Shapes SMART Notebook Lesson

I chose a SMART Notebook lesson on shapes that is based directly on the Georgia Performance Standards for first grade math. The information on each of the different shapes is very accurate. It makes sense, and the information flows very well. The goals of the lesson are very clear. Students should be able to identify the different basic shapes, count the number of sides on each shape, count how many shapes are small/large, count how many of one certain shape there are in a group, etc. This SMART Notebook lesson has at least one if not more activities for each of the elements in the standard.  Each activity helps students reach the lesson goals and gives them several opportunities to learn the information.

This SMART Notebook lesson on shapes is very user-freindly. The directions for each interactive activity are very clear, and the tasks that students have to complete using the SmartBoard are easy for them to use. I was very impressed with how interactive this lesson was also. There are numerous activities for students to participate in. They use matching skills to put the correct shape next to its name. Students are required to drag the correct shapes to the appropriate column based on the number of sides it has. Students are also required to look at pictures of everyday objects and place them in the correct column based on their shape. This lesson offers a variety of interactive activities, and I think it would keep students very engaged throughout the lesson.

I thought the lesson had some great activities, but I would probably add in a little more information at the beginning of the lesson before I started the interactive activities. If you give the students a good review before they begin the activities then they might do better. However, this lesson could be used to introduce a new unit or as a great review before a unit test. Overall this was a great lesson that I would definitely use in my own classroom.

http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=58103665-42cf-4047-9fdf-bc70a419fd0a

Mini Project 3

I personally like the idea of being able use the endless number of videos available on YouTube and Google. However, there are several concerns that I have as a teacher with using these websites. YouTube has tons of advertisements posted on it, and some of them are inappropriate for the school setting. It is not guaranteed that what you see on there is educational. Also both of these sources are not very reliable because technology does not always work when you need it to. Both websites are easy to maneuver and are user friendly for teachers and students.

I like TeacherTube because I think it is a lot more appropriate to use at school. It is easy to navigate and it does have a lot of resources and videos for teacher to utilize. I like how it offers videos, audio recordings, discussions, and photos. Having a variety of resources for teachers on website is definitely more convenient. I do see and understand the value of having TeacherTube to use in the classroom. I will try to incorporate TeacherTube in the classroom. For example, there are some great videos on TeacherTube that I could use to introduce a new unit or lesson or review a certain topic.

Web 2.0 websites like YouTube, Google videos, and TeacherTube are great tools to have access to in the classroom. These resources are fairly easy to incorporate into any lesson, and this gives you a great way to add technology into your lessons. There are several Web 2.0 websites that offer great videos, links, and educational information for teachers to use in their classroom. These tools can also be great for students to use at home if they missed a lesson or needed some remediation on a certain topic or standard.

Voice Thread

     Before this assignment I had not had any experiences with voice thread. After my first experience with voice thread I would not try and use this in my classroom. I do think that voice thread offers some great qualities for students, but I do not think it is very user friendly especially if you have younger students. I believe this form of technology is a great tool for students that may be absent or needing extra information on a topic. As a teacher I could post the power points, lessons, worksheets, etc. on the voice thread so students could have access from home. However, at this point and time I do not feel comfortable using or posting on this source. 

    Each time that I tried to post a voice thread to my picture it only allowed me to listen to my recording once. I could not play back my voice, nor could I get the voice to upload. If my voice thread was uploaded, I was not able to hear or see where it was uploaded to. It was very easy to upload pictures and to find the recording settings, but I could not revisit my recording after it played through. I watched tutorial videos and still was not able to find where my voice recording was located. I feel that if I had this much trouble uploading the information then I could not imagine requiring my students to try and find out how to manipulate through to find assignments, etc. 

    I would really like to learn more on how to operate this website. It would be a great tool for students to use during class and from home. As their teacher I could use this during class to show them where their homework would be located which would help avoid students leaving the worksheets at school or home, or post lessons for students that may be absent. I see a lot of potential for this source, but I would need much more guidance and instruction on how to maneuver through it. 

     

Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0

Most people don't quite understand the difference in Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, and I really didn't pay much attention to them before this assignment. However, the concept of each is very simple. Web 1.0 websites are pages that you can visit on the Internet to view but cannot leave feedback on. These are more "traditional" websites. Web 2.0 websites began in 1999. These websites do allow you to leave feedback or communicate on the Internet.

