Text Walk This Way

Between multiple snow days, we are managing to get in some reading workshop time. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I found a fantastic resource for investigating informational text: Just the Facts! Close Reading and Comprehension of Informational Text by Lori Oczkus (Shell Education).

Students brought in informational texts related to their self directed learning projects. We used the Text Walk This Way bookmark for this activity. Students worked together to complete the book mark using one of their texts. Then they did the same with another text. Now that they are familiar with the bookmark, they will get a laminated version to use over and over again. 

The activity is set up with four "text walkers" but it works well with groups of three or pairs. I would not do more than four in a group for this particular activity. Students needed to clarify what some of the sections were asking for, but were then able to take on the task successfully. They figured out that it is really about discussing prior knowledge and text features with their peers and not about writing a lot on the bookmark. The bookmark serves as a guide and record of their discussion. 

As we continue this work, I will post more about our progress. Here's hoping for less snow days in our near future.

"To Be"

This is a post dedicated to the concept of "To Be," from Angela Maiers' amazing book The Passion-Driven Classroom. "To Be" is a way of life, a lens to frame all learning. No matter what the "To Do" you can control the "To Be!"

 

I handed my students the "To Be" words suggested in the book and they composed these pictures and took them enthusiasitically. As we work on projects and skills for the rest of the year, we will refer to the "To Be" words and add to them. The class can't stop looking at their pictures. They love it!

 

Thanks, Angela!

 

Evolution of Our Blog

The blogging we are doing for self-directed learning is fantastic. A few days ago, I reflected on the progress the students have made and how much stronger their writing is getting. I know I want to continue the post a week assignment. However, there are a lot of things that the kids want to blog about and this week I changed the focus a bit. 

Students need to write a self directed learning post two times a month and the other two posts a month can be any other school/learning related topic they want to write about that week. Many will do more than one a week now that they can write about anything. From their comments, you can see they are psyched!

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/837a2724-97ad-49c4-8caa-a2d27142b8d3/a-big-holiday-gift/

Students are already venturing out to new topics. This week, every day, I have heard students saying, "Hey, you should blog about that!" In math, three boys were working on an enrichment word problem and asked if they could blog about their process and eventual success in solving it. I was thrilled! It will be fun to see how this blog evolves even more now that they have more freedom of topics!

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/d65535c1-5b1c-4dd0-b0c1-9e0b6a71d274/major-math-problem-2/

My Latest Self-Directed Learning Post

I told my students at the beginning of the year that I would not assign anything that I haven't done myself. With blogging, I am going through what the students are going through. At times, not knowing what to write about, or working all week to make a post the best it can be.

Along with my personal blog, I am also posting on our class blog about my SDL project. Like some of the students, I changed my topic when it wasn't as interesting or motivating as I thought it would be. Now I have a topic that I could write about for the rest of my life! Relieved really. I have empathy for students struggling with this. 

Another great benefit to blogging myself is that I can model how to cite sources, use my own words to share research, write in depth about a topic, use appropriate media, etc.

Here is the link to my Kidblog SDL page:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/author/837a2724-97ad-49c4-8caa-a2d27142b8d3/

More SDL Success

My students are really beginning to appreciate the blog and its power. It started with a class from England joining our blog roll. This was a connection I made through Twitter. My students went to their site and looked at their blog roll. There was a buzz in the room when they saw classes from New Zealand and China among others. Two students ran over to me to share what they had found and I told them to share it with the class. We got the students' attention and the two students excitedly explained what they found and how they found it. The class was hooting and very enthusiastic about truly going global with the blogs. 

Some cool SDL developments this week:

One student shared this awesome video that is an example of the stop motion animation he is working on. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=g5ml5KJTBkk

Another student visited our local t.v. station to try out the green screen and work on his project.

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/8def95fc-af1d-4fd7-850b-89f614f223d5/green-screen-plus-video/

A student studying sharks found something that breaks his heart, the killing of sharks for their fins. Here is his website that he recently created about this problem.

http://helpsavesharks.weebly.com/blog/how-many-sharks-die-a-year#comments

We also have an email with five student-created questions sent to a very famous magician who may be answering soon. Thank you to my friend who knows this very famous magician!!

Passions Ignited!

The self directed learning projects seem to be making a difference in how my class views their world. It is fun to watch them get inspired from everything around them. 

We had a class get together after school at a place that has an amazing waterworks show. As the kids watched it in amazement, one student said to me, "Mrs. Milner, this would be a cool topic for an SDL project." 

Earlier in October, we went to an overnight at Camp Bourndale in Plymouth, MA and there were many topics there that students came back inspired to pursue. Click the link to Kevin's blog about magic. He was psyched to start this new topic after seeing an incredible magic show at Camp Bournedale. 

Kevin:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/84f946be-ae15-4d76-960a-e837236f1efd/magic-show/

In this post, Will shares what has inspired him and what he plans to do about it.

Will:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/1e193d1f-fcdf-48cf-987e-627b0e905abb/how-my-project-is-going-2/

Many students have stayed with their same topic so far, but it has inspired them to find creative ways to present their topic. One student studied different kinds of codes and his research about the Codetalkers sparked his imagination, so he is writing a fantasy story that will incorporate what he has learned about codes. Click to see his post about his characters.

Zach: 

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/d65535c1-5b1c-4dd0-b0c1-9e0b6a71d274/character-backgrounds/

Another student worked on taking apart an older computer and learning the parts. He then had new questions about how it was different from a newer computer or an IPhone. In wanting to present his findings, he also is learning quite a bit about editing with IMovie. Click to see his posts and the course his project has taken, wholly directed by him.

