Mrs. Brasher's 1st Grade

Tool #11 - Self Assessing and Reflecting

2011-06-07T12:59:00.002-07:00

1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.

There are many useful tools that I enjoyed. I will continue to research different websites and apps to use with my children.This next year, I'm planning to use "SKYPE" so that the kids can interact more with other people in our school/district/global community.

2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom? How has your vision for your classroom changed? Are you going to need to make any changes to your classroom to accommodate the 21st Century learner?

I will start to use more of the interactive websites that help track the student's progress to help differentiate for them.
This will make me a better a teacher and I will be able to differentiate for more students.

It gives me more access to more information that was never available before at a rate that is faster everday due to technological advances.

3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I figured out by doing this study just how much we rely on our ability to use modern technology to access all the information that is available to us.

Tool #10 - Underneath it All - Digital Citizenship

2011-06-07T12:59:00.001-07:00

1. Discuss at least three things you would want to make sure your students understand about being good digital citizens.

Follow the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Realize that whatever you put down on paper or in the computer it is there for the world to see.
If you use another's idea, always give credit to that person.

Know that you should NEVER give your password to your friends. Be NICE on the internet, and ask parents/adults before visiting websites.

2. Share at least one of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that you plan to use instructionally.

Brain Pop - this is such a great resource to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom! The kids love it and it also offers things for those who need things to be a little more difficult. It holds accountability because the kids can take a quiz using their activates - which then can be used a grade in the grade book! I will use this as an enrichment to my curriculum that I am doing already. I have taught GT students in the past and found this website to be user friendly and easy to access at home and independently.

3. Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students.

Please read Theresa Trevino's Blog - Tool #10 - She has summed this question up perfectly!

4. Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents.

Back to School Night will be the perfect place to share this information and I will share the sites mentioned above so parents will know about digital citizenship.

Tool #9: Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices as Tools for Learning

2011-06-07T12:57:00.002-07:00

1. Why do you think it is important to tie the technology to the objective?
The students learn how to seamlessly integrate technology into their lives therefore bringing them into the 21st century learner.

2. Why should we hold students accountable for the stations/centers?

I want my 1st graders to be on task and I need to know if they are mastering the objectives and ready to move on.

3. Visit 2 of the applicable links to interactive websites for your content/grade level. Which sites did you like. How could you use them as stations? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

SpellingCity.com is an interactive website that we currently use and have used for the past 2 years. I am surprised that it was not on the list as it is such a great tool for children to use at home for their word study skills. This website allows you to differentiate for all students.

Studyladder.com is another website that you can use to help differentiate for students at a higher level and lower level at the same time. The teacher gains immediate feedback to how he or she is doing.

Brainpop.com is another online interactive website that provide children with Bloom's Taxonomy and online quizzes that meet their needs.

4. List two to three apps you found for the iPod Touch/iPad that you can use in your classroom. What do you see that station looking like? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

Houston Zoo (Helps navigate when you are at the zoo, but also gives animal specifications. It also helps with the Map skills and reading a map with cardinal directions.) We visit the Houston Zoo each year and this app will be a HUGE success with my children.
Funny Flash (This one is neat because it morphs animals and then spells them out verbally and in print.) This will be a great app for those ESL students.
Math Drill (Addition & Subtraction - primary grades.) Awesome for students learning their math facts!
Learn Chess (I haven't really figured this out but I want to learn.) Maybe my GT students will help me on this one it has always been a goal of mine to understand chess.
Louvre Our art teacher will love this, I will share with Ms. Lehman. The only issue is that you need to connect to WiFi.
NASA Some of my colleagues participated in a NASA webinar and found it fascinating. I would like to participate in this in the upcoming year.
Sight Words (Great way for students to learn their sight words.)
Tic Tac Toe (Just for fun! My kids especially LOVE playing this.)
The Weather Channel (Keep current with weather conditions anywhere. Goes well with our Seasons/Graphing Weather Unit.)

5. What about other ways to use the iPod Touch/iPad? Share another way you can see your students using the device as a station.

I am already using my I-Touches during both math and literacy stations. I plan to use them for self guided projects with my GT students. I love the Brainpop and plan to add this to my apps on the iTouches. I will use their quiz to show mastery. The sight word apps will be used for my ESL students to reiterate English language verbiage to their internal repertoire of knowledge.

