Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and...

6
T E A C H I N G & L E A R N I N G S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 Save the Date! Teaching & Learning An Official Publication of ISD 15’s Office of Teaching & Learning GOT NEWS? If you have news, information, or photographs that you would like to share with the district and public, please contact one of the Site Community Relations Coordinators listed below. Sandra Benson, Cedar Creek Cassie Schmoll, East Bethel Beth Anderson, SFE Joe Fredrickson, Middle School Brent Stavig, High School Technology Integrated into ISD 15’s Classrooms This issue of Teaching & Learning is focused on the different ways that technology is being used in our classrooms throughout ISD 15. Whether it is using SMART Boards in kindergarten or web-based communication in the high school, ISD 15 is committed to providing its students with access to the best technology and most recent innovations for our classrooms. We believe that ISD 15 should be the first and last stop for parents looking to give their children the best chance to succeed with an integrated technology curriculum. Last Day June 7 Last day for students Work Days June 8-9 Staff Work Days Graduation June 10 7:00 St. Francis HS

Transcript of Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and...

Page 1: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

T E A C H I N G & L E A R N I N G S P R I N G 2 0 1 1

Save the Date!

Teaching & Learning An Official Publication of ISD 15’s Office of Teaching & Learning

GOT NEWS?

If you have news, information, or photographs that you would like to share with the district and public, please contact one of the Site Community Relations Coordinators listed below. Sandra Benson, Cedar Creek Cassie Schmoll, East Bethel Beth Anderson, SFE Joe Fredrickson, Middle School Brent Stavig, High School

Technology Integrated into ISD 15’s Classrooms

This issue of Teaching & Learning is focused on the different ways that technology is being used in our classrooms throughout ISD 15. Whether it is using SMART Boards in kindergarten or web-based communication in the high school, ISD 15 is committed to providing its students with access to the best technology and most recent innovations for our classrooms. We believe that ISD 15 should be the first and last stop for parents looking to give their children the best chance to succeed with an integrated technology curriculum.

Last Day June 7

Last day for students

Work Days June 8-9

Staff Work Days

Graduation June 10

7:00

St. Francis HS

Page 2: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

TEACHING & LEARNING

2

SPRING 2011

Digital Storytelling Comes to SFE By Jodine Sheerin

In the past two years, several teachers at St. Francis Elementary have integrated technology into the teaching of writing by using digital storytelling. All of our students love to tell stories, but to be literate today students need to be able to think, learn, and express themselves through words, pictures, and their own voices. Why teach digital storytelling? Below are a few reasons

taken from the professional resource, Make Me A Story by Lisa C. Miller: 1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling projects can change how students see themselves and their classmates and can build community in the classroom. 3. Digital storytelling projects do not have to be complicated to be effective.

To begin this writing project, students choose a subject and their pictures. They can use pictures they have already taken or they could use a digital camera to create new photographs for their chosen topic. In composing a digital story, students create the draft on paper first using all of the writing process steps. They need to choose an interesting question to answer or story to tell. Their story needs to make an impact on the viewers, with a clear point of view. As they revise, they are reminded that their pictures would also tell part of the story, so creating impactful sentences was important. The next step is to upload the pictures on the computer using a program called Photostory 3. After uploading, they record their story slide-by-slide, or picture-by-picture. Once they are satisfied with their story recording, students choose background music to upload that matches the mood of their story. Students are very excited about their finished digital story, and eager to share with their audiences. Last year we were able to copy their digital story onto a CD for them to take home and share with their families. These could also be emailed to parents to view at home with a free Photostory 3 download to their home computers. This is a great way to share their writing with audiences beyond the classroom.

Page 3: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

TEACHING & LEARNING

3

SPRING 2011

iClub Allows Middle School Students to Explore Their Creative Side

by Joe Fredrickson

Creativity  meets  technology  during  the  iClub  meetings  

at  St.  Francis  Middle  School.  A  small  group  of  Students  

in  grades  6-­‐8  meet  six  times  during  the  trimester  to  

meet  other  tech  savvy  students  who  want  to  explore  

“Apps”  on  the  iPad.            

Sixth  grade  student  Thomas  Frias  stated,  “  I  like  that  

there  is  a  club  that  lets  you  use  your  own  iPod  to  

make  video.  They  use  our  quotes  and  images  to  make  

movies  that  teach  about  things  like  hallway  behavior  

and  anti-­‐bullying”.    

Students  are  utilizing  the  ISD#15  iPads  as  well  as  their  

own  iPods  to  create  these  short  instructional  clips.  

iClub  advisor  Darin  Bourasa  said  they  have  been  

exploring  and  using  many  animation  and  creativity  

apps.  The  students  have  made  clips  using  Animoto.    

The  iPad  allows  for  portable  technology  that  can  

search  the  web  and  utilize  applications  that  compile  

the  student’s  creative  clips  and  images.    

“This  afterschool  offering  provides  opportunity  for  

students  to  forge  relationships  with  peers,  explore  

and  utilize  new  technology,  and  create  a  product  to  

share  with  staff  and  students  at  the  middle  school,”  

Bourasa  stated.    

The  link  to  the  iClub  creations  has  been  sent  to  the  

SFMS  staff  and  has  received  much  positive  response.    

“Pretty  impressive!      It  made  me  want  to  hear  and  see  

more,”  said  Susan  Whittlef,  SFMS  staff  member.

