Guest Post: Internet Safety

Today is the last day of guests posts and then I will be back and hopefully caught up. It is surprising BUT I can actually (FINALLY) see the bottom of my inbox! Even better news is that I am also caught up on homework and the kitchen is unpacked and stocked.

My current course is all about Technology. This week... my final is due. A webquest. I actually had to complete two for this course... both of which I will be sharing in a few weeks when they have been graded and there is no chance that it could be plagiarizism to post it.

So my focus has been on technology. How can we better implement it into our classrooms? What knowledge is needed to be successful? And most important of all... how to keep everyone safe. Please welcome Lewis as he shares his tips of internet safety....

Depending on their age, a classroom full of children on the internet could be a teachers worst nightmare. Especially when you can't keep an eye on everyone at once. Of course, a lot of school networks use special software to block out unsuitable websites, but not all. When it comes to internet safety in the classroom I believe in a combination of software and good guidelines to help keep kids safe.

Teaching kids how to use the internet and informing them of it's dangers and rules is something that should be implemented from a young age. Too easily do some parents let their children use Facebook or Youtube and forget what's lurking around the digital corner after a few misjudged clicks. Parents and teachers should be teaching children about the dangers, and setting down a few simple rules that we all abide by.

These rules include setting secure and obscure passwords when setting up accounts. Or never arranging to meet a stranger that has talked to you in a chat room. Younger children should never be posting their address or telephone number on social media sites. Older teenagers should be taught about the risks of purchasing online, and how you need to be careful when giving over credit card details. As you can see these are all simple rules and guidelines that we take for granted and forget to teach our kids, but can make all the difference.

But teaching kids how to be safe can only go so far, we all know how curious children can be, and as well as informing them of the dangers we need to protect them from themselves. Luckily, software has been developed for this exact purpose; keeping children safe online.

There are two different types of software that can make classroom life easier for the teacher. Each of them applicable depending on the age of the children and the teachers specific needs. The first is 'Parental Control Software' which will filter and block web pages depending on the content. This sort of software will scan a web page before displaying it for things like profanity, alcohol, pornography etc (you can set how strict the software should be yourself) and will block the page if it deems it inappropriate.

The second type of software – which can be used in conjunction with the first – is 'Computer Monitoring Software'. As the name implies, computer monitoring software will keep logs of everything that happens on the machine it's installed on. Screenshots will be periodically taken, and everything from websites visited to keystrokes typed will be recorded in a log for the teacher to look over if anything is suspected. Computer Monitoring Software runs in complete stealth in the background of the computer, so students won't know they're being monitored.

So a combination of a good education of the facts, parental control software and computer monitoring software can go a long way to securing internet safety in the classroom. That being said, nothing beats a teacher with a watchful eye!

If you'd like to take a look at some Computer Monitoring Software, head over to the the Gecko Monitor website athttp://www.geckomonitor.com

Guest Post: Technology in Elementary Schools

I have been busy working on a few secrets that I am not yet ready to share with you but in the mean time, I have received several quests from people wanting to do a guest post on my site... so here is day 2 of guests. Please welcome back Eve!

Use of Web 2.0 Technology in Elementary School Language Instruction

If you teach young children or have a few of your own, you know that the importance of technology in teaching language to today’s elementary school kids can’t be emphasized enough. Over the last few years language teaching has quickly progressed from static Web 1.0 (searching, reading on the web etc.) to interactive Web 2.0 solutions (user generated content).

Web 2.0 makes immersive language learning possible

Learning a foreign language in your own country from non-native teachers lacks a vital aspect of language learning – an immersive cultural experience. Without any knowledge of or interaction with the related culture, learning a language remains an incomplete and slightly stilted experience for elementary school kids. Nowadays several schools and teachers are coming up with Web 2.0 solutions for forming “language learning partnerships” with students, teachers and teaching institutions in the target countries, wherein using Skype, NetMeeting and similar technologies, students and teachers of two different countries can interact in real time. 

This exposes foreign language learners to not only the native way of speaking the language, but also to the target culture, colloquial phrases, body language etc. Most importantly, interacting with children their own age from the target country introduces an element of fun and collaboration to elementary school language learners, thereby making learning that much easier and effective.