Tool # 8 Taking a Look at the Tools

2011-06-07T12:57:00.001-07:00

… Learning about the classroom devices

1. After watching the videos/tutorials, list two to three things you learned about the device(s) that will be in your classroom this fall.

First I learned that my 1st grade class will not be receiving iPads. As an early childhood teacher for the past 22 years, it is my belief that smaller is not always better for 1st graders. Their small motor skills are not always developmentally ready.

I understand that I will receive 2 more iTouches and 5 DELL 2120's. This is very exciting!

2. How do you plan to manage the device(s) in your classroom? Do you have ideas/suggestions that others may find useful?

I will need to name each of my I-Touches in my classroom. I will use the suggestion to name them with my room number and A-E. I will put this on the actual device so I can better manage each one. I also learned that I can have up to 11 pages of Apps on each I-Touch. I learned from LouAnn that Brainpop had an app where kids can watch short video clips and do a quiz. This will be familiar to all 1st graders as this is something we do in the classroom already. This would be a great station using a rockstar and headphones. I wish I had a device to charge 5 at once using a wall outlet, this might be a parent request at the beginning of the year. Then I could have that be one of my helper jobs for a student.

Tool # 7 Reaching Outside your Classroom: Online Digital Projects

2011-06-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

1. After visiting the resources above, design a collaborative project with another classroom.

This next year I plan to use SKYPE with Mrs. Trevino and Mrs. Timmreck. We will study the life cycles of insects and frogs.We will have discussions where children will ask and be asked questions of others.

2. Post the following about the project:

Content objective

To orally collaborate and assess what the children will learn about the big picture of life cycles and the world around them.

When you plan to implement

In the spring or when driven by the curriculum. We will use in the classroom using an iMac computer that had a built in camera and microphone device.

What tool(s) you plan to use

iMac
SKYPE
The students could bring their research, use a photograph, and create a 3-D life cycle of the insect/frog that they constructed out of model magic.

A brief description of the project (plan - two or three sentences)

Working together in 3 different age groups we will have many discussions over SKYPE. We will discuss digital citizenship and engagement with others. We can share experiences about the different life cycles then compare and contrast what we know, what we want to know more about and what we have learned. We will be able to pair up the kids who had researched the same insect/frog or other topics that are common amongst the different grade level. Then, we can set up a time and began our journey! The kids will be pumped and eager to participate. I plan to meet in small groups during this time to reflect on their learning.

If you need to find another classroom - We can begin networking with other classrooms right here!

I am always open to helping other classrooms.Yes I would like to be able to connect to other classrooms in the district to diversify my kids globally and to help prepare them for 21st century learner.

Tool # 6: Using Web Tools to Promote Discussion in and out of the Classroom

2011-06-07T12:49:00.001-07:00

1. Choose at least two of the tools from the above list. Create an account for each (if required) .
Twitter: HABrasher
Facebook: Helen Brasher
Skype: HelenAnnBrasher
Today's Meet: None Needed
Google Docs: Standard District Login / GMAIL account

2. Use each of the tools you choose to create a sample of how you would use it in your classroom.
Share your thoughts on how you see the tools being integrated into your classroom. How do you see them encouraging participation?

Today's Meet - After Parent Night parents could post questions they had from the meetingand then we could respond as a team.
We could meet as a team using this on days/weeks we are unable to meet face to face.

SKYPE - Use parents in the community to help contribute to classroom conversations and interests/TEKS.

Tool # 5: Producing with Web 2.0 Tools

2011-06-07T08:52:00.007-07:00

1. Use at least two of the tools above to create products. Think about your content. Create a “set” for one of your lessons! Or, consider providing the site as a choice for your students to create products. Make a model for a student created product.

I have tried WORDLE - this is fun!

2 Then, embed both products in your blog or link to the products from your blog.

3. Describe for your readers how you think each tool can be incorporated into your classroom - how you could see the tool being used by you instructionally and your students to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or topic in your classroom.

iMovie: I used this website to create a movie about our 1st grade year. I used pictures that I took of events and asked parents to emails photos of field trips, school happenings and then used iMovie to create a lasting movie for the children to keep.

