Summer Goals

It's Summer Break time here in the midwest!

I have some goals in mind but find that I do better if I actually make lists. So here it goes...

1. Finish graduate school! (1 project left and 2 committee meetings)

2. Read professionally: Comprehension Connections by Tanny McGregor (Check out a recommendation here. )and the daily 5 by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser.

3. Start walking again (at least 4 days a week). I ran into a definite time crunch at the end of school and now I am having a terrible time starting again!

4. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Think healthy. :-)

5. Sand whiteboards for classroom. Dad and I cut the huge shower board from Menard's last fall. My old boards are showing a lot of wear.

Hopefully, actually writing them will help me stick to them.

Theme Thoughts

I needed a place to gather my thoughts & sites for next year's theme. Yes, it does seem early to be thinking about this, but I generally need to let the thoughts simmer for a while before they grow into real "do-able" ideas. So here is my spot to collect ideas...



Melissa thought about a sunglasses type theme last year with
• Our Future Looks So Bright, That We Have To Wear Shades
Here are some pictures and some other word thoughts.

•"Sun"sational Second Graders
• Our future is bright!
• So smart - we shine!
• School is for the Cool!
• Brilliant
• reflection

I've Got a Hunch
This is a Bright Bunch!
See Bulletin Board



More web sites with beginning of school stuff:
• Back to School
• Bulletin Boards
• Shades of Summer - Art Lesson
• Fall Bulletin Boards (Look 3 from bottom of page for sunglasses theme)
• Theme Ideas (Look at #5: Cool Cats)

Possible cubby hangers?
• sun w/ sunglasses

Words: Wonderful Words

I used my recipe poem to create a Wordle cloud. Fun! 
It might be an interesting way to practice spelling, word wall or vocabulary words.


(Click on the picture for a larger view.)

I try to read Donovan's Word Jar to get kids excited about words, but it has been difficult lately to squeeze in this chapter book even though it is short.  In the process of purging some educational magazines I found Max's Words as a suggested book.  A picture book may be exactly what I need.  I previewed Max's Words by Kate Bank at Amazon and that led to  The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter.  I have ordered them from the library for a better look before actual purchase.  

Day in a Sentence

This week's day in a sentence challenge is to try creating a comic. Kevin suggested using Make Beliefs Comix. It was quite easy to use. I'm not sure that I am a very good at writing for cartoons, though. Here is my attempt.

6 Words - Day/Week in a Sentence

Here is my 6 word week in a sentence:

A whirlwind of activities encompasses me!

It's been an extremely busy and non-routine week for me (...and it's only Wednesday). I hope it becomes calmer soon, but I don't really expect it. ;-)




If you want to learn more about Day/Week in a Sentence see Kevin's Meandering Mind blog for more details!

Color Poem - #8

It's hard to believe that this is my 8th poem. I am surprisingly happy to have written a poem every day. Thanks for allowing me to participate in this poetry challenge, as I am sure that it has helped me to grow as a writing teacher! (It has also required me to practice blogging again.)

Pink

Pink is the color of a newborn's soft, snuggly blanket.
Pink is a piece of juicy watermelon dripping on toes in the heat of summer.
Pink is the sugary sweet growing bubble blown until it pops covering a nose.
Pink is the color that rises across cheeks in a moment of embarrassment.
Pink are the aromatic roses in a wedding bouquet.
Pink is the brightly colored sweater that earns the wearer compliments.
Pink is the polish covering the long smooth fingernails.
Pink is the color of the warm flannel nightgown.
Pink is the color of memories.

5 Senses - 7th Poem

This 5 Sense Poem has a different format than the one that I have used with my students.

Here is my draft.





Excitement is orange!
It sounds like lightning striking.
It feels like school starting.
It tastes like circus popcorn
Eaten under a 3 ring circus tent!






Here is a shared 5 Sense Poem that my students and I wrote earlier this year.

First Day of School
Old friends from first grade
Teachers greeting new students
Cooks making the first meal to share
Tasting hot dogs at lunch
Glad to be learning again
First Day of School

Week in a Sentence

After writing all those poems for A One Week Poetry Challenge, here is my week in a sentence.