Arts Come to Crossroads Recent Arts and Entertainment Events a Big Hit at the Crossroads Learning Center

The  most  recent  event  to  come  to  Crossroads  was  Climb  Theatre;  they  came  to  perform  at  the  end  of  March.    They  performed  a  play  called  “Social  Security.”    This  particular  show  demonstrated  and  identified  the  ways  cliques  function  in  school,  the  characteristics  of  students  who  attain  popularity,  and  how  cliques  include  or  exclude  peers.    This  was  a  powerful  message  to  students  here  at  Crossroads.  

Page 4: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

TEACHING & LEARNING

4

SPRING 2011

East Bethel Incorporates Digital Into Classes by Cassie Schmoll

SMART  Boards  are  being  used  to  enhance  each  student’s  learning  experience.    Some  examples  of  this  are  being  able  to  travel  around  the  world  without  leaving  their  classrooms  through  Google  Earth,  being  able  to  manipulate  3-­‐D  objects  with  a  touch  of  their  finger  and  chatting  with  professionals  in  the  science  fields.    The  sky  is  the  limit  when  it  comes  to  the  opportunities  the  SMART  Board  brings  to  the  classrooms  at  E.B.C.S.

iPads  

With  a  classroom  set  of  iPads  students  are  discovering  there  is  a  world  of  knowledge  right  at  their  fingertips.    Subject  area  applications  are  being  utilized  to  reinforce  concepts  and  allow  for  students  to  practice  in  a  motivating  and  fun  way.    Students  are  loving  and  embracing  the  iPads  and  they  are  pushing  themselves  to  new  limits  as  they  strive  for  success.      

School  Pride  

Eagle  Pride  is  a  community-­‐building  program  East  Bethel  Community  School  has  implemented.  It  revolves  around  the  students  taking  responsibility  in  what  their  school  community  feels  and  looks  like.    When  a  student  goes  above  and  beyond  expectations  to  improve  their  school  community,  they  are  often  given  an  Eagle  Feather.  Every  feather  moves  them  closer  to  being  one  of  the  top  Eagle  Feather  winners  in  their  school.    Prizes  are  awarded  to  the  top  students  each  year.

SMART  Boards  

Page 5: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

TEACHING & LEARNING

5

SPRING 2011

SMART Boards Start Kindergarteners On the Right Track

By Sandra Benson

The kindergarten curriculum in ISD 15 St. Francis is an intensive program, which includes a 90-minute literacy block, 60-minute math block, and science and social studies units. Kindergarteners need to experience a lesson or an objective multiple times and in a variety of ways in order to internalize the information. Using technology is a motivational way for the students to interact with the subject area over and over again in unique and exciting ways and helps to enhance and increase learning potential. Technology is one of the biggest and most exciting changes that we have seen this year in our classrooms, where we were given smart boards and document cameras.

In kindergarten, one of our math units is patterns. Children need to identify what is a pattern, create their own patterns, and copy patterns. As kindergarten teachers we developed lessons on the smart board to enhance the district math curriculum Think Math. With a smart board lesson, the whole

class was able to see the lesson on patterns and then children could move shapes around to create or copy a pattern.

The intent within our Kindergarten study group was to allow teachers to collaborate and share ideas with one another. We wanted to develop specific lessons that kindergarten teachers could use in their classroom. We developed a schedule of who would write and design lessons and what lesson needed to be developed and uploaded on the district smart board site for kindergarten. With all of the kindergarten team uploading lessons, we have a very large choice of lessons to use every day. As kindergarten teachers, we shared lessons that would use best practice teaching examples of exciting activities that enhance learning in our kindergarten classrooms. This was done so all kindergarten children would have access to smart board lessons.

The technology and training we were given this year is one of the biggest and most exciting changes that we have seen in our classrooms. We embraced it and have enjoyed sharing lessons with each other.

The foundation for creating lessons for each of our curriculum areas has been laid. As teachers, we really enjoyed experimenting with the smart board and trying new things. The kindergarten teachers have gained confidence in themselves and their ability to use the smart board to enhance their lessons.

Page 6: Teaching & Learning1. Digital storytelling engages and empowers reluctant readers and writers and different types of learners. It makes everyone want to write. 2. Digital storytelling

THE FOLLOWING ARE IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER FOR SPIP AND IPDP STAFF MEMBERS:

PAST DUE: Last day for observations was April 25th NOW: Registration for 2011-12 Academy classes is open May 31st: Final PRT completed for Career Incentive Bonus June 30th: Final PRT completed

Contact Jeff Fink with questions.

SPIP & IPDP Dates

TEACHING & LEARNING SPRING 2011

Crossroads Students Stay Engaged With iPads. By Brock Libby

In an effort to keep the students at Crossroads School and Vocational Center engaged in classroom activities and to stay current with technology, Mr. Berger and Mr. Libby have each been involved in piloting five iPads in their respective classrooms. Mr. Libby teaches Social Studies and has found the iPads to be an invaluable tool for current events. The iPads have many news applications on them and he has been using them to teach his students about media literacy and recognizing bias in the media. The students have found it extremely eye-opening to contrast two different articles that report on the same topic. The iPads have made the logistics of current events much more streamlined in Mr. Libby’s class as well. It has been much easier to pull out the iPads and hand them out instead of tracking down newspapers and having them strewn about his room by the end of the day. Another benefit of the iPad news applications is that they update in real-time so the current events that are covered are more current than day-old newspapers. The games on the iPad have worked as a great reinforcement for the more challenging students and have been a great motivator for them to stay in class. Playing chess is WAY more fun on an iPad, after all. In Mr. Berger’s class, the response by the students has been equally ecstatic. Students have been using Doodle Buddy to work on the same drawing at the same time, collaborating with one another. After they have finished their diagrams they then get to publish their work to the web.