Big Huge Labs: This is another one of my favorites! I love this website because it is easy to use and can be integrated into anything. This year my class and Ms. McKim's worked together researching past presidents of the United States. We used the mini's to research little known presidents and the final product was a trading card.

Tool # 4 Moving Up To The Clouds

2011-06-07T08:52:00.005-07:00

Create at least one document in Google Docs and share it with a few others on your campus or within your department. It could be a team member, a department colleague, or another teacher with whom you plan a collaboration. Ask that person to comment or chat a real-time edit the document with you.
As I learned being a teacher you cannot take and edit very easily with Google DOCS. There are a few steps to remember such as make a copy 1st before you doctor the page.

Create one form in Google Docs and send it via email to at least two other people and ask them to respond.

Briefly discuss how you can use the tools in Google Apps with your team or department. How can you incorporate Google Apps as a tool in your classroom? Which tools are you excited about using with students?

You can easily share documents, forms, calendars with your students making communication a breeze. Google Apps is accessible to students anywhere from an internet connection.

Tool #3 Finding Online Video and Image Resources

2011-06-07T08:52:00.003-07:00

1. Visit several of the video hosting / streaming sites mentioned above. Share with your readers which sites you found most useful for your content and why.
I enjoyed visiting TeacherTube and SchoolTube. I was most successful with YouTube. Each morning we count by 5's, 10's etc... with the calendar so I feel this will liven up counting. the children will enjoy the music.

2. Using any of the video resources mentioned above, find and select two videos that may be useful resources in your classroom. Embed them in your blog. If they do not have embed capabilities, hot link them to your blog.

3. Articulate what you learned about copyright and fair use. What was new to you?

If I understand this correctly I am able to use pieces of work for a short period, not an entire piece of work.

Tool # 2 Building Community in the Online Environment

2011-06-07T08:52:00.001-07:00

1. Visit at least 5 blogs of fellow educators and comment to one of their posts.
I have tried to comment on several friend's blogs but the comments are not posting. This is frustrating, but I will continue to work on this.

http://katspauses.blogspot.com/2011/06/tool-2.html

http://timmreckskclass.blogspot.com/2011/06/11-tools-2.html

http://theresasnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/tool-6-using-web-tools-to-promote.html

http://brousesnews.blogspot.com/2011/06/tool-5-producing-with-web-20-tools.html

http://techsnapshots.blogspot.com/2011/06/11-tools-8-devices-in-classroom.html

2. After completing the above, share your thoughts about building and participating in an online community and participating in a PLN. What points stood out to you from the commenting advice?

I think this will be a good way to learn from one another, as soon as I can get a handle on posting comments.

Were you able to apply any of the advice in your comments?
After reading Kat Smith's post about document cameras, I have learned many other uses for this piece of technology.

How did you feel about sharing your thoughts publicly?
Exciting!

Was it different than when you're sharing successes / challenges with your teammate?
I enjoy sharing successes and challenges with my team mates, but this will be new to be able to share with others in the professional community.

3. Share the url or name of a website or social network that you plan to visit in the future. What does that site have to offer?
www.facebook.com
www.twitter.com

Tool # 1 Getting Started!

2011-06-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

My name is Helen Ann. I am taking a course on 11 Tools. I am very excited about my journey.

Learning more and more about posting comments. There are many tricks to remember.

Can technology help the child obesity?

2010-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

eSchoolNews.com

What's new at the Houston Zoo?

2010-05-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Below is a video clip of the newest member to the Houston Zoo. It just so happens that Baby Baylor's worldly debut was yesterday while we were visiting!

Heart group backs video games in obesity campaign

2010-05-18T06:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.chron.com/news/science/

