Technology Tuesday (2nd edition)

 Welcome back! If you didn't have a chance to visit last week, then you can read the 1st edition of my Technology Tuesday posts here. I have 2 mini iPads in my classroom. Since the mini iPads are new to my classroom, I want to tell you that I LOVE the kind of cases that I use for my mini iPads!

 iBlason mini iPad case - It's a durable case with a handle. It also converts into a stand.  I have a blue one and a green one, so I can easily identify  the two different mini iPads in the classroom.

I made a permission slip for using the iPad to use next year.  I had already sent home two different permission slips that covered the things on this permission slips.  Next year, I'll have one permission slip (specific to using the iPad) for my students.  You can download a copy (free) from my Tpt store, by clicking on the image below.

My class keeps a daily journal with the iPad.  We use the app Kids Journal, which is free.  It's simple enough for my first graders to use, but has enough space for more advanced writers to use to write.  I choose 3 students each morning to be our "journalers" for the day.  They start the day by having a meeting to add the weather, their feelings and the location on the journal page for the day.  Then throughout the day, the three of them take a photo to capture learning in our room.  Then they work together to write sentences about what the child in the picture is working on or learning about.  At the end of the day, we read the journal entry of the day together and revisit some of the old entries.

Time for this tired girl to get to bed.  I'll share more of our iPad adventures next week in the 3rd edition of Technology Tuesday.  Thanks for visiting!

 

Technology Tuesday (1st edition)

 Thanks for stopping by for my first edition of Technology Tuesday!  I love technology and decided to make including more of it in my classroom a priority this year.

 I really wanted to use an iPad with my students, but really didn't want to take my personal iPad into the classroom. So, I wrote a proposal through Donors Choose to try to get a mini iPad with a protective case for my classroom. My project was fully funded in less than a week (thanks to a few anonymous donors and the fabulous parents in my classroom). In fact, the parents in my classroom were so excited about their children being able to use the mini iPad in the classroom, that they asked me to write a grant for a 2nd mini iPad. The 2nd grant was fully funded in 2 days.

Would I recommend Donors Choose to another teacher...absolutely! Before writing a proposal, I think it is important to be sure that you are willing to "kick in" any portion of the total that does not get funded (especially if classroom parents will be contributing). Proposals stay on the site for 4 months. Donors who make donations to a project that is not fully funded by the project expiration date do not get refunded. They have some options to give their donation to another project or work with gift cards to give to a teacher/project. I personally would not feel comfortable asking parents to donate for an item that we didn't end up getting if the project wasn't fully funded.

My students were so excited when our 1st mini iPad arrived in the mail.  I asked their parents to keep it a secret, so I could surprise them.  I put a bow on the box and told them that there was something that was going to help us learn in the box.  A few of the guesses included:  a gerbil, a number line, a calculator and a giant pencil.  The big reveal proved to be a big surprise after those guesses.  My little dumplings jumped up and down when they discovered it was a real mini iPad!

On the first day,  I reviewed the rules for using the iPad and we practiced carrying it.  Yep, we practiced carrying it.  I figured it was worth the time.  You can download my Rules for Using the iPad freebie by clicking on the link below.  If you like this freebie, please follow my store and my blog.  I'll be posting more freebies related to using iPads in the classroom over the next several weeks.

We just started using the iPad in my room in October.  So far,  we're using the iPad for individualized word work,  daily journaling, writer's workshop and reader's workshop.  I'll be sharing more about the specifics in my next few Technology Tuesday posts.  Thanks for visiting!

It's Currently November

I have skipped Currently for a few months, but I'm back in action.  I can't wait to read about what is happening with all of my favorite bloggers. Thanks to Farley, from Oh Boy Fourth Grade for hosting each month.

Listening:  I have two goldendoodles.  I guess spell check doesn't think goldendoodle is a word (but I'm too tired to fix it on the image above).  One of my goldendoodles recently started snoring.  I think she has a cold.  My husband thinks I'm crazy. It's the one who sleeps on my feet, so it's a little distracting when I'm awake...but I should be used to the sound of snoring (it started 14 years ago when I got married).

