Ready to Work Fingerplay Chant

I can't recall which blog I found this on, but I probably start this chant 8 times a day! It is such a good "Get yourself ready to work" prompt for my kiddos.
I usually start by asking (loudly) "How many fingers do we have???"

I have ten little fingers,
And they all belong to me.
(hold hands out in front)

I can make them do things,
Would you like to see?
I can shut them up tight.
(make a fist)

I can open them wide
(spread fingers out)

I can put them together.
(clasp hands together)

or I can make them hide.
(put hands behind back)

I can jump them up high.
(raise hands over head)

I can jump them down low.
(lower hands to knees)

I can fold them together
and hold them in my lap just so.
(fold hands in lap)

Funny Turkey Videos

Thanks to Heather at Heather's Heart for sharing these great Thanksgiving videos! I didn't see them in time for today, but I will be sure to bring these up for next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sight Word Smash

We are using the Journeys (Harcourt) curriculum along with our replacement Reading Programs (Fundations and Edmark). I use the sight words for the week and have the kids "smash" them with a foam hammer I got from the Target dollar section. I wish I bought more, I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for when I got it, I knew it would end up doing something fun, but it would be good to have more than one.

This picture is from Google, not my students.:

We have also used the word (fly) swatters to swat the word.
I found one more that may be fun to try in the warmer months. Looks messy!
Found this one on "I Can Teach My Child" blog    http://www.icanteachmychild.com

Top Ten Tech Resources

my Top Ten Tech Resources

1. http://pinterest.com

Pinterest: Created as an online “pinboard” to archive thumbnail pictures of ideas, crafts, recipes, etc. But within the last two years, has evolved into more of an educators forum, but I have gotten so many different ideas for my classroom from there. My favorite Pinterest page is our IU Assistive Tech Specialists page:  http://pinterest.com/lasenders/

2. http://www.monarchteachtech.com/vizzle/

VizZle: Visual Learning (created for use with Autism, but reaches a lot of learners). Online software for creating talking books, quizzes, choice making boards, etc.

3. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8

Show Me! Interactive app: Drawing whiteboard (can also write over a screen shot of a picture/chart/worksheet). You can record what students do on an iPad and send it to the web for parents. It records their voices as well. Love this one!

4. https://www.sifteo.com/product

Sifteo Cubes: I wrote to the company and they sent me a set for free. They are four 2-inch cubes that show letters or images and (when connected to wireless), they become interactive with one another. I have to work on creating some personalized lessons for my kids, but they are cool to use.

5. http://www.apple.com/accessibility/

Apple’s Universal Access option under System Preferences. Every teacher using a MAC should play around with the solutions that can be provided through this. I typically enlarge my cursor on any computer that the students will use and often set more of a slower drag on the mouse as they tend to move their finger too fast and lose their cursor.

6. http://www.billziegler.com/

BCIU #22 Assistive Technology Specialist, Bill Ziegler uses his webpage to give teachers access to a variety of Special Needs Software. I have used his Just My Type (Ziegler & Gill) for the past six years. It is my go to when kids are not having success with the typing programs that they have used during their specials inclusion for computers. I also use it to practice typing their name, their sight words and can save those lists in the program.

7. http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/kentict_home.cfm

Kent ITC-Educational Games from UK. Although most games have a British accent for the narration, the interactive nature of the games is great for kids. My favorite to use with students is the Airport X-Ray: http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/content/games/airport_xray.html

8. http://www.readinga-z.com/

Reading A-Z is an online-leveled reading library (paid subscription). Once given a diagnostic test to ascertain a reading level for a student, there are 25-30 readers ready to print for every level (DRA along with correlations). RAZ has projectable versions of the book that can be used with a SMARTboard as well as some in MP3 format for iPod touches. I have printed the wordless books for writing lessons with a lot of success with students.

9. http://www.mayer-johnson.com/boardmaker-software

Boardmaker (Mayer-Johnson) a computer-writing program that uses a symbol library for literacy support. Activities can be made written with symbols for cooking, following directions and communicating with home. Within the past two years, they have opened up Boardmaker Share (http://www.boardmakershare.com), which houses thousands of pre made communication boards that are ready to edit.

10. http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Discovery Education-United Streaming is a digital library of a variety of resources including digital videos with an easy to navigate search engine. From content-based videos to favorite children’s stories in QuickTime format, there is something there for almost every subject need. 

Not all kids are "Pen and Paper" kids

Finding the right medium....

During the online discussion for our CAST readings, I really connected to the following text:
"Further, and of particular note for our purposes, the evaluation of ability is often confounded by the means and the medium used to conduct the evaluation. For example, a person who appears learning disabled in a print-bound, text-based environment may look extraordinarily skilled in a graphics- or video-based environment."
David Rose (2002)
And I immediately thought of this image:

That being said, hoping I get the classroom Wii set up for rewards this week:)

iPad Giveaway Entry-Great App Sales Alert page

http://appymall.com/

Grad School.....Again:)

So, after finishing up my Reading Specialist Certification, I decided to enroll in West Chester's Certification for Assistive Technology and Universal Design. I'm excited. I loved my Reading Spec. coursework, but Technology, especially Technology for Special Education is where my passion is.

For one assignment, we are required to post on a blog. WordPress was the suggested platform, but since I already use Blogger, I can publish the assignment here.

At the top of my resume, I have listed four words that would be my tagline for who I am as a teacher. They are: Reflective. Motivational. Flexible. Technological. Our first posting is to be a reflective post on Learning Styles inventories.

Here are my results from the Learning Styles Inventory (Multiple Intelligences-Gardner):

My scores, along with a few classmates' scores, were highest in both Interpersonal and Intrapersonal. You might think that these two should be opposite, but it made sense to me. Although it wasn't easy growing up with seven siblings, I had to navigate my childhood with a lot of people and personalities. Throughout high school and college. I kept diaries and journals and student teaching required the art of reflective journaling in your daily teaching. Boy, I wish I could make the time for that now!

This year, I want to strike a better balance with being reflective and keeping from being hard on myself.  Reflecting on my craft, but seeking support and encouragement when I need it. 

We also responded on a three brains activity. a Visual image was presented with specific focus questions. One thing that I connected with was that my responses about the people in the image, were emotional based. I like to thing I am strong with instilling Social Emotional Learning skills in my kiddos. It would make sense for me to notice a person expressing an emotion since I value teaching those skills. 

At my school building Opening Day (we have two since we have an IU specific one), they displayed this image:

I still love the Education Program quote from my undergraduate (Kutztown University) that we are "Teachers as lifelong learners." Here's hoping to a great year!