"I hate coming to computer lab!"

Slap in the face...okay, maybe not a real one, but definitely one that you feel as a teacher.  Let's be honest, MOST of us want our kids to enjoy coming to our class and want the kids to like us in some way or another.  This past week, a teacher brought her class to the computer lab and shared that her class was not excited to be there.  They said they hated coming.  Ouch!  As soon as she said it, I knew why.  The second graders did not enjoy learning to type.  Although we practiced typing for a few weeks, then did something different, the weeks of typing were becoming dull.  I could tell the kids were getting antsy and even the good students were complaining.  It was time for a change.  

The wheels began turning as I processed a lot of different things.  Are 2nd graders developmentally ready to type?  It is a district expectations that they spend 20 minutes a week typing.  How could that look differently?  How could I benefit the classroom teachers even more?  Could we quit typing? How will that change my whole K-5 progression?  Could I split the class time and do two different things?  

I can do things differently, we can split the class time, it will change the whole K-5 progression but this is a learning process!  

Since those were the answers to my questions, here is the new plan...(I started the next day with day one of my rotation)

The kids come into my classroom, clean their hands, and immediately get on the computer.  They begin typing and type until 10:00.  (This gives them 15-20 minutes of typing) We use Dance Mat Typing. 

At 10:00 we will work on STEM activities that tie to their second grade science report cards.  

We are starting with a study of how earth can change instantly-earthquakes, volcanoes-and how earth can change slowly-weathering, erosion.  We used an online thesaurus to look up synonyms for quickly and slowly because those were terms in the standard.  Then, we began talking about earthquakes, volcanoes, and erosion.  Next week, when they come in, we are going to use the search engine to look up structures that survive earthquakes.  The final portion of the earthquake study will include building earthquake structures and testing them on gelatin earths/fault lines.  Pictures to come!  To study erosion, we are going to look at cookie rocks and spray them with water before we do another search engine search.

If your kids don't like what you are doing, or are not enjoying the class, evaluate and ask yourself questions.  Don't be afraid to listen to your kids and change things up.  Don't wait until you are slapped in the face and the kids vocalize they "hate coming to your class."  See the signs in their eyes and actions!   Be willing to CHANGE things up! 

Resolutions...or NOT!?!

I'm not about New Year's resolutions; in fact I'm not sure I've ever had one! Granted, as a teacher, January is just the middle of the year!! Each August I plan new things to work on in my class or things I want to change. Maybe you would call these "new year's" resolutions. This year is a little different because everything is new! 

Here is a brief overview of my visions for the computer lab this semester! 

All of my class will be participating in digital citizenship classes. I'm partnering with the counselor at my school to provide Internet safety and anti-cyberbullying education. 

- Fifth grade is going to complete their colonial movies. Then they will move into research, followed by weather forecast videos. 

- Third grade is going to...well I'm not quite sure yet! Maybe...they will learn some research skills! 

- Second grade is going to focus on typing and finish the Dance Mat levels. Once they finish all levels, they will begin having races to increase WPM. 

- First grade is going to work on labeling and identifying parts of the computer. After that they will be introduced to Kid Pix and work on a curriculum based activities. 

- Kindergarten is going to be participating in a study of the benefits of coding. (Meaning they will be coding and doing computer programming.) I am crazy...really I am! 

** Fourth grade tech club is going to work on programming a Botball robot for competition!  (I have to learn C++ programming!! Advice anyone??)

I'm excited about the new adventures this year will bring in the computer lab! All ideas will bring learning for the students and me! 

Whether or not you are like me with resolutions, something about January always brings a rejuvenated spirit ready to push through another semester, a semester unnecessarily filled with testing anxiety for so many sweet children.  Whether I'm in a new job or not, I always look forward to returning to my precious students! I hope you've taken time for God, time for yourself, and time for your family and are ready to return as well. I know the end of the holidays can bring feelings of sorrow for some, but no matter what the circumstances are I pray you find renewal enough to come back to school. January is a time to pour out energy! I challenge you to have the energy to show everyone the extraordinary teacher you are!! 

Here are two pictures of my relaxing and fun Christmas break!  Enjoyed LOTS of family time.
         

Code Much?

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting at my kitchen counter pondering what I should do with a couple grades in the computer lab! I found myself on Twitter and Pinterest searching for a lesson idea when I found an article about Hour of Code!! December 9-15 was the international hour of code.  (I'm all about supporting curriculum in the computer lab but sometimes you just have to do something fun.) Thankfully, there is freedom in the lab to go in multiple directions. I decided I was going to have Kindergarten-5th grade code.  Kindergarteners coding?  Yes, I AM crazy!!!

Monday I got to school and put a sign on my door. I created an "I can" statement based on one I saw online and I found a coding activity for each grade. 

Fifth, second, and third grade were on Tynker.com.  My fifth graders were given the opportunity to choose any activity from the website. My second graders did "Puppy Adventure" and my third graders did "Candy Quest."  Talk about loving what they were doing.  I had several fifth graders come in during recess just to do more coding.  SCORE!!!  The kindergartners and first graders used botlogic.us.  The kindergartners were on the iPads doing the activity while the first graders logged onto the computer.

Overall, the week went splendid and we had a lot of fun participating in Hour of Code.  I was so impressed with the requests to continue coding or about coding at home.  You know you’ve inspired kids when parents text you pictures of more completed certificates.  Here are just a few of the certificates from the week.  

The delight from so many of my kids really has me thinking about the direction I want to go in the computer lab.  How do you balance creating and making the curriculum fit but at the same time, truly igniting excitement in students? As I prepare for next semester I am truly searching for more engaging tactics and ideas to engage students who find school to be boring.  I want to inspire students and get them hooked on learning.  I love watching kids’ eyes dance with excitement when it comes to learning, new books, or a computer program.  Be looking and watching for the new ideas that come from the computer lab!!  

I also encourage you to try something new in your classroom.  Make the new thing exciting and engaging!  Coming from the classroom I know you can turn most things into something fun and engaging.  (Now long division is another story...seriously haven't ever been able to come up with something fun for that one!)  In one of our regular ed. classes the students participated in a technology activity to learn transformations.  Those kids were so excited to come show me what they were doing and I LOVED IT!  I also heard from their teacher they did significantly better on that particular topic when tested.  I love seeing kids enthusiastic about what they are learning...do something different and fun next semester to appeal to your students!!!

2nd Grade Lesson Plans

I student taught in 2nd grade and really just assumed that is where I would end up.  They are still loving yet independent to a certain extent, which I love!!  Although I only have them for an hour a day, I love being with my second graders!

My goal for second graders is to learn how to type.  Throughout the year we will focus on typing, and take small breaks after each level.  After our break we will go back to typing and add a few letters.  The kids have been doing great keeping their fingers on the home row!

Week 1 we watched Click, Clack, Moo; Cows that Type, and wrote the letters on a blank keyboard.  We learned the vocabulary term "Home row" and colored it on our keyboard.  The next week, we talked about correct posture for typing and then used Dance Mat Typing to practice the home row.  Once they practiced a couple of times and I could tell their fingers were staying in the correct location (at least for the most part), I allowed them to get on Cool-math.com (My kids will be required to go to IXL.com from now on, since we have that license.)  On Week 3, they practiced Home Row on Dance Mat Typing once again, but only had to go through it 1 time.  After that, they got on Kid Pix (a program our district purchased) and made a picture of the Statue of Liberty.  (They spent the first few weeks, in their class, talking about different US symbols.)  Once they drew their picture, they had to type one sentence telling about the Statue of Liberty.