200 Awesome Days

200 Awesome Days

 

Have a look here!

This blog is from a Grade 1 & 2 split classroom based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The blog seems to serve the usual purpose of communicating with families at home what is happening in the classroom and what is going on, but also has a goal to post everyday of the school year. Some of the other blogs I have come across and followed have had a few posts done by students, but many students seem to post on this blog. It must be because no teacher could keep up with daily blogging! The posts are not edited and written completely by the children, and they are more tech-savvy than a lot of people that I know. The students have pictures and videos incorporated into their posts, and they also type quite a lot when explaining what they are doing on a daily basis. This is great practice for them for their typing in later stages, but also a great positive introduction to the world of blogging and the internet.

Something in this blog that I did not come across in other blogs was the personal touch that the teacher puts into it. She went on a trip to watch a rocket launch in Florida during the school year, and writes about this in her blog. The post about the rocket launch is a great and interesting ending to other blog posts about space, astronauts and rockets. This is something that they have obviously been working on in the classroom. In one post, the teacher gives her students “weekender homework”, which is to come up with some questions that they would ask an astronaut. She then tweets the questions to Christopher Hadfield, who is currently in space. This is not only an amazing way to incorporate technology into her classroom, but motivation for students to do their homework and perhaps even discuss the things that they are learning with their parents at home.

I feel that having a blog like this for a grade 1 & 2 classroom is an outstanding way to not only have open communication, but help your students and children learn safe internet usage. They also learn that internet is not only for games, but for research and communication with the world at large. Check this blog out when you have a chance!

Our World, Our Numbers

 This is a brand new blog, but one I happened to stumble across today. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this blog is actually also connected with Mr. Avery's blog (from my first blog review!)

Our world, our numbers, is a blog that is connecting schools in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, and is designed for primary students sharing their mathematical lives. Each of these countries has different time zones, different currency, and different costs of living. Students learn about these things through interacting with each other with different medias, such as videos, slide shows and pictures.

Every four or so days, a new topic comes up that a new class is responsible for learning about and teaching to the other students/classes that are part of the project. The post that was put up today was from the grade 4 classes in Victoria, Australia, about their currency. The students created a slide presentation with pictures of their currency with interesting facts about each piece of currency. The information provided was interesting facts to help promote learning. They also created a video talking about their currency, allowing other students to experience hearing and seeing students in different countries with different accents. The video shows different products that can be purchased and the approximate price you would pay in Australia. The post ends asking the other students how the currency compares in their countries, and how much things cost where others live.

I will be following this blog to see responses of students from around the world and see what they are learning from each other - I can't wait!

Schoolhouse Consulting – Independent Thinking – Sound Ideas – Better Schools

Schoolhouse Consulting – Independent Thinking – Sound Ideas – Better Schools

For a change of pace, I started looking for blogs about education in Canada in general, rather than classroom blogs, and I came across this amazing blog. The blog has been running since 2009, so I picked out my favourite recent post to share and review with you. 

On January 14^th, Paul (the author of this blog) posted about Salman Kahn. His opening line, “Salman Khan, found of Khan Academy, is a genuine big thinker” caught my interest from the get go. Kahn is an ex hedge fund analyst who has set out to shake up and change the education system to the benefit of students – but unfortunately, many teachers don’t see it that way. The basis of Khan Academy is a series of YouTube videos that set out to “actually ‘teach’ something rather than to ‘facilitate’ interaction with others.” This goes against the “student-centered” teaching that is the bottom of the North American curriculum today, and teachers seem to generally be against using Kahn, his videos, and his teaching in their classroom. As Kahn says, “It’d piss me off too, if I had been teaching for 30 years and suddenly this ex-hedge-fund guy is hailed as the world’s teacher.” However, this brings me back to the idea of begging, borrowing, and stealing. I had not heard of Kahn before reading this blog post, but it seems that using this is frowned upon in the classroom, though Paul encourages teachers to have students watch the videos as homework to promote deeper understanding and discussion in the classroom. If this is something that can enrich student learning, why put a stop to it? This could help reinvent teaching and classrooms, and at the very least, engage those students who would rather spend time on YouTube than writing a report on something they don’t fully understand. If it can help you out as a teacher and teach your students something, than why not? This post really got me thinking, and I would love to know other people’s opinions. 

