How Our Little Elves Became Authors

Sometime inspiration comes from the most unexpected places.  This time our inspiration to write came from sets of fun, lively, and colorful illustrations found on Storybird.  It's a site where you can choose a set of illustrations to use for your pictures in a book authored by you!  Each group worked with a group from Mrs. Budman's class in PA to write an original story.  First, we Skyped to choose our illustrations, next groups took turns switching the story back and forth digitally, last we Skyped to agree on a title.  Our favorite part was reading what the other group wrote.  Sometimes you think you know the direction the story is headed, but their were many surprises along the way.  Also, two groups used Andy McNally's illustrations and two groups used the art of shishir.  The groups came up with completely unique stories using the same set of pictures as another group.  During the final Skype call, students in both classes were wearing holiday headgear.... so they chose to author them accordingly.  Thank you to Mrs. Budman's class for collaborating with us! 

Will the Big Problem in Sillyville Be Solved? on Storybird

Mr. Ice Cream Man's Sweet Plan on Storybird

A Weird Problem is Brewing in Animal Corner on Storybird

Chester's Big Dream on Storybird

Connecting With Our Community

We've been learning about goods and services in Social Studies.  To make the concepts become more of a reality, we went on an adventure!  We visited various places in our Randolph, NY community.  At each stop students took turns interviewing and taking photos.  We created this VoiceThread to share our photos and information that we learned.  We reinacted the question and answer interview format.  This project also served two other purposes.  You may wonder why the students are seen wearing pink sunglasses in winter?  We received the Collaboreyes shades as part of a global project where students photograph and write about places that are meaningful to them.  You can find more about the project by visiting the Collaboreyes blog.  We also participated in the Community Connections wiki that shares about rural, urban, and suburban communities.  Please leave us a comment on the last page of the VoiceThread!  To view the VoiceThread larger click here.

Sketching Solids

We dove into the world of Google SketchUp this week to conclude our geometry unit. Each student created a cylinder or a rectangular prism. Then they turned it into an actual object. To share our shapes, we used the SMARTrecorder built into SMARTnotebook. This will be a repeat project for sure and has room for growth.  I'm so glad we jumped into this 3D world.  Thank you to Mr. Carls for getting us Sketching! 



Comparing Attributes

Our annual photo scavenger hunt was a success.  This year, students needed to take photos as a team of both plane and solid shapes.  Then, after we compiled all the photos from all the various cameras into the shared oceans folder, we created a glog using GlogsterEDU.  For the glog, students needed to pick two or more categories and sort the images, graphics, and labels accordingly.  They each chose their own attributes to sort by.  Some compared solid vs. plane, others triangles vs. circles.  Check out some of the finished projects below.

Graph Exchange

Today we completed our second "math exchange" of the year.  We used the same format that we used for our first exchange on the topic of word problems, this time we focused on graphs.  First, each cooperative group came up with a question for their survey.  For example, one group asked, "What is your favorite sport?"  Then they surveyed the entire class.  After that, groups used Graph Club as a team to use their tallied data to create a data table and one kind of graph.  Last, they devised 3 questions to ask the others about their graph and recorded the answers.  One example would be, "How many more students chose hockey than soccer?"  Then it was time for our Skype call.  Groups took turns using the screen share option of Skype to share their graphs and ask their questions.  Students in our class, as well as Mrs. Goodwin's class used the graphs to answer them.  This week we participated on the receiving end.  Mrs. Goodwin's class followed a similar procedure.  I did make one alteration for our class.  Last "math exchange" we used our dry erase boards.  Students were engaged participants, but had some difficulty with the initial graph Skype call.  So, to help keep students on track and organized, as well as assist with individual accountability students recorded their solutions.  When a student writes, "I double love Skype!" on their paper, you know that we'll keep on having more "math exchanges!"

October Happenings

Math Skills - We are continuing to practice basic addition and subtraction facts, as well as word problems.  We've also become quite proficient at reading, creating, and answering questions using various types of graphs.
Plays Galore - We've been able to see 3 plays this month!  Ramona, The Yellow Brick Road, and various Merry-Go-Round mini-plays. 
Student Teacher - Miss Mason started this week in our classroom.  She'll be with us until the beginning of December. 
Tech Progress - Tumblebooks, Spelling City, Type to Learn Jr, GlogsterEDU, Math EduPlace, Storybird, Brain Pop Jr, RAZ Kids, Graph Club, and many more tools and sites.  We'll now start learning how to use more Web 2.0 tools.
Reading Strategies - Predict, Evaluate, Summarize, Monitor and Clarify, and Question are our strategies of focus.  We've been practicing them in whole group and small group settings.  Keep on reading at home!  Students have been doing a nice job on their weekly reading assignments that are done with a parent.

