Listen to the FACTS!

Unit 2 is underway and is a great success. My students thrive off the authentic problems and are loving these new learning opportunities.

My unit is on animal classifications and needs. On Friday, we explored a cool website call "Switcherzoo"! If anyone gets a free moment, I strongly encourage you to visit this site. It is fun for all ages. There are so many animal "games" for students to explore.

My 1st graders favorite was when they got to build an online habitat. In this game, they are given an animal and they must change the background to make it's habitat. They had a blast and retained the information. They were still talking about it today!

This Friday they will be using the site to create a new animal! I can't wait to see what they come up with! :o)

Did we have these things when we were kids? Wow... what a difference!!

A bragging moment...

As many of you know, my best friend from college had a beautiful baby boy last February. Well.... my best from high school welcomed her baby boy on Sunday night. I was lucky enough to have Monday off and was able to meet him! I am once again blessed with a beautiful "nephew"!!

Welcome to the world, Nicholas!

Digital Video... in 1st grade?

My students created a famous American museum. As visitors came, they were the tour guides and taught everyone about each famous American. It was a huge success and seemed to be loved by all!

As my first unit is coming to a close, new ideas for next year keep popping up! For instance, how about using a podcast for visitors to listen to as they walk through the museum? (thanks, Dawn!!)

After last weeks digital video experience, I began thinking of ways to use this with the little guys. Once again, I find myself thinking about how to improve our museum. How about documentaries?? This could be another great artifact! Students could play the part of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or even Ben Franklin! They could create a one to document the important contributions! I can see it now... Ben Franklin's kite experiment; Abraham Lincoln teaching himself how to read; or even George Washington Carver finding another way to use peanuts!

After learning something new in class, I always find myself asking... "how could this work with 1st graders?" I am now realizing that anything is possible!

What do you think? A famous American documentary could work... right??

Can I take on a Flat Stanley podcast?

I spent some time tonight reading blogs that other classmates have posted. I ran across a blog post about podcasts in a 1st grade classroom! Thank you, Kate! You made my day!

She shared a link to an example of a 1st grade podcast on the adventures of Flat Stanley. I immediately got excited. This is my favorite part of Spring. After reading Flat Stanley, my students create their own and send him to family members all over the world!

Alas... A PODCAST IDEA! My class could create a series titled "Where in the World is Flat Stanely"? As Flat Stanley returns to them, my students could share his adventure in their very own episode of the series!

Want to know more about Flat Stanley? Take a look at the sites below...

Who is Flat Stanley?
All About Flat Stanley
Some Flat Stanley Adventures


What do you think???? This just may work!!!!!

A Podcast?

Podcasts are not something I am familiar with! According to Wikipedia a podcast is a series of digital files released as "episodes". These files are accessed via the internet on your personal computer or evend downloaded to an iPod. Viewers can set their computers to automatically download new episodes as they are posted.

As I continue to read more about them, I am realizing that podcasts can have a great impact on student learning. A podcast allows students to share learning experiences and has potential to make learning more meaningful and authentic. Teachers can use them to provide additional information or review content and students can download it and review it at any time.

The past few weeks I instantly knew how I would like to use blogs and wikis in my classroom. Podcasts, however, are another story! I can easily add one to my classroom webpage but I find myself asking "How could I fit this into a first grade classroom?"

Any thoughts??

Wiki Wiki Wiki...

I have to be honest... everytime I hear the term "wiki" an image of a DJ with a turntable pops in my head! Hence the title of this entry! :o)

Oh the joys of Wikis! A wiki is space on the web that groups (friends, students, teachers, etc.) can edit together. Honestly, this is my first experience with them. Granted, I have visit wikipedia many times... but I have never created one of my own until this semester. Surprisingly, I find it enjoyable and look forward to seeing what others add.

After my last post, I have started a blog on my classroom website. Now... I would love to create a classroom wiki. I think this is a powerful learning tool and accomplish a lot when used in the classroom. Having my students add things to it would really give me an insight on their thoughts and understanding of the instructional topic.

My classroom is becoming a world of endless possibilities!

A blog about blogs...

I have to be honest, having and maintaining a blog is something I never thought I would do. When I was younger, I found it hard to share my thoughts in a diary. It was something I would start, but would never finish. I find it easier to share my thoughts in conversation rather through text. This is something new to me...writing my thoughts to an audience! I know that I will keep up with this at first because I "have to". However, I have a strong feeling that by the end I will do it because I "want to". :o)

After watching the movie "Julie and Julia" I thought it would be interesting to blog. My friends and I have had many conversations on blog topics. But... who would really read it? Maybe this will give me the confidence to start one of my own that does not pertain to what I am learning in the ITS program.

PWC Schools have recently given each teacher a classroom website. On my website, there is an option for a classroom blog. One of our 3rd grade teachers has successfully set up a classroom blog where students, teachers, and parents communicate with one another and discuss their learning. What a wonderful thing! This not only promotes communication skills with students, but it also encourages parents to be active participants in their child's classroom and school.

I beginning to have a new found excitement with blogs and how I can implement them into my classroom. What can a 1st grader do with a blog? Only time will tell...