January Wrap-Up

 Coding and engineering...podcasts...100th day projects...sledding...

Those words sum up the past few weeks in school and at home.

In school, I am trying to balance between safety, education, and fun.  Code.org has some amazing lessons and skills.  Yes it teaches computer coding, but also how to solve problems, stick with something, ask for help, and more!  I typically dabble in 1st grade and do maybe 2 online lessons and 1 offline lesson.  This year is going to be much stronger on coding. 

In Kindergarten, I just started the first online lesson and this week will add in two more units from Code.org.  I am so excited to see their brains working.  In addition, we tried making snowflakes out of our pattern blocks.  WOW - they nailed radial symmetry naturally!  It was so cool to watch.

Grade 1 is going to be starting their third online lesson this upcoming week.
Plus we explored LEGOS and reviewed Seesaw.  

Second grade has a few challenging lessons in Code.org since it skips from using arrows for moving in grade 1 to words and left/right turns in grade 2.  Some of my learners struggle with abstract turns and solving problems.  So we took a two week break to do a Sci Show Kids engineering lesson on backscratchers.  We designed on paper one week and engineered the second week. Then practiced putting them onto seesaw!

Grade 3 and 4 are working on a new unit called INVENT IT.  Week 1 was thinking about a sports invention and week 2 was on exploring their idea on google.  Independent google searching was a CHALLENGE.  Many really do not know what to once they search on Google and needed one on one support.  This week is sketch it.  I am hoping to finish up exploring and get into some sketches.

Invent It Challenge

Personally, it has been a month of two new podcasts.  The Bible in a Year has been eye opening.  We finished Genesis, Proverbs, and Job.  It is one of our before bed activities most nights.  We are "behind" by about 5 episodes, but nothing crazy. 

I am overall keeping up with my Catholic Pilgrim podcast where she is reading St. Faustina's Diary.  This is my 10-12 minutes of quiet in the morning.  My husband drives two of our children to school, so I listen while I get dressed and get ready for the day.  It works Monday through Friday, but get tricky on weekends when our routine is different. 

In addition, we have re-found a love of family sledding outings.  We used to go out 14 years ago, but babies and busyness took over.  This is great exercise and FUN!

My Kindergartener's 100th day project

Sledding week 1

Fun for all ages!

Week 2 group picture!

 

Snowflake and penguin fun

 Back to in-person learning!  I was excited to see my students, but knew that getting all the chargers back in the charging stations was a nightmare last time as well as lost chargers.

So I devised a non-tech plan for K - 2.  Kindergarten is usually working on fun polar/arctic animal stations in January, but this year had to look different.   Here is a summary of what we did:

Kindergarten learned about animals in their winter coats, colored a penguin, and got their first chance to engineer with LEGOS!!

I have used this penguin before but added a video to the unit.  It was quite helpful.  Here is a link to the penguin that I use PENGUIN PRINTABLE  

First grade and second grade did variations of the same activity. If they brought laptops, we worked on updating them (restarting multiple times) and re-book marking our most used websites Wattsburg and Clever.   It was a bit more math heavy, but trying to keep it fun.  We started with a Snowflake I Spy (LINK).  The extreme version is harder than you think!  Then we watched a new snow video to learn a few science facts about snowflakes.  Finally, we followed a code to color a penguin using a 1-100 chart which I have used before from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Penguin coloring sheet link

Third grade tried a new low-tech lesson plan on snowflakes. I was really impressed by the ideas and creativity by students.  I would have them take pictures and save them in the future. Instead, I tried to snap a picture with my phone as I went along.  They also needed massive computer updates and used the same snowflake video.  Finally, we worked on our Code.org with time remaining.

 I got my inspiration from one blog and my shapes from a second blog.  Here are those links!

INSPIRATION and SHAPES PRINTABLES

Here are a selection of the creations:

                                                          

Fourth grade needed to work on Code.org level 2 and they had all day to charge their computers.  So we just jumped into drawing and coding together.  This is a challenge since it uses exact directions and LOOPS!  LOOPS seem to be a struggle for many students.

