Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Evoke learning through "E-Voc"ing activities (Electronic Vocabulary)
Evoke learning through
“E-Voc”ing Activities (electronic vocabulary)
Reading passage: Creepy Cave Crawlers
Resources presented:
·
Online flashcards: Quizlet.com
·
Online field trips: Trackstar.4teachers.org
·
A resource to engage those hard to reach
students: Comicmaster.org.uk
·
A resource for the highly visual student: Piclit.com
·
Interactive presentation: powtoon.com
Others:
·
QR codes:
qrstuff.com (you also need to
download I-nigma for your smart device)
·
Oral responses: Vocaroo.com
·
Interactive presentation: animoto.com
·
Interactive presentation: prezi.com
Contact Presenter:
·
Twitter: @teachosten
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
What is an iCoach?
Webster's Dictionary defines a Coach as "An instructor or trainer of others."
The role of an Instructional Coach, from now on known as an "iCoach", is to increase the instructional capacity of a teachers. This is done by supporting teachers by building their teaching skills, assisting others in applying new knowledge, and providing ongoing professional development.
Why did I choose to leave the classroom and seek out an opportunity to be an iCoach?
Simple! I knew that I needed to reach more than just the 22 children in my classroom. Also, there are amazing educators out there, and with support they can go from "good" to "GREAT"!
How will an iCoach help teachers?
What do I NOT do as an iCoach?
This adventure as an iCoach has started out on a "rocky" road, but like someone recently said to me, "Getting a little nervous/mad/frustrated is part of the "learning" and "training" process. It is never going to be perfect...and that is by design. If you have questions or problems to be solved: get the questions answered and solve the problem. Let yourself have the experience and you will become better for it!"
I am up for the challenge this year, and know I will be STRONGER for it!
The role of an Instructional Coach, from now on known as an "iCoach", is to increase the instructional capacity of a teachers. This is done by supporting teachers by building their teaching skills, assisting others in applying new knowledge, and providing ongoing professional development.
Why did I choose to leave the classroom and seek out an opportunity to be an iCoach?
Simple! I knew that I needed to reach more than just the 22 children in my classroom. Also, there are amazing educators out there, and with support they can go from "good" to "GREAT"!
How will an iCoach help teachers?
- Help Raise Achievement
- Reviewing Data - Facilitating Data dialogue, help identify student needs based on the data, and help create a plan of action to alter instruction.
- Facilitate Professional Development
- Promote the use of Research-Based Practices
- Expertise - Share research, effective instructional practices, and emerging trends.
- Increase Teacher Effectiveness
- Model Lessons - Modeling lessons provides an opportunity for teachers to watch and learn new strategies or instructional practices.
- Observations - Observe teachers and focus on things that teachers do well and provide feedback. iCoaches are seeking to help teachers improve and refine their practices.
- Encourage the Concept of Professional Learning Communities (PLC)
- Share Resources
What do I NOT do as an iCoach?
- Evaluate or judge teachers: That is the principals job!
- Take the place of the principal: I am here to provide support to the principal and teachers.
- Act like the expert: It will turn off teachers to my support if I act like I have all the answers.
This adventure as an iCoach has started out on a "rocky" road, but like someone recently said to me, "Getting a little nervous/mad/frustrated is part of the "learning" and "training" process. It is never going to be perfect...and that is by design. If you have questions or problems to be solved: get the questions answered and solve the problem. Let yourself have the experience and you will become better for it!"
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Math Day - This is a long but informative post!!
This last week was action packed with STAAR writing for two days. In an effort to recharge and re-engage the students my 4th grade team decided to have a Math Day. Thursday, the day after testing, we made 4 stations for each homeroom class to transition through. These stations included specific TEKS/skills the grade level as a whole needed additional help on.
