Posted in Ideas, Links, Salem City Schools, Tech Tools

Upcoming Technology and Math Workshops

Posted on by Tina Coffey

Beth Swain recently send out an email talking about the upcoming technology and math inservices she will be offering. I think these are going to be great, and I highly recommend them!!

1. November 27th, 3:00 to 4:00 pm, G W Carver Computer lab– this workshop will focus on websites for teaching SOLs from the patterns, functions and algebra strand. There is something for every level K-5. They have basic patterns to balance scales plus much more. I am sure you will find something to take back to your classroom to use. You will have time to play and explore the sites during the workshop. (RSVP to Beth by Nov. 19)

2. January 15th, 3:00 to 4:00 pm, G W Carver Computer lab – this workshop will focus on using the Smartboard in your classroom. I have activities/ideas/games for k-5. You will get hands on experience with the smartboard. Many of the activities are templates that you can customize to your level of students. The focus of this workshop will be on math vocabulary and the SOLs in the number and number sense strand. (RSVP to Beth by Jan. 4)

She plans to schedule 3 more workshops to focus on other Math strands. Recertification points will be given for attending all 5.

I’ve had a chance to see a “sneak peak” at what she will be sharing, and I think you will walk away with things you can use in your classroom right away! I’ve had people asking for ideas to use in remediation time and things to do with the Smartboard, and these workshops will give you ideas for both! Hope you will be able to join us.

Posted in Projects, Salem City Schools, Web 2.0

Opportunity to Travel Virtually with Scuba Diver/ ITRT

Posted on by Tina Coffey

I KNOW we have some scuba divers out there! Even if you are not, here’s a chance to participate in a really fun “underwater” project from area ITRT, Meg Swecker. Meg is an ITRT for Roanoke County, and an avid scuba diver. She is embarking on a trip to Mexico next Thursday (Nov. 15) to go scuba diving, and is taking students with her “virtually” using Voice Thread! (If you haven’t seen Voice Thread yet, it’s the same website used to create the Galapagos Islands Show I posted about earlier.) Right now her Voice Thread is private, but if you let me know you want to participate (or at least take a look), I will add you to the list to receive an invite to the project. Then you and your students can ask questions about the underwater habitat, and she will do her best to answer through digital pictures and her voice. If this sounds like fun to you, let me know! It is very easy to do…and great for any grade level…even Kindergarten 😉 !!

Posted in Salem City Schools

Kidspiration Templates

Posted on by Tina Coffey

kidspirationtemplate.jpgIn an effort to share things across schools in the division, we have created a folder called “Common” on the K drive. It contains files pre-made templates that have been tried and tested in lesson with teachers. Both Pam Elgin and I have added some great Kidspiration activities lately. Here are a few titles…see if any interest you!

1st Grade
Past and Present
U.S. Symbols
Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia

2nd Grade
Word Sort (ou, ow)
Word Sort (ice, ace)
Communities
Native Americans

3rd Grade
Essential Knowledge Cards for Science

4th Grade
Plural Nouns
Regions of Virginia
Measurement

5th Grade
Native Americans (First Americans)

Library
Dewey Decimal System

There are also templates already built into Kidspiration, including Life Cycles, Wants and Needs, and many more.  I can also create ones for you if you can’t find what you need!

Posted in Art, Food for Thought, Video

Design Matters (Another Great K-12 Online Conference Presentation)

Posted on by Tina Coffey

Just sat down this morning to watch a couple more of the K-12 Online Conference Presentations, and lo and behold, I ran into this one! It’s called Design Matters by Dean Shareski! It’s well worth the watch (and totally follows-up to my last post).
[kml_flashembed movie="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-7573353454993995098" width="400" height="326" wmode="transparent" /]

Be sure to also check out the Design Matters Wiki that goes with this presentation.

I also noticed a great link to a site called Color in Motion posted to Pam Elgin’s del.icio.us account that fits right into this “design” theme. It’s a great site about the ways colors impact an audience.

Posted in Food for Thought

Thinking About Toilet Brushes (and Design)

Posted on by Tina Coffey

tbbrush.jpgI’ve been thinking a lot about design lately. Our superintendent, Dr. Seibert, inspired by a presentation from Daniel Pink, mentioned design at our Welcome Luncheon at the beginning of the year. He showed pictures of toilet brushes. He mentioned the fact that students should be thinking about design because in today’s world, design is as important as function.Since his presentation, I’ve also been thinking about the difference between teaching students software vs. teaching them a process. And where does design fit into the picture?

A few examples come to mind: webpages, slide shows, and digital storytelling. For example, is it more important to teach students how to create a well designed slide show, or is it more important for me to make sure they understand the ins and outs of PowerPoint? Which part (the process or software) should take the back seat when time is limited? How important is the content and design of the end result…the product?

I’ve always thought that this was an easy answer: the process always outweighs the software and that the product is very important. Software will change, but it’s the process of creating something with it that makes the activity rich and rewarding and challenging for students. Learning and developing a process makes an activity beneficial…and gives students something they can transfer to other things they might do. But maybe my thinking is limited. I plan on reading Daniel Pink’s book, A Whole New Mind, to help me answer some of these questions. But I’m also interested in what other people think. What are your thoughts?

Image Citation:
Gillingham-Ryan, Maxwell (2007, Apr, 30). Top 10: Toilet Bowl Brushes. Apartment Therapy, Retrieved Nov 11, 2007, from http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/top-ten/top-10-toilet-bowl-brushes-008369