Web 1.0 websites can only be edited or updated by the webmaster. These websites are geared more towards displaying and presenting information to the viewer without allowing the viewer to interact with the page and information. These websites do pose some concerns because they are controlled on one side by the creator with no input from the viewer. These websites pose security issues as well because the viewer/user has no control over privacy settings.

Web 2.0 websites came about in 1999 through advances in technology especially through the Internet. Web 2.0 centers on social media and communication using Internet websites. Websites that allow the user to post comments, videos, blogs, responses, and feedback are characterized under Web 2.0. The idea is to let users give their input about how a website it run. Social media has become a huge part of our society and students across the world are using it in the educational setting. Many schools and teachers are requiring student to use Web 2.0 resources to post and respond about assignments and projects. Web 2.0 gives us a convenient and easy way to communicate using technology. 

Michael Recycle

                                                 Michael Recycle

                                                     By Colton Glover

       In the book Michael Recycle, Michael is looked upon as a hero in the town of Abberdoo-Rimey. Abberdoo-Rimeny was a town that was growing full of garbage because the people there became rather lazy. Everybody would throw all of their trash outside of their house, which caused the town to become slimy, smelly, and caused the air to become all hazy. The people were used to littering and dumping garbage wherever they felt like until Michael Recycle showed up. Michael arrived in a way none could explain, “A green-caped crusader soared through the air, with a colander hat on top of his hair. He bounced off the earth with a thump and a bump, and then landed in a town garbage dump.” After Michael’s arrival he showed the town the importance of recycling their old trash. They then began to take pride in their little town and began to recycle and take care of what they had. They also started a “Be Greener Campaign.”

          This book would be a great read aloud. An activity that I think would go along well with this book would be after the read aloud break the students up into small groups. Instruct the students to come up with one main idea each and proof that supports it from the story and share why they choose that particular part from the story. After everybody in the group has given a key point the group should come up with an illustration to represent the main ideas given by the group. This not only helps the students summarize the story together by pulling out the main ideas but also allows them to work together to come up with a illustration to represent the story.

          This book would be a fun way to show the importance of recycling. More now than ever, we need to teach our students to start recycling because the damage it causes to our planet. Providing a comic read aloud not only gets the students involved but it teaches a meaningful life lesson.

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

CLICK, CLACK, MOO COWS THAT TYPE

By Colton Glover

             

       Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is a great read for younger students. This book provides students with a great example of personification. Any time animals, in this case cows, are acting as humans students seem to be very entertained and engaged. This book also provides great pictures throughout to help students visualize what is taking place. You can read a part of the story and have the students try to create their own image of what is happening throughout the story. Even though this is a fiction book with cartoon sketches, providing students with a fun activity can help them maximize their learning potential.

            The cows in Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type happen to find an old typewriter in the barn they are in. After finding this typewriter they begin to type letters to the farm owner advising him they are not producing any milk until they are given the electric blankets they have requested. The farm owner is in disbelief that the cows can even type but that they are not going to produce any milk for his farm. After the farm owner tells the cows he is not going to give them their electric blankets the cows get the hens involved and they also leave the farm owner a letter stating they will not produce any eggs until they also have electric blankets. The farmer was furious that he has, “Cows that type. Hens on strike!” There is a duck that is a neutral party, and he was taking the farmer’s rejection letters to the animals and advising that he demand milk and eggs from them. The cow’s last message advised they would trade their typewriter for the blankets they requested! So the duck brought the blankets and the cows turned over their typewriter to the duck. The next morning the farmer got a note from the ducks stating their pond was quite boring and that they would like a diving board.

            Even though this is a fictional book it allows the students to get the mind going and allows them to create visual images of cows typing, an angry farmer, and a duck transporting letters and jumping off of a diving board. Fun activities may seem silly to some, but who is to say they are silly if they turn out to be very productive.

          

Monster Math

Monster Math

By Colton Glover

                        

Monster Math is a fun way for students to learn basic subtraction. This book shows students that they can use a number of ways to learn subtraction. By allowing students to step away from worksheets and textbooks they can engage in a fun filled style of learning. This book provides examples with monsters, but you can allow students to use a number of things such as candy, coins, dominoes, etc. Each page sets the student up to really pull from former information and to even figure out rhyming words. For example on one page it will say, “Twelve little monsters wake up at seven. One jogs away now there are….” Though some may find this style of learning absurd and unrealistic, as long as the students are able to learn then who are we to say not to try something different?