By JOEL SCHECTMAN AP Business Writer © 2010 The Associated Press
May 17, 2010, 5:42PM
NEW YORK — Talk about strange bedfellows. The American Heart Association and Nintendo Co. are teaming up to promote the popular Wii video game console, as the health advocacy group concedes that its campaign for traditional exercise isn't working.
The surprising partnership, announced Monday, comes amid growing concern about obesity among kids who spend much of their time watching television and playing video games.
Nintendo will be able to brand its Wii products with the AHA's iconic heart logo to let consumers know that the organization considers the items a healthy choice. Nintendo will donate $1.5 million to the Dallas-based AHA as part of the partnership.
"We can keep beating the drum on traditional exercise and make small changes to the obesity epidemic, or we can try something that is really provocative and new," Clyde Yancy, the AHA's president, said in an interview.
Numerous studies show a correlation between obesity and the amount of time children spend with television and video games. Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said the best solution is simply to cut the cord and encourage youths to spend less time in front of screens.
But the AHA said it is endorsing the Wii because it will encourage sedentary Americans to take the first step toward fitness. With 70 percent of Americans doing no regular physical activity at all, the AHA wants to find a way to reach out to people turned off by gyms and traditional sports.
The organization said its studies show that 40 percent of those who don't exercise say that it's not entertaining enough. The AHA says the Wii addresses the fun factor.
The Wii, which has sold more than 30 million consoles across the Americas, comes with a controller that encourages people to physically move as they play. Sports-style games such as baseball and boxing let players move their arms to simulate the pitching of a ball or the throwing of a punch. Nintendo also makes a foot pad accessory, the Wii Fit, that allows players to try dance steps or yoga.
The heart icon covers the Wii console itself along with two of its more active games, Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort.
Many of the Wii games are less physically demanding. Some puzzle titles, for instance, let players adjust shapes through small twists of the wrist.
Wii players say that the level of physical exertion varies greatly by player.
Maria Lambiris, an 18-year-old illustrations student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, said the game system recently helped her lose five pounds.
"You really get into it sometimes and you can use your whole body," Lambiris said.
But her classmate Maki Yang, 19, was quick to point out that sometimes it's easier and more fun to cheat.
"You can just do this with your wrist," Yang said while flicking her wrist slightly, "and you do even better in the game."
But while many of the games may not offer the same level of physical activity as traditional sports, they may help get some people started on a healthier lifestyle.
"It is a first step for someone who is entirely sedentary," Yancy said.
Yancy said that once that person becomes motivated, he or she can access a website Nintendo and the AHA are developing to help monitor exercise and diet plans.
Rival game console makers Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp., cognizant of the Wii's popularity, are also developing motion controllers. Microsoft's Natal, for instance, wouldn't require a physical controller; players would use their bodies to control their video game characters. The AHA said it wasn't currently in discussions with those companies.

Summer Reading Program

2010-05-15T11:49:00.001-07:00

Sign up for the 2010 Summer Reading Program and earn a chance to win an HP mini netbook, board games, books, craft kits, coupons to cool restaurants, and more! This Year's Theme: From Fables to Fantasy!

The Summer Reading Program (SRP) is a free incentive program to encourage kids and teens to read.

The SRP includes many diverse free educational and fun programs including entertainers, storytimes, science activities, crafts and other fun programming for kids and teens up to 18 years of age.

PROGRAM DATES: June 1 - August 1, 2010

HOW TO REGISTER: Early online registration begins
May 1, 2010!
REGISTRATION CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 1: Visit any Houston Public Library location or register from your home computer, through August 1.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Read or listen to books, enter book titles or time read on your online reading log either at home or with the help of your librarian, and come to your local Houston Public Library location to pick up your prize at 5, 10 and 20 book level.

The more books you read, the more prizes you are eligible to win. See YOU the summer!

Nutrition Survey

2010-05-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey on how www.playnormous.com has impacted your child's life.

Click here to take survey

Shocking News - Childhood Obesity

2010-05-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Older Women...

2010-04-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

Run for the Arts 5K

2010-03-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Set your goal today to particiapte in the Spring Branch Education Foundation Run for the Arts 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, May 1 at Memorial City Mall.

Interested or have questions, please contact our RCE PTA Liason to the Run for the Arts, Robin Jensen at: robinrjensen@yahoo.com

More details to come!

"Let's Move" together this Thursday!

2010-03-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Walking / Running Log

2010-03-24T08:07:00.000-07:00

For each day you participate in the Geography Running / Walking Club, you get a stamp worth 4 laps. Then, for each lap you run / walk, please put a tally mark in that day's box. Bring the passport / log into Coach Moore on Friday, and she will give you a sticker to place on the US Map in the Gym. For each lap, you will earn 100 miles on the map. Your sticker will show how far you have run / walked.

