Blogging With 2nd Graders

Last month we launched our classroom blog. The students have been so excited! Each day we check our blog to record the temperature and check to see if we have had any more visitors. Through our blog we have been able to discuss geography and read messages from others. The students are eager to log on and start blogging on their own blogs. I have noticed that the students are becoming more comfortable with technology and are teaching each other. I am so proud of them!

In addition to the classroom learning that is going on, the students are taking what they have learned about technology home with them. The students have been encouraging their parents to log on at home!

I would like to invite you to visit our class blog and leave us a comment! You can reach our classroom blog at http://www.classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=285494 or by going to www.classblogmeister.com and typing in Melissa Garcia under “Read Blogmeisters.”

So I am still delving into all this wonderful technology out there for my students and me. I am, as well as my whole team, actually making a commitment to using the Smart Board -so the ideas and collaboration are wonderful. I am still trying to manage the independent or small group usage of it and am thinking I am being too overprotective. Do any of you use it for centers? What are some strategies for making sure they are appropriate and safe without hovering? Maybe I am just a control freak? Thanks in advance.

Another wonderful math website

Hey all -

Here is another wonderful math website that I use almost daily with my math kids. In fact, they ask all the time if we can play the games on the Smart Board.... very engaging for them!

www.multiplication.com

On another note, my team members and I level our math groups... and I have the highest (which is a blast). Here is the problem I am having: after trying multiple methods I still have a large handful of students that just don't get rounding. Any suggestions on how I can pull these final students to proficiency with this? Thanks for the help!

I'm confused.....

I'm confused. I need your help and suggestions.....

Now that the HS science department is implementing a daily pacing guide correlated to glets, how can I justify time in class having my students collaborate with students in other grade levels?

If my students and I are investigating the structure of DNA, how can I in real-time collaborate with Kristen's or Emily's MS science classes who have their own pacing guide and are on different topics?

You might suggest that we collaborate on general topics such as the scientific method but then we (teachers) will he held accountable for not being in the correct place on the pacing guide\ at the correct time.

I am trained as a global learner but the structuring of the daily lesson plans (6 pages in length) and the daily pacing guide does not appear to allow me to promote 21st C collaboration between classrooms.

For example: .....If it is Tuesday, my students need to be discussing the double helix nature of DNA, not live blogging with Kristen's or Emily's kids about how science has improved the quality of life.....

I'm not complaining (well kind of... ;)

I am all for restructuring and appreciate many of the approaches that ACSD14 has embraced.

But how do I rectify this apparent discrepancy?

Your suggestions are / would be appreciated.

Doug....

PS I am also an IB MYP / DP teacher and am wondering about how the dailly pacing guide as per the glets will give me flexibility in content delivery to implement the special attributes of IB science and technology?

I suppose that is another conversation for another day.

October blog

I am really enjoying using the Promethean board. We do calendar on the promethean board every day. The calendar for October has math integrated into it. It has the base ten blocks and ones for students to drag how many days we have been in school, weather graphing, a part about "Tell me everything you know about the number 29 for instance, depending on the date.
As children share their thoughts, I type them up on the board for all to see. The children are enjoying dragging the objects.
Tita Martinez
Haskin Elementary
Center, Colorado 81125

Smart resources and advice

I found a resource website for Smartboard lessons at "Tequipment's Educator Resource Center". A user has to create an account, but it's free and I like what I see so far. Lessons are broken down by subject as well as Elementary, Middle, and High. Not only do I find some great basics to build on for lessons, I'm getting some great ideas when I build my own.

Here's the link: http://community.teqsmart.org/download.php

I still use my Smartboard regularly, but struggle at times maintaining engagement in whole group situations. We often do "talk with your partner/group" about the answer/concept and then I draw stick names to complete it on the smartboard. However, this seems to be where I start to lose some students as some students still struggle at times with writing/drawing on the board - either with pen or finger. Some even still struggle dragging objects with their finger. I feel my lessons begin to drag! I try to help either by laptop or at the Smartboard with them, but am left wondering what else I can do. I would LOVE suggestions!

Smart Board Disaster!?

Love using my Smart Board now for every subject, but I need some help! I used it the other day as a center and much to my dismay it went horribly wrong...my student's behavior was terrible and I was being observed! Just wondering if any of you elementary school folks could offer some suggestions for center Smart Board usage. I was really trying to implement an interactive technology based center but I guess I'm still such a learner myself that I need some suggestions.