Miss Miller's Poetry Unit

Hello there, and welcome back!

Today's post is something rather exciting. So welcome to my online classroom! This post's topic of discussion is a 5th grade English class who is currently in their poetry unit! My tool for today is podcasts! A podcast is an audio recording that can be downloaded and listened to outside of the classroom. For my purposes today I created two series of podcasts. The first discusses different types of literal imagery and the second talks about more figurative imagery devices such as similes, metaphors, and personification! As a teacher I would post this on my classroom blog and assign the students to listen to them as homework, and possibly create a worksheet or activity to go a long with the audio tracks.

Click this link to see my SoundCloud profile or listen to my podcasts below!

Pros: I love the fact that this tool is very different from the other tools we have used before on my previous blog posts. I also like that this tool is strictly audio. I feel as though it would be a nice change of pace in the classroom and would add some variety to in/out of class activities. There are several free apps you can use to do voice recordings, and several places online to upload and store you audio tracks. Podcasts are fun, you even get to feel like a radio talk show host in your own classroom! I can see this tool being very helpful in many subjects,

Cons: It took me awhile to get what I wanted to say just right. This tool takes quite a bit of preparation and know-how. However, if you are good with apps and cloud-type programs this is the tool for you!

• ISTE Standard: Creative Communicator
• I communicate effectively and express myself creatively using different tools, styles, formats, and digital media.
• UEN Content Standard: English Language Arts- 5th Grade
• Standard 4 "Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes"
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 5
• Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. 

Map Your Mind!

Welcome back to another blog post!

Brainstorming, Mind Mapping, Idea sharing-- All of these things are important in the classroom! Allowing your students to take there ideas and organize them into something visual will help them way beyond their school years. Today we will be discussing the idea of mind mapping through a platform called Popplet. Mind mapping is taking a central idea or topic and creating web-like branches connecting your ideas to your central thought. Popplet is a website that allows you to make an account, create a mind map, and share it with your students or classmates.

Click here to see my mind map!

Pros: Something I love about this site is the freedom. It literally starts with a blank canvas and you can go about choosing colors, font size, thought bubbles, etc. It really allows you or your students to be creative and expand upon your own thoughts. I love that it is free to use as well as easy! This platform is user friendly as well as kid friendly. All of those features are great, however, my favorite feature would have to be the "share options" you can even add a collaborator and work in groups! 

Cons: To be honest it was hard for me to come up with something I didn't like about this site. One thing that I wish could happen would be a way to print or save a PDF of your project so you could have a physical copy of it. My reason being, if you don't have access to a computer you wouldn't be able to see your project. 

• UEN Content Standard: 5th Grade Science
• Standard no. 2 objective 1 & 2 "Students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering, and erosion reshape Earth's surface." 
• ISTE Standard: Global Collaborator 
• Broaden perspective, understand others, work effectively in teams.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 5
• Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Timeline Tiki-Toki Presidents:

Welcome back!

Our post today is teaching our 5th graders more about Social Studies! We are focusing on the presidents of the United States. Our tool of choice today is the online platform Tiki-Toki. This tool was new for me however I was impressed by its usefulness. This platform allows you to create timelines for whatever subject you need. Like I said, choosing social studies, I created a timeline teaching about the first 15 presidents. It has a brief intro to the presidents on the timeline and if you click on the icons a screen will pop up telling you more. There is even a place to link videos or other materials!




Click here to see my Tiki-Toki

Pros: A benefit to using this website is its adaptability. Timelines can be useful in almost every subject we teach. It also has you create an account so you can save or edit the project you make as well as keep all of them in the same spot! Thumbs up for staying organized!

Cons: I feel as though this is a tool that would better benefit upper grade elementary students. It might be difficult for the younger kids to understand or navigate. It also takes a good chunk of time creating each timeline.

• UEN Content Standard: 5th Grade Social Studies Standard 5 Objective 3
• Identify leaders of social and political movements 
• ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor 
• Critically select, evaluate and synthesize digital resources into a collection that reflects learning and builds knowledge.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard 8
• Use technology resources for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities. 

Help is on the way!

Math can be a subject of frustration for many students, especially as they begin to learn more complex subject matter.

My solution for this problem was to provide the students with an opportunity to seek additional help.
After school math programs are common and can be very beneficial. Once you get it approved, what do you do next? How does word get around? How about we start with some flyers!

Click here to see my flyer!

Pros: Flyers can be a great resource when working in a school setting. From field trips, to book fairs, and anything in between you are able to get your point across in a simple and easy way. Also, if you want to save on paper just send it as a PDF file through email! I like the simplicity of it because it can draw attention yet get its point across with colors, pictures, and very few words. Another benefit is that there are many options for creating flyers such as google doc, word, and many more!

Cons: If emailing isn't an option flyers may take up a lot of paper and ink.

• UEN Content Standard: 5th Grade Math
• Strand Mathematical Practices ***Become mathematically proficient in engaging with mathematical content and concepts
• ISTE Standard: Innovative Designer
• I solve problems by creating new and imaginative solutions using a variety of digital tools.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 9 ***Determine when technology is useful and select the appropriate tool(s) and technology resources to address a variety of tasks and problems.

Green Thumb? Answer Garden!

Get up and move! What's your favorite form of exercise?

Today's post will take us to P.E. (Physical Education class) as we discuss the pros and cons of AnswerGarden. This platform allows us to work in a group and collect data at an easier level. My question posed was specifically thought up with a 5th grade physical education class in mind. In a class of different abilities, different levels of athleticism, and different likes or dislikes I found my question "What is your favorite form of exercise?" a simple (yet important) one. 

Check out the results here!

Pros:

My point in using this tool was to analyze as a class the physical activity we do outside of the classroom and identify the health benefits they have for us. Something I found particularly useful with this resource was how easy it was to use. It also has either a 20 character maximum or a 40 character maximum which gives the students a chance to express themselves in a concise manner. AnswerGarden is free as well allowing access from any computer.

Cons:

Although counted as a "pro" I would also count the character max as a "con" in a sense that it can occasionally limit someones ability to say something. So although it may be more convenient for the teacher it might not always bring the in-depth conversations we may want in the class room.

As a whole, this tool was helpful for my specific purpose. By giving me a fast, easy, and concise way to brainstorm I would be able together information about my students' physical activity without embarrassing or pointing out anyone in particular. 

• UEN Content Standard: Physical Education Grade 5
• Strand 3 Standard 5.3.1 ***Analyze physical activity outside physical education class, identifying the fitness benefits.
• ISTE Standard: Global Collaborator
• Broaden perspective, understand others, work effectively in teams.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 8 ***Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.