#edsurge50

Ohio is officially on the map...the EdSurge map!

Listen to Mary Jo Madda, EdSurge Associate Editor, explain the Fifty States Project.

EdSurge has more information here...

From Sea to Shining Sea: EdSurge Launches 'Fifty States Project'     
http://goo.gl/OLcr2U

Fifty States Project     

http://goo.gl/A7dKf4

When Mary Jo contacted me I was thrilled about the opportunity to share my Catalyst 
blended learning adventure.  A few months ago we chatted on the phone and she told 
me the #edsurge50 details.  

Little did I know we would soon meet in Atlanta, Georgia at ISTE!  It was
pretty cool how our schedules lined up on that day.  We were both listening to Jaime Casap, Google Global Education Evangelist, and through Twitter I realized we were sitting in on the same session. Thanks to Twitter we were able to exchange real life hellos! 

Thanks to Google Docs, Mary Jo and I were able to work together while being approximately 2, 485 miles away...all the way from San Francisco, California to Mentor, Ohio.

Thank you Mary Jo and EdSurge for helping me share my story!  

Catalyst: Sparking Change in the Kindergarten Classroom    

 http://goo.gl/xfz4sm

"App"solute must haves!

Looking to implement a few great apps with your class?  

Try these teacher-tested, student-approved K-2 iOS Apps! 

Little Matchups ABC Alphabet
Students can practice upper/lower case letters and sounds.

Sentence Maker Free

Students manipulate words to build sentences.  The app is customizable to include two word phrases-five+ word sentences.  You can also lock word order to ensure students follow a left to right direction.

Rocket Speller
Students spell words and earn rocket ship pieces before blasting off into space!  Words vary between 3-10 letters.  Different levels offer sound and visual hints for correct spelling.


Todo Math
Offers instruction/practice in the following areas:
*Number tracing
*One-to-one correspondence
*Matching numbers to objects
*Ten Frame counting
*Counting forward and backward from a given number
*Addition/Subtraction games
*Math fact fluency practice
*Equation building-addition, subtraction and early multiplication


Educreations
It's as easy as draw, write, record and share!  You can import photos too!  Educreations can be shared via email, Facebook and Twitter.  You can also embed lessons on your blog or website.  Check out a few of my K Ss Educreations.

Educreations1

Educreations2


QR Scanner (any free version)
Allow your Ss to scan and use QR (quick response) codes in the classroom!  I'm sure you have seen those little black and white boxes on something!  Scan a QR code to take you to a webpage, document, video, etc.  You can make your own QR codes too!  Click here to get started!

Scan this code for a look at our class Animoto featuring blended learning!

I "App"solutely think you should give these a try!

Catalyst: an event that quickly causes change or action

Our Catalyst journey has definitely caused change!  Change in myself as an educator, change in my students and change in my fellow colleagues.  Talk about a total success!

As a final project, my students created stories using Educreations.  We first brainstormed ideas of potential stories.  Students were asked to draw three different ideas for a story.  After some discussion, one idea was selected to elaborate upon.  From there, students completed a First, Next, Then, Last graphic organizer.  Students completed these activities during station rotations.  After some paper/pencil editing it was time to get our stories into Educreations.  Students illustrated and narrated their pages with the help of Mrs. Eminger.  It was helpful to use the quiet observation room that neighbors the Catalyst classroom for recording!

24 Educreations later and it would be time to present!  We invited six VIPs from our district to join us.  My students were so excited to be stars of the show.  Thank you to those involved...Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miley, Mr. Shorr, Mrs. Kinsey, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Pasquale.

What a sight to see!  Students were fully engaged with our visitors and even shared other iPad tips and tricks they learned during our time at Catalyst.  Definitely a proud teacher day!

Check out a few of our Educreations!  

Educreations1

Educreations2

Educreations3

Educreations4

Our last day at Catalyst involved many choice stations including QR stories, write the room activities, I have, Who has? games and of course, favorite app time!

During our 27 days of blended learning I watched my students strengthen their independent working and problem solving skills.  Students asked each other for help before asking me.  They looked for ways to challenge themselves during stations in their own creative ways.  What more could I ask for?!

This was definitely a second quarter to remember...take a look for yourself!

Catalyst Animoto Video

#Catalyst Blended Learning

On October 28th, my class began a blended learning adventure complete with daily bus rides and a new classroom at Ridge Middle School!  The observation classroom, #Catalyst, will be our second home until December 18th.  We are temporarily moving out of Room 125 at Hopkins Elementary (Mondays-Thursdays).  The transition has been rather smooth due to the tremendous amount of support my class has received from district administrators, fellow teachers, instructional coaches and parents. Thank you everyone!

#Catalyst 

Room 319 @ Ridge Middle School

Mr. Jeremy Shorr (@JeremyShorr), Director of Educational Technology for Mentor Schools, set the journey in motion by arranging a few observations at blended learning schools.  The teachers in these classrooms engaged students with a mix of teacher instruction and technology resources.

I spent many hours planning what #Catalyst would become for my students.  Luckily, I was able to do so with the help of Mrs. Chelsey Eminger (@EmingerITC), a great friend and colleague.  Mrs. Eminger and I began teaching together in 2009 and now she serves as my school's Instructional Technology Coach.  Mrs. Eminger and I brainstormed how to structure the days at #Catalyst as well as how to implement a blended learning model of instruction.  Our model of blended learning combines small group direct instruction with independent work stations.

We selected a four station rotation model.  My students have mastered the rotation between stations which includes a quiet bubble-no talking :-) and folded hands.

Currently my students are working in the following Language Arts and Math stations:

1.  Guided teacher instruction- My instruction varies based upon the needs of the group.  Example activities:  guided reading, mini lessons with new material, introducing new Apps

2.  Independent peer practice- Students work independently or in pairs/groups to reinforce learning.  Example activities:  learning games

3. iPads- Example activities:  Lexia, MobyMax, Raz-Kids, QR code scanning, Educational Apps

4.  Writing wall (plexiglass)- Example activities:  reinforce writing skills (letters, numbers, sight words, number words/sets, sentence copying/writing)

Our station activities will change as we progress through the second quarter of the school year.  I am excited for the rest of our blended learning adventure.  Thank you to all those who made this possible for my class!  Teamwork makes the dream work!