Stars are Born!

I believe that we can engage children and have them truly own and demonstrate their learning success by incorporating multimedia learning in the classroom. This belief was reinforced by a few projects that I worked on with a class of Grade One students who I had the pleasure of working with for the past six weeks.

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Anytime a child believes he has an audience for his ‘performance’ he will be more engaged and concerned about his production and success. Tell a child that she will be in a movie or on a poster and her eyes will light up. Kids are natural performers. Even the reluctant, shy ones will smile and be excited when they see themselves on the screen or in print.

One of the first activities we did was to create a ‘number hunt’ where the kids had my camera and were in charge of walking around the school to find things that were found in groups of one, two, etc.. After the pictures were taken, I used Sliderocket to put together a presentation that we shared with our class, another class and with the parents and guardians by sending the URL home for them. I was also able to download it and print it so that after it was laminated it became a popular book for the children to read to themselves, reinforcing both counting and number words. Relating to their own environment and relevant objects was important.  You can see our presentation HERE.

On Groundhog Day, we used Wallwisher to record the information that we had learned about groundhogs and the traditions around the day. The kids were thrilled to see their names being recorded on the screen and they again shared the URL with their families at home to re-read and share. We used Wallwisher again when doing a KWL session on nutrition, food,  and reasons that we eat.

We made Photovisi presentations that we printed out to record our 100th day of school activities and our Valentine’s Day fun. The picture stories with their photos were great for retelling events, ordering events and sharing with our school community and children’s homes.

The most fun we had was producing our very short YouTube video showcasing the digraph /sh/. Going through the process of learning about the sound, watching similar project videos by Kathy Cassidy’s students, brainstorming words, preparing our ‘props’, and then the steps of actually producing our video was intriguing, interesting, and motivational. The video was put together using Movie Maker and uploaded to YouTube. The kids felt like superstars! The joy and pride on their faces while watching the finished product was proof that they were invested in it. They truly had tried their very best, knowing that they would have an audience beyond the immediate classmates and teacher. Sharing the product with their parents and guardians was an exciting event!

These kids were amazing writers, actors, directors and producers. They had not had experience with creating these kinds of multimedia presentations and they were eager to be a part of it. Their enthusiasm and pride was evident and they were completely engaged in learning to share what they knew. These projects were fun and engaging and these children were truly ‘stars.’ The knowledge that they could have an audience beyond their classroom was motivating for them. Their desire to show what they knew and teach others was a huge source of pride. They were superstars and I am very proud of them!

This particular school does not have many technological resources. In a Kindergarten to Grade Eight school with approximately 550 students they have 30 laptops for the whole school and one computer per classroom. There are 4 additional computers in the resource center and one interactive whiteboard housed in a Grade 8 classroom. These could be considered limitations but the amazing projects that we were able to create are proof that there are some wonderful tools that allow us to incorporate learning and technology for kids to create with.

The problem that I have seen isn’t a lack of tools but seems to be a lack of teacher engagement with these tools. Is it fear of the new tools or an unawareness of the tools? How do we get more teachers to see the benefits of their use and to take the risk to try them?

You did *what* today?

Dear Daughter,  
I am writing this blog post cautiously because  you are 7 now but someday you may read it and be all like, “Mooooooooooooooooooom!  Did you *have* to blog about this?!? OH. EM. GEE.  You are *so* embarassing me!”  

But it’s a great story.  It demonstrates both your spirit and your independence and your refusal to follow norms.  It also shows what an amazing teacher you have right now, and I think both of you deserve this public shout-out.  

So, here goes.  I hope you realize how proud I am of you.

Love,

Mom

Friday morning, my daughter got dressed:  thick black cable-knit tights, white tee-shirt under a very cute black and white sweater dress with a tie-belt (trust me, these are important details for the story).  She looked adorable as usual, and off to school she went.

Fast forward to 4:15 when we are discussing her school day.

Me:  So, how was the day?

Her:  Great!  The only thing was that I had to take *this* off for gym.  (She tugs at her belt on her sweater dress)

Me:  What do you mean?  Was your belt in the way?

Her:  No.  I was hot.  So I took it off.

Me: *blink blink*  You took your *whole* dress off in gym time?

Her:  Yes.  I.  Was. Hot. (Speaking as though I was not understanding the gravity of the gym-situation)

Me:  You know you aren’t wearing leggings today, right?  Those are tights?  Kind of like long-underwear?  You ran around in just your tights and your t-shirt?  (Secretly hoping that she actually had her shirt on – pleasepleasepleaseplease.)

Her:  Oh.  Well, whatever.  I was hot.

I sent the following email to her fabulous Grade Two teacher:

Sooooooooooo, McKenna informed me that she got hot in gym today and stripped her dress off and ran around without it.  She thought she had leggings on.

I will, in the future, discuss with her the difference between “leggings” and “tights.”

So embarrassed. Me. Not her.

Have a great weekend!

