Veteran's Day Interviews

Do you remember the days when we just read and talked about how to conduct an interview? My, how the classroom has changed!

Thanks to Colonel Connie Harden for allowing my language arts class to interview her yesterday. We conducted a video SKYPE session from our classroom in Indiana to Harrodsburg, Kentucky! Carlie did an outstanding job asking questions of Colonel Harden, and the entire class took notes on their iPads.

We will be writing reports and presenting a program for our interviewed Veterans on November 10th.

Todays Meet

I was encouraged by Connie Jesch, an innovative iPad pilot teacher in our district, to give Todays Meet (web 2.0 tool for whole class responses) another try. We had tried to use this tool last year and it was a fiasaco! Connie told me about using this "back channel" to display good reader's thoughts. As we read a story together, students posted questions to unfamiliar words, made inferences, personal connections, validated predictions, and responded to the story. It also offered the opportunity for the teacher to model "self-talk." Well, Connie, it was a success! Thanks for reintroducing me to this cool tool!

ICE Conference - No Teacher Left Behind!

Last Thursday and Friday, our district's iPad pilot teachers were given the opportunity to attend the Indiana Computer Educators conference in Indianapolis. We had a wonderful time listening and observing masters in using technology to reach our digital native students.
Two of the many presenters that I was able to attend were Michael Gorman and Leslie Fisher. Check out their contributions to the online learning world!

Foldables

Using foldables as graphic organizers are a great way to get all involved. This week we worked with a Venn diagram foldable. Look for terrific foldable ideas at this website!

Habitat House

Another house is going up and we were there to lend a hand! What a beautiful day to help out with Habitat! Many of our teachers gathered together with others to help out our community. It is so nice to be able to work with others who are much more talented in building. I appreciate those who had the patience with me and allowed me to hammer some nails.
Also, the food that was provided for lunch was FANTASTIC! Thanks to those terrific cooks!

This year marks the bicentennial of the historic New Orleans and its successful voyage from Pittsburg, PA to New Orleans, LA. We have been studying this famous voyage and the many unique events that occured that year. Storyteller Susan Fowler came to school to give us an interactive performance of the voyage. As a culminating activity, our honors reading and language arts class created a steamboat. We were very proud of our class float for Mt. Vernon River Days.
The 1811 New Orleans.
We won first place!
Whoo Hoo!
Way to go Honors!

Read Across America 2011

View Read Across America 2011 in a larger map