Web 2.0 language learning tools

The introduction of a plethora of online and downloadable Web 2.0 language tools has taken interactive language learning one step further. If you’re looking for an enjoyable audio-visual language learning experience for elementary school kids, you can try Babbel, which offers you a customized selection of multi-media courses depending on the proficiency of your kid, along with entertaining exercises and games. Babbel is also available on mobile devices. 

Lingro is another unique service which facilitates vocabulary building while reading web pages and documents written in foreign languages. 

TypeIt provides online accent keys to augment your keyboard for typing foreign languages, which can then be emailed or copy pasted elsewhere.

Educational technology gadgets for language learning

If you’re a modern young parent with a pre-schooler, chances are you already prefer educational technology gadgets over Barbie dolls for your child’s birthdays and Christmas. These play-and-learn toys are becoming increasingly popular with kids as well as parents, not only because they make education a fun activity for kids, but also because knowledge imbibed in the form of entertainment tends to be enduring. 

VTech MobiGo Touch Learning System is one such toy gadget which supports kids’ language and other learning needs through educational games in a mobile platform. Playschool Alphie – a fun little robot – is another hit with kids which also helps with vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar etc. My Own Leaptop is a laptop like device to help kids quickly learn the alphabet in an environment of music and pictures of animals to hold your kid’s interest. 

You can also try out gifting-special technology deals for more traditional and general-purpose gadgets which can be used for children’s learning too, using downloadable language tools and other educational apps.

Web 2.0 instruction tools for language teachers

Web 2.0 technologies have opened the doors to teachers also, for easily creating tests, interactive exercises, home assignments etc. When it comes to language teaching, one of the most useful softwares is Hot Potatoes which is an open source freeware suite, containing six applications to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and fill in the blanks exercises on the web. 

Quizlet lets you create and your own flashcards with your students. 

If you’re looking to create multimedia exercises for language learners you can look at JClic, which uses Java to allow you to do just that. If you want to keep it simple, you can go for fun language games involving flashcards, colour matching and grammar exercises in foreign languages.

Future of Web 2.0 tools for learning language

A recent study published in the “International Journal on New Trends in Education and Their Implications” has tried to identify the future trends in the use of Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning languages, through interviews conducted among a group of teachers and students. In the interviews, teachers pointed out that interactive technology enabled coursework was not only fun and engaging to students but also enriching to teachers as it differs from traditional teaching methods. They also emphasized the ease of creating more engaging course materials and exercises using Web 2.0 technologies. More and more integration of interactive technologies in language teaching seemed to emerge as a clear future trend. 

Guest Post: Ground Hogs Day

Working with Honey Bunch Blog Designs has given me the opportunity to meet so many amazing teachers! I am so happy to be part of a community of teachers who are so dedicated to their students and teaching profession.

Today, I want to introduce you to a blogger who's blog we recently designed. She has some great things to share with all of us and so today I am loaning her my blog while she shares some fun activities for Ground Hogs Day. Please welcome Jazzy Grandma...

Well, we are off and running! Finished our first full week back. It was a good week. The kids were glad to be back. I can see so much more maturity growth at this point.

Kids really do grow up some in 3rd grade. It's amazing to watch the change. We will begin having meetings on our new evaluation system next week. That should be interesting.

I have been busy creating new materials. Much of it went along with my guided reading this week. It's fantastic to spring some new things on the kids. I have a compare and contrast form I used in reading. The kids compared/contrasted the main characters from their basal story and leveled reader. I have them use bullets to separate their ideas. I also had a place for them to illustrate each character.

I am offering this freebie in both of my stores on TPT and TN. Please just click and grab.

I have also created a Groundhog Day Activities Packet.

I've included two pages from the packet for you to see. Please check it out. Leave me a comment. And, I'd love for you to follow my blog. I am so excited to have entered the blog world!! Have a great weekend!

Guest Blogger: Web 2.0

My current class has a HUGE focus on technology (in case ya didn't notice).  I have actually been surprised by what is considered technology and what isn't. Did you know a CD is technology? Totally does not fit my definition!

This more accurately portrays my vision of the new web. It is a tool we use as a global society to interact and communicate with one another. What is your definition?

A friend of mine, Eve Pearce, sent me an email and asked if I would post one of her latest articles. She is trying to break into the freelance writer profession and desperate for room for her voice. So I agreed to share my blog with her today. I hope you enjoy her information below....