This was just one thought provoking post of many. Check this blog out here to learn new things and get you thinking about the education system in Canada. 

Look what's happening in room 102!

Look What's Happening in Room 102 - Mrs. Lynch's Classroom Blog

 Check them out here

This is a blog for a younger grade, and from a school located in Canada. The teacher in this blog is very open about the safety issues that surround posting online, which I think is a great way to teach your students to be aware of their digital footprint and what they are doing online. With the access to the internet and computers at home and at school today, it is essential that children are aware of the pros and cons of the world wide web. 

The blog contains posts from previous classroom groups, and is not just for this year. I think that’s a wonderful idea, as parents can check out before school starts what to expect in the classroom. Because this is for a grade 2 classroom, being able to read over some of the experiences students had in the previous year with children who may have some “back to school” anxiety is very helpful. On top of this, it allows Mrs. Lynch to have a recording of what she did throughout the year to remind her of what worked and what didn’t!

Not everyone is completely internet and technology savvy, and this blog is created to support people of all levels. There are several links at the top of the blog, including “how to” links explaining how to navigate the blog and leave comments. There are also different tools that are used in the classroom, which means students and parents alike can use these at home to support learning outside of the class. She also shares great apps, games and websites that she has found, which is another opportunity for new teachers to learn from those who have been in the business for a long time.

Something that stood out for me with this blog is the concentration was not solely on what the students were learning, but also on the fun things that they do in between. On February 13^th, the 100^th day of school, the students were dressed up and played lots of counting games. They even shared their 100 day projects with another group of students in Michigan through their blogs! One post was about the sticky snow they had, and what they did that day. The post finishes asking the students what they do in the snow, encouraging comments to be left and allowing students to practice their typing. A great blog for a lower level class.  

 

Learning from others...

As teachers, it's always a good idea to "beg, borrow and steal" from one another (as long as you ask!), even when it comes to blogging. Edublogging has made it possible to look into classrooms all over the country and around the world to see how things are being done elsewhere. New teachers such as myself have the chance to pick up on great ideas and tactics to use in our own classrooms. Below are a few of the blogs that I have been reading and following to give you an idea of what to expect on your blog-ventures!

Mr. Avery's Classroom Blog - A 6th Grade Class From Massachusetts Sharing With the World! 

 Read their blog here

Mr. Avery’s classroom blog is a collective effort from not only him as a teacher, but by his students as well. Posts vary between those written by him and from several different students. The posts showcase work being done in the class, and many feature questions that encourage students to leave comments and become actively involved with the posts. The teacher showcases the students work, and it seems that all the children have several chances to have their work displayed on the blog. Not only are there pictures of the students working and having fun, but their actual work is sometimes uploaded (such as drawings etc). Mr. Avery also incorporates different media, such as video and audio, to show what the kids are up to. This makes the blog engaging and fun to read. The posts are short and concise, concentrating more on sharing the examples than on a long winded explanation of what they did.

Mr. Avery’s class is in contact with other teachers and students through his blog. He has posts dedicated to the different people they have “met”, and what they have learned from each other. The posts feature slides and maps showing where the blogs are, with more questions for the students. Upon reading the comments, it is apparent that the blog involves the whole family! Not only are students leaving new information that they have found on their own time, but parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents are leaving comments as well. Talk about making learning a family affair!

I found a great idea to use in my own classroom. In December, the students were learning about similes. They each wrote two different similes on separate pieces of paper describing winter. They then crumpled up the pieces of paper and had a snowball fight with them in the gym! At the end, students picked up two snowballs and shared the similes with the class and discussed how similes can strengthen writing and help “create a story that the reader can step into.” I will be using this idea when I have the chance!