Pete:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/author/8def95fc-af1d-4fd7-850b-89f614f223d5/

Some students have enjoyed their topic, but have had trouble getting going with their blogs. A few did not fully grasp the purpose of the blog. After I shared other students' blogs, created a blogging rubric, and wrote a second post about all the different topics they could write about, these students came to understand the purpose of blogging. Click to see my post:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/837a2724-97ad-49c4-8caa-a2d27142b8d3/what-should-i-blog-about/

Students are more motivated to do this important piece of self directed learning: reflection. Here are a few examples of students showing growth in their blogs. By growth, I mean not just length of post, but level of reflection and sharing their process.

Maggie:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/author/1234e58b-55de-43fc-90ee-3533e8077d7a/

Alex:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/author/88fe7b68-6277-44c5-b5b2-b11d19d6f3a8/

Aidan:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/author/e04dd351-f50b-4cf6-96cf-28b2fa6179ec/

Improving Students' Blogposts

Please follow the link below to my post focused on what students could possibly blog about:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/837a2724-97ad-49c4-8caa-a2d27142b8d3/what-should-i-blog-about/

Please follow the link below to see a fantastic post that was written by a student after my Friday blogging discussion about the quality of their posts. 

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/8def95fc-af1d-4fd7-850b-89f614f223d5/imovie-special-effects/

Students are sharing pictures and videos on their blogs, now that they know how. I am impressed with the choices they make for media. They post pictures and video directly related to their work. Here are some examples:

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/62958e2b-acab-4c8f-9424-2e8114712ec2/how-to-do-a-cartwheel/

http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/8def95fc-af1d-4fd7-850b-89f614f223d5/computers/

Blogging Rubric

Here is the blogging rubric that I created for my students' self directed learning blogs. It is a work in progress. I was inspired by an article I saw on Twitter, "Your Rubric is a Hot Mess: Here's How to Fix It," posted by Jennifer Gonzalez. The single point rubric is just brilliant! We tend to look at the "Meets" column while grading a rubric, so why not just have that on the rubric with space for not meeting and a space for exceeding. Our report cards are standards based anyway, so this is more organic/informative about each child's progress. As much as possible, I used the language on our report cards...common core standards. I recommend the article and feel free to use and tweak this rubric for your needs.

Blogging Rubric

 

Student: ____________________________                          Month: __________________

 

Room to Grow Progress Towards Standard	On Target Standards for this Performance	Above and Beyond Evidence of Exceeding Standards
	Criteria 1: Clear and Coherent Writing The student clearly expresses original ideas and stays on topic. Writing is appropriate for the audience. Each post has at least 5 sentences.
	Criteria 2: Effort The student wrote at least one post a week.
	Criteria 3: Follows the Writing Process The student’s posts show improvement from planning to final draft due to drafting, revising, and editing.
	Criteria 4: Prod./Distribution of Writing The student commented on other blogs at least once a week. If applicable, the student cited others in their research and writing.
	Criteria 5: Use of Media The student enhanced their blog by regularly using video, audio, images or other media

 

A Plethora of Topics for Self-Directed Learning

Our fifth grade students just had a great overnight camp experience at Camp Bournedale in Plymouth, MA. They participated in a trip to the beach to study coastal ecology, a trip on a lobster boat to catch and release creatures, a three part marine lab that included shark dissection, and an extensive team building course. There were also presenters who were fantastic. A reptile/amphibian guy and a very engaging magician.

Throughout this two day adventure, I watched my students get completely enthralled in all different topics. I felt the need to capture these general topics to remind the students just in case they were enthralled enough to pursue any of them for their self directed learning projects. Below are some pictures and the list I created in my iPhone notes app.

Bio magnification center

Magician

Huge horseshoe crab

Shark dissection

Shark jaw

Submarines made from a piece of straw, water and clay. Trying to find neutral buoyancy.

Negative buoyancy

I found a new friend.

------------------------------------------------

Self Directed learning

- Sharks

- Other kinds of sea life (crabs, coral, etc.)

- Parts of the body - sharks, human or other

- Classification of living things 

- Reptiles and amphibians

- Buoyancy/ Submarines

- Magic

Local Resources for Book Talk Clubs and Self-Directed Learning

Session Two with the staff from R.C.T.V. went well. It is really worth investigating your local t.v. station to see what they offer in the way of loaning equipment and training to use the equipment. In the town I teach in, the t.v. studio rocks! They came to the classroom, in two sessions of about an hour, to teach how to use the movie camera and editing software, Final Cut Pro. 

We will use the equipment to film and edit the students' book talks. Students can also use the equipment for their self directed learning projects. What a great opportunity! In addition, at the studio, there is a green screen and a full working kitchen set. I have a student who will film her cooking show in this kitchen for her SDL project. 

Exciting things afoot in Room 16!

We Have an Audience!

Our progress with blogging is exciting! Students are thrilled to be getting comments from all over North America,  as well as the Bahamas and New Zealand! Our blog has over 4,000 views after one week of blogging!

Now that students see they have an audience, they are stepping up their game for sure! I am almost done with the blogging rubric. I shared it with my team and am revising based on their feedback. I will share it when done. I shared examples of great kid blogs and will be showing them how to cite sources next week after our overnight field trip. The rubric will also clarify what is expected and includes relevant standards.

Here are a few pictures that show examples of posts and comments, but please visit our site  http://kidblog.org/MrsMilnersClass-2/   read the blogs, and leave a comment! You will make their day!