Various Lessons I Taught

Kinders have trouble with directions and steps so what better way to help than a partner? Botlogic is a website where children must use arrows to get a robot to the house.  As the levels progress there are a certain number of moves, a battery back that will give you extra moves, and even a button you must turn on and off to proceed. I usually model for students the buttons and the path or algorithm they create and special notes of the level before letting them partner up and making their way through the path.

Ozobots are robots that follow a color marker route where the combinations of colors tell the Ozobot certain directions pertaining to speed or direction.  The students brainstorm with partners the routes the Ozobot should take to meet the most houses for present drop off.  Here we have students demonstrating the route and timing their journey.

Dash and Dot robots from Wonder Workshop area great for a group to test an algorithm. Dash can do so many things from moving, turning, singing, lighting up...it is endless what the students can create.  They learn and collaborate together.

Laptops are a must tool for the students and there are so many websites to practice skills.

Nearpod is an excellent companion in the classroom for students to follow along and interact with a lesson planned in advance. 

One of my favorite features of Nearpod is when the students draw their answers I can put them up on the screen for everyone to see without anyone knowing who it belongs to.  We can discuss the pictures and rationale for their answer or why someone would agree or disagree with them. 

Seesaw is an app we use to create or show our learning and hand in on the iPad.  Here these kinders are telling a little about themselves using emjois. The might not be able to spell out the words but they can find a picture to let you know their thoughts.

#MiamiDevice 2015

Back from #MiamiDevice and what are my thoughts…Well I am finding it difficult to sleep through the night because the inspiration is brewing and needs to be released.  Watch out CCE because now I have seven other teachers along side me to bravely face our fears and move forward with technology because it is what is right for kids.  

We cannot teach 21^st century students with 20^th century material.  There is a passion locked inside each and everyone of us.  We need to find that passion, share it and build relationships through that passion.  We heard some of the most inspirational speakers talk about being brave because fear is the greatest barrier to our own success.  I want to encourage our teachers to find their passion and in turn find the passion of their students.  I want to help build those relationships along with some very connected educators so we can bring forth the message #ottersmatter.  

Throughout #MiamiDevice I saw our team cry, smile, and most importantly share a part of themselves they reserve for those closest to them.  Our team will need to rely on one another as we move forward and we are off to a solid start and will show our brave along the way.

Yes that is Tony Vincent! We made it to several sessions and learned how to integrate iPads into our daily instruction.  Thank you @tonyvincent

We might have been @techninjatodd stalkers but seriously we did have thoughts of moving to Texas just to teach for him!

Adam Bellow is such a fabulous storyteller and wow his Keynote presentations are amazing!  I loved the Hack the Keynote session and will start working on my story soon...

You never know who you will meet, here is Reshan Richards, co-creator of Explain Everything. One of my favorite apps and he has ideas spinning in my head of how I am going to empower teachers to use this app.

@GoNoodle is one of my all time favs and there were many, many smiles for GoNoodle.

Did somebody say Hot Dog? Yes, yes they did...

I got to be the @GoNoodle HOT DOG!! Highlight of the trip! Thanks so much Go Noodle!

Wes Fryer was so informative and even gave me a challenge.  Post coming soon.  Hope to get some time with Thanksgiving coming up.

The Volusia County group and some of our favorite speakers.  Felix, you are amazing.  This learning conference ignited a fire in all of our teachers and we are spreading the fire to our entire community.  Thank you for everything and we will be back in 2017.

Our crazy prop picture!

Stacy Simpson I love you girl and so glad to meet Dr. Tony and connecting on Twitter.  You both are amazing and goes to show I might not see you every day but you are only a tweet away.

Angela Maiers you have started a movement #ottersmatter is real and we are running with it. Thank you for helping us see your vision and making it ours. #youmatter 

#youmatter

You are important, loved, respected, you are a contributing part of our team, you are valuable, listened to, successful and that is our is our mantra for the month and we have talked at length about the importance of liking yourself, sticking up for friends, and doing good in the world.  In a nutshell #youmatter  There just isn’t anything like a group of firsties to put it all into perspective for you.  They are so loving and genuinely care for one another.  I tell them there might be ugliness out there but we can change that with even the smallest of gestures. 

This week we had the pleasure of a very special visitor Victor Ezier, owner of Bully Me Now MMA.  He told his story and how it led him to his present day adventure at Bully Me Now where he hopes to empower children to find confidence within themselves.  He read a picture book about a different kind of dog and the kids were interested because of course it was about a dog.  It was a great message about how we are all different but that is what makes up our world~ different types.  Thank you Victor for sharing your story and we hope you come back to help us build our confidence throughout the year.

Grandparent's Day 2015

I can remember my grandparents.  My Ahma lived in Taiwan and we were blessed to get to visit when I was about 11 years old.  I remember what a hard worker she was, what a great cook, and how tiny she was.  I also remember there was respect even though we spoke few words in the same language.  My other grandparents lived in Nebraska and we got to see them more often.  I remember my grandma being the best cook.  She made this one cake, Cold Water Chocolate Cake and oh the tuna casserole was my brother Marcus' favorite.  My great grandma made the best fudge and I would give anything to spend just another day with each of these women so please treasure the grandparents! #youmatter My parents are grandparents to 3 amazing grandchildren and we are very blessed to have family dinner night every Sunday alternating between our house and theirs. #grateful We laugh, talk, and enjoy the days go by building these memories.  When I tuck Carson in at night and ask him the favorite part of his day...it always has something to do with food or family.  We truly are blessed!  

I had the pleasure of asking my firsties about their grandparents and we made these cute pictures to hang on the refrigerator as a daily reminder of how important grandparents are!  Hope you enjoyed them.  I sure did and I know my grandparents are smiling down at me as I remember Grandparent's Day 2015.

Friday September 4 marked the 10th day of school and a very important package was delivered!

 Look at all those 0s!!!!! We were very surprised when Dr. L came walking in with the box and we were curious.

 Inside we found a note explaining its appearance, some balloons, a cape, and a Zero the Hero flat doll.  AND guess what donuts!!! shaped like a 0!!

Thanks Dr. L. and we are looking forward to the next visit from Zero the Hero on the what day?!?