One room was a general problem solving skills STAAR review. I used this free STAAR test someone made and posted on teachers pay teachers. STAAR-Math-Practice-Test-4th-Grade
Now, NO ONE wanted to take another test. So, I made the first 23 questions into a QR code, posted them around the room, and had the students use the ipads to scan and solve the questions. They did this in partners. If you are interested here are those first 23 questions as a QR code: STAAR QR code Review
I love using QR codes, but had a new challenge. The STAAR review quiz would not keep its formate when I tried to add it to a QR code maker. I decided to take a screen shot of each question to make it easier. Well, it did not make it much easier. I quickly learned you cannot add a file to a QR. So, I found this great website, that would take my picture, turn it into a website link, and create the QR code. Here is the site if you are ever interested: QR code maker
Example:
Here is what that same question looks like as a QR code:
One room was a fraction review. The students needed help with Mixed numbers, Improper fractions, benchmark fractions, and equivalent fractions. This activity hit all of these skills and made it fun!
We did this by playing BINGO. I loved this one because it was an interactive whiteboard type game. The great thing is this ran through my laptop and projector. NO NEED FOR A WHITEBOARD. Here is the link for the BINGO caller: Fraction Bingo Whiteboard Caller
You will need to purchase the BINGO cards from teacherspayteachers.com for only 2 dollars. I printed them in black and white on colored paper. Here is the direct link to the cards: Fraction Bingo Cards
Another room was a review of Transformations. This is the movement of a shape. In third grade they called this flip, slide, and turn. Now we call it translation, rotation, and reflection.
To start this review, We discussed the three types of transformations and what the students remember about it. Then we grabbed their interest by showing this short video. I love this video because it was able to take the need to know what translation, rotation, and reflection into a real life application.
After the video, we taught the students this great kenesthetic song to remember how/what each movement is. The song is to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance. We use the music file on this site to sing along to: Mexican Hat Dance
Here is a cute video of another teacher's class doing the hand movements for the song are at this youtube link: Math Rotations, Reflections, and Translations Song
Finally, we practice our skills by creating this free foldable from teacherspayteachers: Transformations-Activity
The last classroom was a long division and two digit by two digit multiplication room. With dice, dry erase markers and white boards, students practiced their skills.
I hope the students had as much fun as we had reviewing these skills!!!
Enjoy parents and teachers.
One room was a general problem solving skills STAAR review. I used this free STAAR test someone made and posted on teachers pay teachers. STAAR-Math-Practice-Test-4th-Grade
I love using QR codes, but had a new challenge. The STAAR review quiz would not keep its formate when I tried to add it to a QR code maker. I decided to take a screen shot of each question to make it easier. Well, it did not make it much easier. I quickly learned you cannot add a file to a QR. So, I found this great website, that would take my picture, turn it into a website link, and create the QR code. Here is the site if you are ever interested: QR code maker
Example:
Here is what that same question looks like as a QR code:
One room was a fraction review. The students needed help with Mixed numbers, Improper fractions, benchmark fractions, and equivalent fractions. This activity hit all of these skills and made it fun!
We did this by playing BINGO. I loved this one because it was an interactive whiteboard type game. The great thing is this ran through my laptop and projector. NO NEED FOR A WHITEBOARD. Here is the link for the BINGO caller: Fraction Bingo Whiteboard Caller
You will need to purchase the BINGO cards from teacherspayteachers.com for only 2 dollars. I printed them in black and white on colored paper. Here is the direct link to the cards: Fraction Bingo Cards
Another room was a review of Transformations. This is the movement of a shape. In third grade they called this flip, slide, and turn. Now we call it translation, rotation, and reflection.
To start this review, We discussed the three types of transformations and what the students remember about it. Then we grabbed their interest by showing this short video. I love this video because it was able to take the need to know what translation, rotation, and reflection into a real life application.
After the video, we taught the students this great kenesthetic song to remember how/what each movement is. The song is to the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance. We use the music file on this site to sing along to: Mexican Hat Dance
The words are:
Reflection means to flip,
rotation means to turn,
translation means to slide it,
I've got this lesson learned!
Here is a cute video of another teacher's class doing the hand movements for the song are at this youtube link: Math Rotations, Reflections, and Translations Song
Finally, we practice our skills by creating this free foldable from teacherspayteachers: Transformations-Activity
The last classroom was a long division and two digit by two digit multiplication room. With dice, dry erase markers and white boards, students practiced their skills.
I hope the students had as much fun as we had reviewing these skills!!!