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-03-22T11:42:00.001-07:00

I don't normally do this, but this show caught my attention and I felt it was worth sharing. I do have a disclaimer: This is more for parents, than for children.

There is a new series on ABC. It is about childhood obesity and how we can prevent it. In this series, Jamie Oliver heads to West Virginia, where he investigates the state of cafeteria food and challenges a mother to rethink her family's diet for their health.

Here is a preview of what he is about. It was taken off of this website: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html

His next production will be this Friday, on Channel 13, ABC at 8:00 pm.

If you would like to see yesterday's production, follow this website:
http://abc.go.com/watch/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/250784

Spring Break

2010-03-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to school! Did you know that Saturday was the first day of Spring? To kick off this new season, I am joining our First Lady, Michelle Obama in her campain: Let's Move!

To learn more about her initiative, you may visit this link:
http://www.letsmove.gov/

1. What types of activities did you do over the break that included exercise?

2. What sport activities are you going to be joining before summer?

Information for the play...

2010-03-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Tracking Food Form

2010-03-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

We will be discussing these within the next few days. If your child has completed their Square Meals Scorecard, please return it!

Playnormous has inspired us!!!

2010-03-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Videos

2010-03-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

If you were unable to see them before, please go back and try again. I had a "glitch" and needed to work out the "kinks"! Thanks for understanding!!!

Problems Viewing Movies???

2010-02-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

If you are unable to view the videos that were uploaded when Mrs. Howard came and spoke to our class, you may need to update your Adobe Flash. You can get the latest one at:
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

Questions to Think About...

2010-02-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

1. What will you pick for your snack this afternoon?

2. How many servings of fruit should you have each day?

3. What is better to chose for a snack.. Chips or Whole Grain Chips?

4. Why do you need to eat different colors of the rainbow?

What we learned...

2010-02-19T13:05:00.000-08:00

Food for Thought!

2010-02-19T13:03:00.001-08:00

How many servings of fruits should you have in a day?
What will you pick for your snack this afternoon?
Why do you need to eat different colors of fruits?
What is a better snack: Chips or Whole Grain Chips?

Video Clips From Mrs. Howard

2010-02-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Cartoon

2010-02-19T10:55:00.001-08:00

Mrs. Howard shared this cartoon with our class before we had a discussion about childhood obesity. Mrs. Howard taught us that 20 out of 100 kids, can be considered overweight due to lack of exercise and nutrition.

www.enchantedlearning.com

2010-02-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Today we did a puzzle search using the Internet, and our 2nd grade learning buddies, to help us locate answers to our food and nutritional riddles. The kids really learned a lot - including some dictionary skills!

Playnormous Games

2010-02-07T13:26:00.001-08:00

PLAYNORMOUS
Games for Health

Playnormous Questions

2010-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:00

Parents - just have your child respond to the question as a "comment" to this blog. Thanks so much for your help!!!

1. How are Playnormous games used in your classroom or library?

2. Which one of our health games is your favorite and why?

3. Why should you be selected to win a free Monster iMac?

4. How have Playnormous games impacted you, your classroom, or your library?

If you have trouble signing in because you do not have a gmail account, then go ahead and have your child email me his / her answers, and we will get them posted onto the blog!

Playnormous iMac Contest

2010-02-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents,

One of my colleagues recently entered a contest on www.playnormous.com and has won a Monster iMac. This is exciting news and I would like for us to win one too!

Playnormous.com is a website that incorporates computer games that are based on food and nutrition. It helps kids decide how many types of food (from the food guide pyramid) that they should eat on a daily basis. It also helps them make healthier decisions on foods.

What I would like for you to do to help me win this contest is:

Allow your child to go to www.playnormous.com and play any one of their games.
Go to my blog (I just recently set this up) and respond to the questions I have asked. (In order to comment on the blog, you need to have a gmail account. If this is something you don’t have / cannot figure out – simply email me the responses to the questions and I will help your child respond on the blog.)
Have your child track his / her diet, for one week, on the form that is coming home.
Of course, if you have ANY questions, you may always ask me and I’ll be glad to help!

Welcome

2010-02-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to have a blog! Hopefully, you will find it imformative and learn new ways to help your child at home.