Engagement - Sock Puppets

My Grade 2,3 class LOVE Sock Puppets.  I have learned (the hard way) that just like math manipulatives, students need lots of time to explore apps before the apps are used as tools to uncover curriculum.  So, although we have used planners and success criteria many times for retells, students were not given (nor sought out) either of these items for a retell of their independent reading book using sock puppets.  All students enjoyed using the app.  Many students' plays were related to their book.  Although the quality of retells were lower than pencil and paper versions, this was the trade-off for their enjoyment, "This is SO FUN!".  The students particularly enjoyed...in fact, thought it was hilarious, how the app changed their voice for each character.  All students spoke.  Risk-taking increased...that was a HUGE celebration for many students!  All were happy and proud to share their creation.  For the past two weeks, the students have taken the initiative to use sock puppets independently:)

Students drive on Google Drive

This month I introduced the students to Google Drive. I let them play around with it and take the driver's seat, so to speak. It was really exciting to see how quick they were to get through the ins and outs of working on an assignment with a partner or group. After just one period I had a couple of boys going home that night and working on a presentation for social studies. Fantastic!

The students have been creating presentations, using both Google Drive and Power Point, on a variety of self selected topics. It is wonderful to see how excited they are to share and learn from each other, not only about the topic but about the technology and resources they used as well. 

On another note, we have been on the   laptops creating some stories using The Mysteries of Harris Burdick and letters using The Dr. K. Fisher books. I am taking one of Kevin Honeycutt's suggestions and looking into publishing a book of our writing. It would be cool to have a double book where you can flip it one way for the letters and the other way for the stories. I wonder if that's a possibility? I will have to check!

After EQAO, of course.  :)

ICT Technology Day

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For the ICT Technology Day.  I am so grateful I was invited to be a part of it. 

The presentation from Kevin was motivating, inspiring, entertaining, thought provoking …insert other positive descriptors here.

I had the pleasure of participating in the two session facilitated by Jeremy: ePortfolio and My Media.  It left my head spinning but definitely got me reinvigorated and thoughtful about what next year might look like.  I am also grateful I had the opportunity to play around in tldsb.elearningontario.ca  (A great tool that pulls it all together…not intuitive enough for me but that’s o.k. it just means I need to book some time with Tina! …anyone care to join me?)

As wonderful as the presentations were today, I also appreciated the opportunity to network with colleagues.  I have yet another list of apps I need to install and websites I want to check out.  I thank the folks who shared them with me and wish now to share them with you:

(I’m just going to list everything that was in my notes from today.  Not all of them are new but I appreciated the reminder J)

Apps:
Haiku Deck (presentation tool)
Google Alert
Photogrid App (creates photo collages)
Thinking Blocks (Math)
Gizmo (Yeah!)
Music
Ocarina (Smule.com)
Garage Band (free)
Voice Band
Harmonica
Pocket Guitar

Websites:
tldsb.elearningontario.ca
kevinhoneycutt.org    (duh!)
Café Press.ca
Spoonflower.com
getkahoot.com
staff.tldsb.ca/ict/index.php/software  (It looks so pretty now!)

Help!! My autocorrect changed the cord progression App Kevin recommended.  I can’t seem to find it on his website.

SyncSpace

I like infographics. I wanted students to make an infographic of a class lesson. Instead of me presenting the lesson like I had, students instead we're given a pdf copy of my PowerPoint presentation (http://ses4u-smith.wikispaces.com/file/view/Solar%20Nebula%20Hypothesis.pdf/316292582/Solar%20Nebula%20Hypothesis.pdf). They were to summarize the lesson using images, diagrams, labels and annotations.

Assignment: http://ses4u-smith.wikispaces.com/file/view/Life%20and%20Times%20of%20a%20Star.pdf/500406592/Life%20and%20Times%20of%20a%20Star.pdf

I had tried out several whiteboard apps before trying this out. I chose SyncSpace for a variety of reasons: SyncSpace is infinite. You can zoom way in and out and scroll all over; multiple users can simultaneously collaborate on a board; students can view (not edit) the boards on line; images, drawings, and text can be added; is free.

Con: cannot edit SyncSpace on a desktop / laptop computer.

