Elementary – Page 7

Claymation Video by Sixth Grader

Since childhood I’ve always wanted to learn how to do claymation, but I’ve never gotten around to it. Sixth grader, Charlie, has already figured it out and released his first video. Watch the video and then consider leaving Charlie a comment. EduBloggers might notice that Charlie is Neil Hokanson‘s son.

Charlie and Neil, you should both be so proud!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEL-_I_6cr4

Student projects like this always makes me wonder if we are underestimating what our students are truly capable of.

Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0

I’m teaching a special topics seminar this summer for graduate students. The topic will be Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0 Technologies. I began preparing for this course in June 2007 and I’m very excited about it. While we’ll consider common trends and issues and survey many of the popular tools and services related to Web 2.0, the heart of the course will be learning to effectively integrate Web 2.0 technologies and principles with teaching and learning. The focus will be on K-12 education but accommodations can be made for individuals from other fields (health, corporate, military, higher education, etc.). This draft version of the Course Topics provides an overview of the likely curriculum.

While the dominate driving force in the development of the curriculum and resources has been the upcoming class, I always planned for this to be a relatively open learning community. In keeping with the principles of Web 2.0 I encourage the participation of everyone with an interest or expertise in this topic. You may contribute to the discussion and fun by using the following tag/keyword: idt7078

Related Resources

More Favorite Children’s Books

I enjoyed our recent discussion of favorite children’s books so much that I wanted write a follow-up. A lot of teachers have mentioned that they have already bookmarked it for future reference. This blog exists for exactly that reason – to be a resource for teachers.

My favorite genre of children’s literature is wordless picture books. It’s fun to see kids get swept away in these books. The artwork is usually stellar and the author’s/ illustrator’s work typically invokes our creative interpretations. Wordless picture books can be a great way to encourage higher order thinking, creativity, and self-expression. They can often be used to practice the elements of a story (setting, plot, character, etc.) or to initiate activities in creative writing, art, drama, multi-media, etc. It’s often a good way to level the playing field with regard to student reading levels. Here are a few of my very favorite wordless picture books.

The Silver Pony – One of the very first books I “read” from my elementary school library. This book has many elements that I have always enjoyed: horses, Greek mythology, art, imagination and creativity. I wish I knew how many times I checked out this book. I need to go buy a copy for our family library.

Animalia – Another outstanding work by Graeme Base.

Tuesday – Mostly a wordless picture book about frogs.

New STEM Resources and Games from PBS KIDS GO!

Our kids watch several of these programs and have enjoyed playing these games. All things considered these games are pretty good.

April 23, 2008 – Several new online science and math games are now available from PBS KIDS GO!

More and more educators are discovering the value of online games, which allow students to practice new skills and educators to quickly assess student understanding. The games and activities below provide teachers and students with fresh approaches to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that are critical to 21st century learning.

Cyberchase: Math and Sports
Make a connection between math and sports. Explore this newest thematic unit from Cyberchase that encourages kids to see and practice the math concepts used to plan, track, and calculate facts and figures in sporting events. Find classroom activities, view online video and play the new CyberOlympics game.

Dragonfly TV: Nanobots
Learn more about nanotechnology by adjusting the positive and negative charges to guide a nanobot through an obstacle course. Traverse preexisting courses or build your own.

Fetch!: Geyser Surpriser
Discover what is required for a geyser to exist by manipulating three of the elements that make up a geyser. Then, add to your knowledge of geyser trivia while playing a bonus game.

Fetch!: CSI: Squeak Sneak
Use problem-solving and logical reasoning strategies to deduce who stole Ruff’s squeaky toy. Search for clues at the crime scene, analyze and identify the clues in the crime lab and identify the thief by matching clues to suspects.

–From PBS Teachers

Favorite Children’s Books

Earlier this week I was a parent reader in the class of one of our children. Although I’m an elementary math and science teacher I do really like children’s literature. We read with our mother nearly everyday growing up. One of our grandmothers was an elementary school librarian and she kept us supplied with books, books on tape, magazine subscriptions, and more. I was also blessed with many teachers that loved books. I made a conscious effort to read books to my students because I wanted them to see books being appreciated by a man, a mathematician and a scientist. Now, our home’s bookshelves overflow with children’s books as we enjoy reading to our own children. All that to say, I always have a difficult time selecting the books to read in these types of situations. Here are some of the reasons.

There are so many great books with which I want all kids to be familiar.
There are some books that I really want to read to them, but am nearly certain that they’ve already encountered them (Where the Wild Things Are). I’m never completely sure, though.
I like to read a book that our son or daughter especially likes and point this out to his or her classmates.
Reading a book with a moral purpose is always desired.
I like to narrate the story (with character voices and sound effects) which limits the pool of potential books to some degree.
Books based on television programs, computer games, websites, toys, etc. pretty much are not going to make the cut.
I want all the children to fall in love with the book.