It has been an exhausting week for teachers, but it was good to see those masked faces, see their excitement in completing a challenging activity, everyone completing similar activities, etc...  I know that school is the happy place for so many students.  I know that it was a glimpse of normal for own children.  The stress and pressure was much lower in my house.  We even watched a movie tonight and have no weekend homework.  During periods of remote learning, breaks and weekends mean school work CATCH UP.  Ben has some boy scout activities, girl scout cookie selling, plus there are clothes to put away, and rooms to straighten, but NO required learning.  I am trying to embrace the pros and cons of remote and in-person learning.  Neither learning situation is ideal...neither is easy...both are necessary.  I want continuity, but safety comes first.  One day at a time!  

Onto to plan next week's adventures!!

New Year New Start 2021

 I know that most people are "over" or "done" with 2020 and the pandemic.  The NEW YEAR means new starts and new opportunities.  Shouldn't every NEW YEAR be embraced? 

When I wrote one year ago, I would have not predicted one thing from March 13 to today.  Nope - none of it!   Here is my post from 1 year ago 2019 Year in Review

I had picked my one word last year to be "engaged".  Well, when I pick a word, it always surprises me how it is fulfilled or carried out.  I never thought that it would mean being ENGAGED in teaching my children from home.  It didn't mean connecting with students over a chat on TEAMS.  It did not mean checking in with friends and family via zoom, text, etc...  I have had to find new ways to ENGAGE my students.  I think that the word fit the last year better than expected!

So onto 2021...my word that I keep coming back to is "ENOUGH".  It has a slightly negative connotation.  But I am ENOUGH.  I am doing ENOUGH.  I am good ENOUGH.  I have had ENOUGH of COVID 19.  But what is the real definition of ENOUGH?  From dictionary.com, it says "adequate for the want or need; sufficient for the purpose or to satisfy desire".  I think that this sounds good ENOUGH for me!

I am giving up on the 1 second a day app.  I actually figured out how to do my own montage using the video software on my computer plus I just cannot add to my list of daily "to dos".  I will share last year's when I catch up adding pictures to it from March - November.  

Here is a link to my 1 Second mash up for 2020     2020

I am going to try two podcasts about my faith.  I try to keep this blog focused on professional topics, but I am still human.  So you can either stop reading here or check them out below!

1. I have always wanted to read the Bible. I think that most Christians have tried to read the whole book or have good intentions to try it.  Well, I found a podcast by a Catholic Priest that I follow from time to time who is reading the Bible this year.  I usually listen to him on YouTube when I am driving alone and need something to listen to.  Well, the cool thing is that it follows the "Great Adventure" Bible.  I had not heard of it and could not justify buying another Bible. 

GOOSEBUMP STORY - Well, last week, I popped into work in a terrible mood, super stressed out, and ready to "lose it".  It was a BAD day in home learning (actually the worst in the past 9 months kind of bad day!).  A co-worker from the maintenance department whom I barely know other than a polite wave and facebook 'friend' approached me and asked if I wanted some Catholic books.  Sure...then he went on to say something like "I also have this Great Adventure Bible if you want it"  WHAT _ WAIT_ STOP_ SHUT UP.  I had not even told my husband that I wanted this exact Bible or was considering listening to this podcast.  It was like God was saying to me - here is what you NEED!
Here is a link if you are interested in the podcast -  Bible in a Year.  I honestly don't know where I will find 20 minutes to listen, but it is a novel goal and 2 of my children are super interested.  

2. I have a book that I borrowed from my daughter's book shelf in April and put on my "TO READ" stack.  I have honestly looked at it, moved it, hid it, etc... The other day it reappeared back on my nightstand and not by me!   Maybe hubby?  Then I saw another Catholic blogger who is going to tackle this book in 10 minutes a day.  BUT I already want to listen to another podcast that I do not think that I have time for.  How can I find time for a second?  Honestly, no clue...maybe while I get ready in the morning?  Maybe 1 day a week I can play catch up?  Maybe it won't happen.  It will be recorded for me and ready when I am ready.  
Here is a link to that podcast as well - St. Faustina's Diary

So here is to a NEW YEAR and a NEW START.  I look forward to trying some new science activities, new podcasts, and balance home and school.  I don't see an easy road ahead...but inch by inch it is a cinch is the old saying! 