Reminders will be coming home in the next newsletter regarding Parent-Teacher Conferences.  I look forward to meeting you again and discussing more of your child's individual progress!

Problems Solvers at Work

Earlier this month we completed our first of hopefully many math exchanges.  We'd been learning about addition and subtraction, as well as using these operations to help us solve math word problems.  Students worked together in small groups to create word problems together.  Then they used the draw a picture strategy and wrote the number sentence that would solve the problem.  But, we stepped it up a notch and turned this into a collaborative global project and worked with Mrs. Goodwin's students in Indiana.  During our first Skype session, her second graders shared their problems.  During the second Skype session, our classes shared our created problems.  During each call all students worked to solve the problems on their dry erase boards.  Finally, a student shared the solution with the other class.

Autumn Poetry

• Click to view my story.
• 

Open House 2011 Video

Animals on the Move

We've been learning about migration.  We've been using various modes of both print and digital resources to assist us as we learn about different animals that go on journeys.  For the above activity, students worked together during centers.  They read books from our school library about migration to find information to add to the web on the SMARTboard.  The above web was created by all of the four groups each taking a turn and contributing to the web.  

For a fun-filled, high-energy activity on our science theme, we migrated outdoors and went on a Geocaching hunt. During our Autumn Adventure, students worked together in teams to use hand-held GPS units to navigate to various "caches" or treasures. After finding all the items, we returned to the classroom to piece the puzzle together. Be sure to ask your child more about this event. We learned about re-sizing images and importing photos as we created our Glog poster below together.

We also had our first Skype call.  Students learned how to use the webcam and snowball microphone to communicate on the topic of migration.  We Skyped with Mr. Griffith, both Mrs. Griffith's husband and a bird enthusiast.  He shared with us more information about the hummingbird and the canadian goose's migration.  Each student was able to interact during the call by either asking a question, answering a question, or introducing themselves.  The students were impressive communicators and we look forward to working with other classes in the near future through this format.

Morning Math Madness

Friday mornings our classroom is transformed into Morning Math Madness.  Every week we'll be getting into concepts, topics, and strategies that'll we'll explore further.  We'll be using tech tools, as well as manipulatives.  Many of the projects will involve cooperative team work.  This week, we created a graph together on our birthday months.  We also used manipulatives to solve addition word problems.  Stay tuned for more news on our math projects and get your thinking caps ready.

All Sorts of Spelling

Spelling.... all the ways to practice those weekly words!  We'll not only be focusing on learning the words of the week and the pattern or rule, but also how to use these words when we write.  So far, we've learned how to use Fridge Letters, Spelling City, SMARTnotebook magnet letters, The Office center, our journals, our dry erase boards, our spelling lists, wordle, and more ways to practice are yet to come.  Can you guess the spelling pattern of the words above?  Ask your child how each of these helps them practice.  Many of these modes can be used at home as well.  This week we'll be getting writing pals too!

Welcome!

This year is off to a great start!  We've jumped right into learning.  This classroom blog will be used to highlight some of the projects, events, and daily activities happen in room 40.  Please feel free to leave a comment, question, or suggestion.  We'd love to hear from you!  The Griffith Gazette, our newsletter, will continue to come home on an as needed basis to ensure you don't miss important dates and announcements.

Farewell 2nd Grade, Welcome Summer!

Thank you for working so hard and learning so much!  We've made many memories this year!

Always Remember:  

Work Together

Are you a problem solver or a problem creator?

Make the Best Choice

Read, read, and read!

Have fun learning!

Enjoy your summer! 

Foster Grandparent

Thank you Grama Linda for all of her support, help, kindness, encouragement, and hugs that she gave each and everyone in our class this year!  We truly appreciate all of your hard work and the time with us.

Progressive Story: Spring 2011

GeoBash 2011

Our final geocaching event was our GeoBash!  Use the glog above to click on the team names to find the collaborative glog they created.  Groups creating glogs had different purposes - one team defined geocaching, one discussed the importance of teamwork, and another had a quote they liked and shared the locations of the caches.  Each student had a different role including: GPSers, videographer, photographer, and leader.  The concept of log-books and trading was introduced, as well as documenting the event with the cameras.  It was a fun-filled bash of clues, teamwork, and fun!!