Do you see why I have a bit of trouble deciding what to read? It’s a great delima with which to be faced, though!

Here are some of the books that received strong consideration.

I actually received input from many of this blog’s reader via Twitter. As a result, I thought it would be a useful idea and a lot of fun to mention and discuss your favorite children’s books here on the blog – thus, this post. So,…

What are your favorite children’s books?

UPDATE: Join this closely related discussion.

photo credit: ianus

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PBS Focuses on Digital Storytelling during May

I just ran across a couple of really good resources from PBS Teachers that I wanted to mention here. Here’s the first one.

May 1, 2008 – This month’s Media Infusion blogger, secondary school educator and filmmaker Joe Fatheree, looks at digital storytelling as a means to create independent learners, promote collaboration, improve research and writing skills, and educate the whole child. Fatheree takes readers through a step-by-step process of filmmaking that can be adapted for use in many contexts with students of varying ages.

“Technology has given us the ability to connect curriculum with the real world, and allow our students to step outside the boundaries of traditional classroom setting,” writes Fatheree.

PBS Teachers invites educators to visit Media Infusion in May and ask questions, comment on Fatheree’s suggestions or offer some of their own.

–From PBS Teachers

We the People…

I’m old enough to remember the Schoolhouse Rock videos airing between cartoons on Saturday mornings. I really liked (most of) them as a kid. I rediscovered them years later as a classroom teacher and was even more impressed by them. Not only do these videos cover a lot of curriculum they are also artistically impressive. My wife and I are getting to enjoy all the Schoolhouse Rock fun again with our kids.

We’re looking at integrating higher order thinking skills and word processing in one of my classes right now. The following video is connected to the lesson. Reminisce and enjoy!

Let’s share ideas about how any/all the following could be integrated with teaching and learning.

This or any Schoolhouse Rock video
Word processing technologies (desktop or online alternatives)
Higher order thinking skills

1 Thing

I’ve added a new feature to Clif’s Notes called 1 Thing. This special section is an area where guest bloggers can communicate “1 thing” they would like to share, suggest, say, demonstrate, etc. about a particular topic. This section will forever be a work in progress, so feel free to suggest guest bloggers and topics anytime. You can easily access this section by clicking on the 1 Thing link in the main menu.

First Day

GUEST BLOGGER
Emily Witt

I was a wreck that first day. A total disaster. Unprepared in every way. And when it was done, I wondered how I would ever survive the year. I had a classroom full of leftovers with moms that were my age and dads that weren’t around. Kids with reputations that followed them and heartache and need that was written all over their faces. Our relationship was volatile and more than once I cried in front of them, but every day changed me a little and before it was over I was wrapped up in them.

We lived in the Trailer Trash Castle, a mobile classroom behind the school, and I was voted The Queen, but the truth is they were the royalty there. They were hysterical and full of personality and they were creative and emotional and I adored them. We read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe together and I watched in awe as they sat enamored by the story come to life on the big screen. I taught them to waltz and my heart went to putty when James asked me to dance as every child in the school looked on. Their heads bobbed and swayed to the sound of The Drifters in the afternoons and their sweaty hands found their way around my waist after every recess. Their words were simple and innocent and are forever with me and they are the class to which I compare all others.

“Miss Witt, it feels like a fluffy cloud when I hug you.” Sweet Kim. “How do you spell apponna? You know like once apponna time?” Jacob. “I’m praying for your husband, Miss Witt.” Tyler. “Miss Witt, you look guuud in dem heels!” Jasmine. “If the world was upside down, would all the water fall out?” Oh, Stephen. “You must really love me, Miss Witt. You named your dog Fuller.” And it was true. I loved Rashad Fuller. And I loved Warren and Noah’s sweet spirit helped me through every day. And Adam’s tears helped me understand how desperately he wanted to please me. But James was my favorite. He was my heart. He left me diet cokes in my refrigerator and tootsie rolls in my chair and he hid under my desk when his temper caused him shame. And that kid, to this day, is the reason I teach. To show love to the unlovable and to hold the broken. To give the hopeless a chance to rise up and to beg the needy to stand on their own. To encourage the weak and to be the mother to those without. To heal. To lead. To swell with pride at small victories and to be broken by hurts that I cannot carry.

About the Author
Emily Witt, a former student and preservice teacher of Clif’s, graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She spent two years teaching in the Mississippi public school system before moving a little further south. She is currently teaching third graders in the heart of the Colombian coffee region, learning Spanish as she goes, and wondering if it might really be possible to change the world.