Quarter 4 Virtual Reality

So... testing is done!  There are only days left.  That makes it the perfect time to check out Virtual Reality!

Recently, our Park View PTO was able to purchase 2 class sets of VR heads sets.  They are located in our media center and are ready to be checked out!  

What is Virtual Reality? 

Top 10 Reasons to Use VR in the classroom!

What is Google Expeditions?

Check out this LIST of Google Expeditions created by MGSD!  When planning your expedition think carefully about your science and social studies standards.  

Use Command F to search for a specific topic. Scroll through the green highlighted expeditions and choose one that will fit your needs.  

How do you check out VR for your class? 

• Simple head to our Park View Prime and scroll to slide 48.  There you can check out a class set or a small group set of 10.  

• Be sure to book time with your IC if you need support.

• Head to the library and make sure that the tablets and VR headsets are charged.  It is SIMPLE!  Just plug them in. 

 (Mrs. Schroeder or Mrs. Harkey can help you with this!)   

VR is a perfect opportunity to bring learning to life!

Conferring with Readers

Hi All!  Welcome Back to me and our Friday Blogpost!
I am so excited to be blogging again for you all!  While on leave,  I spent some time reading The Reading Strategies book by Jennifer Seravallo!

Check out this study guide HERE!

We have several copies in our school library!  

Check out this book walkthrough with the author!

I have to say,  I was so proud of PVES!  We are already doing so many things that Jennifer suggested to support great reading instruction.  

My BIG take away and something I want us to dive into more next year is the idea of conferring with readers!  Seravallo is a huge supporter of giving students some 1:1 reading instruction.

What is a Reading Conference? 

A reading conference is a 5-10 minute meeting that takes place during Reader's Workshop.  During this meeting, students are given the opportunity to retell/share about their INDEPENDENT Reading book.  

• Teachers can call students to a separate table to meet or just sit next to them where they are reading in the classroom. 
• Students can share about their book to aid in comprehension. 
• Teachers can listen in as a student reads to check for fluency and to make sure the reading level is appropriate. 
• This is precious time during the day that teachers get to spend some much-needed 1:1 time with students. 
• Teachers that confer with their readers know their students as little people and as readers!

What does a Reading Conference look like?

Are there forms to help you document your Reading Conferences?  Yep!   Free Forms!

From The Teacher's Market

Joyful Rigor with Ms. Jones

I love this blogpost from The ABCs with Mrs. B!  She shares how simple conferring can really be:) 

This is also a great product for sale on TPT from Think Grow Giggle.  I love the after conferring slips for students.  

This is a FANTASTIC Free file from Wild About Fifth!

Digital Tool: Google Jamboard

Hi All!  This week on the IC blog we are going to be talking JamBOARD!  JamBoard is new to our Google Suite! 

What is a JamBoard? 
A JamBoard is an interactive whiteboard that works like a Google Doc.  If you can run a google doc then you can run a JamBoard! Your students can work independently or can collaborate with each other on the same JAM!

 You can find it under your "Waffle."

Another Tutorial!

Turn a Google Slide into an image to upload into Jamboard!

Or download it from the app store on your ipad!

A How to VIDEO!

I love the idea of students being able to work collaboratively on Jams! 

You can even generate a sharable code! 

Students can download their word as an image or a PDF. 

The app on the ipad is AWESOME!  Check out how you can use Google Docs with the app!

With our Google Math Slides, teachers can pull in certain slides for students to work on independently or in groups!

It would work well with making words or other worksheets that you want students to complete. 

Or just use it during large group just like you would use dry erase boards and markers.  

Curiosity and the Learning

Welcome Q4, we've been waiting for you!

This week let's talk about 3 Rules for SPARKING Curiosity!  If we can get our students curious about a topic then the learning naturally comes.  I LOVE this Ted Talk from chemisty teacher, Ramsey Musallam.

His rules are simple!:

Rule #1:  Curiosity Comes First
-Allow Students to ask hard questions
-Questions are windows to great instruction

Rule #2: Embrace the Mess
-Don't fear Trial and Error
-Learning can be UGLY

Rule #3: Practice Reflection
-Gather information needed to design and refine
-Revise, Revise, Revise because each case is different 

Did you know your BRAIN LOVES Curiosity?

