Plant Excitement!

Very excited to be measuring how much our plants grew over the weekend as we make our 

observation notes! 

Plant Inquiry is Alive in Grade 3!!

Lots of questions about how things grow in grade three. Why not try a little bit of everything! Come visit our greenhouse!

Diagnostic Brainstorming

Began our new plant unit today. We took some time to brainstorm some of the different ways we use plants. The students then sorted their ideas into categories they created and added their work to our master wall. It was a great exercise...I was blown away by how well they sorted their ideas independently. 

Math + Habitat = Mabitat

Grade 4 is nearing the end of a special 10-week project designed to enhance math achievement. Students selected an endangered Ontario animal.  Each Thursday a different measurement challenge was presented.  Using the iPad for research and journaling (with Google Classroom) was definitely engaging!  Personalized feedback and sharing using Apple TV helped me to monitor student understanding and depth of understanding.

Using I-Pads For Student Feedback In Empower Reading Intervention

In September. January and May I used the I-pad to record student feedback on the knowledge and application of five reading strategies taught in my Empower Reading Intervention Resource Class.

In March Using The I-Pad In. Gr. 7/8 Three Part Lesson

In March I assisted gr. 7/8 teacher Mr. Wayling in a three part Math Lesson focussing on the Pythagorean Theorem. Students manipulated triangles to come to an understanding of the definition of The Pythagorean Therom. Student work was projected onto the smart board for class feedback and discussion.

Using The Show Me App

In April, I  introduced  some grade four students the Show Me App on the I-Pad as a tool to explain their math thinking related to their " Mabitat" animal research project.  Students were required to show the length of their animal by comparing their length to another object or to themselves. The  Show Me  App allowed students to use the writing pen to explain their thinking using

numbers while they also recorded their explanations using words. Students were very proud to project their math thinking video onto the smart board to share with their peers!

Grade 7 and 8 Goes Hollywood

We have recently been using iMovie to make movie trailers as a culminating task for our MacBeth unit. The movie trailers were expected to visually portray one or more of the themes found in the play. What an incredible experience for the class!  Using Apple TV allowed my class to present their trailers to the whole group in order to receive valuable peer feedback, which is an important component of the AFL process. 

Grade 7/8 Has Become A Google Classroom

Recently our students have been using Google Classroom to submit their responses to a number of learning goals and engagements.  Google Classroom is such a powerful tool because descriptive feedback can be provided to students in a timely manner.  As a teacher, I can literally provide feedback while a student is working on their response.  This was an invaluable tool to use while my students were reading MacBeth.  With so many complex themes being explored throughout the plot, having an efficient way of providing direction and feedback really improved my students' understanding of the play.  This would have been very difficult to achieve without the technology to support this innovation.

Apple PD

On April 1st , as part of our TLLP project, we hosted an Apple PD day. The focus for the day was IOS creativity. Our Apple educator Paul introduced us to iPhoto, Garage Band and iMovie. The @StMaryPVNC staff had a great day exploring these Apps and learning how to use them in the classroom.

OTF workshop webinar: Using Gaming in Math class

I just finished an hour and a half webinar that shared information on the power of using games to teach math. We all know Angry Birds is good for angles, but now I have some interesting things to do with Fruit Ninja, Plants vs. Zombies etc.  OTF (Ontario Teacher's Federation) has a lot of great webinars coming up so here's the link if you want to watch this archived Gaming one, or find out info on upcoming webinars.  I think when June hits, using games for math will be super fun.

OTF gaming webinar archive

Sharing on the Smartboard

Student finished his picture and story in his journal and asked for it to be air-played on the Smart Board

so he could receive feedback from his peers.

 

Time to Shop

The grade 2/3s took their iPads to ValuMart the other day as part of a math activity. Students had to create a grocery list that included items their parents would need to buy in order to make their lunches for the week. The real life extension really helped them to see how much food cost, and just lunches alone! We walked around the store to take pictures of their product with the price. We then returned to school created a pic collage of all our items and then calculated the total cost! Next step......learning how to shop smart by looking for sale items first!