AJUSD Elementary

 I recently ran across the BBC Bitesize Trapped! Punctuation game.  It couldn’t be a more perfect way to practice punctuation in October.  It has all the elements that students will enjoy: a challenge in the form of a story, spooky characters and setting (but not too spooky), a built in extra game challenge to get from one level to the next.

I like that these games are not your typical drill and kill.  They aren’t simply choose the right answer and move on.  There is an additional problem solving component built into each game.  Can’t beat that!

What it is:  ScootPad is a really neat site that recognize that no two students are alike and that they will master skills in different ways.  ScootPad helps students gain mastery through gradual and thorough practice that is personalized to teach the student.  This personalized practice helps build confidence in learning and keeps students moving forward at a pace that is appropriate to them.  Students can expect a fun learning environment.  Teachers can expect automated practice, real-time progress tracking and assessments that will help you to formulate next steps for students. All curriculum is based on Common Core Standards, including math and English/language arts for k-5 classrooms.  For students in kindergarten or first grade, there is a voice/read-aloud feature.

Best of all…ScootPad is FREE!

Here are some key messages around internet safety that I believe all students should be aware of. Most of these are tips I share with my students with some ideas from Susan McLean. Always ask an adult if you’re unsure of anything when you are online. Don’t sign up for sites that are 13+ if you are not old enough (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram etc). Remember YAPPY (the personal information you should not share online) – Your full name, address, phone number, passwords, your plans.  Don’t add people as online friends unless you know them in real life or have parent permission. Never arrange to meet an online friend without talking to a parent. Remember that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet and you can’t trust everything online friends tell you. Choose sensible names for usernames, email addresses etc.  Talk to your parents about what you’re doing online and let them know when you’re going on the internet. Know what cyber bullying is and tell someone if you think it’s happening to you. Cyber bullying is when someone picks on you, annoys, embarrasses, or threatens you over and over again using technology, such as the internet or a phone. Protect your digital footprint: don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want all your friends, family, teachers and future employers to see. Treat others online the way you’d like to be treated.

For Authentic Learning, Start with Real ProblemsIf your students are prone to asking, “When will we ever need to know this?”, then maybe it’s time for a dose of reality.By sparking students’ interest in real issues that affect them and their peers around the world, you will give them cause to think more critically about what they are learning. Better yet, you may give them a head start on becoming tomorrow’s problem-solvers.

Welcome to #KidVote Mock Election for the upcoming US Presidential Election in November 2012.

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Friday, October 19, 2012. This will allow my students have time to prepare everything they need to track the data, and more importantly, get it shared on Election Day!

Thank you all for taking this event to the next level for our students. A mock election is fun, but a mock election shared with the whole country? THAT’s what 21st century learning is all about: collaboration and authentic experiences!

These lessons reflect an updated set of search instructional strategies and practices, and an emphasis shifted from Boolean to search refinement.

introduces the concept of a search engine, explains basic search operators and helps students select operators to refine their results