She sent me back the following email:

She didn’t miss a beat and nor did any of her classmates.  With fashion being the way it is today none of us thought anything about a sweet little girl going hard in a tank top and tights!!  Rock on!  I did have a little chuckle though when she went to the side-lines and was working up a sweat wriggling out of the outfit.  You just gotta love it.

And this is why they need  a shout out.  My daughter is independent, practical and yet the biggest dreamer I know.  And her teacher, Maureen Taylor, is the most caring, unflappable woman I could hope for to teach my daughter.

All children should be so lucky to have experiences and educators like Mrs. Taylor.  Parents appreciate it so much.

After we get over the initial shock.

Her Amazing Spirit

I want to dislike them, I do. But I can’t.

Lego toys are always a huge draw for my kids and my 11 year old son’s bedroom often looks like a Lego Factory threw up in there.  We have regular Lego sets, Star Wars stuff, Harry Potter, Ninjago, random other sets and the compatible, yet different, Bionicles.  It’s embarrassing how much Lego we have, actually.

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The kids play together very well and often and my 7 year old daughter happily joins her brother in building and playing in the imaginary worlds and stories that are spun together based on the pieces that we have.  There are outer space battles, explorations and adventures in futuristic worlds.

My kids and I visited a Toys R Us store this afternoon for the first time since way  before Christmas and as usual, the Lego section was the first stop for us.  It was there that we were confronted with our first look at the new Lego “Friends” sets that are ‘targeted’ towards girls by their marketing.  There are houses and cafes, inventors’ workshops and veterinarians.   There are tree houses and cars.  The characters are not the typical ‘mini-figs’ but are closer to ‘realistic,’ and currently include 5 girls with different appearances.

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I want to dislike them.  I want to rant and rave and rail against the Lego company for marketing strictly to girls, assuming that they need a more gender-specific toy to play with as opposed to regular Lego.  I talk to my daughter about how she can be anything she wants to be and I don’t encourage or discourage her to play with whatever toys she is drawn to.  I don’t refer to ‘boys” toys or ‘girls” toys.  And given the fact that that little girl can wield a lightsaber and hold her own playing Batman Lego on the Wii, she has no preference or aversion for toys that are clearly marketed to boys.

There is a lot discussion on the internet on blogs, message boards and Twitter, much of it from parents who are disgusted and angered that Lego is marketing a ‘stereotypical’ scenario to our girls.  I thought I would share the anger.  Then we saw the pink and purple “Friends” boxes today.

My daughter *freaked* *out* when she saw them and she chose to spend her own money on the outdoor cafe set and the extra character set with a dog house and a puppy.  When we got home and she tore the box open, happily following the instructions to build the sets herself, she was in her glory. The sets contained things she was familiar with and could create stories about.  Her ‘friends’ went for ice cream and owned a cafe.  They looked after their pets and cooked hamburgers together.  And when the Lego Ninjago minifigs showed up with their 11 year old ‘puppeteer,’ they cheerfully ordered milk shakes and then picked up the attached broom and helped out at the shop.

I don’t hate them. I can’t rant and rail against Lego.  If they were creating “Housewives of the 50′s” minifigs, I’d be freaking out, but for now, I see the happiness that my daughter has shown playing with her new toys and I know that I will continue to raise her in a way that lets her know that I am confident that she can make her own decisions and that people and companies won’t tell her what she will like to play with.  I don’t see people railing and ranting against Lego for marketing the Harry Potter and Star Wars and Ninjago sets towards boys.  And make no mistake, they do.  What’s the difference between this marketing and marketing fighting, battle-type toys to boys?  Perpetuating a stereotype of a different kind, no?

Happy, happy!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.  I hope that the next couple of weeks are a time of fun, family, and friends, but also a time to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.  Happy holidays, everyone!

~Trina

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We are Warm Sweaters

During this season we tend to get wrapped up in the excitement, anticipation and fun of the holidays.  We look forward to the break from school and work,  hoping to spend time with family and friends, celebrating, reconnecting and sharing gifts, joy, and love.  For many of us there will be roaring fires, a Christmas feast, loved ones nearby and too many Christmas trees under the tree.   Many children come from homes where they may not be provided even the very basics to help them thrive and just be kids, let alone the things that we will be surrounded with during the holidays.  Sadly, for many children, school may be the only place where they feel safe, warm, cared for and engaged. We are their warm sweaters.  The ones that make them feel safe and warm and comfortable.

This time of year the energy level in our schools goes up, up, UP! and we often hear exasperated educators sigh, “You can tell it’s getting close to Christmas!”,  and for many kids, that’s true.  They’re excited and enthusiastic and counting down the days until holidays and whatever their celebrations entail.

Let’s not forget about the kids whose increase in energy level or changes in behaviour might be triggered by anxiety and not excitement.  Anxiety knowing that in a week or so they will not have school to come to.  That for two weeks they will not have their Warm Sweaters on.

I wish it weren’t so.  I wish all of our children had the chance to be children – happy, cared for, provided for and treated to wonderful Christmas and holiday memories.  The reality is that some aren’t.

