We are UP & RUNNING!!!

The school year has gotten off to a speeding start. The days of easing into the routine & instruction are long gone. For some reason this year feels like it has started off faster than a speeding bullet! It's hard to believe that we are in the 3rd week of school. weTeach & we are trying to change how we do it! Here are a few things to help you make the shift.

There are so many different things I need to cover & I realize that this is a long post, so I will try to address items by grade level or for everyone.

EVERYONE
Library Passes (everyone)
I placed 2 passes for each classroom teacher in your boxes. We are practicing what to do when you come to the library on your own. I am going over what to do when your classes come & there are signs by the computers, explaining procedures. I am trying to stay close to the library right now to help students when necessary. Our goal is to make the library self-service so that I can assist you in the classroom.

Freedom Week (everyone)
I have lots of different resources that can be used to celebrate Freedom Week. Younger grades might want focus on symbols of freedom & Older grades could focus on the constitution. I have a new ebook about the National Anthem & several videos.
I have books on the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Pledge, Monuments & the list goes on.
I did a quick online search & have gathered some resources for you. There are links to lessons & sites that you may want to incorporate into your lessons next week:

http://www.irvingisd.net/page/constitution_day2.htm Irving' s resources for teachers

http://ratify.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/detail  a great link to the Constitution

http://texaslre.org/downloads/112004_lp_k-2 Primary lesson plan


Scootpad  (everyone)
There is an awesome website/app called Scootpad. It is developed around the Common Core reading & math standards. It's free! You can create a class account & each student can be assigned standards to practice or it can be self paced. This would be a great use for classroom computers during centers and it can be accessed from home too. It runs reports just like ISIP so that you can track student progress.  There is an ipad app. It looks really cool. I think it could be really useful during intervention. To ease logging in you could repeat your ISIP logins.

GRADE LEVEL

5th grade

I really need to see your kids for library orientation! I need to go over some procedures, etc. with them. I need to find a time where they can come & check out books. Monday is open if you can work the schedule. It can be one person's rotation if you would like.

Your intervention time is a great time for them to come down & use the library independently. 

Go ahead & send the ones that are not in a group & they can start checking out.

The digital library was overwhelmed the other day. Check out is easier from a desktop computer because students have an option to search by grade level. I wil be happy to work with small groups & they can show others.

 4th grade

I will be highlighting features of edmodo with 4th graders on Friday. Ms.Williams, I need to talk with you on Thursday.  
All teachers  can go ahead & send kids with the library pass as they need it, even though we won't cover procedures until Friday. 

3rd grade

I want to start readers notebooks with your students next week. Please send a spiral for each student to the library by Monday. We can discuss things to go in the notebook during your planning meetings through out the year.
They can come get a book when they finish reading their current check out. 

2nd grade 

Some of you have come to me asking about a technology project. What about making a movie about matter.

Divide the class into 4 groups 

group 1. -intro & conclusion - define matter draw pictures or find examples & then wrap up at the end.

groups 2,3,4 -solid liquid & gas groups define provide examples. You could record using your iPad. We can post to you tube channel  & then you can embed to your blog. You could easily start the movie today & we could post it when finished. I think Holly would count You Tube or your blog as a bulletin board.

1st grade

Can you think of a topic that you could do a movie on? Maybe why rules are important? They could show examples & non examples of following rules or the could explain STAR.

Kinder
Maybe your topic for a movie could be rules & leaders too. I will be placing a link to starfall.com on the library website by the end of the week. I will get you directions for easy access or we could book mark their desktop. Maybe they could talk about calender math or create a tour of the school.

 When it comes to technology JuMp in & try it don't wait for perfect, you will never start.

iTeach, uTeach, wegrow, & welearn