Loving:  My principal is coming to observe me on Thursday.  The superintendent and both of our curriculum directors already came to observe a math lesson in my room last month.  I volunteered for that because they wanted to see someone teaching a lesson from our new math program.  Since we begged for 14 years to get a new program, I figured someone had to let them see a lesson.  Just kind of  wish that could have been my observation so I could cross it off the list.

Thinking:  Who am I kidding?  I've already started my Christmas shopping.  I love Christmas shopping (although I do most of it online)!  I love wrapping too!  And...this year we are each making one handmade item for each other.  My kids are so excited and have been hiding in their rooms working on their special gifts for other family members.  We're hoping it's a tradition we can continue.

Wanting:  By the end of the week, I'll be 40.  Turning 40 is kind of a big deal for women in my family.  Unfortunately, it was shortly after 40 that my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer (she died after years of fighting) and that my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer (she is a survivor).  I'm not worried about my genetic history (that would do no good), but I have as much of a cancer prevention plan in place as possible.  All that considered, I'd like to celebrate my 40 years quietly without all the doom and gloom of the "over the hill" junk that people bring out when someone turns 40.   Believe me, my body is reminding me that I'm not 20 anymore.  No need to tape doom and gloom decorations all over my door.  Life is good.  Every day is a gift that should be celebrated.

Needing:  A little more sleep...I've been waking up between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. every single night for the past week.  Something about this schedule is not working. I'm super sensitive to caffeine.  I have not been drinking anymore caffeine than I usually drink (1 diet mountain dew in the morning...it's my coffee).  So, I'm guessing it's the abnormal amount of chocolate I consumed to survive Halloween week.

A little less stress...every teachers wish.  I really do love my students this year, but I do not love teeth clenching, limited sleep and staff meetings. Ha!

A Yummy Pin:  I'm a horrible cook, but I love to bake!   This is one of my favorite desserts.  My friend Becky shared the pin with me.  It's from Taste of Home and it's delicious!

Guess I better try to get back to sleep.  Happy Monday!  Stop back to visit tomorrow for my 1st edition of Technology Tuesday!

Digraph Activities

I've been up to my eyeballs in technology...but haven't accomplished a lot of blogging lately. I did manage to finish some digraph activities that I've been wanting to use with a group of my students for individualized word work. First graders in my district have weekly spelling and word family words. I also use the Ganske Developmental Spelling Inventory (from Words Their Way) to determine what kind of individualized word work to give each student. 

I realized that I don't have as many games/activities for digraphs as I'd like. 

You can check out the new set I created by clicking on the image below. 

  I'm also trying to focus on incorporating more technology this year. I love technology, so it's fun for me and the little ones. Starting this Tuesday, I'll be starting a series of posts called Technology Tuesday. I'm not sure how long it will continue. It will probably continue until I run out of things to say (which hardly ever happens to me), run out of time (more likely) or get bored. Whatever the case, I'll be sharing how I am using iPads in my classroom, tips for ways to incorporate technology into lessons and my favorite apps and websites. I hope you'll stop by for my first Technology Tuesday this Tuesday.

Changing Times

Reading Erica Bohrer's facebook post today about being older than the internet made me laugh! In fact, I found this shirt with the same theme recently.

 
 This year, I've been smacked in the face with the reality of my age 3 different times.

 We have a cart full of laptops that we can check out to use with our students. I've been doing that once a week. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that I would have to teach my students how to use a mouse and that they would also almost snap the "top" off the laptop because they kept pushing on the screen (thinking it was a touch screen).

