Spark Student Motivation-Kagan Style with Quiz-Quiz Trade!

I'm linking up this morning with Joanne @ Head Over Heels For Teaching for her...

My school became a "Kagan" School 3 years ago!  Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures are very powerful and have become embedded in every aspect of my instructional day.  One of my favorites is Quiz-Quiz Trade!  Students love it as well and don't even realize that they are studying!  

You can make Quiz-Quiz Trade cards for any subject/content area.  I used math vocabulary cards from our geometry unit this week as part of my review before the dreaded State Math Assessment!  Students really enjoyed themselves and feel more confident going in to take that test.  I wish I could share with all of you, but I don't want to break any copy write laws!  If you have not had Kagan Training it is well worth the time and money to attend a summer institute!  I also recommend ordering their materials from the Kagan Website!  

Have a Fun and Engaging Week!!

Five For Friday! "Because I'm Happy!"

Five For Friday!  "Because I'm Happy!"

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs for:

I'm happy because...Today is the unveiling of my new Blog Design!  What do you think????  I love it!  Megan over at A Bird In Hand Designs has done it again!  She is wonderful!!  Check her out if you are looking for a change.  I feel like a real blogger!  Next on my list is to increase my followers.  Any suggestions?  I am open to all suggestions and tips.  I can take constructive criticism as well.  

  

I'm happy because...My students finished our State Testing this week!   We were all exhausted by the end of the day on Thursday.  This year seemed more stressful than past years.  Maybe because I had to deliver two entirely separate curriculum simultaneously!   My poor little 3rd graders were very nervous since 3rd grade is a mandatory retention year here in Florida.  I have to send Nick over at Sweet Rhyme & Pure Reason a huge THANK YOU for his Champion Test Taker Brag Tags and Test Treat Notes!  They were just what my students needed to put a smile on their little sweet faces.  Even my 4th graders, who are pros at taking high stakes tests, enjoyed them!  

I'm happy because...I also used GoNoodle for the first time this week!!  What is it?  Well, it is a website that provides teachers/students with free Brain Breaks!   I have to thank both, Nick @ Sweet Rhyme-Pure Reason and Diane @ Fifth in the Middle for blogging about GoNoodle! 

My students begged for it each and every morning this week!  So far our favorites are "I'm Happy" and "Let it Go".  It is a must for every classroom!!!  

I'm happy because...well, I received my first "NORMAL" Mammography Report in 6 years!!  Just in time to celebrate my 44th birthday on Wednesday!  I am thankful for each and every day that the Lord has given me!  

My family spoiled me this year!  My daughter Elizabeth bought me a Keurig Coffee Maker!!  WOW!!

My husband Al, and son Erik both bought me more charms for my Pandora Bracelet. 

Last, but not least!  I wanted to post pictures of my family.  They are my world!  

My husband, best friend, sole mate, and the love of my life...Al

My daughter and first born...Elizabeth

My son and baby boy all grown up...Erik

Project Based Learning with iPads!

I'm linking up a day late with my super motivating friend Joanne @ Head Over Heels for Teaching!  I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but this past week was so exciting that I just had to share with you. 

 First, I must apologize and explain myself as to why I joined the party late.  I took my BBB, Alison's advice from Rockin' & Lovin' Learning and tried to relax yesterday!  I spent the day with my husband, aka "Sexy Beast", my son Erik, and fabulous friends!  We sat around our pool soaking up the sun, drinking Bloody Mary's, and laughin' it up.  We ended the day at a quaint little Thai restaurant for dinner.  What a wonderful day!  I am not only relax I am rejuvenated!   Maybe today I'll even take a little nap!  If you are feeling stressed and worn out, check out Alison's advice!   

Back to Sparking Student Motivation!  Last week I blogged about my first TpT priced item, Implementing iPads in The Classroom: Lesson Plans for Grades 3-5.  I had just received 15 iPads for my students to use as a learning tool in my 3rd & 4th grade combination classroom.  I have to say that it was the most exciting week we have had all year!  My students were so motivated by these iPads!  The best part is that we were not using game apps!  Did you read that?  I'm going to write that again just in case you missed it.  WE DID NOT USE GAME APPS!!!!  That's right! I didn't introduce a single game all week.  We used project based learning apps were students had to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of learning targets and concepts!  