            This book is a great way to help students connect to math. We all have had times when we have become frustrated with basic learning styles, or at least I know I have. Students can relate to these illustrated monsters, which may be all they need to kick start active learning. Books similar to this may have pictures that remind them of a favorite character on a show and by finding an activity that students are able to learn from they may now have a personal interest in learning not only math but other subjects as well. When students are able to connect with fun and interesting forms of instruction it helps keep them positively engaged in their schoolwork.

Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed

by Colton Glover

Johnny Appleseed was an American pioneer and missionary who spread and planted countless nurserys of apple trees across the United States. Even though Johnny Appleseed is no longer alive his legacy continues to live on through books like Johnny Appleseed and even through the CCGPS SS1H2, “Students will read or listen to American Folktales and explain how they characterize our national heritage. The study will include John Henry, Johnny Appleseed, Davy Crockett, Paul Bunyan, and Annie Oakley”, and they are all able to continue to share a part of what has helped shape our heritage.

            Johnny Appleseed is a great text to share with our students. Not only does this book show the kindness of a person, but it also symbolizes leadership. Johnny traveled barefooted in ragged clothing, but because he was passionate about spreading his apple nurserys, he touched and helped many people along the way. Throughout this book we are able to see how Johnny went about planting and sharing his passion for apples. Johnny would carry around baby apple trees and would trade people for whatever they could give whether it was dirt, a pan, or a ham. Because of Johnny’s works many could come home after a long day in the fields and enjoy a nice apple pie.

Johnny Appleseed shows us, regardless of our age, that when we find something we are passionate about we should stay determined regardless of what people may say or think because you never know what legacy you're leaving behind.

Forms of Water

Forms of Water

By: Colton Glover

            Water Changes by Brenda Parkes is a great read for young students who are learning about the many forms of water. This is a very simple yet informative book. It provides detailed pictures for the students that may struggle with reading, which assists the students in comprehending the text. I think this is a good read for children because it helps teach them the difference between solid and liquid forms of water while connecting to the CCGPS S1E2 B:  “Identifying forms of precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, and hailstones as either solid (ice) or liquid (water)”. These forms of water are mentioned throughout Water Changes.

We learn that water comes in many forms. Water can be found as rain, snow, fog, hail, or even freeze to make ice. Not only is this an educational lesson but it also allows emergent readers to get some great practice using their reading skills. This opens up the students' minds to thinking more outside of the box. Now they are able to recognize snow as a form of water and not just a frozen white blanket that covers the ground. It also teaches them that fog is not just a low cloud but also a form of water vapor that is held in the air. Throughout Water Changes we are able to plug science into situations that we may encounter in our everyday lives.

            This book provides a simple science lesson for students. It allows students to see water in different forms that they come across on a daily basis. From this book we can apply some simple in-class experiments so the students can see and relate to the different forms. This would allow them to apply what they just read and hopefully keep them interested in reading this type of nonfiction material. 

The Mission to Learn Addition

The Mission to Learn Addition

By: Colton Glover

           

Mission: Addition by: Loreen Leedy is a great book for young children to read, specifically for math. This book contains many engaging strategies that not only allow the children to read but also apply what they are reading. Addition can be a tricky task for students to learn especially when other math methods are brought into play, such as subtraction, division, and multiplication.  Luckily, in this particular book it focuses solely on addition, which allows children to devote all their attention to this method of mathematics. Throughout this book we learn that addition is a fact. You can change the order of the addends and it does not change the sum. I think that fact links well to the CCGPS MCCK.CC.4 B: which states, “understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of the arrangement or the order in which they were counted.” Mission: Addition allows children to view math in a fun way, which can help keep the interested in this content.

Though it may seem ridiculous that a child could learn from a book with students that are talking animals, it shows us how a math topic can be fun and interesting. One stormy day Miss Prime, the teacher, has her students pretend they are detectives and has them find clues left behind by a mysterious person who ate all the cookies off her desk. Each student checks a different place in the classroom. Each student found something a little different at each location. For example, Talley checked the windows for evidence, Fay checked for hair, and Ginger checked for the footprints. When the students thought they knew who did it they reported back to Miss Prime with their evidence. As they are regrouped to discuss who they thought ate all of Miss Prime’s cookies, Miss Prime had each student add up all their evidence. Talley added up each window, Fay counted each piece of hair, and Ginger counted each fingerprint. In the end, with all the evidence added up, they found out Miss Prime was the culprit.

