Trippin'

That is SO not what I'm talking about.  Get your mind back in the classroom!

I just registered our third grade to go to the Detroit Institute of Arts for a field trip later this year.  Fingers crossed that our application gets accepted.  Why does it need accepting?  Because the DIA provides FREE (yes, completely free) field trips for those in the tri-county area.  Even better, they also provide FREE transportation.  How cool is that?!  I registered us for a guided tour that will focus on making thinking visible, with an emphasis on the IB Key Concepts.  I'm super excited and hopeful that not only will our application be accepted, but that the kids will have as great of a learning experience as I think they will!  Oh, and if you're not my neighbor, check out your local museums and see what they offer.

However, that trip is quite a ways off.

And as I really like field trips, I may get kind of impatient.

Thankfully, our district owns and operates a fully functioning Farm as well as an incredible Nature Center, both of which all grades K-8 visit multiple times a year.  Yes, this field trip has a cost, but it's worth it to experience hands on learning in multiple content areas at both locations throughout the year.  Our first visit to the Nature Center is coming up in December, where we'll get to play with rocks as we focus on geology.  We go back to the Nature Center in March for Maple Tapping and Pioneer Day.  We go to the Farm twice, too, I just don't remember when third grade goes (fourth grade goes in September and May.)

Aside from the district trips, though..... This year I have discovered the joys of virtual trippin' and I'm loving them!  I can't believe it's taken me this long to bring field trips to my classroom instead of the other way around!  Best of all, they are FREE!  So far my class has been to a Culture Concert in New York, we're going to the White House kitchen this week, as well as on a Polar Bear Excursion.  In November we'll be traveling through eco-systems looking for connections, and learning about marine animal conservation.  All without spending a penny.  All without leaving the classroom.

So, my friends, I know that not all districts have the funds for extra trips, and I know that sometimes we just can't get out for trips whether it's our choice or not.  Well, now you don't need to spend money and you don't need to leave the room.  All you need is an internet connection and a projector (and a computer of course) and your students can travel and learn and explore without walking out the door!

Happy trippin'!

A BRAND new tech toy! Oh boy!

Every year our uber generous PTO gifts each teacher with $100 to spend in their classroom.  I have the "usuals" that I have purchased previous, often repeating the year before - new books, class t-shirts, off-set field trip costs, etc.  This year, though, I wanted something different.  With my tech-hungry class, and my ever evolving tech-savvy skills, I wanted something new and uniquely engaging.

The "periscope" attachment for Osmo

After a week-long search, and lots of requests via twitter (thanks Tweeps!) I narrowed it down to four options, all of which were "good" but not exactly right.  Until I stumbled (literally) upon Osmo in a Twitter chat.

Oh.  Em.  Gee.  

That's all I can say.

The Tangram activity on Osmo

I don't exactly know how to explain Osmo.  It was invented by young parents out of Stanford and Google. Engineers at heart, the founders are personally committed to innovating new technologies that nurture positive play experiences for kids.  It's got a gadget that reminds me of a periscope that hooks on to the camera, reflecting it down on the surface in front of the iPad.  There, three different apps interact with the special tangrams, letter tiles, and newest of the trio, bouncing balls of sorts?  Still unclear on that, other than WAY cool with so many options for math and science!  According to the developers, Osmo is a unique gaming accessory for the iPad that comes with games that will change the way your child plays.

Osmo Google search page one as of 5/27.

Considering Sunday's chat was the first I heard of it, and none of the techie-teachers I connect with I need tech-support had heard of it either, I went to do some research before I made a decision. What I found was both surprising and exciting!  Osmo was JUST released to the public for pre-order THIS week!  It's still shiny and new!  How cool is that?!

So, decision made.  Osmo pre-ordered, with delivery slated for early fall, hopefully in time for school!  Oh, and if you order by June 22nd, Osmo is $49 each.  Beyond June 22nd, it bumps up to the retail price of $99 each.  I hope to use Osmo as a math tool during math workshop, as well as an option during word work time.  As far as the third game? The possibilities are limitless!

Order your Osmo ASAP!

Parental Involvement

A few days ago, the New York Times published an opinion piece that struck quite close to my heart.  The topic?  Parental Involvement.  I happen to believe that parental involvement in education is crucial.  After all, parents are generally a child's first and most powerful role model.

Source

Parental Involvement Is Overrated by Keith Robinson and Angel L. Harris has over 550 comments thus far, which shows that I'm not the only one that had their eye caught by the article.

One of the first things the article addresses is the research done on racial/cultural groups.   In my district, there are active parent groups representing many of the "gap" groups, the groups of students who are impacted by an achievement gap.  Interestingly research showed that there was little difference in involvement based on race alone.

