December Newsletter

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Mathematics 3rd grade, OPERATIONS AND ALGEBRAIC THINKING (3.OA), Standard 3.OA.1:
Interpret products of whole numbers, such as interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 × 7.

Ed-Tech Standard 6: Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for pursuit of personal interests

This was a great tool to use on Microsoft Publisher, and it was very easy to use as well. There is endless posibilities with personalization, and saving a template that you are fond of to match themes of your classroom. Students in 5th or 6th grade could create their own newsletter once they are familiar with how Publisher works. This has been a great tool for me when I was in grade school and gotten me through dozens of projects. This is one of the number one online tools that I would urge teachers/educators to use for several different classroom planning, organizing, and information options. The best experience I have had with this tool is for flyers, small announcements, and especially classroom newsletters. This is a tool that I will definitely teach my students how to use and to be comfortable with.

Click the link below to see a pdf format of my December Newsletter!

Miss Poulsen December Newsletter

StoryBird; Simon and Simone

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Health Education, 3rd grade, Standard 3:

The students will understand and respect self and others related to human development and relationships.

Objective 1 :Summarize the functions of the skeletal and muscular systems.

Objective 2 : Model behaviors that foster healthy interpersonal relationships. (SS) *PD

Objective 3 : Model strategies for preventing abuse.

• Name the major body systems and their basic functions. Describe the skeletal and muscular systems. Demonstrate ways to strengthen the skeletal and muscular systems. (PE)
• Examine the benefits of healthy relationships among peers, family, and community members.
  Recognize ways in which peers, families, and communities may change over time.
  Model ways to contribute to healthy relationships among peers, family, and community members. (Teaching kids how to make friends and not be worried to take risks)
• Maintain personal boundaries. Identify situations that may put one at risk for abuse. Demonstrate ways to avoid, manage, or escape risk.
  

Ed-Tech Standard 9: Determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate

tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems.

StoryBird was a great site to make an easy picture book online for students. There were many different options for stylization and picking what was best going to suit the type of story you were wanting to tell. This was kind of a hard program to navigate and I wish there were more options to surround a theme. This is a great tool for students if the teacher had time to make several different stories to teach a lesson. Younger grades are more adapt to learning on computers in this generation, so this would be a great learning tool for them. Older grades would have any easier time creating a story. I love being able to have a ready template to create a story for my class to teach a more personal subject. I will definitely keep this in mind for when I have a classroom of my own.

Click the link below to read my story of Simon and Simone on StoryBird!

Story Bird; Simon and Simone

Popplet; Mind Mapping; The 4 Seasons

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Science, 1st grade, Standard 2:

Earth and Space Science. Students will gain an understanding of Earth and Space Science through the study of earth materials, celestial movement, and weather.

Objective 1 :Investigate the natural world including rock, soil and water.

Objective 2 : Observe and describe the changes and appearance of the sun and moon during daylight.

Objective 3 : Compare and contrast seasonal weather changes.

• Observe, compare, describe, and sort components of soil by size, texture, and color.
  Identify and describe a variety of natural sources of water, including streams, lakes, and oceans.
  Gather evidence about the uses of rocks, soil, and water.
• Observe the sun at different times during the day and report observations to peers.
  Observe and chart the moon when it is visible during the day.
• Identify characteristics of the seasons of the year.
  Identify characteristics of weather, e.g., types of precipitation, sunny, windy, foggy, and cloudy.
  Observe and record weather information within each season.

Ed-Tech Standard 6: Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for pursuit of personal interests.

Popplet was a fun, alternative way to making a learning web. This is perfect for younger grades and have students follow the lines to connect to different aspects of the seasons. This activity would be great way for younger grades to interact and follow the web, and the colors to see what points go together and are related. This was a very easy site to use and 5th graders and older would have to problem using it. I would use this to teach any number of subjects that have a lot of vocabulary, so that my students can make connections with what goes together. I really liked this tool. Students can personalize this and use as many or as little nodes to explain different subjects as they would like.

Click the link below to see an example of Popplet explaining the 4 seasons!!

Popplet: The 4 Seasons

Prezi; Theater Basics

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold.

Fine Arts, 6th grade, Strand PERFORM, Standard 6 T.P.1:Analyze the character, setting, and essential events (plot) in a story that make up the dramatic structure, and use choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.

The process of writing, producing, and some behind the scenes look on what happens on the stage.

Ed-Tech Standard 5: Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

This is my favorite form of presentations that we have used. I can use this in my classroom to show another different type of presenting a subject that not everyone may find interesting. This was very easy to use and it would be very appropriate for 6th graders to format their own. I taught about some of the basics of theater because it is one of my hobbies and I was able to make a teaching tool that was grade appropriate, and make it very professional as well. I would recommend this tool to other teachers and educators, and those that teach grades 6 and older. This is my favorite tool that we have used in this class thus far.