Even though this may seem far-fetched to some, it provides a great learning strategy for young children to practice addition. It is amazing what children are capable of when we allow them to use their imagination to apply the things they learn throughout life. If we don’t find ways to keep them engaged they will lose interest. It is harder to regain the same initiative, than it is to maintain what you already have. 

Different For A Reason

Different For A Reason

By: Colton Glover

           

"They never asked Rudolph to play." You guessed it—Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph is a typical fantasy genre that contains specific elements such as living at the North Pole, talking reindeer, and Santa Clause. There was no better time of the year during my childhood than Christmas. It meant family, friends, food, and best of all, presents. We would all wait up on Christmas Eve to try to catch a glimpse of Santa or Rudolph leading the way through the night sky. Children really connect with this type of story because they truly believe in the magic and excitement. This would be a great read to children not only because it is a well-known Christmas tale, but because it teaches a valuable life lesson as well.

            Even though the story of Rudolph can seem very cliché, it actually conveys a great moral lesson. Rudolph displays a common conflict of person versus person, which is probably the most common type. The other Reindeer mocked him, "Ha-ha! Look at that Red Nose!" They wouldn't even try to include Rudolph in any of their games because he did not fit the stereotypic image of a normal reindeer. However, Rudolph's unique nose became very popular when Santa was having trouble seeing his list of children. Santa immediately noticed Rudolph's "bright, shiny nose" and insisted, "you will show us the way." Being able to help Santa made Rudolph feel accepted, which is what most children strive for with their peers.

We go throughout life trying to fit in even though we were created to stand out. Rudolph wanted to fit in with the other reindeer until he realized that he was unique for a specific purpose. This story is great for children because they are able to read about a time of year that they love while gaining a life lesson. It is important for children to understand that everyone is their own person for a reason. Children need to be taught to use their talents and differences to serve others and change the world.

Trickery at its Best

Trickery at its Best

Colton Glover

"Run, run, as fast as you can, you can't catch me, I’m the gingerbread man!"  The Gingerbread Man is a traditional fable that children of all ages enjoy. It has an exciting and surprising storyline that makes it extremely easy for children to follow. Its simple rhythm and repetition immediately catches the attention of children. The short dialogue and clear images lead the children to discover a shocking ending. Another great aspect of this book is that it moves quickly into the climax of the story and then to the ending. Books that are short and to the point are going to be more interesting to any student at any age.

            The gingerbread man hops out of the oven and immediately begins using the motif of trickery by challenging everyone he encounters to catch him if they can. He passes a gardener, mowers, a cow getting water from a well, and two picnicking bears. They all try to chase him, but no one can get close enough to catch him. The gingerbread man finally approaches a river and asks the fox to try to catch him, but the fox responds differently than all of the others. The fox then uses trickery to convince the gingerbread man to ride on his back across the river so the others won’t catch him. The fox claims that the water is getting deeper and deeper until the gingerbread man moves right on top of his nose. Without hesitation, the fox snaps his jaws eating the gingerbread man in one bite. The gingerbread man thought he was doing a good job at tricking the others, but he didn't realize that they fox was tricking him into becoming a snack.

Tickled One Time Too Many

Tickled One Time Too Many

Colton Glover

         Too much of a good thing can lead us to trouble. "Ticklish Tom" has an easy rhyme scheme that allows children to catch on and follow along with ease. It is almost lyrical in the sense that you can hear the melody as you read. This poem is a great example of children’s poetry, using a catchy storyline to convey an underlying life lesson that when we are overexposed to things that bring us joy they have the potential of distracting us from the more important things in life, leading us into a troubling or, in this case, dangerous situation where life has been taken for granted.

            Tom was tickled by everyone and everything he came across during his day. He was tickled so often that he "wiggled and giggled and fell on the floor" more than once. Tom was tickled by his mother, his friends, the grass, the rain, and even the clouds until he heard the "rumble, rumble, whistle, roar" of the train. This use of onomatopoeia seemed to distract Tom and afterwards he was not ticklish anymore, which implies that Tom died on the railroad tracks. He "laughed his way right out of town" because he was enjoying being tickled so much. However, he did not take the time to realize that there needs to be a balance between work and play. He was not taking life seriously enough so it ended before he knew it.

            The life lesson in this poem is morbid, but it is very true. There are appropriate times for playing around and being serious. This poem conveys that you shouldn't take life too seriously, but at the same time you should learn to balance work and play. Even though this poem is extremely shocking it shows us the reality of what can happen if we take life for granted in general.