Coming Soon: Elda Art Blog!

Elda has another teacher on board to create a classroom blog! Patricia Kerr, Elda's Art teacher has just started her own Art blog! She was inspired by the other blogs in the building and district (Stacy Strawser's 'Elda Elementary Music Blog', my 'Ross Elementary Tech News' and Mr. Yohey's 'Ross Ramblings' blogs). I worked with Pat yesterday to set up her account. She has already added pictures and is writing about the great projects her students have created!

Blogs are a great way to keep others informed. Whether you are a teacher and want to keep staff and/or parents updated or use them for social purposes to keep friends and family updated they serve as a great communication tool! Teachers can also use them with students for writing assignments as well. I know Mrs. Strawser's students love reading the Music blog and seeing themselves in the pictures! They seem to always be asking their parents to check it out too! I'm sure Pat's Art blog will be just as popular! If you are interested in setting one up, there is no better time then this summer. You can update them as much or as little as you want and take your time to get a feel for what you want to say.

There are many free websites you can use to set up your own blog. The preferred site in Ross seems to be Blogspot or Blogger.com (same site). This is the site I use and I really like it. It is user friendly and provides several options to customize your page. You can keep your blog as basic and easy as you want through pre-created templates and layouts or add your own to personalize it! To set up your own account, go to:

www.blogger.com

You will need a valid email address and be asked to create a password. The website will walk you through the steps to set up your own account and blog. If you have any questions, I am happy to help! Good luck!

Breaking the Code: Switching Between Macs and PCs

Which one is better? A PC or a Mac? Well, I think that answer will vary depending on who you ask and what you are using your computer for. They are both great products and have strengths in different areas. So, what is the answer? If you ask me, I say just learn to use both! This can be tricky if you are already used to one platform. However, with the right tips you can easily learn to navigate both types of machines. I have broken down a few features and functions that I have found to be very helpful when switching between a PC and Mac...or a Mac and PC. The list below will help you get navigate and find what you need if you are already familiar with one type of computer.

For a printable version in Microsoft Word, click the link below:
http://triciakluener.wikispaces.com/Hand+Outs

Video-Conference at Morgan

We had our first video-conference at Morgan this week! Ms. Tara Smith and her 3rd grade students were able to communicate on-line with Nik Scheffler through Skype (video-conferencing software). It went really well! Several students had questions about how it worked and what we were actually doing. It was a great opportunity to talk about communicating on-line and current technology! We used a laptop in the classroom this week and plan to use a computer in the Media Center with a web camera for future conferences.

Ms. Smith tutors Nik at home to keep him caught up on all of his school work. Nik's classmates have been divided into groups called literacy circles to read books and discuss them. Up until now, Nik has not been able to participate and discuss the books with his classmates. That is about to change! Ms. Smith's idea is to be able to include Nik in the literacy circle discussions for the remainder of the year. I will be downloading Skype on a computer in the Media Center next week and working with Tara to get her own account set up. She will be able to send Nik's literacy group down during the group discussion times so they can video-conference with Nik about the current book they are reading.

Nik and his classmates are really excited to see more of each other and work together in the literacy groups! I am sure this will go well and lead to more opportunities to include students who are unable to be in the school buildings.

For more information on how this works, check out an older post: 'Video Conferencing In the Classroom'. You could also Google search video-conference software or go to:
www.skype.com

Aha! Math Software for Everyday Math

The teachers and students at Elda have been fortunate in getting a trial account to use software called Aha! Math. The software was created by the same company who produced EasyTech. EasyTech is web-based software that provides standards-based tutorials, interactive lessons and activities for teachers and students to learn technology skills. Aha! Math uses the same teacher management system, however is based around Math standards. The version we are currently using is designed to work with the Everyday Math program that has already been implemented into the Math curriculum. Like EasyTech, it is also web-based and interactive. Students really seem to enjoy (and of course learn from) using the Math software. It has instruction modules that will explain the concepts to students and "re-teach" the concepts. It also has lessons, which are interactive and will teach students concepts along with helping them actually work out problems. Once they are comfortable with a skill, they move on to learning games. These are not regular games! They incorporate problem-solving skills, practice time for students, and increase in difficulty as students get correct answers. Students accumulate points as they progress through the games and higher levels. The software will also provide immediate feedback if the child needs more explanation. Once the students have had time to practice they move on to a quiz over what they have learned. It is a great way for teachers to track progress!

The software targets students in grades K-5. The feedback from Elda teachers and students has been fantastic! The software really works well for differentiated instruction. Students who need more help can work through the tutorials on their own or at home with parents, then practice the skills. The software also provides opportunity for students to move ahead if they need more of a challenge. This happens by increasing the difficulty level of the games or moving on to new concepts assigned by the teachers but not covered in the classroom yet. Teachers have complete control over what the students are working on and assigned. They can also run grade book reports to see how the students are performing. The students will even have access to the software over the summer to keep their skills sharp!

Mimio Boards for Media

The Media Centers at Morgan and Elda have a new edition! Mrs. Mueggenberg (Media Manager at Elda) and Mrs. Godbey (Media Manager at Morgan) decided to use a portion of the money they earned from the Book Fair to purchase wireless Mimios. They are the same concept as Smart Boards, however can turn any surface into an interactive space and are made by a different company. Smart Boards require the actual Smart Board (large, interactive white board) to work. A mimio uses a small device that is mounted on an existing wall or white board (dry erase board). The device sends a signal over the board or wall space and communicates with the computer being used with it. So, to make it less confusing it basically turns a dry erase board or wall into an interactive space and is used for similar purposes as a Smart Board. The Mimio has software that you install on your computer that consists of various tools and gallery items (similiar to Smart Board software). The gallery items provide hundreds of resources for educators that are all ready to go! There are shapes to be manipulated, money and change to be counted, fairy tales to read, maps to use, music staffs and notes; the list goes on! Many of the gallery items are interactive too!

Why a Mimio and not a Smart Board, you ask? Well, they are both great products but there are a few differences. One difference is price. Mimios are much less expensive then Smart Boards. Other reasons are portability and less equipment set up. The Mimio device is very small (about 2 feet long and 4 inches wide). It can be easily transported from room to room and can be used on any wall space or white board (dry erase board). Although the Media Center Mimios will live in the Media Centers and not travel, this is a great opportunity to check out new hardware and software to see if the concept could work for other classrooms in the future. There are a few small user differences between Mimios and Smart Boards once they are set up, however I think they will be easy to learn!

The Mimios will be a great teaching resource for the Media Centers. Mrs. Godbey and Mrs. Mueggenberg are currently learning how to use the new hardware and software. I know they are looking forward to introducing the new equipment into Media lessons for the students!