Monthly Archives: February 2012

Slice of Life Challenge-Happy Slicing Eve!

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Katie

For the last five years Stacey and Ruth at Two Writing Teachers have hosted a yearly month-long Slice of Life challenge.  This challenge is near and dear to my heart.  It’s where I really entered the world of blogging.  Starting … Continue reading →

Posted in Slice of Life | Tagged | 5 Comments

Just Breathe: A Slice of Life

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Katie

    The weekly Slice of Life is hosted at Two Writing Teachers.  Please join me.         Breathe in, breathe out The air in the room is crackling with excitement and stress. “When are the tests?” “Next … Continue reading →

Posted in Slice of Life | Tagged | 8 Comments

ICE!

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Katie

Are you in the Chicagoland area and planning on attending the ICE conference in St. Charles this week?  Kristin and I will be presenting with our technology coordinator and Apple Distinguished Educator Carolyn Skibba.  We’ll be doing an iPad presentation … Continue reading →

Posted in Conference Presentations | 1 Comment

Publishing Poetry on the iPad

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Kristin

We’re in the heart of our unit on poetry.  My students have learned several strategies that poets use including repetition, onomatopoeia, alliteration, visual imagery and line breaks.  This week a few students wanted to draft their poems on the iPad. … Continue reading →

Posted in iPad, Poetry Friday, Technology, Writer's Workshop | 8 Comments

Class Meetings Matter

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Kristin

Class meetings matter.  I understand that sometimes there are not enough minutes in the day. I realize that we have to make choices each week how to best use our instructional time.  After a series of shortened weeks, I feel … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Environment, Classroom Management, Collaboration, Self Reflection, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

QR Codes that Talk

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Katie

Say What?  I kind of like it.  Wish you could say more and in a voice not so computerized.  That really creeps kids out…  I would love to use this one in the classroom.  So many possibilities from book reviews … Continue reading →

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Starry Night

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Katie

You know how I love videos…well I love this one.  Spotted this on Larry Ferlazzo’s blog.  Very cool.  Great for a writing lesson, discussion about movement in art, mood, or just chilling out. Starry Night (interactive animation) from Petros Vrellis … Continue reading →

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Early Childhood App Review

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Kristin

Ok, so many of you have been asking…what apps are you loving right now in first grade? Here is the “short list.” 20 apps that are (mostly) affordable and exceptionally appropriate for students who are six and seven-years-old. Each day … Continue reading →

Posted in 2.0 Tools, iPad, Technology | 1 Comment

What’s Blogging Got To Do With It?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Katie

Ok, bad title I know.  But the content is good.  At least I hope it is.  Today I gave my students a survey about blogging.  It’s the first year that I’ve done blogs from the beginning of the year and … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Literacy, Classroom Management, Collaboration, iPad, Reader's Workshop, Self Reflection, Technology, Writer's Workshop | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fantastic Flying Books

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Katie

Thanks to Teri Lesene @ProfessorNana for sharing this little gem on her twitter feed.  I was positively enchanted by this short film that captures an inner spirit, something unsaid, that every book lover holds inside of them.  Not only is … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Videos, visual literacy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Digital Learning Day!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Kristin

As we celebrate our 1st Digital Learning Day in my classroom, I take a moment to reflect on how significantly technology has changed how I teach and how my students learn. Device preference aside, I am so grateful for all … Continue reading →

Posted in Active Literacy, Book Reviews, Collaboration, iPad, Read Aloud Books, Technology, Videos | Leave a comment

Finding Flow In the Writer’s Workshop

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Katie

I think I’ve finally found a good flow with my cycle of receiving student work and giving them feedback.  This has been especially hard in Writer’s Workshop where I’ve been hemming and hawing about which practices to cling to and … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, iPad, Technology, Writer's Workshop | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments