Saturday, January 21, 2017

Polar activity fun!

Ms. Sally and I are having a fun time with our January theme!  I will try to post the blog and/or where we found each resource online.  The igloo/cube activity was a collaborative effort with Mrs. Hedderman and Ms. Sally

Enjoy...more to follow as we continue this week

Match It Up
Match It Up Website

Match it up
Polar puzzles with number patterns
Teachers Pay Teachers - Gracehopper

Penguin magazine articles
National Geographic Kids

Polar animal graphing/counting
Royal Baloo Blog


 Students in Kindergarten and First read Owl Moon then made these cool snow owls!



Snowy Owls
Owl Craft inspiration

Snowy Owls

 Ms. Sally read The Igloo Book then students made these cubes/igloos.







 
 Polar Animal Headband game

WQLN Reading Competition

From September 1st through November 30th, our local PBS station (WQLN) has a reading competition for the schools.  I first mentioned this program in August in my post - Reading website s

For this competition students track of all of the books read in school and at home for the three months!  This year, Ms. Sally, the students, and I kept track of the books read in library and STEAM as well book logs brought in from home. 

Here are the outcomes and pictures of the official awards ceremony.  I am looking to keep the traveling trophy next year.

As a school, Wattsburg Elementary School read 8,631 books.  Mrs. Woodfield was the top class with over 1400 books. The top reader was 3rd grader SOPHIE WILLIAMS who read 745 books in three months!  Her parents provided permission to use the pictures and post them on my blog.

The WQLN accomplishments were celebrated at the school board meeting as well as a school wide assembly.  As a school, Wattsburg Elementary gets an amazing traveling trophy.  The library received $250 for books.  Sophie got a Kindle Fire, a bag of books, and an awesome trophy!  All the students in Mrs. Woodfield's class got a reading certificate!

Check out these pictures (thanks to Ms. Williams and Ms. Sally for the pictures!)

Sophie (and Mrs. Hedderman) at the school board meeting

Sophie and her reading trophy

Mrs. Woodfield getting recognized as the top class

Assembly picture with Mrs Carducci, Sophie, and Mrs. Hedderman

Formal picture at the end

Sophie getting her awards and trophy

Oversized checks are so fun

Celebrating reading and Wattsburg Elementary

The official trophy being handed over to Mrs. Hedderman


Want to get your own recognition?  Want to promote reading in your home or classroom?
Q Kids Reading Log
Q KIDS READERS WEBPAGE


Saturday, January 14, 2017

Graduate course


As a teacher and parent, I strive to be an example of life-long learner.  When I heard about an upcoming the graduate course called “STEAM for the Classroom Teacher”, I knew that I had to seize this opportunity.  I am super busy between work and home, so I chose to audit the class (I get to take the class, but will not get a grade or college credit).  I am excited to learn how to improve my STEAM classroom. 

The question that I am focusing on for my first assignment is:
What resonates with you as valuable about trying innovative education methods?

     First, I want to share some insights from two TED talks by Ken Robinson.  One was that we are preparing students for the world of tomorrow that we cannot predict or envision.  Think about that for a moment.  I was struck by this idea and realized the importance of the STEAM for teaching thinking skills not just content.  The question that I was left with after watching these two TED talks was how do I do this?  I was raised in a traditional school environment, I was taught to be a teaching using most of these same ideas, and still struggle to think outside the skills and standards.
     Thankfully, my professor had a potential answer to the big HOW question in one of our required text books entitled Setting the Standard for Project Based Learning.  I am intrigued on how to create and implement Project Based Learning in my STEAM/Library classes.  I have a vision of giving students a task or project to complete while in STEAM and library, to use the print and digital resources interchangeable, and allow students to move fluidly through the two spaces to create an end product.  I think the new answer is in the idea of Project Based Learning (PBL).  In November, after visiting family and friends in Virginia, I had heard about PBL.  Now, I can be more knowledgeable about this concept and even start to utilize it. 
     I am thankful that I am taking this course since PBL can easily be completed incorrectly.  If I am going to step outside my comfort zone and maximize my student learning (while meeting ELA, Math, and NGSS standards), I want to do it well.  I am just working on how to accomplish the same task with 100 students in a grade level not just one classroom.  I see each group for less than two hours a week.  Is it possible to tackle a grade level PBL or do I need to pick one class?  I will keep all of you posted as I learn more about this topic.  In the meantime, for my inquiring minds…here are links to the two TED talks as well as the book that I am reading about PBL!


  Ken Robinson - Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Ken Robinson - Bring on the Learning Revolution 

 What are your thoughts on Ken Robinson’s Ted talks?  Comment below.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Updates :)

Welcome to the new year! 

What is new in library/STEAM?

The theme this month will be winter/polar animals/arctic animals!  Science experiments, videos, new centers, new activities!  One group has not seen lesson one...so look for links, ideas, activities and more!

In addition, Mrs. Hedderman is auditing (taking a course without getting an official grade) a graduate course through Gannon University.  The official title is called "STEAM for the Classroom Teacher".
Mrs. Hedderman is looking forward to networking and new ideas!

Week 1:
STEAM - 5 fun winter videos with Sci Show Kids - here is the link Sci Show Kids
LIBRARY - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th read What Do You Do With An IDEA?, worked on picture puzzles of polar animals, and 2nd grade is also reading Magic School Bus in the Arctic.  The older students changed to reading A Friend for Lakota.
 Kindergarten and first grade are reading Snow Bear and Little Polar Bear.







 Links to some of our new winter activities:
Kindergarten centers: Arctic centers
1-100 coloring sheets - Penguin/Polar Bear Pictures - follow link to her TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS page

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Happy New Year - ONE WORD

Several years ago, I was introduced to the book and concept of "ONE WORD".  Instead of a resolutions, you pick one word, theme, focus for your entire year.

I loved the book.  My word two years ago was FOCUS.  I admit to not picking a word last year and I was a bit scattered and overwhelmed.  So time to re-read the book.  In the meantime, I have picked my 2017 word - TRUST!  I will trust myself, my husband, my administration, my co-workers, my own children, and my students.  In addition, I will trust that my teenager is on the right path.  I trust that all important decisions will be done with a clear head.  Trust can play a role in so many situations personally and professionally.  Every time that I think of my word "TRUST", I think of new ways for this apply to my next year!  I will keep you posted on how TRUST goes throughout the year and if I can share any inspiration! 

Here is what the cover of the book looks like, a link to the website, and a recent video on the TODAY show.




One word on the Today Show - One Word video

One word website - One Word Website


I know that this isn't a library or STEAM topic, but TRUST will impact every part of my day in a positive way!

I challenge each of you to pick you "ONE WORD" and share it in the comments below.  I want to see your inspiration and ideas!