I really enjoy this blog. Mr. Avery and his students have an exciting classroom, and there are tons of great lesson ideas for teachers, even though they follow the U.S. curriculum. This is a prime example of how a blog can enrich learning in and out of the classroom. Check them out!

Some iPad apps for French

Hello!

I have been working with students ranging from Grade 1 to 6 in French reading and writing, as well as social studies and math.

I have found a lot of students have trouble with reading and writing particular words in French, as well as recognizing French verb tenses and what word/tense should be used at what time. Being lucky enough to have my own iPad, I chose to search for some apps and came up with a few great ones that seem to be working very well. Most of the apps are free, or at least have a free version to try out. I strongly caution you against purchasing an app without first trying out the free version <i>yourself and with the students who will be using the app!</i> I only purchased one for $0.99 without trying it first, but it is not very useful and does not apply itself to what I am teaching. I have tried and deleted approximately ten, but kept several others, in French and in English.

<b>Tic Tic</b>

$3.99 (Free limited version to try first)

I use Tic-Tic with two Grade 3 girls who have challenges with reading and writing in French, as well as for a Grade 1 boy who understands French, but will only speak and write in English.

Tic-Tic is a 3D cartoon of a young girl. There are several categories to choose from, such as "L'alphabet", "Les animaux", "La cuisine", "Le corps", etc. I have my students either choose at random, or I will choose a category. Once in the category, there are several animations with the written word underneath. My more advanced students are encouraged to try reading the word first, and then they click on it and Tic-Tic comes to life! She says the word, then places her hand to her ear to hear the student repeat the word. Then, there is an animation to reinforce yet again what word the child has just said. You can also click again on the same animation if the child has had trouble, and continue to practice. Not only is Tic-Tic fun to interact with, but she has great, clear pronunciation and animations for the students to learn from. I highly recommend this one!










<b>Mind Snacks - French</b>

$1.99 (Free version available to try)

Another great French app, this one has games for students to play at different levels with different words, and the categories are food, numbers and letters. Students need to complete lessons (I tell them they have to beat the levels) in order to unlock higher levels and new games. The only drawback is you need to reset the game from time to time for different students. Students first practice with the app to review words that they will be tested on. Then, they continue on to the actual test. Below, I have placed a picture of one of the tests that the students can complete. A number appears at the top, and the students have to match the correct word below to keep the water level up and keep the fish alive. It's fun, and helps students relate English and French words. I found this a great app for all age levels, as it makes learning fun as they compete against themselves.







<b>French Basics</b>

Free - but don't waste your time

There are three categories: "Apprendre (Learn)", "Dessiner (Doodle)", and "Jouer (Play)". The learn section has the alphabet with only one French word with no sound to help with pronunciation, letter sound in French, or word recognition, and when you click on the letter, a letter for students to colour in shows up - again, with no sound. Doodle is a basic whiteboard (and there are much better apps out there for this) and play has a memory game. The memory game, again, has no sound, and simple cartoon pictures of animals. This does not help with reading or writing, and there are much better and much more amusing apps out there to help support learning.



Hopefully that helps to give a start to a few apps that are out there!

Happy learning!

Marieke

Welcome!

Hello to all those out in the world, and thank you for stopping by!

I chose to title my blog "The Art of Teaching in the Snow" because I am based in Ottawa, Ontario, and spend a lot of time slogging through snow, freezing rain, black ice and freezing temperatures to get to school and see my students who have been through the same ordeals. From indoor recess, to snow days, to ice storms to stopping kids from whipping snowballs, there is a true art to teaching in the snow.

My goal for my blog is to provide resources to other up and coming teachers, but also to share funny anecdotes and stories as we explore the amazing world of eduction.

I look forward to posting and hopefully receiving comments and support from the online community as we learn together!!

Stay warm!
Marieke