As the world witnesses more and more advances in technology, educational possibilities will continue to grow. Arguably one of the most important technological innovations of the last decade is ‘web 2.0’, which is a term used to describe websites that utilize technology beyond the static pages that were previously used. 

This technology has allowed teachers to engage pupils using podcasts, phone apps and other computer-related media. It has enabled them to teach maths, science, English and various other subjects in a way that is both fun and effective. 

Research conducted in 2011 cited by computer chip manufacturer Intel concludes that almost fifty percent of teachers who use web 2.0 technology in the classroom find that their students experience increased levels of motivation as a result. Thirty-nine percent of the teachers also stated that using this technology increased pupils’ academic engagement.

Improving Motivation at Every Level

This study is not the only piece of research that has demonstrated the motivational power of web 2.0 technology in recent years. A survey aimed at measuring the educational impact of this technology upon pupils in western Massachusetts found that the overwhelming majority of teachers in the area believed it to have improved the motivation of the children in their classes. 

Seventy-six percent of the teachers reported that it had made low achieving pupils more motivated, seventy-three percent believed that it had made medium achieving pupils more motivated and fifty-nine percent stated that it had increased the learning motivation of high achieving pupils.

Active Learning

As well as increasing students’ motivation to passively absorb information, studies also suggest that web 2.0 technology can improve their motivation for carrying out specific tasks to the best of their ability. A study carried out by Savilla Banister of Bowling Green State University published in the International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning concluded that podcasting book readings and reports that children perform can increase the degree to which they are motivated to exhibit attention to detail when carrying out these tasks, as it enables them to perform to larger audiences.

Another report published in the journal entitled ‘Unexpected Outcomes: Web 2.0 in the Secondary School Classroom’ states that integrating web 2.0 technology into lessons can also improve pupils’ motivation to perform tasks related to maths and science. 

This research was based on a study conducted in schools in Great Britain. It implies that teaching staff should perhaps be hired based upon their familiarity with the latest computer technology in addition to their overall teaching skills. It is therefore not surprising that many recruitment agencies specializing in teaching staff are listing ‘strong IT skills’ amongst the other criteria that are required for this role. 

At some point in the future it is likely that a knowledge of web 2.0 technology will become a necessity for anybody wishing to gain employment in this area.

Possible Explanations

A report by Kaylene Williams of California State University and Caroline Williams of the University of Wisconsin published in the Research in Higher Education Journal states that a possible reason for the ability of web 2.0 technology to increase pupils’ motivation to learn is that it draws upon their experience and language base. It is becoming increasingly ‘cool’ for young people to know about the latest technology, meaning that pupils are likely to already be familiar with the terminology and jargon associated with the internet and are liable to have at least some experience of browsing the web. 

This means that they are likely to be motivated by the fact that they already possess knowledge in this area, which will make them feel as if they are not going into a subject blind.

A simpler explanation is that the use of web 2.0 technology allows for more interactive and varied methods of learning that tap into pupils’ need for new and innovative methods for being taught information. 

A child is more likely to be enthusiastic about a task that involves an app or a computer program than he or she will be in one that relies solely upon a pen and paper, as technologically advanced media tend to be more captivating and exciting. They facilitate increased pupil participation, as opposed to children sitting and passively listening to their teachers explain the ins and outs of a subject, and are a useful tool for making learning fun.

What are your thoughts? Do we need technology in the classroom? What are your favorite resources?

Guest Blogger: The Slow App Movement

Yesterday, I introduced you to a new app. Today, Angela... one of the makers of this fabulous app wrote the following blog post for me to share with all of you. I recognize myself in her words as I remember the time when I was the mom she is speaking of.

As a partner at iMagine Machine I am always thinking about what we can make and create that kids will love but also how kids use media in their daily lives. I thought it would be a good idea to step back and take
a detached view of what my three children (aged 10, 13 and 15) are up to. The results of my ‘research’ left me thinking...

The ‘group homework’ sessions on Skype where my daughter and five of her thirteen-year-old friends ‘conference’ and do their homework.

Minecraft on the laptop while BBMing 15 friends at the same time and watching TV (no wonder they don’t answer when I call for them!).