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Ten Reasons Why Teachers Must Be Magic

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A wonderful letter from Santa from the 21st  Century Educational Technology and Learning blog by Michael Gorman.  Check out his blog for this post and much more.

A Special Letter From Santa… Ten Reasons Why Teachers Must Be Magic!

Welcome to a very special post… one that I will make a tradition to post each holiday season. It was several Christmas Eves ago that I found this letter under my Christmas Tree! I made it a tradition to put it away, until just a few weeks before Christmas each year, with the idea of sharing it with you! Please take a moment to read this very special letter from Santa! He takes a moment to describe the magic that you as an educator make happen every day! While you are at it, I would appreciate that you take a moment to subscribe to this Blog by RSS or email and follow me at (mjgormans). Taking that moment insures that we can continue to network, something that is very magical to me. Also, please share this letter with others and even provide a re-tweet.  May your holidays be filled with magic! – Mike Gorman (http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/)

A Letter From Santa

Dear Teachers,

I have been meaning to write this letter for a long time! It is a letter that I feel is long overdue and with the elves getting all ready for my long ride, I finally found the time! I have been watching teachers for many years and I am amazed at the work they do. I have come to a conclusion that the teaching profession, like my own, must be filled with bits of  magic! Please let me provide ten statements of evidence for my belief.

1.  I travel the world one night of the year visiting all the boys and girls of the world. The teaching profession works with every boy and girl all year long. This equates to each teacher fulfilling educational needs for 30 – 200 children each and every school day. Seems like magic to me!

2. I deliver presents to all the boys and girls. From my Toy Repair Shop statistics I find many of these gifts are broken or no longer garner a child’s interest within months!  Yet teachers find inner gifts in every child. Teachers nurture these inner gifts  until they develop into true presents that will last a lifetime.  These kinds of gifts sure seem like magic to me!

3. I keep my naughty and nice list for every child. Some people believe this job is pretty amazing! Yet when I look at the teaching profession, teachers provide a constant evaluation of all their students! Their list covers all the aspects of developing and learning which they report to children’s parents and to the children themselves! This evaluation is based on a wide variety of observations, data, and student performance.  Teachers will then use this list to help improve each and every student! Wow, keeping track of every student’s ability and prescribing ways to be successful must really be magic!

4. I leave presents to students who are on the nice list and who believe in me. Teachers work with all children because they believe in every student. Teachers continue to do so, even when students stop believing in the educational system’s ability to help them achieve.  That type of persistence has got to be magic!

5. I have operated my workshop using the same technology for hundreds of years and it has worked for me. Then again, I work with children when they are asleep, delivering presents in my own way. Teachers work with children when they are awake and they have spent time learning how to engage children using googles, blogs, phlogs, glogs, prezis, and all these other words I really don’t know! Being able to teach, transform, and accommodate for this new digital generation must really be magic!

6. I have made it a practice to leave coal behind for children who do not make my good list! It seems every year the same children always get the coal. Teachers refuse to leave coal, in fact, they are working hard at leaving no child behind. To work towards a goal of leaving no child behind is a true act of magic!

7. I read the news and I am always so thankful to read all the nice articles about my work. It really does provide me with motivation to keep up my vocation. I read news articles about the education profession and it seems that most articles are unsupportive. Yet, teachers keep working hard at providing success for their students! These teachers must be operating on a little bit of magic!

8. I have thousands of elves, of course the reindeer, and the  community of the entire North Pole to assist me. Teachers work every day, many times by themselves, as they provide new opportunities for their students! Carrying that load alone must be much heavier than my bag of toys. It must really be magic!

9. I receive many a thank you and millions of pictures of happy faces as children open their presents each year. Teachers don’t always get the thank yous, or may never see the present get eventually opened. When they do, appreciation may come from decades later!  A thank you that appears after many years must be the result of pure magic!

10. I discovered a light in Rudolph brightens up a dark, foggy, or snowy night so that I can deliver joy to all the children across the world. Teachers provide the light that brightens our world in both the darkest night and brightest day! It is the light of learning and knowledge!  The ability to keep that light burning  bright  must take a quite a bit of magic!

You see, I have found that magic does not come easily! It is made possible only by those who work hard and keep believing, and seek what they know is possible! As you can see, there must be a great deal of magic in the education profession! Please continue to keep this magic alive and know that you are all on my good list! After all, I had to learn all that I do from somewhere! So from across the years I know I have many teachers to thank!   Last, to all teachers across the world… I really do believe in you!

Thanks for all the magic,

Santa

Thank you for the post, Michael.  Happy Holidays to you!

Getting to know “Professional Me”

I taught for 10 years and then took a short hiatus from teaching.  I have now been substitute teaching for the past year and am looking forward to pursuing a new teaching contract with my own classroom again.  I’ve put together a short Sliderocket presentation to share with principals as an introduction to Professional Me.

Have a look at Professional Me, and feel free to leave me some feedback.

Wish me luck!  It’s time for me to return to my profession.

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