Vacations vs. Holidays

For our final Skype call with our friends from Italy, we compared and contrasted our summer time.  They each told us where they were going to travel to during the summer.  Most will be going to the seaside, mountains, or the river.  Many brought it objects to represent swimming, futbol, and other activities they plan on doing.  We prepared a drawing and sentence about two activities we plan on doing over our vacation.  We exchanged songs again too.  They sang a rap and we sang Ten Little Bunnies.  Thank you to Mrs. Kehoe for the lyrics and the music CD to help us sing our best!

 

ePals Connect via Skype

Each student given the opportunity to talk with their ePals in a 1:1 Skype call.  We'd been corresponding back and forth with Mrs. Snyder's class from Newberry Elementary in Cumberland, PA.  We brainstormed what the conversations could be about.  Each student either made their own Skype call or answered the incoming call, used their manners while answering and asking questions, and ended the call properly.  The kids enjoyed comparing and contrasting their interests, hobbies, weather, school, ages, towns, and classrooms.  Thank you Snyderettes!

We LOVE New York!

A small group of students volunteered to be a part of Horace Mann Elementary's State Skype Project, organized by Chad Lehman. Fourth and fifth graders in West Allis, Wisconsin are in the process of Skyping with all state across the US. Six students from our class were able to answer their 6 interview questions about New York state. Ethan, Alyssa, Natalie, Paige, Miranda, and Aunalee were each in charge of one question. They gathered books from the library to read together, as well as researched on the Internet to locate facts and symbols for our state. In addition to answering the questions about climate, history, facts, activities, and symbols - Alyssa shared with them our local forecast, Paige showed a state banner with some NYS symbols, and Aunalee used a map of the Empire State to show Randolph's location. After the Skype call, they each left a message or question for the other class. They also shared a site for kids. They did a wonderful job preparing and presenting.  Nice job!  We look forward to seeing their projects and posters about all of the states!

Messages for our Moms

Paige's Message



Natalie's Message



Ethan's Message



Isaac's Message



Max's Message



Bryson's Message



Noah's Message



Aunalee's Message



Anthony's Message



Jordan's Message



Jesse's Message



Colin's Message



Joshua's Message



Lisa's Message



Mrs. Griffith's Message

Can You Feel the Vibrations?

Last week our story, Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman was about a boy who was deaf.  His classmates went on a field trip to a concert.  They used balloons to feel the vibrations of the music.  They were also able to meet the percussionist who played in her stocking feet to feel the vibrations.  Why do you think she did?  Many of the pages also had sign language to correlate with the text in the story.

Mr. Dauphin gave us a special treat.  He shared about each of the percussion instruments in his room and about sound vibrations.  We were able to try them out too, just like Moses' class!  Be sure to watch the video below to hear our efforts!  Thank you Mr. Dauphin!

Sign Language

We had the honor of Neila Hand (a former student) and her mom Rosemary coming to visit the second graders last week.  We'd learned about sign language from our reading story.  The kids had been practicing spelling their names using the alphabet, but they were able to give us a better understanding of the importance of sign language.  Mrs. Hand signed while Neila interpreted.  The students were able to learn how this form of communication is beneficial.  The mother and daughter pair also showed us different ways to sign things, as well as how sign language is different from the written and spoken word.  They've left some book for us to look at too.  Thank you Mrs. Hand and Neila!

Virtual Stores

We've been practicing money during math.  Everyone has made a lot of progress with identifying coins, determining values, counting coins, adding money amounts, and making change.  So, we decided to conclude our money unit by creating virtual stores along with Mrs. Griffin's class from Georgia. 

Day 1: Mrs. Griffin's Class created Mrs. Griffin's Sweet Treats.  So many yummy options were available for a reasonable price!  They shared a SMARTnotebook file with us through Skype.  Groups of students went up to the SMARTboard to choose their purchases.  They were given $2.00 to spend.  They told the other class what they'd like to buy.  Both classes added up the amounts and asked each other if they agreed.  Next, all students determined the change.  Kids congratulated each other on their efforts.

Day 2: Mrs. Griffith's Class created the Peculiar Pet Place.  My students created the store during centers.  They chose their images from the gallery and inserted them into SMARTnotebook.  Then they determined prices.  Students chose odd pets, food items, pet accessories, and toys for their imaginary store.  The rest of the Skype call went the same as above. 

 

Both Mrs. Griffin and I were impressed to see how many different ways students solved the math problems.  We're already reflecting and talking about next year!  This was a wonderful collaborative project! 

Virtual Stores: Collaborative Project on PhotoPeach

ePals

Last month we started pen pals with Mrs. Snyder's 2nd graders in PA.  We're using a teacher-monitored email tool called ePals.  It's simple!  The students have been able to write back and forth now a few times.  They sent us some photos of themselves and made them into Blabbers using Blabberize.  This week, we tried out PhotoBooth and took some silly shots of ourselves using some of the effects!  Check out our silly pics below in the slideshow!

