Audioboo!

First graders got a chance to use the Audioboo app on the iPad to read and record a review about their favorite Dr.Seuss book or they chose a book from the library to read aloud. Click on the class recordings to listen:

Does anybody have some Extra Yarn?

In kindergarten, we have been experimenting with our iPads. Students have learned how to hold an iPad properly and how to share it with their friends. They've also learned how to take pictures and how to use an app called DoodleBuddy. In library we read a story called Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett. In this story, a little girl stumbles upon a box that is filled with yarn, so she begins to knit for her friends and her family and eventually even for her house and pet dog. I asked kindergarten students to take pictures and create their own knitting creations using DoodleBuddy. This project allowed students to demonstrate their understanding of the text through media as well as an opportunity to collaborate and show the responsible use of technology in the classroom.

It's vacation week...

It's time to explore some fun websites and apps for kids.

(1) FunBrain.com.
http://www.funbrain.com/

This site has tons of fun reading and math games. Try out the MadLibs. Read online books, such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Galactic Hot Dogs. Visit the Math Arcade or play a word game, such as the Grammar Gorillas.

(2) My Coloring Book Free App
Visit the app store and type in coloring for kids and you'll find a ton of coloring book apps that are free, but my favorite was created by Jeff Pedersen. There are so many pictures to choose from!








(3) 4 in a Row Online App

Yes, another free app! This is really the game Connect Four, but just goes by a different name. Try your hand at beating the computer or other players.

**Special thanks to my niece Vivian, who helped me discover all these cool apps. :-)

There's a cat...in the library

Reading Links

Do you feel like listening to a new story today? Kick back with your laptop or iPad and go on an adventure.

(1) http://www.rif.org/kids/readingplanet.htm

(2) http://www.storylineonline.net/

Animoto Biomes

Fifth graders studied a variety of biomes in their science class. The fifth grade science teacher and I coordinated to create a unit, where students would take notes in the classroom using books and then they would use the Encyclopedia Britannica database in the library to research an assigned biome, such as the tundra or desert.

After research was completed, students took their notes and created Animotos using the facts that they had gathered as well as photos from Pics4Learning. This project fulfilled a number of technology standards and it also fulfilled several common core standards, such as conducting research to build knowledge on a topic (W.5.7) and then presenting that information in a multimedia presentation.Here are some wonderful Animotos that the students created.

New Books in the Library!

Check out all the new titles!

First Grade Winter Projects

In first grade, students read Caldecott Medal books during the month of January. As explained to students, the Caldecott is given each year to an artist, who creates the most distinguised picture book. We read two classic Caldecotts: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Students were asked what they would do on a snowy day. They wrote a sentence about their activity and then illustrated it using Kerpoof.com.

Students discovered in Snowflake Bentley that no two snowflakes are alike. They created their own snowflakes using the following website:http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/
These projects allowed students to demonstrate the following standards:
-Proficiency in the use of computers and applications.
-Ability to communicate and collaborate via technology.
-Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts and feelings.

Mo Willems Author Study

For the past month, kindergarten students have been listening to all of kinds of stories by Mo Willems, such as Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny, Should I Share My Ice Cream (An Elephant & Piggie Book), Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, That Is Not a Good Idea!, and Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator! We even explored the Mo Willems website (http://www.gomo.net/page.php?name=Home), which has all kinds of wacky games and we watched an interview with the author (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnLqoZvrMfw). Students absolutely loved hearing Mo's stories and created their own version of Knuffle Bunny.

We talked about how Mo Willems first takes a photograph of his surroundings and then he draws on top of the photograph in order to make the illustrations for Knuffle Bunny. Students then used cameras and iPads to take pictures of anything they wanted in the library.

As you can probably tell, the kiddos were having a blast taking pictures. I uploaded the pictures onto Little Bird Tales and then the students drew on top of the images.Here are the links to the e-books that were created.

Ms. Cole's Class
https://www.littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/343295/

Mrs. Kasparian's Class
https://www.littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/343293/

Mrs. Marciano's Classes
https://www.littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/343297/
https://www.littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/344404/

One of the kiddos was so inspired by our project that he actually made one at home using his own camera and markers. Take a look at Noah's wonderful piece of art!

Exploring Ellis Island

The fourth grade teachers were covering Immigration in the classroom. I thought about what I'd like to do in order enrich their learning experience. Sometimes you'd like to take 80 fourth grade students and head down to Ellis Island to visit and learn more about our country's history, but you just can't afford to do so. Luckily, the Internet, as I've explained to students, allows us to take a field trip without actually physically moving from our seats, which is cheaper than a field trip. Students used some amazing websites to visit Ellis Island, take notes and then create a PowerPoint presentation using the information that they gathered from their visit.

Here are the links to the websites that we used:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/tour/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork//laic/episode4/topic2/e4_topic2.html

http://www.ellisisland.org/

http://www.history.com/topics/ellis-island

And here's a video of the kiddos actively engaged in exploring Ellis Island via live cam!

The One and Only Ivan

This month's Lunch Bunch Book Club selection is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. It's the story of Ivan, a gorilla, who lives in the Big Top Mall. Ivan has lived there all of his life and he seems to be okay with living in his cage until a young elephant, Ruby, comes along and then Ivan begins to see that he has to make a better life for the both of them. This book is based on a true story and it has won the Newbery Medal. Check out the book trailer:

And here's a glimpse of the real Ivan...

Flora & Ulysses Review

Kate DiCamillo's recent novel is absolutely adorable. Flora & Ulysses is about a little girl and her friendship with a squirrel, who also happens to have superhero abilities. He can lift a heavy vacuum, fly through the air and help Flora and her family reconnect. 

Flora's parents are self absorbed characters, especially her mother, who seems to care more about her career as a romance novelist rather than actually being a parent that shows any affection towards her own child. Flora's father appears to have gone through some sort of nervous breakdown though we never really get to the heart of the reason why he's not more involved in Flora's life. Flora has developed a cynical attitude and acts like her parents' divorce hasn't affected her, but it soon becomes apparent that Flora is lonely and that she hungers for her parents' care and attention.

Ulysses comes along and fills a void in Flora's heart.Conflict arises in the story when Flora's mother decides that squirrel must meet his maker. Ulysses is like the cat with nine lives and manages to escape. He is a brave little squirrel and his love for Flora is what makes this story so charming. I especially liked his poem for Flora where he tells her that she is "everything, all of it - sprinkles, quarks, giant donuts, eggs sunny-side up- you are the ever-expanding universe to me." Aw, love sure is sweet.

Throughout the novel, there are black and white illustrations with a comic book layout, which highlights Ulysses superhero like qualities and Flora's love for comic book superhero Incandesto, which she often compares Ulysses to.

This is a great read for kids in grades 2-5. I definitely recommend it as a classroom read aloud.