Flocabulary

Since (teaching) life has come to a screeching, soggy halt due to Hurricane Sandy, I thought I would take some time today to get back on the blog-wagon. I hope this finds you warm, dry, and safe - and Godspeed to those of you who are in (or have survived) harm's way with this storm!

One of my students' favorite things to do this year is to listen and learn from songs and music videos from Flocabulary. Flocabulary is basically rap music for the classroom. It's clean, fun, and totally catchy. I love it. Here's the other catch - it's not free. I know, "Boooooo" - but understandable. They've got a product to sell, and fortunately, they do post free videos and songs to use in your classroom. Whenever I use a Flocabulary song to back up what I'm teaching, my students remember it and what it's about. They still can tell you the order of classification for living things from listening to "Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach." Two of the freebies right now are "I'll Be The President" on the presidential election process and "Check and Balances" for the three branches of government. Sometimes the resources are just the song, and other times they include a music video. Lyrics are on the same page, so the students can sing along (and they will...loudly and over and over again). There are also review questions and lesson plans for each song as well.

Many of the songs on the Flocabulary website are also available on iTunes for $0.99 each. You can also purchase full albums of their music such as "Math Rap" and "Beats, Rhymes, and Science." I'm pretty sure that, with the exception of the language arts songs, most of it is available on iTunes. There are also student guides (with the lyrics and vocabulary activities) and accompanying CDs of music available for purchase on the Flocabulary site if you are interested. I downloaded the songs on iTunes I thought would help my students the most and made playlists on my iPads and iPod for them to listen to as a station and in their spare time.

I've taken a while to post about Flocabulary, not just because life happens but I have been completely bummed about the fact that you now have to pay for the Week in Rap. It use to be that you could subscribe to the Week in Rap and each Friday they would e-mail you the video for the current events of the week - set to song. However, that is no longer the case and I'm not going to pay $5 a month for it. There are pricing plans for teachers on the Flocabulary website and you can test drive it with a free trial, but you'll have to check it out a decide for yourself.

http://flocabulary.com/

Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

One of the things I wanted to do when I started this blog was share some of the opportunities I have had to meet and work with teachers across the United States. Somehow, I haven't got around to it, but there's no better time to start than now.

So, while everyone else is gun-ho on football tonight (no, thank you, teaching is my only sport), I want to share with you my experience at the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy. This is a summer math and science academy for teachers in grades 3-5, sponsored by professional golfer Phil Mickelson and ExxonMobil. It is held in Jersey City, New Jersey, just a hop, skip, and subway ride from New York City (as in, you will see the Statue of Liberty every day from your hotel room, as well as the skyline). The training provided to you is courtesy of the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. About 200 teachers from across the United States are selected to attend each year. A parent or teacher can nominate you, or you can apply to attend yourself here.

I attended the first national academy back in July 2009. I had been browsing on Grant Wrangler for grants, and a link for "MEMTA" (as we alumni like to refer to it) popped up. Oh, if you would have only known me back then. I was a "good teacher," I guess, but my world...wasn't very big. And I knew it. I've always had an idea of the kind of teacher I wanted to be, but at the time I had no idea how to get there. Maybe, I thought, where I was at was all there was. This, however, sounded like what I was looking for - to learn more about the best ways to reach students, with the best teachers. Did I have a voluminous resume with lots of presentation experience or prestigious awards? Oh, heavens, no. To put it in runner's terms, I was "good for my age group," but not a top finisher. But, if you never try, the answer will always be "no."

 So, at 9 PM on October 30th (the deadline being the 31st), I went for it. I typed my application right on the online form and hit send - and little did I know, it was the beginning of a new chapter in my life as an educator.

MEMTA was an experience like no other. The exposure to the National Science and Math standards was priceless, as I was about to begin National Board Certification. Not only was the professional development top-notch (what you would expect from a national academy), but the way the teachers were treated that week was exemplary as well. In short, the staff and teachers at MEMTA treated us like super stars. As a relatively new(er) teacher at the time, that was almost overwhelming for me. New(er) teachers have to "fight" for everything, whether it's for respect or a bookcase. To be treated so first class (I don't want to give too much away because if you go I want you to be as WOWED as I was), well, I almost didn't know how to act - and then I got a handle on myself.



MEMTA was featured on the CBS Early Show during
our academy. Why, yes, that is Harry Smith!

