and I created a wiki related to one math topic-the metric system. This is a beginning for some teachers to integrate technology into the math curriculum. http://metricssixth.wikispaces.com/ Along with the wiki, I have created Moodle courses on fractions and problem solving. It's a start. Hopefully, teachers will begin to use technology as part of the regular math routine; as well, as begin to integrate math and technology into project base learning units.

New School Year, New Job, New Responsibilities

I'm off on a new technology adventure this year. I am now a Technology Rich Classroom (TRC) Facilitator. That means I go into the classroom and help teachers integrate technology into their curriculum. In addition, I help them find resources.

This year I will try to focus more on integrating technology into the math curriculum.
To get started here's a great website for my readers. Enjoy it!

http://www.jmathpage.com/

Cyber Bullying and Online Safety

I am now a cyber bullying and online safety trainer now. If you would like for me to come to your school and give a presentation to your students on this topic leave me a comment.

Skype

One of the final activities we did this year was skype with our epals in Indiana. This was our first skype experience as a whole class. To prepare for it I skyped the teacher the day before to make sure everything was going to work.

Students began the session by introducing themselves to their epal partner. Then they discussed the novel "Sign of the Beaver." From there the discussion evolved into the students sharing information about their home states. Students learned a lot about each other and the regions we live in.

If I had this to do over again, I would have students skype earlier in the year so they could see their epals face to face.