A week of poems
Recipes, couplets, senryus
Whirling in my mind

Thanks to all the kind comments and inspiration from everyone at Two Writing Teachers Blog! Thanks also to you Kevin for hosting Day in a Sentence. I appreciate the opportunities to inspire my writing.

I Remember... Sixth Poem

We have been working on personal narratives at school. This week we read Ghost's Hour, Spook's Hour by Eve Bunting. Then we brainstormed, planned and wrote about a time when we were scared. I love how Ms. Bunting uses sound words and great descriptive writing. My model was about the tornadoes experienced in our community a couple of years ago.


I Remember Poem

I remember the sky turning dark even though it was late afternoon.
I remember the sound of the powerful blowing wind.
I remember the brightly colored weather maps on t.v.
And then only black as all the power ceased.
I remember the screaming of the warning sirens.
I remember collecting the couch cushions and crawling into the space under the stairs.
I remember listening to the crashing, the banging and the howling
I remember the terrifying waiting
Even praying that it would all be over soon.
I remember the silence after the storm, the destruction and the fear.
I want to forget, but in the spring, I always remember.

Fifth Poem - Senryu

The challenge to write 8 poems in 8 days continues. See the Two Writing Teachers blog for more details! Here are my Senryu attempts. This was a new one for me. I had never heard of them.





Standardized testing
Colored bubbles on a page
Change lives forever







And one more!

A moment in life
Flowing across the blue lines
Telling a story




Images provided by school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart

Fourth Poem - Couplet

The poetry challenge for today is a rhyming couplet. I have really enjoyed reading other posts with pictures, so here is my attempt to add a picture to my poem.





Beautiful flowers in a vase.
Secret admirer - mystery case!

Third Poem - Acrostic

I loved today's example poem, Did I Miss Anything?, by Tom Wayman. I can definitely relate to it!

I am borrowing a short acrostic poem from my writing journal for today.

Snuggle in
Lights off
Eyes close
Even breathing
Peaceful slumber

Second Poem

The second poem challenge was to write an "I used to be... But now I am..." poem. I had some trouble brainstorming one of these, so my poem turned into a different comparison poem of winter and spring. Here is a draft.

In Winter, In Spring

In winter, I shovel snow.
In spring, my umbrella keeps me dry.

In winter, flakes dance in the wind
In spring, the sky begins to cry.

In winter, I wear mittens.
In spring, my hands are free.

In winter, I build snowmen.
In spring, the flowers I see.

In winter, all is quiet.
In spring, the birds begin to sing.

In winter, I am freezing cold.
In spring, I feel the warmth of the sun

In winter, the poem began.
In spring, the poem is done.

Recipe Poem

This week Stacey from Two Writing Teachers  has proposed an 8 day poetry challenge in honor of Poetry Month. Today's suggested poem is a "recipe poem". I began by brainstorming "recipe words" while I used a machine of torture at the Fitness Center this morning. I came home and drafted one poem. I wrote another shorter poem in the Blood Bank waiting room before spending the next few hours in a series of bizarre events as my body protested losing its pint of blood. I am feeling better now, so here is my short poem which I prefer at this point in time.

Recipe for A Successful Classroom

Mix a variety of kids
With 1 great teacher.
Add a plethora of books,
A sprinkling of paper,
A dash of manipulatives,
And a handful of pencils.
Bring to a boil with inspired instruction.
Fold in a dash of technology.
Simmer for about 9 months.
Yields approximately 1 year of engaged learning.

Happy Poem Writing!

Another Ed/Tech Video

Pay Attention Video

This video is helpful in demonstrating the usefulness of a degree in Educational Technology

I'm still Learning!

I have been taking classes that don't require me to blog, so I have been absent for awhile. I am getting closer to completing my grad degree, making time more and more valuable.

Recently, I have been exploring Web 2.0 applications, including blogging and other interesting programs. I discovered Shelfari, a website that allows one to add books read to a bookshelf, creating a visual representation of books read. Adding a bookshelf to a blog is possible, so I have added a bookshelf containing the books that I am currently reading.

Sleep is important too so I will blog more later!