Using ‘internet’ for research on their history project….oh yeah? Then why is FB open. ‘I’m doing both.’

How did this happen? I’m the Mom who said ‘no thanks’ when the grandparents offered to buy the kids a Wii for Xmas. We had a strict no TV or computer game policy on weekdays and I am most famously
known as the mother who yes, GAVE AWAY the Playstation after a month. All my good intentions have seemingly slipped away.

I did some further research. The key finding on media multitasking is that American kids are spending 6.5 hours a day using media but packing in 8.5 hours of media within that time. Brain scans show that
children who are multitasking are absorbing and processing less information. On the other hand, we know that kids who multitask can do things more quickly and have quicker reaction times.

As a parent, I am worried about some of the ways my kids use technology. And it’s not really ‘use’, I would argue they ‘inhabit’ technology. As they attempt to manage all of the information and social media, they are constantly doing too many things at once and this stops them from developing the ability to shut out other things and focus on one task. Doing anything well takes focus and single-mindedness whether that is persevering through a four step math problem, mastering a move in gymnastics or struggling through a complicated piano piece. In order to master anything we must focus and learning to focus takes practice.

At iMagine Machine we have decided to create apps that can promote focus. We are calling this the 'slow app' movement. Every app we make has to fulfill this criteria. As someone once said, just because
you have a hammer doesn't mean you have to smash everything. It's the same with apps. Not every every character needs to be swipe-able and tap-able with everything singing and dancing.

Our newest app The Monsters Family is a case in point. It has been designed so that preschoolers must focus on a single game with no distractions. Even the voices of the characters within the app speak slowly and calmly. We built in lots of great rewards and virtual prizes to keep it exciting but it isn't manic in any way.

Faces iMake, our multiple award winning app has received rave reviews from parents of children with special educational needs. Their feedback is that it is a calming and immersive app and they are amazed by the focus it promotes as well as the fantastic and beautiful creations their children make. With Faces iMake it’s the child who sets the pace and not the other way around.

Our next app to come out is going to take the idea of 'slow apps' even further. With Wince and the Worrybug we have created an app that isall about getting children to explore their feelings about worry. We can’t wait to see the reactions and discussions from teachers, parents and hopefully professionals working with children.

So my advice to parents of younger children is to choose apps that are designed to keep kids engaged and not because the app is packed with overwhelming choices. Is the app engaging because it is trying to ‘hook’
them with unnecessary elements? Or is it engaging because of the amazing things your child can do with the app.

Check out this article for more information on media multitasking.

As we move toward the Common Core and technology integration becomes essential to lesson planning, I believe Angela has a point. We need to not only teach our children how to multitask but also how to focus. 

What are your thoughts on this? 

The Enriched Teacher

Life for me has been chaotic since I was laid off in 2010. Cancer, adoption, unemployment, career changing, and bankruptcy are a few words I would use to describe my life. In short... chaos.

As I continue to clean up the mess left behind from an unstable economy... I have begun to view things differently. I started searching for ways to be economy-proofed. I never wanted to be here again and then I discovered a great site for teachers and well just anyone!

I asked the author of this blog if he would be our guest speaker and he agreed! I hope you enjoy his wisdom as much as I do!

How to Create Money Saving Habits That Actually Work

This is a guest post by Steven Daar from the Teacher Retirement Help blog, a site that has been featured  by CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, Yahoo News, & Morningstar.

Have you looked at your savings & checking accounts and wondered where your paycheck went? What about the last 3, 5, 10 (or more!) years worth of paychecks?

Did you resolve to change your spending habits to save more money? Did it work?

Alright, that’s enough questions for now. Changing your lifestyle is a very difficult thing to do and it is why so many people struggle with saving money or exercising more or eliminating a long term habit.

It’s why the vast majority of New Year’s resolutions don’t last beyond Martin Luther King Day. Think about how you probably went about trying to save money: looking at where you spend a lot of money and try to eliminate that expense as much as possible.

You see many so-called “Money Experts” give advice that talks about extreme cutting of discretionary spending. They’ll tell you to participate in the “No Restaurant Challenge” where you don’t dine out for a whole month. Or even more extreme, they recommend an intense limiting the number of times dining at a restaurant for perpetuity (which for those of us who like eating at restaurants, just can’t be done).