Samples:
Jordan and Jameson
Sean and Maggie
Brett B
Maddie and Nikki
Mariah and Emily
Sam and Jason
Riley and Josh
Liz and Sereena
Emma de
Erik and Maeve
Jenna M
Geo and Kalia

Bullying on iMovie

Students are having a great time creating and editing Anti-Bullying movies.
- Motivational/Inspiring video for someone experiencing bullying
- Anti-Bullying Campaign
- Characteristics/Personality traits of someone who stands up to bullying
- How you would end bullying in Your school

Editing and Special Effects fabulous!  We got taping/drama part done super fast.  Kids had oodles of fun editing - adding music, transitions, title, inserting videos, split screens.  Just viewed near final products.  Kids felt proud of themselves - professional looking and sounding.

Students need to go back and play with music volumes, professional credits.

BEWARE - GREAT ADVICE

Kids had "Peterborough" show up in their title.  The 'locator" - which on so we can find our i-Pads, needs to be turned off for editing. There is a way of turning this off so it does not automatically show up on the screen.  Go to Settings...privacy...location services...toggle off i'movie.  This should solve the problem!

Obervations
Boys tend to be more focused on the technical piece.  They needed pushing to get the dramatic/artistic pieces done.  Girls tend to be more focused on the drama, and needed pushing to get the editing pieces done.

Still editing.  Look for fascinating videos attached to my next blog.

Still loving "Explain Everything" as a quick way to check our thinking before a math summative.  Catching the odd misconception!  Great stuff!  Kids are getting fast at creating and sharing slides.

Still having fun.  iPads are becoming a more functioning tool and less a play toy!!!

Music Apps

Here are two great apps that I am using in my music classes: NotateMe and ScoreCloud.

NotateMe

Available on the App Store

For iPad, iPhone 4 and later

$21.99 (yes... I know that's expensive, but is worth it for one or two iPads)

There is a FREE version called "NotateMeNow" which is a simplified version of this app (only a single staff of notation possible)

This app will turn handwritten music into printed score notation.  THAT's RIGHT!!!  Scribble down a quick melody on your iPad and it will turn it into print quality notation!!!  The program recognizes your hand writing and will find the correct musical symbol to correspond to your sketch.  And it's smart... the more you use it, the quicker it is at picking up your handwriting!!!  You can compose for a solo instrument/voice, or piano, or even an entire orchestra.  AND it will play back your sketches for you immediately.  You can add chord symbols, dynamic markings, etc...  VERY POWERFUL

In my opinion, the BEST part about this is that you can save/export your files as a PDF (ready for printing), MIDI file (so you can hear your creation) or as a MusicXML file - which is compatible with the Finale series of music notation programs!!! (which is also a ministry licensed software package and available for FREE to any school in Ontario).  You can then manipulate your quick sketch on a desktop computer and be ready to publish your own creations.

ScoreCloud 

(thanks to Melissa Stephens at HHSS for this recommendation)

Available on the App Store

For iPad, iPhone 4 and later, and I THINK for the iPod

FREE!!!

This app is awesome!!!  Have a tune in your head that you need to get down on "paper"?  Great idea for a melody in the middle of math class?  ScoreCloud will NOTATE a melody that you sing or play into the iPad!!!  YUP!  It's true!!!  This is a great tool for students during the brainstorming part of composition.  They can get all those ideas down on "digital paper" in a quick and really easy manner.  It acts like recording software... just press record and start to sing/play.  The app analyses the performance and produces a notated version of the performance.  

It can be a bit frustrating at times.  You need to keep a steady pulse and play/sing in tune, or you can get some "interesting" versions of your song.  However, for short melodies, and little musical ideas this is a really useful app!  A great tool for the beginner composer!

Music for iPad

Just wanted to share a link to the pre-amp that I am using in my music classroom that I had at the last meeting in Minden.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/HA957ZM/A/focusrite-itrack-solo-mic-preamp

Cost: $129.95 (but watch for sales!!!  I got mine for $99)

It's GREAT!  A really easy "plug and play" machine.  It allows for an XLR microphone connection and a ¼ inch instrument connection.  The GREAT thing is that it will allow for BOTH inputs to record at the SAME time!!!  This means you can do a really great quality live recording.  This machine plus Garage Band has been an AWESOME addition to my music class - especially my vocal class.

There are other preamps out there (and some do cost less than this one), but to be able to record two distinct tracks at the same time is pretty useful and worth the extra bit of money.

There is a little bit of a learning curve (for some of us less techie types) to figure out which settings to use in Garage Band, but there are lots of YouTube tutorials out there that easily explain the process.