First Grade Curriculum Night

On Thursdsay, November 5th first graders had the opportunity to bring their families to school to learn what it means to be a first grader at HCES. Attendees rotated through three rooms focused on math, reading, and technology integration. In each room, teachers shared what students have been and will be learning this school year as well as strategies that can be used at home to help students be successful.

Mrs. Davidson, Mrs. Trent, and I shared examples of student work that demonstrated how students are using technology to transform their learning. Parents viewed student work that integrated science and writing, heard students demonstrate their understanding of number concepts, and witnessed how technology can be used to enhance creative storytelling.

In addition to learning about how technology is supporting learning, students had the opportunity to teach their parents how to use the app ChatterKids! Using a picture of topics recently learned about (bats, pumpkins, apples, and American symbols) families worked together to create a movie showing what they knew about a topic.

I enjoyed meeting families and sharing about the meaningful learning happening in first grade at HCES. Enjoy the pictures below of families working to create ChatterKids!

Students at Work!

What an awesome week of technology integration at JGES and HCES! From book reviews to rhyming words to learning about explorers, students were busy learning and using technology in purposeful ways. 

Book Review Blogging

Fourth graders blogging

Last week I taught one class of fourth graders how to use Kidblog (a blogging platform) to write book reviews for their classmates. Students are writing the reviews which include a brief synopsis, character description, and opinions. In addition to being a great resources for finding good books to read, the blog enable students to develop their writing skills for an authentic audience - their classmates! 

The beginning of a student's post

Digital Storytelling
In science, first graders have been busy learning about bats, owls, and apples. After reading several books about bats, each student used the app Educreations (allows students to including drawings as well as voice recording) to draw a scene from one of the books and retell that part. In addition to sharing what they learned about bats, this form of digital storytelling had students practice their listening comprehension and verbal communication skills.

A student works on her bat illustration

Story Problems
In math, first graders have been working to solve addition and subtraction story problems. However, with the use of iPads and the app Educreations, students created their own story problems and then recorded themselves explaining how to solve the problem and write the number sentence that represented the story problem they created. Students wrote problems about cats, sharks, hats, mermaids, and much more! Through the creation of these story problems and explanation of how to solve, students used higher level thinking skills that demonstrate a deep understanding of the process of addition.

Two students creating their story problem

Explorers 

What do you know about Christopher Newport, Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce deLeon, and Jacques Cartier? I'm sure these two classes of third graders at JGES can teach you something! After researching one of the four explorers, students created a ChatterPix that included the country that sponsored the explorer, what the goals of the explorer were, where he traveled, and other interesting facts. 

Students were excited about using the app and quickly picked up on how to take a photo of their explorer, record themselves sharing the information they learned, and save it to Dropbox for sharing. They demonstrated great teamwork by helping one another through the steps. 

A student shows another how to use ChatterKids

Two students view a ChatterKid

A student carefully considers what he'll say before recording

Taking photos of Christopher Newport

A student records her ChatterKid

After creating their ChatterKids, students saved their work to Dropbox. This allowed students to view their classmates' projects. Finally, they each shared something that they learned watching the videos using Padlet. Padlet is a digital "cork board" that allows users to post comments and view what others have posted. It's a great tool for sharing and communicating. Enjoy the pictures below of students watching one another's projects!

Letters, Beginning Sounds, and Rhyming Words
All kindergarten classes have been introduced to the iPads. These students are pros at handing the iPads properly and are learning how to search for apps. Of course there's more behind these lessons that just technology!

Students using Chalk Draw to practice writing their names

A student shows a classmate how to search for the Sound Sorting app. Students sort pictures based on beginning sounds. 

 A student practices sorting rhyming words as a SMART Board center

 

Owls are Interesting Creatures
Another way that first graders have shared what they've learned in science is by creating a PicCollage. On the collage, students include a picture of an owl puppet they each made in class and three facts about owls. This was a great way to tie science into writing!

A PicCollage Example

We're off to a Great Start!

JGES and HCES students may have been in school three short weeks, but learning is well underway. Teachers and students have been actively engaged in the use of technology to support the instructional process. Here's a peek at what's been happening! 

ChatterKids
I cannot say enough good things about this (FREE!) app. This easy to use app allows students to take a photo of anything, draw a "mouth", and record up to 30 seconds of sound. Students in first through fifth grade have made "Chatters" that demonstrate their reading comprehension, writing skills, and what it means to be a good citizenship. 

In fifth grade, students used this app to describe characters in their weekly reading. Using evidence from the text, students explained a character trait that defined their selected character. In first grade students created "Amazing Pictures" inspired by an imaginative story they read in class. Through the use of ChatterKids, students worked to elaborate on their writing by adding details about the appearance of their character and more. 

Students busy creating ChatterPix

Students love sharing their work through "Gallery Walks" where they get an opportunity to view what their classmates' creations

Kodable
One class of first graders is computer programming with the app Kodable. Students use a series of arrows and other directional keys to move their "Fuzzy Ball" through a maze. Kodable, and other programming resources teach students sequencing, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students will develop skills that carry over into mathematics, science, and reading. The visual cues for this app are especially helpful for those students with reading and/or language obstacles. 

Students programming with the app Kodable

Reading Rotations
First grade teachers at HCES are working to improve the effectiveness of their SMART Board use this school year. As a result, I have been working with students on using their classroom SMART Boards as an independent reading center. Currently, students are learning the basic functions of the SMART Board while reviewing uppercase and lowercase letters. As the year progresses, students will become independent at this station with activities tailored to meet the instructional needs of student. 

A student practices matching letters at the SMART Board station

In addition to collaborating and planning with teachers, I've been working to update old and set up new iPads (JGES now has 38 and HCES has over 110). I'm so excited to get these devices in the hands of students and see the wonderful things they can create this school year!