The problem with the “No Restaurant Challenge” is that some days you don’t feel like cooking, there are special occasions or dates with friends or loved ones that shouldn’t be missed. But more importantly, let’s say you eat at a restaurant twice a week so 8 times each month.

Even if you complete the challenge, you save the expense of 8 restaurant meals. What happens after that month? You’ll probably feel pretty good about accomplishing something and then go back to your old spending and dining habits.

What if instead of depriving yourself completely for a month, what if you simply kept track of how many times you dined out and made sure you never dined out more than 7 times per month? You don’t have to deny yourself of the pleasure of being cooked for and waited on AND eating out 1 less time per month saves you the expense of 12 restaurant meals.

That is 50% more savings than the “No Restaurant Challenge”. As you get comfortable with dining out a little less, you can reduce your limit to 6 times per month. That would be saving the expense of 24 restaurant meals per year.

Assuming you’re only paying for yourself and spend $20 per visit, that is an extra $480 each year……and a whole lot more if you have a whole family dining out or spend more than $20 per meal on average.

This doesn’t just apply to dining out at restaurants, you can use this in a whole ton of different areas: Entertainment, Clothing, Night Life, or whatever it is you find yourself spending money on regularly.

This is just the tip of the savings iceberg! If you would like to get a copy of the Enriched Teacher Guide with 5 more insanely practical money saving tips that are focused on saving you as much money as possible with as little effort……

Then Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy of the Enriched Teacher Guide!

Guest Post: Thematic Work Stations (Weather)

Author Bio: Today’s guest post comes from Toni, an elementary school teacher with a specialty in differentiated instruction and designing hands-on lessons that incorporate the multiple intelligences. You can often find Toni writing for TeacherLingo.com, where teachers can buy and sell their original lesson plans, worksheets, and more. She is married to a middle school math teacher and is a mom to a mystery loving 7 year old sweetie-girl and a quirky little light saber toting 3 year old.

There never seems to be enough time to fit everything into the school day! By developing weekly workstations, or centers, around a common theme you can, ‘kill two birds with one stone”. What does this look like in practice?

Each week whatever topic your class is studying in the content areas becomes the theme for your student workstations; like weather or elections. As students move from center to center they will review the week’s content area topic while simultaneously practicing the five essential elements of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Let’s look at a week of weather unit thematic workstations to see how this would look in practice.

In the phonemic awareness thematic workstation your students will work with the distinct sounds in spoken words. This workstation should include poems, rhymes, and songs about the weather along with task cards to go with each. Task cards may have them complete various activities like highlight the words that rhyme in the poem or clap the syllables in all the weather words mentioned in the song. The phonics thematic workstation should give your students the opportunity to examine and manipulate the sounds between letters as well as phonemes, or individual sounds.

You may set up a weather chart and have students focus on weather words with the ‘y’ ending like stormy, sunny, and rainy by writing and giving weather reports. Students may spell their weather words using magnetic letters or dry erase boards while awaiting their turn to give the weather report.

The main objective of the fluency thematic workstation is for students to practice reading text accurately and with proper prosody. Even the most fluent readers often struggle to read nonfiction text effortlessly. A weather reader’s theatre can be used in this station with each student in the center being assigned a part. If the equipment is available allow students to record themselves reading the reader’s theatre. Give each student a fluency checklist so they can self-assess as they watch their performance. Students may also buddy read both fiction and non-fiction books to practice their fluency.

Students will review weather unit words and their meanings in the vocabulary thematic workstation. A flannel board with each weather vocabulary word labeled and displayed gives students the opportunity to interact with the vocabulary as they tell and write stories using their weather words. Weather projects that reinforce the weather vocabulary are also a fun addition to this workstation. Students may review cloud vocabulary by making each type of cloud with cotton balls or puffy paint and then labeling and describing each. You may also have students make weather vocabulary booklets or complete weather word graphic organizers for further vocabulary practice.

The comprehension thematic workstation should allow students to practice both literal and inferential comprehension. This is a perfect workstation for students to reread or listen to the science textbook or weather themed picture books and then answer comprehension questions. The comprehension workstation may also be set up as a research station where students can study a weather topic of interest and show what they have learned by creating a weather game, writing a report or giving a presentation.

