4/10/2019 0 Comments Fractured Fairytale Unit
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11/21/2018 0 Comments wordless videos As teachers who are passionate about literacy, we are consistently looking for new and exciting additions to our writing and reading programs, that we can with our students to enhance the curriculum. Last year we started incorporating wordless animated movie clips. There are a number of animations on YouTube, and it can seem daunting to sort through, and find which ones work, however, it's a great way to teach the communication core competency piece. We often begin our discussions around how there are many means of communication, separate from oral language and reading. We have compiled a list of our favourites below, to ignite conversations around growth mindset, problem-solving, and kindness. In our writers workshop, we often pause the video halfway, and encourage students to write an ending, with their predictions. We have used these videos in our storytelling workshops, to help students add language to the beginning, middle, or end of a story. We have also used them to write learning stories, where the class participates as a whole, to write a group story. Devina or I will type out their story on the projector, and help scaffold plot elements and character development. Growth Mindset
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storytelling: beginning, middle and end2/5/2018 0 Comments SS/ADST Canada Inquiry projectvision and design thinkingIn our Social Studies and ADST (Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies) inquiry project, we discovered the physical, cultural, and symbolic characteristics of Canada. Our vision was that students would each research one province/territory in partnerships, using social studies inquiry processes and skills to ask questions, gather information, and communicate findings. We wanted the students to choose 5 interesting things they learned, and then share evidence of their learning on their province. Our project combined computational thinking and design thinking, to create an interactive map, that would allow our Ozobot's to "travel across Canada." We have many visual learners in our high ELL community. We knew that this project would be an engaging way for students to communicate their learning, and become "experts" on one aspect of Canada, and then be able to teach their peers. Students developed their core competencies as they worked through the inquiry process. We discussed how creative thinking, critical thinking, and communication appeared throughout this project. Students recognized the importance and the value of developing these skills in order to be successful as a team. Taking off
The classroom teachers used British Columbia as a model to help scaffold and guide the process. We demonstrated how to access digital resources through our school library, and find relevant, kid-friendly information. Students were given a rubric and a guide to help them navigate their project. We encourage students to take ownership over their learning, by helping them use class time constructively, and work at their own pace. the adVenture begins
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In class, we have been discussing where we see the development of specific Core Competencies in our picture books. Our focus for this lesson was on communication: "Communication competency encompasses the set of abilities that students use to impart and exchange information, experiences, and ideas, to explore the world around them, and to understand and effectively engage in the use of digital media. Communication competency provides a bridge between students’ learning, their personal and social identity and relationships, and the world in which they interact. " (BC Ministry of Education, 2016). Last week we read 'Shh. We have a plan' by Chris Haughton. We discussed what collaboration looks like, and how we can be successful when working in a group. The two core competencies we focussed on were: 1. Connect and engage with others (to share and develop ideas) 2. Collaborate to plan, carry out, and review constructions and activities After we read the story and brainstormed as a class, we watched the book trailer for 'Shh. We have a plan' by Walker Books. ADST (Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies) Activity: Students formed groups of 4 and used design thinking, to create an iMovie trailer of their own for the book. We worked through ideating (choose an idea to pursue), making (choose tools and materials, use trial and error to make changes, solve problems, or incorporate new ideas from self or others), and sharing (reflect on their ability to work effectively both as individuals and collaboratively in a group). We are using iMovie for this project, as we want to teach students how to use this media platform for future inquiry projects. Students are developing editing skills and adding new ones as they learn to add sound effects and text to personalize their projects. After students launched their projects to the class, we reflected on the communication core competency independently. Video by Walker books11/15/2017 0 Comments introducing design thinking
A - Ask Questions. The students noticed that the children asked many questions in the story, which led to the father improving his prototypes. 'How do fish move through the water? Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a fish? How do fish stay dry?' U - Understand the Problem - The father has a workshop where he is always "thinking, tinkering, and inventing things." The students could see the importance of STEM, and how we use Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math when we are inventing and building. The father would build elaborate designs, and then take them apart, assemble, and add, in order to improve his prototype. He never quit or gave up. A great example of growth mindset, as "fantastic ideas are not easy to come by." N - Navigate Ideas - Students noticed how detailed the father's plans were, as he sketched out his designs. We discussed how important brainstorming is and writing up a solid plan. This could be a rough draft of a short story, a sketch for a STEM challenge, or an intricately detailed drawing for our Cardboard Challenge.
10/5/2017 0 Comments Literacy appsAnyone who knows us knows that we love finding technology to support literacy in the classroom. Two of our favourite websites which have a paired app are Storyline Online and Epic! for Educators. Storyline Online: This website houses some of the best picture books, read aloud by featured celebrities. We previously used this as an option for Listen to Reading. Some of our student's favourites include: Clark the Shark, Enemy Pie, and Hey! That's My Monster. Epic!: This has quickly become our student's favourite app for Read to Self. Students were impressed to see the vast selection of books. Audiobooks, non-fiction, and fiction, for every reader. Students were learning about soccer, listening to holiday-themed books, and interacting with the zoom and virtual flipping of pages. Students can access this resource at home. 10/3/2017 1 Comment Daily 5 hacks
10/3/2017 0 Comments Our must haves: Technology
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