We have just completed our first round of digital stories for the year.  The students wrote personal narratives and then used scanners, ipods, imovie, garage band, Facebook, as well as other media tools, to create their digital stories.  Using all of these tools to create an authentic writing piece was a first for all of the students in my room.  If you click on each student's blog link, you can see their completed projects.  Feel free to leave feedback to each of the students and praise their work!  Remember to leave constructive comments!

Yesterday, you started commenting on other people's blogs about what they wanted the Monster's belt to look like.  Continue working on adding comments and suggesting more specific adjectives for others.  Also, after your partner and you have made a few comments, you may also add a new description using very specific adjectives.

As I was surfing the web tonight for a class project, I came across this collaborative project.  I thought it would be fun to do and we could learn a lot from classes from other schools.  We might be able to possibly Skype, blog, or create a wiki with these classes from other parts of the world.  Check this site out and let me know if you think we should participate.

http://www.smithclass.org/proj/Monsters/

The students were very excited to see comments to their blogs today!   Will Richardson stated in the book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, "The difference between blogging in this manner and writing as we traditionally think of it are clear:  Writing stops; blogging continues.  Writing is inside; blogging is outside.  Writing is monologue; blogging is conversation.  Writing is thesis; blogging is synthesis...none of which minimizes the importance of writing," (Richardson, 30-31).  To me, this is a very powerful statement, in which the students really felt today.  Because people actually read their blogs, their voice is finally being heard.  They were able to reflect on comments that were posted and take their thoughts to a deeper level.  Not only were the students extremely happy that people were responding to their thoughts, it made them realize the importance of explaining their thoughts in detail!  

Thank you to everyone that responded and please keep the comments coming!

If you were to put one item in a time capsule, what would it be in and why?

The students were so excited today when I told them they got to get the laptops out and blog!  Even though they had an assigned topic, they were motivated to write.  They were amazed to see the results of their work on the Internet! 

Lexi and Olivia even spent their recess inside showing our principal and guidance counselor how easy it was to create their own blog!  It is so fun to see the kids motivated to write!

We are just completing our first blogs for the 2010-2011 school year.  The students are eager to hear comments about their blogs.  Their first assignment was to explain what making connections means to them, to explain why it is important to make connections, as well as to share an example.  

They are really enjoying sharing their ideas with the world, as well as using technology to create.  It is amazing  how much more thorough they are explaining their thoughts when it isn't just a worksheet or graphic organizer to fill out.  They know other people will be reading their thoughts so they understand they need to explain more in-depth. 

I also loved how I could just show two people how to blog and they became my experts.  They showed everyone else how to get logged in and what the steps were in completing!  Yea for technology!!!

Your first blog assignment for the year is dealing with Making Connections while reading.  We have been working on this skill for a week; therefore, you should be experts on connection making.  First, you are to tell what it means to make connections.  Next, tell why it is important to make connections.  Finally, give an example of a connection you have made from your book that you are reading.

After visiting Recycle City and Dumptown, I want to know what are some things you learned that we can do to help our environment.

We have changed the way we are doing reading in our classroom.  Instead of having guided reading groups, we are taking on the approach of a reading cafe.  Each student has a goal they are working on from one part of the cafe menu. CAFE stands for comprehension, accuracy, fluency and expanding vocabulary.  We have noticed a greater sense of urgency to read and stay on task, as well as much deeper conversations about books.  Every child is working on their own goal, depending on their individual needs as a reader.  I am excited to see the growth of the children on their next SRI test, as well as on their ITBS.  The students will be taking their ITBS the first week of April.

You are all reading books for the reading CAFE.  Summarize your book, using the ideas from the retelling rope, and tell why you think people should or should not read this book.

Reading: 20 minutes and work on your CAFE goal

Math: Pictograph worksheet

Spelling: 2x missed words (list verbs)

SS - SE state quiz tomorrow

Science - Respiratory System test tomorrow

Reading - Read 20 mins. and work on your goal