 The second time was just last week when I was asking the children if they had any connections to a story we were reading. I've been talking about connections since school started in September. I asked one little girl to share her text to self connection and a little boy raised his hand and said, "Mrs. Gillow, when do we get to use your phone?" I politely responded, "Ummmm...never."  That's when he announced that if we were ever going to "text" anyone, we would have to use my phone (because none of the kids have a phone). Honestly, I've already done several lessons about text to text and text to self connections. I even did a whole lesson on the "text" in books at the beginning of the year.

 The third "hey, you are old" moment was when the majority of my students had no idea what a chalkboard was when it was mentioned in a book. We have white boards, interactive whiteboards, document cameras and LCD projectors in our classrooms. Only a few of  my students knew what a chalkboard was and I explained it to the rest. I told them about how I used to be in charge of cleaning the erasers and the chalkboard in elementary school. They thought it was quite funny that I went home sneezing every day from the cloud of chalk that would puff out of the erasers as I banged them together each afternoon. Just amazing how times have changed.

I recently wrote a grant to get two mini iPads for my classroom. We are having so much fun exploring different ways to use the technology in my classroom. I don't think I'm ready to tell them that I'm older than the internet. My birthday is next week. When they ask me how old I am, maybe that will be my response. "I'm older than the internet!"
 

Reusable Anchor Charts

This year, I'm really trying to focus on working smarter not harder. I'm not sure if it's working yet...but it's worth a try. Oy...

 In the spirit of working harder, I'm trying to make some of my anchor charts reusable. I did some reading and rethinking about my anchor charts this summer. You can read a post about how I'm working on improving my anchor charts and see some other pictures here.

 Here are two of the reusable charts that I made with my students last month. The first one is from writer's workshop. I made this chart when we learned about how writer's share stories. The first picture shows the parts of the chart that I made and laminated in advance. The second picture shows samples of student work added to the chart to help the children understand the two ways writer's share stories. Since the chart is laminated, I can change the student work samples to give different students a chance to be featured.

 

I made this chart (based on the Daily 5), to introduce the 3 ways to read a book during our beginning of the year reader's workshop lessons. I've made this chart for 5 years in a row. Since I'm working smarter, not harder...I won't have to remake the whole thing next year. I put the title, the image and numbers on the chart in advance and laminated it. I do think it's important to build the chart with my students, so the handwritten parts are written on large post-it notes and added to the chart during my lesson.

 

As I'm sitting here typing, I just received an email notification that I have my first donation for my Donor's Choose project that just got posted today!  Yippeeee!!!!  I'm trying to get a mini iPad funded for my classroom.  You can read about my project and check out my Donor's Choose page by clicking on the image below.  Donors Choose is matching any donations made to my project for the first few days when the code INSPIRE is used.  Fingers crossed...

Time for me to get some sleep and prepare for a sleep in past 5 a.m. day!

Candy Corn Word Family Mobiles - shhhh!

Do you ever feel like you have to close your classroom door, pull down the shades, creep around like a Navy Seal and prepare a statement of defense in advance to do an art project these days? 

Folks - it's a crime. Not doing the art project, but feeling like that when 

KIDS NEED ART. 

Last week, with the doors open and the window shades up... I let my kids make candy corn word family mobiles at our art center (which is one of my weekly literacy centers). Yep, I said it. I let them paint, use shaving cream, playdoh, ink dot bottles, play foam and sometimes I let 'em touch the markers. The project they do at the art center is always an opportunity to practice something we are working on, but at least my paint is not getting crusty in the cupboard.

This is my sample.  

I used the at family, 

but I invited students to use any short a word family.

 My students LOVED making the mobiles and were only slightly disappointed when I told them they had to leave them at school so I could hang them up.

  I'm only 4'11", so the mobiles hanging all over my room don't hit me in the head. I thought I saw the fire marshall shake his head at them when he was visiting last week, but he didn't say much so I think I'm safe for now. I won't keep them up for long because I can only handle thing dangling from the ceiling for a couple weeks the kids want to take them home.

Considering that I fell asleep in the chair at the hair salon tonight, I probably should go to bed.  Oh, how I love Fridays!