Five for Friday...a day late 5.23

School's Out!

Here's a look at our last week and a half.

1. My math class started Course 2 Coding from Code.org. My district is implementing a coding/computer science scope and sequence for next year. I decided to give my kiddos a head start as the new implementation will start in elementary. They loved it, especially when they would finally beat/figure out a challenging level.

 2. We reviewed the how to use TumbleBooks so that students can continue to read over the summer. It is a great site if you haven't checked it out. 

 3. My math kiddos made "Fraction Flowers." They drew a fraction card and then had to write it as a decimal, percent, equivalent fraction, ratio, and an equivalent ratio. 

4. We had our 5th Grade Lock In. At midnight we held a talent show, and this sweetie busted out his break dance moves.

5. We played "4 Men On A Couch" as part of our last day of school. The kids ate it up! We played for almost 2 hours before even 1 student seemed to be done. It was amazing! I used to play with my cousins at family reunions.

How to play:

Students sit in a circle with one extra chair. The teams are formed just by sitting every other one (I used stickers so they could tell who was their team member) and you have 4 designated "couch" spots. Everyone's name goes into a bowl and then everyone draws for a new, secret name. The person to the left of the empty chair calls a name. Whoever drew that as their new name, moves to the empty chair. Play continues likewise. The point is to remember people's new name, and to get 4 people from your team into those designated spots.

*Bonus* 6. I had a 'high tea' with my friend and team member who is moving to Jackson, TN next week. As you can see, it was adorable! It was also super delicious! 

p.s. If you have any K-6 teaching contacts in that TN area, let me know and I'll pass it along! She's pretty amazing! :) 

{4.24} Five for Friday

We are lucky enough to have a fabulous half time art teacher! This wall used to have a different mural on it, that in my opinion wasn't very pleasing to look at. This year she decided to have students paint over it and break it into sections to represent the different animals & habitats in Alaska. These are some 5th graders working. I'm super excited about the final product!

I do not have any sons nor do I have to help my husband tie his tie. This young man asked me to help him with his this morning. Uh-oh. 

Luckily, we had a male sub in our grade level or else I would have sent him to our 1 male teacher in 3rd grade or our custodian.

How many males do you have working in your building?

April snow showers are common here… we ended up with this one for a a day and half. 

Hopefully we're done with it now. :)

We used Socrative again! I love it! 

I created a 10 question review for our last three lessons. Students worked this quiz at their pace and then moved right into the lesson video. I downloaded the report and I love how they color coordinate so that I can see right away which were answered correctly or not. I'm a little sad to see that much red, but at least I know what we need to go over again before our quiz.

I ended up with an unexpected doctor appointment yesterday afternoon for our coming baby girl. We had an assembly in the afternoon so it was fairly easy to adjust for a sub. Everything ended up being just fine and I was out of the office within an hour. That meant that I got to spend the majority of a wonderful sunny afternoon with my toddler. She loves her leaves, sticks and dirt! 

Technology Thursday: Reflector Tip

I have been trying hard the last little while to really integrate our iPads into everyday instruction. 

I started out using Reflector for going over homework and examples since my document camera hasn't been working since who knows when. Today, I think I made a breakthrough!

We have been reviewing everything the last week as we have our state tests next week. I've said this before, but my math class is truly one that makes or breaks a day. They can be a rough group!

As students were working on their warm up, I walked around and checked their homework. I highlighted one question from their homework (that I know they had correct and showed their work) and made a mark on my answer key with pencil. Now, a few students didn't get highlights because they didn't show their work or I ran out of problems. That is something that I will need to work out as well as what students w/out homework do. This is an activity that takes a little longer than the normal amount we take to go over homework. 

Students were to open a white board app (we have 2-3 they choose from to use) and show their work and answer to the problem I highlighted on their homework.

I then walked through the steps with the class of how to show their iPad on the board. 

1. Make sure you (the teacher) has Reflector turned on on your desktop.

2. Students swipe up so the grey bar with comes up and touch "Airplay." If your Reflector is turned on, your computer/room name should appear. I changed mine so that it says my last name "Udy"

3. Have them touch your room name.

4. Give them the password if yours is locked. We do this so students from a different room won't accidentally project their iPad onto your board.

HERE'S MY TIP:

5. Students waited until I called their name to turn on "Mirroring." This made it so that one iPad was on the scree, it was larger enough to actually see, and we didn't have to wait for someone to go through all the steps to mirror for each problem. When they were done, they just flicked the "Mirroring" off and we moved on. 

6. When everyone is finished, have students choose "iPad" again instead of your room. Students learned that volume also is transmitted when one student had a math game open and we could hear the music from it. It was comically because a lot of students rushed to make sure it wasn't them. 

I love that he explained what he did and he actually reduced!

This girl is about to turn off "mirroring." Hers is the iPad in the bottom righthand corner.

This ended up being a really nice way to go over problems and to let them take ownership of their work. I think it may also motivate some students to always have their home and SHOW their work. It's not something I'll do every day, that would take away the novelty, but maybe once a week to keep them on their toes. 

Make sure you check out other tips and ideas at Teaching Trio!

*Steph*

Five for Friday: March 20

I got a little more techy this week!

I have started using Reflector in my room a lot more. It has been an easier way (less prep than making flipcharts) to go over different worksheets/activities/homework with my kids. It also lets me be mobile in the room, unlike having to be standing at the Promethean board to annotate.  

I also let my kids use QR codes to check their work. 

This is a great setup by Katie May on TPT. 

I like that the answers are on a separate sheet. My kids had to do all the problems, check with me, and then receive the answer key.

We also did the Taxation w/out Representation role play by Young Teacher Love.

It was awesome!!!

This colonist is sad because she has no more jelly beans to pay.

My principal came in as the "Queen of England."

The little piggy in the blue in the front loudly asked "Can we start the war now?!" 

I also was close to getting pummeled by some plastic cups, since I was one of the Tax Collectors. 

Ha Ha! It was a great representation of the unfair taxes and definitely got their blood running.

My hubby was super sweet to me and made this DELICIOUS chicken for me since I was craving it yesterday. 

Check out the recipe at Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Breaded Garlic Chicken in Lemon-Butter Sauce

Instagram teaser:

I did a reveal with my students today! They were so excited to find out.

We took them outside, had them choose which side to stand based on their guess, and then I cut open the top to release the balloons!

Instagram Reveal:

Big sister holding a new dress for her little sister!!

We are pretty excited! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

*Steph*