Simple weather experiments may also be set up at this center to allow students the opportunity to make predictions and inferences. While the workstations should keep students busily learning while you work with small groups, there are always fast finishers.

To keep everyone busy you may assign a larger project at the beginning of the week that students may work on independently at their seat each day as they complete their work station activities. You may also set up an area of the room with some extra weather themed books, games and activities for speedy students to choose from.

Parent Connection Communication & Tips

The post below originally appeared on Marie Dismondy's Blog - Making a Difference in August 2012. It was such a hit that I thought I would share it with all of you as well.

I am so excited to be here today with Marie Dismondy! Marie is an award winning author and has become a great friend as well. I have learned so much from her about teaching character to our students and improving my own character. It is such an honor to be asked to join her to celebrate the start of the new school year!

As students head back to class, it is important to remember to build a relationship not only with our students but with our parents as well. We must take the time to help our parents to feel welcomed and a valued part of the community of our classrooms. There are several ways that I do this.

The most important part of any relationship is communication. 

This is actually the secret to success! It truly is that simple. On my classroom website, I have an area dedicated to information solely to help my parents out. Not all parents will need this information but I have created this area as a direct result of questions parents commonly ask.

During my open house talk, I discuss the importance of the parent connection. When parents, students, and teachers unite for success any obstacle can be overcome! This reminder is on the homepage of the parents section of my classroom website. This is something I want parents to see and remember often.

Only together can we succeed!

Now that everyone knows how important communication is, the next step is providing information on how to communicate. We each have our own preferences. It is important to let your parents know how you prefer to communicate.

Directly below the information on the importance of the parent connection, I have displayed these 10 tips for better communication.

1) Meet your child’s teacher early in the school year. Don’t wait for a problem.
2) Ask your child’s teacher about his or her goals, rules, and limits, and how often you can expect to hear from them.
3) Tell teachers about your child – special interests, likes and dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses, and any major changes in his/her life.
4) Get involved at school. Volunteer in the classroom and for special events and field trips.
5) Make sure the school knows your schedule and how to reach you.
6) Let teachers know the good things your child says about them.
7) Ask questions when you have concerns and stay informed about what’s going on at school.
8) When requesting a meeting, state your general topic so the teacher can prepare.
9) Avoid automatically taking sides, whether the teacher’s or your child’s. Try to stay objective and state your observations only.
10) Stay calm – never accuse or attack. Share what you would like to see happen. Be specific and ask for details.

At the very end of this, I add a reminder not only for the parents but myself as well. How we communicate with each other is teaching the student how to communicate with others in the classroom and in the future. We must show the student what good communication and negotiation skills look like at all times and in all situations.

My classroom website is always changing and growing. If you would like to see how this information appears live on my website or what other information is available on my site, feel free to click on the picture above.


Feel free to stop by and say hi to me at Think, Wonder, and Teach where I am hosting a giveaway for Maria's book "Pink Tiara Cookies." I LOVE this book! I was so surprised when even my boys liked it as they hate all things girly. (UPDATE: CONTEST HAS ENDED!!)
 

Guest Blogging Today: Blogger Tutorial

As part of the Honey Bunch Blog Design team, I get asked A LOT about how to create a blog. A while back I wrote an entire post on how to do just that on the HBBD blog. Today, I am sharing that same post over at....


If you ever wanted to know how to create your own blog... here is your chance to do so. =)

As we do receive so many questions even after the tutorials we have created, we now offer a blog consulting service. This allows us to focus one-on-one and help you with your individual needs. We have cleaned up messy blogs, written disclosure statements, advised on marketing, and a host of other things. At times we do have a waiting list for assistance due to our time constraints.

If you are stopping in from Cachey Mama's Classroom... WELCOME!!

TWT Featured on... & a Giveaway

What a week! When I started my little blog, I never imagined how much impact my words would have. Last week I was a guest blogger at Maria Dismondy's site!

If you do not know Maria - you need to!! She is an amazing author and I adore her monthly focus on character. This month, the focus is on trust. How do you build it in your classrooms? What do you do when it has been lost? What about those students who are slow to trust?

I can't wait to hear not only Maria's thoughts but to read those of fellow teachers as well. This is her anchor chart which I love and need to post in my classroom. So beautiful and simple!