Meet Mrs. Griffith's Class on PhotoPeach

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring are different depending on where you live and what your climate is like.  We'd been talking about Spring in Randolph, NY to prepare for our 3rd Skype call with our friends in Italy.  Students brought in various items that represented what Spring is like where we live.  Students had also taken a picture out of our classroom window for about a month, to show how Spring takes a LONG time to get here.  The day we had our Skype call it snowed AGAIN!  Ms. Toshini's class shared with us what they've noticed about the weather in Italy, then we showed them our items and photos.  She help up her computer to the window to show the buds on their trees outside and we grabbed a handful of snow from our window sill.  Check out the video clips below and the slideshow me made for them!

SpringinRandolphNY on PhotoPeach



Harmful Weather Skype

We have been learning about harmful weather.  Students chose from hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, and volcanoes.  Last Friday, we had the opportunity to Skype with Brad Panovich.  He is a meteoroligist from Charlotte.  He shared with us an amazing video that shows how a thunderstorm starts and a video with the elements of a tornado.  Brad also used Google Earth to show where volcanoes can be found.  He gave the students tips about being safe from a hurricane as well.  Thank you to Mr. Panovich for taking the time to inspire this second grade class.  Maybe one of the students will follow in your footsteps and want to know the WHY? of weather! 

Sugar Shack

Arctic Animals

Here's our final Glog that we created to show you what we did during this unit!  A special thank you to Mr. McAllister from Field Trip Earth and all the educators who Skyped with us!

Presidential Quiz Show

Today we had the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Snyder's class from PA.  We shared an online quiz board with questions developed by her second graders.  The four categories were all about Abe Lincoln and George Washington.  Student took turns picking questions and reading them to each other.  Classes were cheering and loving this fun format of review

!

President's Day Blabberize

We tried out a new way to "podcast" this week.  We used uploaded our drawings to Blabberize and then recorded our voices pretending we were either President Washington or President Lincoln.  This was a fun alternative to just voices.  Check out Jesse, Alyssa, Anthony, and Miranda's below. 

Virtual Meeting with a Gray Wolf Educator

The "gray wolves" were able to Skype with an wolf enthusiast on Friday!  Kim Wheeler, Executive Director of the Red Wolf Coalition, Inc. in North Carolina is passionate about wolves.  Since she often teaches children about wolves and has been able to interact with wolves herself, she was able to share both important and interesting facts about the gray wolf.  The students were most amazed at the fact she shared in the video clip below.  Students were also able to ask her the many questions they had.  We'll continue to check in with the live webcam of various dens.  Thank you Ms. Wheeler for taking the time to teach us more about this fascinating animal!      

Arctic Animal Geocaching

Our Caribou Contact

A small group of students had the honor to interact through a Skype call with Laura Thompson, a Ph.D. student from Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.  She shared a slideshow that she'd prepared for the caribou researchers, aka the second graders. WOW - Did we all learn so much about this impressive animal!  Ms. Thompson shared with information from the following categories: special adaptations, diet, behavior, and research.  Please check out her slideshow using the link above - the pictures are wonderful. 

The students were busy taking notes, unprompted!  They were so immersed in their learning.  The reactions on their faces as they heard interesting and important facts about the arctic animal they chose to investigate further were really neat.  It was wonderful to learn about how Ms. Thompson works on her research too.  We were able to interact with her more during her presentation since this was a small group format.  She also took many of their additional questions after.  I was glad to be a part of this call - it's wonderful to see that students are comfortable with this format of learning from and along with others!

Thank you to Laura Thompson, Field Trip Earth, and Mark MacAllister for making this such an adventure in learning for this group of aspiring animal experts! 

Encounter with an Expert

Today we Skyped with a science expert, Mr. Gerkin, from Field Trip Earth.  The call was used as a kick-off to the Arctic habitat. 

Before the call, we shared what we had in our schema on the topic of Polar Bears on the following Lino Canvas. 

Here's a glimpse of three parts of the Skype call...

Learning about Polar Bears -

Interesting Parts of the Polar Bear -

Question and Answer Time -

Later this afternoon, we made this quick video about our favorite new learning.  Here's what the kids came up with below.

The students are currently working on a special thank you and mode of virtual communication to keep in contact with Mr. Gerkin.  They will also be sharing their progress with their Arctic Animal projects. 

Thank you to Mr. Gerkin and Mr. MacAllister

for this special event!