NPR confirms that Dopamine is created when students' curiosity is spiked.  Curiosity drives learning! Click here to read more about Curiosity and the Brain!

Here is a great article that gives us 10 Strategies to Promote Curiosity from Teach Thought! 

We already do so many of these things naturally as teachers such as:
Think Alouds
Self Directed Learning
Making Connections

Curiosity is the vessel that teachers deliver instruction through.   
Let's work to add more to our lessons to BOOST Curiosity! 

Q3 New Tech Tool: Auto Draw

NCties was awesome this year and I learned so much!  I can't wait to share it all with you.  This week, I am going to start with a new tech tool called Auto Draw!  It is so simple to use.  It has shareable links and the ability to download work.  It is a perfect fit for 1:1 technology classrooms!

Check out this video!

I love that it is totally FREE and you don't need to download anything at all! 

My first thought was math!  I created this simple concept circle for friends of 10.  Students can type in equations or use drawings/shapes to represent ways to make ten.  

Then I thought of writing!  Students can create illustrations and write sentences to match their words!

Other Ideas:
Making Words
Handwriting
Word Problems
Fact Families
Fact Triangles
Diagrams
Drawing Visualizations

Check out this blog about adding a stylist to your Auto Draw lessons!  

I LOVE that is works on all devices, laptops & Ipads!  


It is like a digital wipe board! 

Q3 Vocabulary & Comprehension

Does vocabulary support comprehension?  Sure it does and it is so important for our developing readers to have multiple interactions with vocabulary words!

The Key Classroom has a good chart to walk you through what teachers should know about teaching vocabulary!

This is video explains the different tiers of vocabulary and why explicit vocabulary instruction is essential to a balanced reading program.

Check out these 10 games from The Not So Wimpy Teacher to help your students get that "practice" in with vocabulary words.  Many of these would work great in centers or partner groups!

I also LOVE the "Parrot Strategy from The Candy Class on TPT. Check out this freebie and be sure to visit her store for other great products!

We are Teachers has a spot on post about how to support ELL learners with vocabulary that would also be very beneficial to add to your daily lessons!  The strategies and activities hit lots of different learning styles!

Be sure to stop by The Reading and Writing Haven!  These strategies are awesome!  So many simple ways to get your students to dig deep into vocabulary! 
Myth #3 is my favorite to bust! 

Do you have a word wall?????  If the answer is no, please consider adding one to your classroom!  It is a simple way to bring vocabulary into your lessons! 
Grab this FREE one from Especially Education to get you started! 

Q3 Spiraling Lessons & the Brain

Hi All!  Today I wanted to spend some time talking about one of my favorite things!  How our brains learn!  I am totally not an expert but the idea of how learning takes place is so interesting.  

Have you ever asked your students to keep their eyes up front?   
Have you ever explicitly taught them why you want them to do this? 

It is a total game changer!  Teach your students that when you are presenting a lesson you are attempting to place new learning in their brains through their eyes and other senses!  Seriously-You will have their attention! 

Check out this video & share it with your class!  It tells all about the brain and how it works.  I found that when students understand how learning takes place they are more focused on how they learn best.  Which is so empowering!

I always asked my class this question: 
How do you get information into your brain? The answers are always comical! 

I explained it to them in a very simple way:
Learning gets into your brain through your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and skin.  I told my students all about how I created lessons for them with this in mind.  

Such as...
Eyes: video, anchor charts, illustrations & presentations
Ears: music, chants & call and response
Nose: smells & meditation
Mouth: call and response, turn and talk, teaching with food!
Skin: hands-on lessons like playdough, shaving cream, & STEM 

These are just some examples of ways we can teach to the senses & the brain!

I also made sure to share that when you first learn something it is placed in your prefrontal cortex.  Then the work begins!  In order to get new learning to your Hippocampus (Your Brain's Filing Cabinet), you must PRACTICE it!  When we practice we create connections within our brain.  Each time we practice the connection becomes stronger.  Practicing new learning in a variety of ways can help make that connection even stronger! 

This "practice" is why spiraling within our lessons is so important.  Each week we have a focus skill/standard.  This skill/standard is what we build our lesson around and what we use to choose text or activities to support the lesson.   

In order to support those neurological connections made in previous lessons, we must spiral old learning in too!  Helping students make connections to past learning and our focus standard is essential!