Reinventing the Reading Journal

Recently I learned of a way to create a journal which would support teachers pushing out content to the journal pages in real time.  In order to do this, teachers must set up a teacher copy and student copy of the journal.  I have modeled the steps in the short clips below while creating this reading journal to use with a student interest book group who will be  reading The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.  

Step 1:  Create a teacher template.

• Create a Google Slideshow with a name to indicate this is your “teacher copy”
• Format your Slideshow.  I prefer to use the custom setting to make the journal to look like a piece of paper (8.5 x 11)
• Add multiple BLANK slides . Your slideshow should have enough slides for the entire novel study

Step 2:  Create your student template

• Create a Google Slideshow with a name to indicate this is your “student copy”
• Format your Slideshow.  I prefer to use the custom setting to make the journal to look like a piece of paper (8.5 x 11)

Step 3:  Link your slideshows

• In your teacher copy, highlight ALL slides and click file→ copy
• Paste all slides into your student copy
• When prompted, LINK to the slides

Step 4:  Assign to students

• Before assigning in Google Classroom, you will need to “share” the TEACHER copy with your students.  This assures that your slides will be linked when the ownership changes in Classroom. Students will not open this shared copy.

• Assign in Google Classroom, choosing make a copy for each student
• Each student will need their own copy of your slideshow

Step 5:  Update

• When you are ready to "push out" new content, update the appropriate slide in your teacher copy

• Students will see an UPDATE button on their copy of the slideshow on the slide that you updated in your teacher copy

Full Video Below

 

Reimagining Anchor Charts in the Virtual Environment

One thing I love about teaching is creating anchor charts with my students.  I know, it sounds crazy, but I love it.  I love the discussions that take place as students share their thinking, and I love seeing the anchor charts evolve as students begin to think more deeply about a story.  When we are finished with a topic or a discussion, the anchor charts hang on our classroom walls, evidence of our thinking and of our growth as the year goes on.

Teaching in a remote or hybrid model is hard. Planning takes time, and teachers have to reimagine everything.  I was not ready to give up on anchor charts, even in this environment. This fall, my colleague and I discovered Google’s Jamboard.  Using Jamboard, teachers create “Jams” for a particular topic.  Students can write, add pictures and even sticky notes to the Jam, and their classmates can see the updates in real time.  All can work together to move the sticky notes around, creating an electronic anchor chart with a similar look to our in class anchor charts!

Traditional Anchor Chart ~ Tough Boris
by Mem Fox

Reimagined Anchor Chart ~Tough Boris by Mem Fox

Teachers can even create a collection of Jamboards for a particular topic. Ann Williams,  TBR Blogger and fourth grade teacher, created this set of Jamboards to use with her Interactive Read Aloud, Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke.  These slides are student reflections about different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk from around the world.

If you are interested in trying out Jamboard with your students, it is easy!  Check out the video below for some tips.

Our Week In Review

These photos are from last week. Ask your child about these experiences ~ they may spark some new conversations.  Check out our twitter (@mertenladybugs) here on the right panel or on twitter directly. Our blog will be one way to keep communication going during this unique time.

And such perfect timing... these former ladybugs stopped by for a visit on Thursday afternoon.  It was so nice to see them!

 

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Episode One: Welcome to Mo’s Studio!

Hey Gang!  Check out Mo Willems in his studio- teaching us to draw.

Mythic Warriors- Theseus and the Minotaur

Information about Math Tools and Productive Struggle

Below is a video on how we are using the beaded number line during math.  Please note that we use BIG clothespins, not the mini ones that you see utilized in the video.

Also, I wanted to share a video about "productive struggle". We embrace this concept in our learning across all subjects.  This video discusses what productive struggle is, and how it looks in the classroom.

Way To Go!

Our Week In Review

We returned from vacation to lovely, warm weather!  We enjoyed being outside and having the fresh air in our classroom.

In reading this week, we discussed heroes and the characteristics of heroes.  We carefully read nonfiction articles about different types of heroes and discussed characteristics of heroes.  We made connections to our most recent interactive read aloud, Saving Winslow. Students chose a character from Saving Winslow, and then brainstormed and wrote what makes that character a hero.  Next week we will begin learning about Greek Mythology.  We will continue discussing the characteristics of heroes and making connections across the myths we read.

Students continue to share the books they love through Book Talks.

In addition to writing about heroes, our writers began to write the next chapter in Saving Winslow.  This partner activity has been fun for the students, and they will continue writing this next week.  We will share these stories throughout the week.

During Social Studies, we began learning about our capital, Washington, D.C. We "traveled" to DC through Google Expeditions and students were introduced to the DC project and we began discussing how to closely read nonfiction in order to find important information.  Students will continue to research and work on this project throughout the week. 

In math we have been learning about decimals and making the connection between decimals and fractions.  Students used beaded number lines in order to show the concept of decimals in tenths and hundredths.  This tool helped the students understand this concept clearly.  We will continue with these concepts this week.  Our test is scheduled for the following week.

We also learned a new math game - Decimal War!