What I didn't expect from attending MEMTA is probably what has changed how I teach the most. Not only did I attend this academy with other teachers from across the United States (that were all amazing and to this day I still consider out of my league), but I learned from them. I learned things about technology and teaching that week, just from listening to other teachers, that I never would have known otherwise. I learned what issues affect teachers in different states - some different, some the same as those in West Virginia. My view of my role as a teacher and the possibilities available in education changed overnight. I am still am in contact with several of the teachers who attended  MEMTA that year, and probably will be forever. I came away from MEMTA convinced that networking is the most powerful professional development you can provide an educator.

I realize it's October 6th on a Saturday night, but if I can crank out "something" in a handful of hours before the deadline, you surely can give some consideration to applying to the Mickelson ExxonMobil Academy this year. Don't tell yourself it isn't possible. Sometimes, the only way to get going in the direction you want is to put yourself on the right road. Nobody else is going to do it for you - just take the keys (computer keys, in this instance)...and drive.

http://www.sendmyteacher.com/index.html

Music to My Ears: Tour the States!

It's Friday, it's late, and I'm tired. I have lots to say but not much energy to get it out. However, I thought before I sack out for the evening, I would share an awesome music video - "Tour the States" by Renald Francoeur. I came across this while I was "pinning" last night and found this infectious tune to be too good not to share with my students and my blog followers (Do I have any of those? For the sake of my tired teacher psyche, let's just say I do:-).

Makes you want to take a little trip somewhere, doesn't it?

 

My students love, love, love this song and its awesome artwork. By now, the "Fifty Nifty United States" song is getting a little old for my fifth graders, and the beat and lyrics to this piece have them well on their way to reciting all of the states and capitals (whether they realize it or not!). It's from an album titled Brain Beats, a collection of educational songs for this generation of students. You can purchase the Brain Beats CD from Marbles the Brain Store. The album is also available on Amazon and iTunes, and you can download "Tour the States" individually from either source for $0.99.

I haven't been able to find the music video anywhere but YouTube, so I used the YouTube Downloader to get the video to my Dropbox file to share it with my class at school. Regardless of what grade you teach, things like this that get your class excited and saying "How did they do that?" make it all worth it, even when you are out-of-your-mind tired. Good night!  



Classroom Collaboration Series: 5 Reasons to LOVE Edmodo!

I kind of let the Classroom Collaboration Series go by the wayside over the summer, so it's time to start it up again! I have known about Edmodo for a while, but have always had so many other "techKNOW toys" to play with that I never truly implemented it. Now that I'm using it to have my students collaborate and to keep connected to other teachers, I don't know why I've waited so long! If you haven't jumped on the Edmodo wagon, here are five reasons why you need to set up an account and get your students connected!
1. First and foremost, it teaches your students proper social networking! When you set up your Edmodo account, the first word that will come to mind is "Facebook." It surely resembles it, right down to the color sceme. However, Edmodo is a means for students to communicate and collaborate online within the parameters of the classroom. As the teacher, you can monitor what students post on your group wall (the only way students can communicate with one another, no "chatting") as they discuss posted topics and complete assignments. Only the teacher, students, and parents have access to your Edmodo space (via password) unless you choose to set it to public. You set rules and guidelines for what students can put online, and can set their status to "read only" until they can post properly. Students have to create their own username and password in order to access the classroom space you have created, so they learn the additional responsibility of keeping track of their personal information.
2. It streamlines your online resources to one place.  Links and Google Docs can be posted to your Edmodo library. Your students, when logged into Edmodo, can access these resources for the assignments you post. You can also post links and videos to your group page for the student to view as well. For example, I love, love love, the awesomeness that it Animoto. I or the students can post their Animoto slideshows for us to view securely.
3. Assignments, Quizzes...AND Polls!!! No, really! You can post directions for an assinment to your group page and include the necessary files and links to complete it.  When students complete it, they just post their assignment and attach their completed files...completely paperless! There's also a way to create quizzes for students to complete right on Edmodo. The quizzes can take a variety of forms, from multiple choice to short answer. You can even set it so students automatically see how they scored for instant feedback. I also like how you can create a quick opinion poll to gauge how your class feels about a topic - and the students like it, too!
4. You can connect to other teachers. As a teacher you can make connections to other educators through using your Edmodo profile. Although your students and classes can't "see" each other, you can keep in touch professionally with your colleagues within your school or around the country (or world, for that matter). You can also join communities, such as ones on technology, to learn from and assist other teachers. Another feature is that you can "follow" publishers such as Sheppard Software or Spelling City to keep up with the resources they provide.
5. It's FREE, and so is the APP!!! All of this fantastic online collaboration costs you nothing. That being the case, it is pretty impressive all that you can do with this "free version," when so many online resources limit your capabilities (or at least cause you to find creative ways to work around buying them). You and your students can also download the free app for iPhone/iPad/iPod or Android so Edmodo can be accessed anywhere!
Edmodo is pretty much an ideal virtual classroom. While nothing can replace being together in the classroom to work and learn from each other, Edmodo can keep you connected to your students when weather, illness, or distance are in the way. I can't wait to see where using this resource leads me this school year!
http://www.edmodo.com

Sunny D Book Spree

Gasp! She does exist!

