Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Using my ASUS tablet in the Classroom!!

Hi everyone, at the beginning of this term I started to use my ASUS tablet as a learning medium in my class. I purchased a mini HDMI cord which allows me to display everything on my tablet on the television. I would download books via my Kindle app to read stories to my students, allowing easy display on the television.
This book allowed us to discuss the many things which one can find in a school. An enjoyable read!!



This is one book which I used to support my 'Circus Theme' this year.


 In addition, my tablet allows me to create powerpoints, which I then present to my class. The students enjoy looking at the pictures and graphics.



One week ago, to review the formation of 'capital letters' with my students I decided to use a handwriting app. Also, I downloaded the book- Alphabet Anatomy'.



After reading the text and discussing the fomation of the capital letters, my students came up to trace the formation of the capital letters on the app. Their classmates looked at the television to observe whether they were tracing the letter correctly.This was truely a new and unique experience for several them and they really were interested in the activity.

I will soon post some art and craft activities- 'Making Capital Letters' my students are to complete.

Very important to note, at the beginning I discussed with them the care which one should take when using this technology.
 
Here I am as I demonstrate how to use the app.



 Here are two students as they were engaged in the activity!!


Using this technology is really amazing as it captivates the students' attention and allows for full engagement.


Hope you are inspired!!!

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

It's a 'Circus Affair'

       Hello fellow educators, this year I have decided to create a 'Circus Theme' in my classroom.


Our Welcome Wall


         I selected this theme because I wanted to provide my students with a unique experience while they are engaged in the learning activities in my class. As a child I remember visiting a Circus at the Queen's Park Savannah with my family and still cherish that great experience. In recent years, I have not heard of any Circus visiting our shores and therefore, I felt that it was my responsibility as an educator to provide my charges with the experience.
      In addition, I also understand the importance and value of the classroom environment in the process of stimulating and fostering learning. As educators we must take the initiative to enhance our classroom environment, creating a welcoming and safe place for our students. I have noticed that when students see the effort we put into creating such environments they feel loved and a great deal of responsibility in keeping the environment beautiful.


Here are some before pictures of my classroom.

The front of my classroom


The front of my classroom, showing the main writing board and Word Wall area




These are the western and southern areas of my classroom.




 
 

The after pictures of my classroom.

Please note that throughout the year, the students will further conribute to enhancing the areas.
 
 
Well,  at the front of the classroom over my main writing board there is " D' Big Top". This is central to any circus theme classroom.
 
When my students arrived on the first day, I explained why at the circus the tent in which the circus acts take place is called the "Big Top".

 
In my classroom my Word Wall is located at the left area to the front of the room. This must be is a central component of any classroom. In creating this year's Word Wall- "Up High, Down Low, Words We Must Know" I related it to the acrobats at the circus.
Take a Look!


 
At the beginning of every week students are introduced to five Sight Words. The words are then present in all learning activities to provide students with multiple exposures to these words.
 
The Reading and Writing Bulletin Board.
In my classroom students are engaged in several reading and writing activities throughout the course of the week. Important concepts are displayed to further support students.
In the writing area this year, students' writing will be displayed for all to see. As such, I came up with the lovely " Our Ring of Writers". Again this is related to the circus theme.
 
Take a Look!
 


During the first week students wrote about themselves. Here are some students' work which were really interesting.
 
 
The Mathematics Bulletin Board
This board has been assigned to display many of the concepts students need to learn in Mathermatics. I related this to the Circus Theme by naming it..... "We are Nuts about Maths". Of course, I used cut-outs of elephants and nuts.
 

 
 

Here are the other areas of my class.

 
 In fostering classroom management, the classroom job chart is central to my classroom. Of course, a circus would not be a circus without a clown doing some juggling. I got this area from the net. Will post the link soon.
 
.
 
 This bulletin board  will display students' artwork and other important class content.
 
 
 A view of my work area. My desk is located to the western side of my classroom.
 
This is a picture of the general area of my class. The colourful pennants add immensely to creating the Circus Theme.






And finally, a circus must have Ringmaster to run the show. On entering my classroom the Ringmaster is first to greet you.
 
 
Throughout the year students will participate in several activities to deepen their understanding and appreciation of a Circus. Many books, songs, poems and videos will support this theme.
 
 
 
Hope you are inspired!!!!

Saturday, 25 May 2013

'Poetry in the Air'


Hello everyone,

I am anxious to share with you today a few pictures of the "Poetry in the Air" event at my school.

  If you read my two previous posts you would have seen that my students were working on writing “I Wish...” poems.


Well, yesterday they got to recite and display samples of their work for their parents and fellow students to see, at our first “Poetry Day”.


Samples of students'  " I Wish"poems on display.


My students enjoyed this experience.
 

Other types of poems presented were; List poems, Haikus, Cinquains and Limericks.
 
The First Year Infants displayed their 'List Poems' on air balloons.







The Standard Two class displayed their "Acrostic Poems' on rainbows.


The Standard One class displayed their 'Haiku Poems' on raindrops.







The Standard Four displayed their 'Limerick Poems' with an airplane theme.











The Standard Three displayed their ' Cinquain Poems' on hands in the air.








The “Poetry in the Air” event was a great event which helped to expand the literacy activities of our students.

Hope you are inspired!!



Sunday, 12 May 2013

"I Wish" my mummy....



For their Mother’s Day craft, my students wrote an “I wish” poem to their mother. This was an excellent extension to our Poetry writing activity in class now.

During the whole class instruction, I introduced them to the structure of the poem:

I wish my mummy says__________________

I wish my mummy loves _________________

I wish my mummy gets __________________

I wish my mummy, Happy Mother’s Day!



First we discussed as a class the appropriate words they could include in each line. Then, they wrote their first draft of the poem in their Poetry Book.
 
A student's first draft.
 
 
 
 
 
 

A student's first draft.















After editing their work, students were presented with a copy of the template they would use.
When the students finally completed their poems, it was then glued to construction paper with a scroll design.
 
Completed work.


Completed work

 




Here is one Mother’s Day scroll.


 
 
Hope you are inspired!!