I had a co-worker tell me that she would have never implemented iPads into her classroom with only two weeks before state testing.  She told me to my face that I had made a terrible decision.  Well, I disagree.  I used the iPads as a tool to review and reteach imported skills & concepts that will be tested.  Take a look and let me know your thoughts.  

First, my students had a little fun learning how to use the iPads.  Only 4 out of 17 knew how to use or operate an iPad.  We spent a little time on Monday creating rules and expectations for using the iPads. I introduced the Notes App & Keyboard, Pic Collage App, and signed students up on Edmodo.  Take a look!

All students were to record our class iPad Rules & Expectations using Notes so that they would become familiar with using the Keyboard.  

Then students were to create a Pic Collage demonstrating their understanding of at least 4 rules/expectations

Here students learned how to post projects to our class Edmodo Group!  Students were to type their lesson reflection/exit slip with their project.  

After students were oriented with using their iPads I introduced the Popplet App.  Students are required to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the changes  matter goes through.  My third graders are working on the changes water goes through, (states of matter), and my fourth graders are working on chemical and physical changes.  

This is an example of student using the Popplet App demonstrating their knowledge of what chemical and physical changes are!  

My favorite so far is the Doceri App!  This is a presentation app.  My first assignment required students to create 4 slides, (Angles, Polygons, Triangles, Quadrilaterals).  They were given 4 minutes per slide to draw and label as many attributes as they could.  Then students were given 2 minutes to collaborate together and write a script that they will use to record their explain their slides.  It creates a Kahn Academy like video!  Here are a few pics of my fabulous students engaged and motivated to study Geometry!!  

My introduction slide with directions on how to use Doceri!

Angles!!

Polygons!!

Students working together to create their scripts!

My students were so motivated to come to school and learn!  I had 100% attendance all week long.  Students had all their homework complete and were eager to get started everyday.  I informed my students on Monday that iPads are a learning tool and a privilege.  If they were not able to take responsibility for their own learning then the iPads would not be available to them.  Wow!!  I couldn't believe the immediate change that I witnessed in my students.  Gone were the sluggish responses,  day dreams of our past Spring Break, and temporary memory loss of year long rules and expectations in our classroom.  I couldn't fail them by not having engaging lessons planned using these iPads!  It was my responsibility to provide them the opportunity.

Thanks for reading my blog!  Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin, Google, and my TpT store!  Share with your friends.  I need more followers.  

Susan   

My First TpT Priced Product!

It's Sunday morning, and the very last day of my Spring Break.  I am sad and happy all at the same time.  I'm sad because I really enjoyed relaxing this week and playing around with my blog.  The weather was not cooperative this week here in Florida, so I was forced to "hang out" Inside on my iPad & Computer!  I'm happy because I was finally able to complete my very first TpT priced product! Implementing iPads in The Classroom: Lesson Plans for Grades 3-5!    Please stop by and check it out.  If you have iPads and you really haven't utilized them well in your classroom you may find my lessons helpful!

I feel like I'm behind the 8-ball with technology and I'm not sure why.  Needless to say, I'm trying to catch up with the rest of the world.  I discovered that my school was sitting on 60 brand new iPads for over a year!  I almost threw-up knowing that this resource wasn't being utilized!  I inquired as to what I needed to do to get those iPads into the hands of our students.  I was told that I had to have the "proper training."  It wasn't easy, but I finally figured out which iPad training was considered the "proper training" completed it on my own time after school on the last student day prior to my Spring Break!  I convinced another teacher at my school, and dear friend, to attend with me.  We were both determined to get our hands on those iPads! The following day was a Teacher Duty Day so we were able to pick up our cart of 29 iPads that we are going to share between our two classrooms.  Knowing that so much time has already been wasted, I wanted to get to it as soon as we return on Monday.  Since we have been gone for a whole week, and starting a brand new grading period I figured that Monday would be the perfect day to orient my students to their new iPads!  I really had no idea how to get started with this so I created a series of lesson plans that are geared to orienting students to the iPads.  I will continue to add lessons to this packet at I create them.  