Enjoy parents and teachers.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
April Math Calendar
April's Math Calendar - Enjoy!!!!!
Please remember that STAAR testing begins this week. Don't forget to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy protein filled breakfast.
Download a PDF version here: April Math Calendar
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Formula that always equals 5
Friday a student, Miss P, showed our 2nd period class how to take a number and always get 5 as the answer. By 5th period, we were testing it with any number we could think of.
Here is the formula: number + (number +1) +9 divided by 2 - original number.
STEPS:
Choose a number.
Add number you chose to the next number when counting.
Add 9 to that sum.
Divide that sum by 2.
Subtract the original number from that quotient.
You should have a difference of 5!!!!
Example: 8+9=17+9=26/2=13-8=5
I challenge you to tell me why this always equals 5. (Hint.. look at just the numbers in the formula)
Enjoy!
Here is the formula: number + (number +1) +9 divided by 2 - original number.
STEPS:
Choose a number.
Add number you chose to the next number when counting.
Add 9 to that sum.
Divide that sum by 2.
Subtract the original number from that quotient.
You should have a difference of 5!!!!
Example: 8+9=17+9=26/2=13-8=5
I challenge you to tell me why this always equals 5. (Hint.. look at just the numbers in the formula)
Enjoy!
Properties of Solid Shapes and Volume
This week we began discuss the various properties of solid shapes and how to find the volume of these shapes.
Properties of Solid Shapes
We began by reviewing what we knew about solid (3D) shapes. For examples: Faces, Edges, and Vertices.
Faces - The flat side of a solid shape
Edges - Where two faces meet
Vertices -Where three or more faces meet
We also talked about what a polyhedron is, a solid shapes whose faces are all polygons. From here we learned about mathematician Leonhard Euler (pronounced "Oil-er"). Euler discovered the relationship between faces, edges, and vertices.
Euler's Theorem states that (F + V) - 2 = E. We tested this on several polyhedrons.
Volume of Solid Shapes
At the end of the week, we began discussing volume of a solid shape.
We identified two different ways to find volume.
- If the shape were irregular (not an identifiable polyhedron) we would just count the cubic units.
- If the shape were regular polyhedrons we can use the formula length x width x height.
To engage the students in class we use "Whole Brain Teaching" often. If you are interested read more about it here: Whole Brain Teaching
Many times, when using WBT in class, I have the students use their friends, "Smarty" and "Dufus". These guys are their hands that talks to one another. Smarty is just as his name implies, he knows how to do the skill and is a very nice, polite teacher. Dufus is not as smart and asks several questions. Dufus needs Smarty's help a lot.
Ok, I tell you guys all of this to explain the following video. I told the students I found "Smarty" and "Dufus" on youtube.com Here they are ready to teach you how to find volume. Enjoy!
Properties of Solid Shapes
We began by reviewing what we knew about solid (3D) shapes. For examples: Faces, Edges, and Vertices.
Faces - The flat side of a solid shape
Edges - Where two faces meet
Vertices -Where three or more faces meet
We also talked about what a polyhedron is, a solid shapes whose faces are all polygons. From here we learned about mathematician Leonhard Euler (pronounced "Oil-er"). Euler discovered the relationship between faces, edges, and vertices.
Euler's Theorem states that (F + V) - 2 = E. We tested this on several polyhedrons.
Volume of Solid Shapes
At the end of the week, we began discussing volume of a solid shape.
We identified two different ways to find volume.
- If the shape were irregular (not an identifiable polyhedron) we would just count the cubic units.
- If the shape were regular polyhedrons we can use the formula length x width x height.
To engage the students in class we use "Whole Brain Teaching" often. If you are interested read more about it here: Whole Brain Teaching
Many times, when using WBT in class, I have the students use their friends, "Smarty" and "Dufus". These guys are their hands that talks to one another. Smarty is just as his name implies, he knows how to do the skill and is a very nice, polite teacher. Dufus is not as smart and asks several questions. Dufus needs Smarty's help a lot.
Ok, I tell you guys all of this to explain the following video. I told the students I found "Smarty" and "Dufus" on youtube.com Here they are ready to teach you how to find volume. Enjoy!
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