There was a difference among those groups: value of education. Turns out that all of the groups are equally involved. But not all of the groups value education in general.  I know many, if not all, of my colleagues would agree that it is quite helpful when parents impress upon their children the value of education, the value of learning, the value of trying new things.  

Source

When I ask parents to get involved in their child's educational experiences, I ask them for two things.  First, model the value of learning.  This is so, so, so crucial!  If parents don't value learning, the kids know it.  And they show it.  The second thing I ask parents to do is talk to their children about school.  Yeah, we all know the good ole' "How was school today?" question, along with it's best friend, "What did you do at school today?"  We also know the answers.  "Fine," and "Nothing" respectively.

To help parents on this end, my grade level team compiled a list of questions parents can ask that will provide more insight to the school day, and hopefully more conversation.  This list goes home at curriculum night (and is sent home after for those parents who didn't attend.)  For example:

• What's one new thing you tried today?
• What is one thing that made you smile?
• What are you proud of?
• What do you want to learn more about?

These generally encourage more elaborate responses, and they lend themselves to all ages, making for great family dinner conversation!

From the article's perspective?  Here's the key ingredients:

1. VALUE schooling!
2. Make college an expectation, not an option
3. Talk about the school day! (Questions above help!)
4. Seek out the best teacher for your child

While many schools do not allow for specific teacher requests, the rest of the list is a MUST in my mind.  The article is an eye-opening, quick read, I encourage anyone interested in education to take a peek and form your own thoughts on the parental involvement exploration.

Making Thinking Visible

Source

This info graphic came across my feed this morning and it was too good not to pass on.  While my school is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school, Visible Thinking Routines are a part of our every day teaching.

I love the simplicity of the routines, most of which require little set up (which is always nice!)  Though they may be simple, these routines are quite powerful in helping reveal to students what they're really, truly thinking, and helps them deepen their understandings in general.

We tend to use "What Makes You Say That" a lot.  It's a fun routine to combine with our Twitter board, as students have to  justify their response.  Another one I love is "See, Think, Wonder" because that routine can be applied on the fly, for anything.

This info graphic doesn't cover all the routines, but it does give a wonderful overview in a fairly friendly format.  The source of the graphic is listed below, and takes you to the Langwitches blog, where you may get lost for a while.  Well…… at least I got lost for a while!

What do YOU Care About?

This image came across my Facebook feed earlier today and I had to share it.  I mean, it is SO true, at least in my mind!  I may have said this before, but my motto is "I teach kids, not subjects."  And I care about those kids, not about their test scores.

What if they fail a test? you might be wondering.  That's a definite possibility.  But I don't worry about that, either.  See, if a student in my class fails a test, I don't care about that score.  I care about what that score tells me, which is that this student did not fully understand the material taught.  What that score shows me is that because I care about my student, I want to go back and reteach, find a different way to help this child understand the necessary material.  Do I care what the end score is?  Not at all.  All that score tells me is if I was able to make the material understandable in a way that made sense to this student.  If I didn't succeed, then I need to try again.

Anyway, off my soap-box for the moment.  In reading the fine print on this quote, it led me to an amazing website by Krissy Venosdale called Venspired: Living a Life of Learning.  I got lost on the site as there is an absolute abundance of amazing (and inspiring!) learning tools!  She makes thought-provoking motivating posters and the whole site is full of wisdom-y tidbits that I can't wait to dive into!

Tween Tribune

If you're not familiar with this incredible resource, you need to be.  Like, now.  Go.  Go check it out, then come back.  I'll wait.  TWEEN TRIBUNE

Ok, got that out of your system?  Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to play with it.

Anyway, I've been using this resource for a few years, but it's only in the past few years that they made it more elementary friendly.  In an effort to introduce current events to my fourth graders, without spending the money on Time for Kids or Scholastic, both of which are fantastic resources (but cost money) we use Tween Tribune Jr (TTK-4) instead.  The Thinkers spend time every few weeks scouring the site for relevant articles that are of interest.  Relevant meaning articles in which their is either a problem to be solved, or multiple perspectives to the story.  We do this in preparation for the PYP Exhibition, and it gets the kids excited about reading the news.

Now, that last part?  Reading the news?  Could be seen as scary.  Especially in this day and age.  With Tween Tribune, there is NO worry!  They scour the country papers looking for age appropriate topics for kids.  They've even split it up into multiple categories, complete with reading levels and comprehension quizzes! Currently, I haven't given my kids user names, so they're not experience the full effect of this incredible site, but yes, you can sign your kids up with user names, so they can take quizzes and respond to posts (all which you approve, first!) and see what others are saying about the same articles.

(Tween Tribune is not paying me or compensating me in any way for this post.)