In the meantime, I'm going to visit Christy's Classroom Applications over @ Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road!  Her Blog is filled with ideas and different ways to utilize iPads in the classroom!  

Oh My!  I see sunshine this morning!  That means I need to get out of the house today and enjoy it while I have a few hours of free time left!  

Blog with you soon,

Susan

Tried it Tuesday Linky

Happy Tuesday!  I'm linking up for the first time with Holly @ Fourth Grade Flipper for her Tried it Tuesday linky.  

I love this linky because, well, I'm TRYING all kinds of new bloggy stuff, and I want to share.  I'm like a kid in a candy shop with all that I am learning how to do.  I know many of you have been blogging for several years now, and I'm just getting started.  I want you all to know that it's because of YOU  that I am able to do anything on here at all!  I have enjoyed reading many of your blogs for about a year now, and I find myself loosing track of who said what, when, where, and how!  I've go to get more organized with that... 

So...I sat down and TRIED to set up a blog of my own.  It was an epic fail for several months.  It's not great now, but it was really bad when I first started.  I would try to link up and things didn't go well.  Then I couldn't figure out how to make my blog look so cute and inviting like all of you have done.  That's when you started posting your new looks!  It really warmed my heart to know that you all needed help from talented blog designers too!  So, I signed up for a blog face lift!  Yea me!!  I'm working with Megan @ A Bird in Hand Designs!  

I couldn't wait for spring break to start so I would have time to just sit around and research blog designs and complete my blog design homework.  That's when I discovered that many of you had blogged about how to blog!  Genius!  That's what you all are!  Just Brilliant!  It is just what I needed.   

I started with Theresa & Robyn over @ Pinkadots Elementary with their calendar of Linky Parties!  I'm TRYING to link up with as many linkys as I can this week.  Thank you so much ladies!  Your Linky Calendar is very helpful!  

My first successful Link up was yesterday with Jen's A Peek at my Week @ Mrs. Laffin's Laughings!   Jen was so nice.  She visited my blog and left a comment!  Yea me again!  Comments really do feel good don't they?  Thank you Jen, for your acknowledgement.  It meant the world.  

Then something amazing happened! I had a second comment from another blogger!  It was so much fun talking back and forth with Alison from Rockin' and Lovin' Learning!  Girl, you made my day!

Alison was so much fun to talk to that I just had to mosey on over and stock her blog!  That is when I realized that I was already following her and I had TRIED something she had blogged about in February!  

Alison linked up with a very good friend of mine in real life, not just blogging life, Joanne @ Head Over Heels for Teaching for her Spark Student Motivation Saturdays!  Alison blogged about breaking the rules and having students stand on their chairs when celebrating things such as birthdays and making 100% on Tests!  I loved it and gave it a TRY!  My students loved it and so did I! 

My last TRIED IT, is that I learned how to use PicCollage at an iPad training I attended last week just before Spring Break started.  I made a few collages to share with you.  

Thanks for letting me share my small blogging accomplishments this week!  

Susan

Peek at my Week: Spring Break!!

I'm linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for A Peek at my Week: Spring Break!  I am so excited to finally be on Spring Break!  Here is what is in store for me this week: 

First: I plan on laying/sitting around our pool as much as possible this week and soak up some Vitamin D!  My skin is far too pale for a Floridian!  I think that I need to purchase a few spring plants/flowers to decorate my favorite outdoor patio now that winter is finally over. A trip to Lowe's/Home Depot is definitely on my to do list. 

Secondly, I will work on my Blog.  I am scheduled for a Blog Design Face Lift the end of April!  I spent most of today researching designs, clip art, and fonts that I like.  I can't wait to see what Megan with A Bird In Hand Designs has in store for me!  

On Thursday, I plan on taking my family to Sea World!  Can you believe that I live in Florida and have never been to Sea World?  I can't believe it either.  So, we are finally going to go.  I can't wait. 

I really don't want to do much more than that since I really need a break and time to relax, read a good book, unwind, sleep, sunbathe, and enjoy time with my husband and children.  Let me know what your plans are this week.  I'm curious as to what everyone is up to.  

Enjoy your week!

Susan

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