End of the Year

As the school year comes to end, I want to reflect on the improvements I have made with technology. In the beginning of the year I considered myself a novice when using Smart Notebook. I was still able to help other staff members answer basic questions about the software but unable to create fancy interactive lessons. Throughout the year I have been able to improve my lessons by adding links to lesson or interactive activities. I would get ideas from various websites like Smart Exchange and then attempt to add the features I found interesting to my lessons! I am also able to trouble shoot more successfully for myself and other teachers. Overall, being a part of Global Learning has helped me integrate technology into my classroom in meaningful ways. I feel more competent using technology and sharing ideas with colleagues. .

What kind of Technology should be used in Kindergarten?

Today at Global Learning Professional Development we discussed what kinds of technology we would like to see used at each grade level.

For kindergarten we would like to see students being able to use the two types of mice-desktop and laptop.Students should be able to collaborate and create(with teacher) digital story, voice threads, and a digital story. We want students to know how to navigate forwards and backwards on slide-show or web page, be able to close documents, and be able double click.

We are hoping that if we begin exposing our students to technology at such a young age that they will be proficient or advanced at using 21st century technology by the time they finish high school!

We Made a Dialogue Book Using Technology!

This week in writing we have been focusing on dialogue. Students have been identifying dialogue in stories and including it in their writing!

Earlier this week we read the story, Goldilocks and The Three Bears. My kindergartners drew pictures from the story and wrote their favorite dialogue from the story. For example, they drew a picture of Papa Bear and wrote, "Someone has been sitting in my chair."

On Friday we made a class book and brainstormed dialogue for each character! Check it out!

http://www.artisancam.org.uk/flashapps/picturebookmaker/captures/stf/index.php?incomingNum=4869

Toon Doo

After reading the "The Three Little Pigs," my kindergartners practiced summarizing the story using a beginning, middle, and end graphic organizer. First, students drew and labeled pictures using a paper version of the graphic organizer. After my students perfected and finished up their writing, it was time to present their work to their classmates! Throughout the week each table group shared their work during "Author's Chair."

At the end of the week I decided to practice summarizing during whole group instruction. As a class we used the website Toondoo.com to create a comic strip-graphic organizer of the story Three Little Pigs! The students loved retelling the story, picking graphics, and brainstorming ideas for the text! Above is what we came up with!!

Classroom Audio System

I am so excited that I recently received a REDCAT classroom audio system. This is a voice amplification system that allows my students to hear my voice regardless of where I am standing in the classroom.

Students also love getting a chance to try out the microphone for themselves! During English language development class, students have the opportunity to speak in complete sentences using the microphone. Students will begin with a sentence frame, "My favorite food is________ because _________." Students will take turns speaking and responding to each other. In order to ensure 85% engagement while one student is speaking into the microphone I have all the students repeat what was said using the child's name in front of their sentence, "John's favorite food is _______because_____." The students are very excited to speak in the microphone and to hear their friends~

We love to sing in kindergarten!

In my classroom I love teaching with music. Anytime I can find a song that can help my kindergartners learn I am ecstatic!

I found this number song on YouTube and my students absolutely love it! I truly believe this song helped my students with the recognition of numbers 1-10.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk9Yt1PqQiw&feature=channel

Another YouTube video that my students really get a kick out of is an ABC phonics song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BELlZKpi1Zs

If you teach pre-k through 1st grade I guarantee these songs will be a hit!

Collaboration Project!

Mr. Giles' and I worked together to make an ABC book for our collaborative Global Learner project! We created this book on the Storybird website. This is a FREE user-friendly website that parents, teachers, and students can use to create a digital story.

Each of the kindergarten classes chose 13 letters and found graphics to match each letter. This was an engaging literacy activity to do during whole group instruction. In order to hold students accountable I had students write the letter that we were working on as we were making the page on StoryBird. The kids loved it and so will YOU!

Check it out!

Five Year Olds vs Smart Response Clickers

This month I had the privilege of team teaching twice with the smart responders! Once was with another fellow global learner, Drew Giles and another time with Kelly Berry! The first time my students used Mr. Giles’ Smart Response LE clickers to complete a Story Town theme pre-assessment. The students could not have been more thrilled ! After setting up very strict expectations, the students were eager and ready to play the “game” (take the quiz). Students were engaged and excited to put in their answer and then see how they did after each question. Students were able to stay engaged and answer over 20 questions using the Smart Response LE clickers. The larger buttons, colors and shapes, helped them answer confidently and quickly!

The second time I used the Smart Response PE clickers during math time. I created a 10 question quiz on number sense. I wanted to see if my students could answer correctly the amount of objects in a given set. Thankfully, I had Kellys assistance when explaining to my students how to enter their specific clicker number and answer the questions. Although the Smart Response PE clickers were a little more difficult, the students rose to the challenge and had a great time! My students and I have enjoyed learning about and applying this new technology in our classroom. I am looking forward to using both types of clickers in the future!

This article was posted on my colleague's blog and I wanted to share it on mine as well. I found it interesting and it was a great reminder on why a teacher's hard work is so important!

http://kindergartenkaleidoscope.blogspot.com/2010/08/case-for-320000-kindergarten-teachers.html

Smart Response Pe

This past weekend, I created a quiz for my students that will allow them to use the smart responder clickers!I am very excited to see how my students will react using this type of technology.

I have created a simple quiz using multiple choice questions. The purpose of this quiz is to see which students can correctly identify the number of objects in a given set. I will be sure to post a reflection listing the successes of my students had taking the quiz and areas that still need improvement! Stay tuned!

KIndergarten School Year 2010-2011

This will be my second year at Monaco Elementary. I am so excited for the school year to begin and for my student's to try out all the new technology that will be in our classroom!

I know my students' will fall in love with learning even more with the use of a SmartBoard and the SmartResponse PE!

Along with a new school year came...NEW CUPBOARDS!