Reflection on Technology & Me

My best advice on using technology in the classroom is to start small and keep learning and adding technology to the curriculum based on your needs and your learners’ needs. Technology is such a vast field that one can quickly become overwhelmed if one tries to do everything possible all at once.
Technology will be part of my students future as well as my own. It is certainly in all of our best interests to keep pursuing new knowledge in this area. My students rarely are intimidated by the use of technology and usually find the use motivational and engaging. Using technology to teach all subject areas usually is a beneficial adventure.
I completed the Teacher’s Survey “Rubric for Advanced Computer Use (http:www.ed.gov/pubs/EdTechGuide/appc-7.html) and generally scored threes. I am comfortable using technology with my students and helping my coworkers with technology problems and projects. I still have room to grow to become a true “techno geek”.
I plan to continue my personal and professional growth in the field of technology in several ways. First, I just received a new iPod for my birthday. =) Now, I can experiment with podcasts more easily. Subscribing to a technology podcast will help to keep me aware of current advances in technology. I will also continue to read my RSS feeds involving technology: T.H.E Journal (http://thejournal.com ), Technology and Learning (http://www.techlearning.com )and Wired (http://www.wired.com/technology.html ), as they arrive as daily reminders on my computer. I will continue with classes focusing on technology at UIS. These classes have been very helpful with current technologies and applying them to my classroom. My district is also helpful in maintaining my tech awareness. I receive an online newsletter and attend tech facilitator meetings and SpICE (Springfield Illinois Computing Educators) (http://chapters.iceberg.org/spice ) meetings. Finally, Jason’s presentation reminded me that my school has a “Jeopardy type” response system in the wire closet. (Yes, the closet!) My goal is to get it out over winter break and see if it could be used with my students.
I will continue to add technology to my class curriculum and to enhance my personal life as a learn about new technologies and grow as a technology user.

My Topic - Trying, Reflecting, Refining
Technology Integration

On page 118, Coppola makes a statement about technology integration. She says, “The key to the elusive process we call technology integration is to evolve the technological uses at the same time as, and intertwined with, curriculum and instruction.” I was impressed with the talent that the teachers from Woodland School exhibited in their content area and with technology. I believe that when the teacher truly understands the content knowledge that he/she wants to share with the students then he/she can see the possibilities available with technology. I also believe in the “trying, reflecting, refining” method (p. 119-122). I have tried some projects with the technology that I have loved and continued using and I have attempted some projects that I abandoned for a different method.
For example, we are currently studying the phases of the moon. Many teaching guides suggest that the students observe the moon each night and make a calendar to demonstrate the changing look of the moon. I decided to check the Internet for pictures of the moon and found some great sites! This provided an option for those cloudy nights. It also made it possible for students to catch up. Even though this began as a “home project”, we have begun to check the moon phases each day during our calendar time. (http://imagiware.com/astro/moon.cgi ) This way the students without Internet access are included and the entire class has a daily reminder of their moon homework. This was a tiny simple integration that really raised the students’ interest and aided in their understanding.
We tried another project where we graphed temperature data. As part of our calendar math, the class checked the temperature of three cities and compared them by making a line graph. The students used a webpage that I created using “stickers” from www.wunderground.com to check the temperatures and we recorded the temperatures on a graph. When I learned about Pages and how it could make a line graph by typing in the temperatures, we tried it. It did not work as effectively as our paper and pencil created graph. We no longer had the daily opportunity to “round” numbers as we placed the temperatures on the graph. We didn’t have the actual graph hanging in the front of the room for ongoing observation. We could still compare the data, but were not gaining the actual graphing skills that were learned with the paper and pencil graph. I abandoned the line graph for this project in favor of the “old-fashioned” method.
According to Coppola, “It (trying, reflecting, and refining) is at the center of the developmental process by which the teachers created uses for classroom technology.” (p. 122) I think that most teachers informally complete this process all the time, for every lesson and project whether it involves technology or not. Taking time to reflect on teaching practices improves teaching methods. I plan to continue to learn about technology practices through my district’s technology facilitator meetings and through classes at UIS. As I learn more about technology, I plan to continue trying, reflecting and refining to meet the needs of my students.



Coppola, E. M. (2004). Powering up: Learning to teach well with technology. New York: Teachers College Press.