Yes, I have been MIA in the bloggerverse for over a month. I figured between the majority of teachers being on "brain-cation" for the summer and then the whirlwind of setting up a classroom (which is essentially like setting up a home away from home), we all had enough to keep us busy. I did write some posts over the summer that you may want to read for this school year, so check out my June and July postings.
So...what better way is there to start out the new school year than receiving free books for your classroom? The Sunny D Book Spree is now going on until November 30th! It's pretty cut and dry (or should I say  freshly squeezed?): send in 20 UPC labels from eligible bottles along with the completed form (available here) and Sunny D sends you 20 books for your grade level.

Wee! It's a Book Spree!

I participated last year and can say that it's a great way to expand your classroom library. The books they send you are brand new, high-interest titles that will appeal to your students. The reading level of the books varies as well. Pictured above are some of the books I received last year from Sunny D.

Have your students bring in Sunny D labels for some new reads for your room! You could even tie in some math with this project and have your students calculate the percentage of labels they have brought in, or the probability of reaching your label goal by the postmark date. Either way, your classroom library will be "D-lighted" to add some more books to its shelves!

http://sunnyd.com/bookspree/for-teachers.php

Create Your Own Webquests at Zunal.com!

So do you know what day of the week it is? Me neither. Isn't summertime grand?!
Remember when I told you about those technology classes I was taking last month? In doing so, I learned about another cool web tool that I can't wait to start using this upcoming year. Webquests are a fun, interactive means of having your students use online resources to learn about a topic and apply knowledge. Give your students a task, links for the activities they need for the assignment at hand, and they're off on a virtual learning journey.
That being said, my new favorite online "toy" for teaching is Zunal. This website allows you to create and store wonderful, structured webquests for your students for FREE. I had never heard of Zunal before and I am very impressed with how easy it is to use. When you go to create a new webquest, there are already preset categories and pages for the essential parts of your webquest, such as introduction, task, process, and evaluation. You don't have to create any buttons or pages yourself; all you need to do is enter the text, links, and images. To make your webquests even more engaging, you can also add files (great for if you want to include a study guide or worksheet you've created), video from YouTube, Vimeo, and TeacherTube (but not SchoolTube!!! Huge bummer!), pictures, and Vokis. It's up to you how "blinged" out you like to make your webquests, but Zunal give you plenty of means to make your webquests dazzle.
One of the best things about the template Zunal gives you is it includes a page in your webquest for evaluation that allows you to create a rubric for your task. All you have to do is enter the performance descriptors you want to inlcude for your final project. And since it's right there in the webquest, your students can refer to it as they work. There is also a mobile version of Zunal so your students can interact with the webquests you create using an iPad or Android device as well. As with most free resources, you can upgrade to the paid version where you can add more pages to your webquests, quizzes, games, etc. With the free account you can make as many webquests as you'd like.
Another plus is you can search for webquests created by other teachers on Zunal. There are literally thousands to choose from in any subject area and every grade level. If you have a Portaportal, you can bookmark your favorite webquests or ones you have created so they are easy for your students to access when needed.
Here's the link to a webquest I created on Abraham Lincoln. Check it out and others on Zunal, and soon you'll be setting up your own account so you can make webquests for your own classroom!
http://zunal.com/
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=156042

Celebrate the Fourth with TJ and the Revo!

So I just got back from a weeklong teacher institute in Colonial Williamsburg, which I will gladly blog about once I get my bearings. In the meantime, I thought you would enjoy this contemporary take on the Declaration of Independence, set to the tune of One Republic's "Too Late to Apologize." You may laugh now, but your students will love to see TJ (Thomas Jefferson), Ben Franklin, and friends groove out to these historical lyrics. Even better - look up the lyrics to this song and discuss the meaning of them with your class. You might find they are inspired to set other events in history to today's music.  Better yet - Soomo Publishing just came out with another music video, this time for women's sufferage (set to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance"). I've posted both of theses videos via YouTube for convenience, but you can easily look these videos up on TeacherTube or SchoolTube to share with your class if YouTube is blocked on your school filter. Have a safe and fun Fourth of July, and remember to stay in the techKNOW this summer!

http://soomopublishing.com/declaration/

http://soomopublishing.com/suffrage/