Green Screen Interviews with European Explorers

We began by researching European explorers with a partner: 

Who is the explorer you are researching?

Where is your explorer from?

Who funded the exploration?

What was their motive for exploring the lands?

When did they explore this area?

What did they accomplish?

Then each pair wrote a script between an interviewer and the explorer, using the questioning format above.

Then they searched for an image to use as a backdrop.

On taping day, they dressed up as their characters and performed in front of a green screen.

What a fun day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coding

We're Coding! 

Mrs. Johnson, a curriculum technology partner for our school district, visited us for 3 days in late October and taught us how to code using a program called Scratch.

 

First, we learned what coding is  and how to move a sprite, Scratch the cat.  The next day we learned how to draw a race track and change the Sprite from Scratch the cat to a car.  Some of us really got creative with our designs!

Here is Sheldon's car design: 

Coding is super fun and collaborating is evident:

After we learned to create race tracks, we learned to create other games.  Mrs. Johnson brought her Makey Makey and showed us to use conductors such as a banana and grapes to act as our controllers.  

We keep practicing and getting better and better!

 

 

 

Back in the TH5 Saddle!

     So, let's just say that I've been busy this summer in anticipation of this new school year.  I've read 3 professional books, 23 young adult novels, and 5 new picture books.   I've participated in #edcamphome, #ndedcamp, and #5thchat.  From those twitter chats, I've learned about Genious Hour, Passion Time, 20% Time, Maker Space, Google Classroom and so much more.  I purchased a makey makey and sphere.  I've chatted with author's Elliot Scheffer (Endangered and Threatened) and Donalyn Miller (Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild).  I am BEYOND ready for another awesome year!

     I purposely didn't go into school a week before school started.  I didn't want to get caught up in decorating a cute room.  We all know how that scenario- we think we're done then we step back and realize that there's one more thing we can print and put up- and so it goes and goes and goes. This year,  I'm keeping my room clutter free and simply awesome.  Here are a few pictures. I spent only 5 hours over a span of two days.  I'm really pleased with it!

This year, I'm using Evernote to record reading conferences. I like that I can type, take screenshots, and record the conversation.  Such a step up from anecdotal notes and sticky notes. 

And I'm using Google Classroom to organize assignments.  

Here we are on our first day!  We jumped right in to blogging.  5th graders started out by commenting on my posts and by Thursday they were creating avatars, designing their pages, and posting.  Amazing thinkers!

We signed our classroom chair-pledging to be more awesome this year.

We decorated and laminated bookmarks.

Our highlight of the week was the marshmallow challenge.  Learn more at marshmallowchallenge.com.

And here's a glimpse into our classroom this week! 

Maker Space: Sphero!

I'm new to this whole maker movement concept.  I heard about it during an EdCampHome session via a google hangout. I did a lot of listening.  The idea behind it:  give kids the time and resources to create, invent, and problem solve.  Following EdCampHome, I spent some time learning more about Maker Space from my techie friend Carla after she returned from a DEN conference.  Carla introduced me to the Sphero, a small round robotic orbitz.

Meet George! 

Download the sphero apps and away you go- control it from the app on any iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone!  My dogs loved it!  Amazingly, it's pretty durable- George took a trip in my dog's mouth and bounced down a couple steps.  I will order the rubber covering after that little excursion. All in all, I'm anxious to learn more, and am even more anxious to watch the kids figure this little dude out.

Gearing Up for the 2014-15 School Year with Summer Reads

My 2014 Summer Reads 

Young Adult Novels

Check out brief summaries the following books on our Reading Blog:

 http://bf5booksgalore.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Summer%20Reads 

I'm super pumped to put these in the hands of kids.  I'd give every single book shown below 5 stars!

Teacher Reads

I've also spent some time reading the following.  

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller:  I don't know how this book escaped me when it first came out?  By far, THE best read of my life.  I've been playing this teacher game for over 20 years and have been on just about every literacy bandwagon my district has implemented.  This book made total sense.  It is jam packed with strategies that make readers, READERS.  Loved the 40 book challenge, the omitted home reading contract, the readers response ideas… actually everything. 

Teach Like a Pirate by Dave Burgess: Dave Burgess inspires you to teach like a pirate, unafraid to try new things- to teach with passion, immersion, rapport, ask and answer, transformation, and enthusiasm.  The second half of his book is loaded with strategies to hook your student- check it out!

The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham:  Need tips for writing craft in writers workshop?  This book is the bomb! It jam packed with all things reading to produce goodwriting, and will leave you wanting to steal writing examples from mentor texts. Loved it!

I love being able to tweet authors questions while reading.  

One of the best online perks EVER!  Follow them at 

@WritingThief 

 @burgessdave  #tlap

@donalynbooks