Click the link below to see my Prezi Presentation

Prezi: Basics of Theater

Animoto; Body Image and Eating Disorders

Animoto

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Health Education, 5th grade, Standard 1:

The students will learn ways to improve mental health and manage stress.

Objective 1 :Summarize how communicating with others can help improve overall health.

Objective 2 : Demonstrate coping behaviors related to grief and loss.

Objective 3 : Predict the influence body image may have on body acceptance.

Objective 4: Demonstrate constructive ways of managing stress. *PD

• Compare the benefits of social interaction and time alone. Communicate the need for social interaction and time alone. Adopt behaviors to help maintain mental health; e.g., reading, exercise, lifelong learning, abstaining from substance abuse.
• Recognize the tasks associated with the grief and loss process; i.e., acknowledge loss or death, feel the feelings, go on living and loving. Recognize emotions associated with grief and loss.
  Identify common ways individuals may cope with loss. Identify ways to help others through the grieving process.
• Explain body image and body acceptance. Recognize influences on body shape and size; e.g., diet, disabilities, exercise, heredity. Recognize factors that may affect body image; e.g., media, peers, self-expectations.
• Explain how both positive and negative events can cause stress. Identify physiological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to stress. Predict how neglecting personal responsibilities may increase stress. Develop and apply a personal stress management plan.

Ed-Tech Standard 5: Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

This was a great tool to make an easy classroom presentation video. There really wasn’t much room for personalization, but it came with a few good videos, and quality pictures to add to the video. It was very easy to preview and see where I could make changes to make the video better. I think that this wouldn’t be a media tool for elementary students to use, unless they felt really confident using it. This would be a good challenge for students to try and put together their own videos on a subject they enjoy. This is a great tool for teachers who want to put together a video or several videos to teach a subject. This would be a great site for Junior High and High School students for presentation purposes. I really liked this tool, but it wasn’t one that I would use as my first pick. Give it a try and see what all of you think about it!

Click either link below to see an example of an Animoto on Body Image and Eating Disorders!

Animoto: embeded link

Animoto: Body Image and Eating Disorders 5th Grade

Padlet; Cloudy Sky Science

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Science, 1st grade, Standard 2:

Earth and Space Science. Students will gain an understanding of Earth and Space Science through the study of earth materials, celestial movement, and weather.

Objective 1 :Investigate the natural world including rock, soil and water.

Objective 2 : Observe and describe the changes and appearance of the sun and moon during daylight.

Objective 3 : Compare and contrast seasonal weather changes.

• Observe, compare, describe, and sort components of soil by size, texture, and color.
  Identify and describe a variety of natural sources of water, including streams, lakes, and oceans.
  Gather evidence about the uses of rocks, soil, and water.
• Observe the sun at different times during the day and report observations to peers.
  Observe and chart the moon when it is visible during the day.
• Identify characteristics of the seasons of the year.
  Identify characteristics of weather, e.g., types of precipitation, sunny, windy, foggy, and cloudy.
  Observe and record weather information within each season.

Ed-Tech Standard 6: Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for pursuit of personal interests.

Padlet was a fun way to have a class interaction with an assignment and collaborate with other people. I wish I could see how it works when a whole class is able to put their own comments, and see how they respond. This was one of the easiest tools to use and I really want to remember to use this once I have a classroom of my own. I believe that 5th grade and older would be able to navigate this program and have some great learning engagement activities to pair with it. I can use this tool to connect with my class, and watch them converse online with each other. This is an easy tool to teach students to use, and I would refer other teachers to use this site as well for interactive activities with their students. I loved this site

Refer to the link below to see a Padlet project in action!!


Padlet Project

emaze; 5 W's

emaze

I put my main focuses in this standard in bold. Reading Literature, Standard 1:

• Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Ed-Tech Standard 5: Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. (3, 4)

I thought that this was a great tool for presenting materials in a different way other than a stiff powerpoint. There are several ways to make these presentations have more personality. This was kind of a difficult program to use, and it probably wouldn’t be my first choice, but other people may enjoy it! This standard focus was for 2nd grade, and I think that they would be too young to navigate this program. I liked at the very end when you can view the presentation and it moves very smooth and it keeps you focused because it moves around everywhere. I thought this was a good program to change things up with presentations on simple subjects, and making things look very professional as well. I liked this in the end after learning how to work my way around the site.

Click the embeded link below to see a presentation of the uses of the 5 W's of literature!!

emaze 5 W's