I gotta value

Hello blog friends! I hope you are having a wonderful week. I spent my LAST day of summer vacation do all things teacher. One thing I finally finished was my song for my place value unit. I have realized over the last two years of teaching how important place value is in our students understanding of math concepts. For those of you who know me, music is a BIG part of my life. I have wanted to incorporate my love for music and content for so long. I am so excited to share this with my students (I will have them come up with the hand motions). My husband right now is yelling the song at the top of his lungs...lol. Enjoy!

I gotta’ Value--to the tune of the Black Eyed Peas I gotta feeling


(chorus) I gotta value
And I must be put in order
I must be put in order
I must be put in order

Todays the day lets learn them now
I got my ones, they go through 9
Go out and place them on the right
They are important, you say them last

I know that we’ll have a ball
If we leave the ones, and go next door
We're going higher, to the tens
Let’s go way up, add a zero, and make 100

Read my number, left to right
Look at her growing, just read it right
Let’s add another, count up to four
Let’s call it thousands, and we will add one again

(chorus) I gotta value
And I must be put in order
I must be put in order
I must be put in order

Let’s add one, Let’s add one, Let’s add one
And read, ten thousands, and read it, 100 thousands
And read it, one millions, and read it read it read it

I gotta value
And I must be put in order
I must be put in order
I must be put in order

Tech Fest 2011

What a day! I had a blast at PCS Tech Fest 2011. It was awesome. I am so pumped and filled with ideas on how to incorporate various new technologies in my class this year. For those of you who have NO clue what Tech Fest is, it is a full day of short workshops on how to use, demonstrate and incorporate iPADs, iTouches, NOOKS etc. into the classroom. Here are some highlights of my day.

One of the first workshops I went to was Classrooms Without Walls I was very interested in the title and boy did it sure meet all of my expectations. This class was based around using Skype, Fring and other video conferencing tools to enhance student learning. One example they list on the Tech Fest Wiki is to Skype with an author. I think that would be such a neat thing to do with our class after or even during an author study. As I was listening to their ideas my mind was instantly trying to figure out how I could use this technology with my kids. Any suggestions? I would love to hear your thoughts.

I have recently purchased a NOOK (and LOVE it) so of course I attended the Nooks for Struggling Readers Workshop. I am so excited to share NOOKs with my students. I really think that this will decrease any anxiety our children may have when reading books on THEIR level.

I am so glad that my county provides workshops like this one. Our society is so technology based that this workshop allows teachers to see what our kids are being exposed to. There was even a Wii and Connect workshop in the media center, how cool is that? I am definitely excited about using the strategies I learned today. Also, I would love to hear from you. What are your thoughts about using Skype in the classroom? Any suggestions on lessons?


Happy Weekend!

Kristin

First teacher blog ever!

Hello friends! I have searched, stalked, my fellow teacher friends blogs for months now...lol. What a great resource you have all been to me. Now it is my turn. I hope to return the favor. This blog will serve as an online portfolio for the upcoming school year. Also, I hope to share resources I have found to be beneficial. So for my first blog, I thought I would list some of my current favorite "teacher" things.

Laura Candler's Teaching Resources - Free Printables and Lesson Ideas for Teachers! --Love her! She is my go to girl for wonderful math centers and so much more. If you are implementing guided math this year check her site out. Also, she has webinars that are fabulous!

Love, love, love did I mention that I LOVE this site. This site has several cool videos that I am planning to use this coming school year.

A fellow teacher friend of mine introduced this site to me. You will find tools for reading, management and much much more!

I used guided math last year and let me tell you, it was AWESOME! I have planned this summer ways to better enhance my guided math time. This site is your go to site for all things guided math.

Happy Blogging!

Kristin