Packing up my room

It was so sad to give notice that I would be leaving Price. It has been such a wonderful experience.  I enjoyed it and it went too fast.  I wonder if I will ever find another job as great as that.

This is what I had to pack along with stuff from 3 filing cabinets, and my desk.  I just piled it into boxes and hope to review it when I have more time.  I will donate what I do not want.  I did not take many electronic files because most are already on my computers.

I do need to buy a back up disk...asap.

Now to find a job in San Diego.

Assessment Class for Level 2

Today is my last class on Assessment.  We are learning how to help the student with ADHD.  For instance, give help with time management.  Interventions that directly address academics improve academics.  Interventions addressing behavior help behavior but not academics.  Peer tutoring is highly effective.

Comments from students

I asked the students to reflect on my class the last week of school. Here is a list of things they liked:

Language Arts 7/8

Things I liked - The smart board, the computers, the i-Pads!

One thing I really liked was the Vocabulary words with definitions and the projects we did on the computer.

The one thing I liked in class was the Smart Board notes.

We need to improve the computers.  Some are too old and run slow.  The kids always run to get the best machines.  We you assigned computers it was no fun.

I liked the way you guys make the vocabulary easy. [Teacher comment- (google presentation - each student made a slide for their word with two pictures, definition, and a sentence.  Each day during the week we reviewed the slides on the smart board.)

I liked to write the vocabulary words from the internet.

I liked the way we did our definitions for the week.

Social Studies 6/7

I liked putting the definitions on the computer.

I like watching CNN students News and taking notes.

I liked watching movies, the new computers, and the field trip.

Language Arts 6

One of my first things that I liked from this year was how we all did our vocabulary on the computer.

The thing I really like was the vocabulary.  I liked how we read books and then watched the movie of it.

Now the teacher's reflections

The Kids blogs for reading seemed to bomb because so few would actually read and write.  I wondered if this was because they did not have to turn in a piece of paper so they forgot to do it?

Tween Tribune lost some interest by the students over the year but I liked it and want to make a grading rubric to use with it for next year.

I know the students felt it a bit tedious to write out the definition in their notebook and then enter it in a google form but over all I think it helped them remember more.  So I think I will do that again in social studies.  I will also review it on the smart board so everyone can see what each other wrote and grade them more appropriately.

I loved using Google presentations for vocabulary learning in every subject.  I think I only did it three times in Math class but could see doing it every week or two through out the year. I think their vocabulary is so weak that it makes them unable to do the math problem.

I loved using video for math learning.  I think I need a few more cameras.  When a student is on film and has to explain what they are doing I think they are really learning.

I made the students do various presentation through out the year on Google presentation.  They were projected on the smart board so the student talked about their work to the entire class. I think they learn so much this way.  The students did "I Am Poems" with 19 slides.  They did a presentation on what they would pack if they were going away for two years like Anne Frank.   They did "I Am Poems" from Anne's or Peter's perspective.

The very last week the students made a Wordle of their name (20 ties) and then 5 things about them that they are proud of written between 10 - 15 times year.  They were beautiful and the students were so proud.  I passed these out to the 8th graders at graduation.

It was wonderful to have 16 operating computers in my classroom.  Although some are so old they should be retired.  My son's computer is 10 years old.  My mac laptop is about that old too.  But with the grant money from the Merit program I was able to purchase 4 newer computers for my classroom.  I am so pleased with it.  I used the computer often so it enabled me to teach them what to do and let them go learn.  They taught each other and improved their computer skills as well as learned academic material.  At Price they dropped their computer elective but in my classroom my students were always pushed to learn more about technology. 

Of course I have more goals for next year.  I want my students to learn video editing skills and make movies about learning.  I hope to use math videos for teaching and then just help the students work on their homework in class so they do not just get stuck and discouraged at home.  I want to scan all homework so it is available on line if a student stays home.

Math class at Intel Museum.

Paid for new computers

The bills came:
Tiger Direct $870.56
Geeks           $667.36
Total          $1,537.92

Then I bought two mice at Target because some students were having trouble with the keyboard. $40 plus tax.
So I am just over $1,577.90
I also had two computer locks which I use to keep the computer just out on a table in my room and have piece of mind.
My two personal lap tops are unlocked but put away each night.  I leave my old power book out because at over 8 years old it does not have a lot of value for me.

I have numbered each computer.  Each week the students rotate to a new computer.  I hope to have student comments on the situation soon.  It is great.  I demonstrate on the smart board.  They take notes about what they are going to do.  And then each student has a computer to use!!!!

Thank you so much.  My math class has been making resumes.  Finding careers to check out using Who Do U Want 2B?

My lesson plans for next year will be modified for all students to be using a computer.

Update on new computers.

The new computer a in and we found one new monitor not to work.  So that is in my garage to return.  But the technology department had an old monitor to use so the computer is up and running.

Item 1 - Students were running to the new laptops to get there first.  So we numbered the computers and figured on the correct way to have the students around the room and now ther rush is over.  We will move the students to the computer on the left at the start of each week.

Item 2 - Usage - The computers have been used often last week.
Language Arts 6 - The students wrote their I am poems on google presentation.  For each of the 16 lines they inserted a picture.  They they used the smart board to give their presentations.  It was a wonderful project.

Language Arts 7/8 - here the students used the I am poem but to write it as if they were Brian from the book Hatchet.  It went great. The students had such good ideas.  Again they used google presentations and pictures for each of the 19 slides.  I felt it was a great use of technology.  We videod their presentation so they will have a copy of that and next week I hope to put their presentations on the web sites.

Social Studies 6/7 - My students each reported on a Renissance artist.  They found information on the web and then picked 3 pictures or works of art to talk about.  They used google presentation and the smart board as well.  These were video taped as well.  I could really see a difference from my students who do this each week in my language arts class and to those who this was their first project.  I did not explain it in detail because so many of my students are in my Language arts classes so I need to do better next time.

Math 6/7/8 - My students have been viewing videos from Next Vista for Learning on Careers and using the web site Who Do You Want 2B to work on their career project.  They are to write up a resume, fill out two job applications and write a review on three career videos.

Item 3 - The computers - two are using XP pro and are faster than the old computers in my room.  But the two new HP laptops using Windows 7 Pro are great.  I will obtain feedback from my students and take pictures as well.

New Table

I was able to find an 8 ft table for my room.  I think there will be room for 4 computers on this table.  I contacted the IT office so they can move my computers around and set up the new system.  The new laptops are supposed to be delivered tomorrow.  It is so exciting.  My students are excited.

We tried to use iPads for Google presentations and found they don't work. :(

This is so sad.   I wish Google and Apple would work together.

Soon I will be able to have all students working together.

PS  My social studies students are each looking up an artist from the Renaissance and then showing some of their art work.  Seven slides per student and then an oral presentation which we video tape.

Two computers delivered

I arrived home from work and two computers were delivered. I am so excited. I also found a eight foot table for me room. I have to reconfigure the room to fit all 16 computers in it but I am determined. The laptops are to arrive on Friday.

My students keep asking if I am rich. I tell them, I just write grants. Then they want to know how they can write grants also.

Upcoming projects:
I am Poem on google presentation for 6th graders.
I Am Poem based on Brian from Hatchet for 7/8th graders
Career Project for Math Class
I still need a good project for my social studies class.