Good morning to you and welcome. A cup of something warm would be appreciated as it is still a little chilly outside. Afternoons are warming up and some brave people – and many children – are going outside in their short sleeves.
The past week has been busy and yet fulfilling. I am getting everything ready so that I can put a final mark next to the work my students have done during the second half of the year. I have read with most of them, given them their final writing “test’, and organised all their work. In the upcoming week I shall listen to them speak with a view of giving them a mark, and complete the final Science activity for the report card. I am hoping by the end of next week to have all of the marks recorded so that on Friday (the PA day set aside for reporting), I can complete my report cards. If everything is in place and I focus, I know that I can do it!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I tried a new activity with my students during the past week and it worked very well. For our inquiry on animals, I took out non-fiction books on a range of creatures from our school library. I asked the children to choose a book to do research on an animal of their choice. With the help of sentence starters, they took down notes to record the information they had found. With this information, they wrote a paragraph which I then corrected.
The fun part of the activity was when the children worked on their neat copy. They typed their paragraph into an app using the iPad. I had previously taught them how to use Piccollage and many of them were able to work independently.
They chose their background, font, and searched on the Web for appropriate pictures. I enjoyed reading their final copies as much as they enjoyed making them.
Next week, we will move onto the life cycles of animals. Once again, children will be researching their animal as well as using the iPad. But that story will be told next week.
Today the sun is shining and the skies are a beautiful pale blue. I am going out now to buy some groceries, pop into the library, and then go to my Zumba class. I look forward to the rest of my day (which will include some time relaxing and reading). May you have a wonderful day too.
What would you tell me if we were having coffee?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2017
(This post is linked to the Weekend Coffee Share hosted by Nerd in the Brain)
What a fun activity for school. A great learning tool we didn’t have.
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Using the iPad get those children who do not enjoy writing with a pen/pencil, interesting in working on their paragraph. I have children begging to be next at the centre 🙂
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It is exceptional when children want to go to the centre. It does sound like fun and great teaching method.
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I definitely get good results from using the technology that is available to me.
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making technology productive and not just spending eternity hunting for pokemons or candy crash…
Curious what read did you pick up from the library
~B
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As teachers, we are encouraged to use technology to teach, and to create opportunities for students to use it. The children, no matter what their grade level, can create some amazing stuff.
I picked up three novels from the library today: Wake by Elizabeth Knox (psychological thriller), Claiming Noah by Amanda Ortlepp (drama), and The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart by Anna Bell (romance). I look forward to reading them 🙂
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I like psychological thrillers but drama and romance I’ll pass on those
~B
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I thought you would 🙂
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hahaha lucky guess?
~B
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Yip 🙂
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I’m always surprised how school is becoming more digital. At one point in my academic career, technology wasn’t allowed in class now it’s helping students. It’s pretty cool in my opinion.
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I think so too. Using technology also helps them to become conversant in using tools that they will be expected to use in the workplace. I am amazed by how much technology my daughters (who are in high school) are expected to use.
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I love the new activity you gave the children! You have taught them skills they will need throughout their lives. How often do we look up information we need on the internet and apply that information to some project or activity, both at work and at home?
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We do it so often Michelle. And without thinking. I am happy to help the children with their foray into the information network. And I like that they are learning that the iPad can be used for something else besides games.
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The creative projects the kids are doing will stick to the brains. They look really professional. Have fun with it, and thanks for coffee.
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I think they did a good job as well – I shared with you only four. They loved the fact that they could choose their own font, background and photos.
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@”What would you tell me if we were having coffee?” – well, whaz up, Colline?… we have 6h time difference, je suis en train de boire mon seul café de la journée… noir! 🙂 btw, notre fille who is event manager @ a huge company in California sera à Toronto in July… small world! 🙂
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merci de visiter my playground, bon dimanche & good luck in all your activités! 🙂 amicales pensées & c u asap! 🙂
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Est-ce que tu vas joindre ta fille cette fois à Toronto? C’est géniale pendent l’été et mérite une visite.
Bonne semaine. 🙂
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non, elle va refaire un saut à de Toronto à Toulouse, et en septembre, nous irons chez eux et pas seulement… 🙂 ah, je suis déjà allée 2 fois à Toronto…
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amitiés ensoleillées et à+! 🙂
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Peut-être une autre fois 🙂
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Your student work is wonderful, Colline. You are an excellent teacher.
I just ground some coffee beans on my blog today. I hope you can smell the aroma.
I’d tell you that I’m enjoying knitting on my front porch now that the weather is war enough. And catching up on fellow bloggers posts. Have a good week.
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Your coffee smells wonderful Ruth 🙂
What are you knitting at the moment?
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I’m knitting a toddler(granddaughter going to be two in August) hooded sweater. Variegated yarn with turquoise and rose pink is hues. Anytime for you to crochet? Soon.
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It sounds beautiful. I love the colours.
Currently I am crocheting bookmarks to give my class at the end of the year with some type of book.
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They will treasure your made with love gifts!
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What a fun learning activity!
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Thank you. And what was good about it was that the children worked independently for most of the time.
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I’m so glad the project worked with your class. It’s amazing what kids can do with story starters and sentence starters and a little nudging. I hope this week’s project goes at least as well!
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Thank you. The project I am doing this week, I successfully implemented with my class last year. The combination of pencil & paper with technology always seems to be successful. And drawings – which my class this year love to do 🙂
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That looks like a great activity! The kids must have enjoyed that. I wish I had a French teacher like you!
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Thank you for the compliment Patti 🙂
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