DeSTEMber part 2

 Week 3 and 4 were done virtually.  So I had to modify the assignments and activities.

Grade K - 2 for week 3 was all about Santa's sleigh.  The book was called "The 12 Sleighs of Christmas".  The librarian and I picked the same story and activity without discussing it with each other.  So my response rate was lower.  Here is a link to the story on YouTube (and directions).  

Grade K - 2 did a jingle bell challenge for week 4.  I know that the video says week 2, but I created it before our schedule changed.  The goal was to make your jingle bell the QUIETEST!  It was fun seeing and hearing the ideas on Seesaw.  Two students actually suggested taking the bell apart.  Here is a link to the activity video.  Jingle Bell video

Grade 3 and 4 did a gingerbread house design challenge.  First, my son and I created a video and learned how to use some of the video editing software on the computer.  I LOVE the ability to mash pictures on my own.  I have tried an app called 1 second every day.  This serves the same purpose with lots more options.  So I created my instruction video on this software then uploaded a UNLISTED video to YouTube.  

Here are a few my student creations.  

Some students also chose to DRAW the pictures.  A previous art teacher even did a Facebook class on gingerbread houses.  Here is link to her gingerbread drawing activity online by Rachel Berlin.  Gingerbread art class

Grade 3 and 4 had Holiday Coding as the final DeSTEMber activity.  We used Google Santa Tracker and Grinch Hour of Code.  Students could pick and chose one of the activities.  Here are the links for next year!  Inside Google Santa tracker is Code Boogie and Code Lab. 

Google Santa Tracker
Grinch Hour of Code

Overall, I enjoyed the blended activities of school and home.  The challenges led to new opportunities and thinking outside the box.  

De"STEM"ber part 1

 Students in our district returned to school in person on Tuesday, December 1st.  The debate and controversy and uncertainty was heavy in the air, but I wanted to make the activities special for the students.  I found the idea to do De"STEM"ber this month so that is what we did!  

Week 1 of De"STEM"ber:

Grade 3 and 4 did a tessellation tree the first week and reviewed how to find information on TEAMS.  The outcome was pretty cool.  I kept each class separate so that it would be easier to return later.    Here is the link to the printable.  Tessellation printable   

Here are the six tessellation trees...the other classes missed because of a snow day and no school on Nov. 30th.  

Here is our link to learn more about tessellations as well!

Grade Kindergarten through 2nd grade made upcycled or recycled trees using "dust jackets".  Students then practiced taking a picture on SeeSaw for future remote learning.  The challenge was teaching how to create a star at the top.  Overall, this went well.  I also created this video incase that we had to do it remote - Loom video link  

Here are a few creations:

                                                         

                                                     

Week 2 of De"STEM"ber brought new fun activities:

K - 1 created a reindeer face like a puzzle using a sheet with pieces to cut out and assemble.  Then they were put on a "letter" to families on how to turn the reindeer into a marble run!  
Here is a link to the pieces - Savvy Teaching blog link

      

So one side is the directions to make a reindeer marble run with cardboard tubes and the other side is the cute kid created reindeer.  I will try to add some pictures here soon!

Plus we had fun watching the "Reindeer Cam" most days as well as we worked - Reindeer Cam

2nd grade worked on learning to make paper beads.  Wow - this was a challenge.  I would only repeat with older students or pre-printed triangles.  I used this video to show how to do it then we attempted to upcycle old magazines.  They could make an ornament or a necklace.  Some loved it...some tried and struggled.  

Grade 3 and 4 worked on a book mark that could be turned into a Christmas tree and 4 out of 5 days included GLITTER.  I never use glitter and it was messy fun.  No regrets since next week will be remote!  Here is the video I created for directions - Bookmark tree video

Next week is back to remote learning and new lessons for De"STEM"ber!  

Look for part 2 around 12/23 when we are done with the next two weeks of home learning!