She has also been doing a back to school series to help parents and teachers prepare for the year ahead.  I discussed the importance of creating a teacher-parent-student connection and tips for communication. You can view my post here.

If you are hoping over from Maria's site... 

WELCOME! I am so glad you stopped by!

I was also featured yesterday on Bagels and Blogs... the week best of the best blog posts as determined by the Math Coach. (side note... this is one of  our Honey Bunch Blog Designs... both Erika and I were so nervous designing her blog!) I am always excited to see what she has found that is so helpful this week.

You can also find me on Halcolm Hathaway Publishers and coming soon: Shelton Interactive! Both sites are using portions of my reviews on their websites. 

Pretty amazing week.

I think this means we need to have a giveaway!

My sweet friend Maria offered to join me for a giveaway for her book Pink Tiara Cookies! I LOVE this book! Did you read my review on it? Even my boys who hate all "girl books" enjoyed it. I am hoping to read it with my class in the next week.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! I will be drawing a winner next Sunday! I am hoping to have a few more goodies for all of you buy the end of the week. =)

Guest: Yearn to Learn

Only two more guest bloggers to share with you and then you all will be stuck listening to my adventures again! Thank you to each and everyone of my guests! I have learned so much from your posts and it gave me time to study. =)

Today my friend Denise is here. She has been teaching for 19 years and I always learn something new from her. She has so many simple ideas that I am sure you have heard before, stored away for later, and then forgot about them. Denise has a way of bringing the lost back to life with a new twist. Check her out...




Hi,
I'm Denise from over at Yearn to Learn. I'm happy to be visiting Misty over here at Think, Wonder, and Teach.

I'd like to share with you a great resource I use all the time in my class called Meet Me at the Corner  This site has short little video interviews on all sorts of curriculum topics. The interviews are done by kids which is an added benefit for modeling interviewing skills. I recently used this one for Earth Day in my class.

For a response to the video I have students complete this form

Hope you enjoy using this resource in your own classroom!

Guest: Kids Cog Works

My biggest fear when it comes to teaching is math. Because I am obsessed with "getting it right" ... it will probably become my strength. That just seems to be how I roll. I obsess until I find something I like and then it all comes together.

So when I am out blog stalking... I am hunting for a few specific items. Math. Unique ideas. Learning made fun. Whole Brain Strategies. Adrianne is a master in these areas. Everything I visit her blog I learn something new and today she is here with me with an idea that is now on my MUST DO LIST right after Reagan's Leprechaun hunt (still loving the green glitter)! Take a look....

Every year, my family and I go to Boise State University to attend Engineering Day.  It is so much fun!  They always have interactive experiments for my kids to try out and interesting speakers to hear.  This year, I felt inspired as I walked through the campus.  I've been daydreaming for months about how much fun it would be to host an Engineering Day at school. 

Why should you host an Engineering Day at your school?  Engineering careers are on the rise.  We need a population of students that can problem solve and think out of the box.  Are we giving our students opportunities to experience mathematics and science in a hands-on manner?  If we host an Engineering Day at our schools, there's no telling which students you will inspire to learn more about the process of engineering.

Here's just a few ideas I had to making a fun and memorable Engineering Day in your classroom or school.  First, you've got to have interesting science experiements.  I've chosen four that I think will be a hit from Kindergarteners to Middle Schoolers.  Second, it's best if you get the parents involved!  Engineering Day would be a mega draw to fathers too.  You'll need extra hands to help the students rotate through each experiment. 

Next, you need to decide if you are going to do this just in class or your entire grade.  If you choose to do your entire grade, each class could take one experiement and teach/show how it's done.  In the classroom, you would run it like you would centers.

The Experiments

All of these are super easy to do with your class.  Chromoatography is the only experiment that requires special items.  To get instructions for all of these fantastic Engineering Day Events, download them from my TpT store.  Instructions include detailed descriptions of how you perform each experiment and also why it works.  It also includes a career that you would use this knowledge in.

Engineering Days would be an exciting and fun way to end the school year.  Think outside of the box this school year and give it a go, I don't think you'll regret it!

Adrianne Meldrum is the author of KidsCogWorks.com and TheTutorHouse.com.  In the afternoons, you can find her tutoring middle school math students or struggling readers.  She is the wife of a civil engineer and mother to three handsome boys.