Paper Slide

At TCEA 2013 I took a class called Paper Slide and Mime.  It is extremely low tech because most of your work is done with paper and markers.  You also need a camera or iPad - and music is optional.

Two years ago I was so excited about this class and shared it with some teachers but last week I finally got to teach all of our Primary School teachers.  I must give credit to Carol Mayo at www.holdthemayo.com  who conducted the TCEA class.  I used her ideas, music, and lyrics.

After I gave a brief overview of what a Paper Slide is the teachers became the “students”.   I gave them the lyrics and played the song, “Halfway Up”.   (Even though I got the song from “Hold the Mayo” I am pretty sure it originally came from “I Am Lodge” at lodgemccammon.com

I divided the teachers into two groups (four and seven) and these creative teachers got to work with their markers and papers and in 15 minutes flat they were ready to record.
I am mad at myself for not taking pictures that day.  I loved watching them color and then because I had purchased a cheap tripod the teachers were forced to get on the floor to make their paper slide.  

The tripod is minus the ipad in this picture but hopefully you get the idea.  

The picture below shows how we put the iPad upside down.  Hopefully you can visually picture the teachers on the floor sliding the picture.  But honestly this is perfect for the primary grades!

And if time and money had not been a factor I would have purchased the tripod below that is made by Justand.  It can be purchased through Pro Computing and is much sturdier and flexible.  It is approximately $100 more but I think so much worth it!

I also gave the teachers some easy instructions, examples, and song sources.  If you want a copy of my handout you can click HERE

If you want to see the two paper slides they made you can click Paper Slide 1 and Paper Slide 2.

I have a 6^th Grade Science Class coming up and we are doing one there so I will be sure and take pictures of it is progress next time! 

My Mom

I have been remiss in posting lately. I wanted to be consistent with doing so but life sometimes gets in the way. My mom passed away February 4, 2015. She got sick right before the Christmas holidays and a little bit over a month later I had to say goodbye. She was 96 years old. I have been on an emotional roller coaster the last two months but more than anything I am grateful for spending so many years with her. I am also grateful my family, friends, and job and hope to very soon get back in the groove and begin posting fun and exciting things for the teachers. Thank you to everyone for their support.

If flowers grow in heaven, Lord, then pick a bunch for me.
Then place them in my mother's arms and tell her they're from me.
Tell her that I love and miss her and when she turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.
                                                                                                           Anonymous

6th Grade Tech Project

Was working in 6th grade today on a project and couldn't resist taking a picture of these three adorable 6th grade girls.  Unlike me, they prefer to sit on stools in the corner of the room with their laptops - well on their laps!  I prefer a good old fashioned table and chair with a back myself.  By the way in case you're interested.  They are working on a family album.  Their 6th Grade literature teacher told them to interview members of their family and bring in pictures and write up any interesting stories they learned.  I was blessed to hear some of the stories.  Even though their parents are young, they interviewed their grandparents who told stories about THEIR parents.  Many were immigrants and they told were heartwarming stories.  Some were just funny about going fishing and falling in a pond.  Each student was so proud to tell their stories.  The stories were done in Publisher but I converted two of them to PDFs.  The first link is one where the student scanned pictures of his family and included them in his Family Stories Album.  The 2nd link is a student who had great stories but did not bring pictures.  For those students we told them to find royalty-free pictures that related to the stories he was telling.  As you can see both did a great job.  Enjoy!

Family Album with Scanned Pictures

Family Album with Royalty-Free Pictures

QR Scavenger Hunt

What a blast we had last week in the Tech PD Class I taught "QR Codes in the Classroom"  I used some of the slides and ideas I got from a webinar I took with Joe Martinez with TCEA and added my own.  The teachers are so excited about the many uses of QR Codes.  Then, the class culminated with The Amazing Q Race.   I honestly went overboard on the questions and the locations of the clues.  When a group would pass me they said things I can  not repeat on this blog.  But in the end they all said it was fun and they needed the exercise.

If you aren't familar with QR Codes you can check out my powerpoint by clicking HERE.

No He Did Not!!!!

Animoto

Yesterday's PD Class was so much fun.  I had 11 teachers come in and learn Animoto.  I have been using it for a couple of years and have found so many uses for it.  The first one I made was All About Me.  I plan on posting that on my About Me Page but since its two years old I have to update it first.

In teaching the class yesterday it was immediately apparent I had a mixed back of participants.  About 1/3 of the class were staff members who were attending for personal use, 1/3 were Primary and Lower School teachers and the other 1/3 were middle school teachers.  So, I just went to my own personal Animoto library and showed them my About Me video, and then I showed them one I made the day after I took my granddaughter to the zoo to duplicate what you could do for a school field trip and then I had some student examples of a book trailer, Washington, DC, and my favorite - a demo of the Alphabet.  I actually got this example directly off the Animoto website.

The students made each letter of the Alphabet out of materials and the teacher took pictures of itr.  The clincher is that the letter A was made out of Acorns, B out of tiny toy Bears, C out of Crayons.... you get the idea.  You just have to see it which you can do by clicking HERE

If you havn't tried Animoto I made a Step-by-Step Tutorial.  Check it out HERE

Virtual Field Trips, WebCams, & More

YIKES!  I'm behind.  Our Teacher In-Service was a week ago and I have not shared the resources.  I created a PowerPoint which shows as a movie.  It basically tells what a VFT is, where to find them, and some examples.

There are some links on the PP so you can access it HERE.


If you teach any of the Lower Grades I created I thought it would be fun to create excitement before the virtual field trip by sending home a PERMISSION SLIP.


And then I would be remiss if I did not share this list of links I got at a Virtual Field Trip session at TCEA.  I found this PDF on my computer but it does not show the angel who put it together so I can give credit for it.  To access this PDF, click LINKS.

Just so you know, WebCams fall under the category of Field Trips.  Be sure and check them out espeically if you want to see some adorable critters like this guy.