Students are doing a great job sharing their interests and spreading their excitement to their classmates.
Enrichment at RES
Friday, December 7, 2012
Fairies and Birds
Kindergarteners continue to share their interests during exploration
time in enrichment this week. Students in one class explored nests and
feathers and created stencil birds. They also looked at bird books and
listened to the sounds of different birds. In the other class students
created fairies and talked about their passions for all things fairy!
Students are doing a great job sharing their interests and spreading their excitement to their classmates.
Students are doing a great job sharing their interests and spreading their excitement to their classmates.
Teamwork in First Grade
Today in first grade we discussed the importance of working together as a team. Groups were given the challenge of building a structure that supported a plastic egg. Students worked together in groups of four to try to build the tallest tower they could with a limited amount of materials. This was a similar challenge to one we had tried earlier in the year with spaghetti and marshmallows.
Working together on a task proves to be challenging for all students. We have to think about how to get our ideas across while listening to others. We have to compromise (the limited materials force this issue). We have to take risks and try things again. We have to realize that we will not always immediately accomplish our goal.
I have been reading a lot of academic articles recently about how many findings show that group work allows students to grow beyond their individual skills. Although this may be true, it is apparent from our work in enrichment that this will only come to fruition by the development of successful teamwork skills. I hope that through activities such as this one and others that students will begin to develop an ability to work together. Next we will process our experience and try to figure out how we can improve our collaborative experiences. I think students will learn best from each other and I look forward to this discussion.
Working together on a task proves to be challenging for all students. We have to think about how to get our ideas across while listening to others. We have to compromise (the limited materials force this issue). We have to take risks and try things again. We have to realize that we will not always immediately accomplish our goal.
I have been reading a lot of academic articles recently about how many findings show that group work allows students to grow beyond their individual skills. Although this may be true, it is apparent from our work in enrichment that this will only come to fruition by the development of successful teamwork skills. I hope that through activities such as this one and others that students will begin to develop an ability to work together. Next we will process our experience and try to figure out how we can improve our collaborative experiences. I think students will learn best from each other and I look forward to this discussion.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Digital Tool--PhotoFunia for the iPad
PhotoFunia is an iPad tool that I recently downloaded for free. This tool allows you to take a picture or grab one from your camera roll and insert the photograph into a large variety of background images. The tool is easy to use and fun. There is some advertising on the bottom, but in my opinion it does not distract from the creation process.
We are currently using the billboard and poster categories in PhotoFunia to create images with advertisements that were created in our enrichment/ library class. This addition of a tool allows students to work with a different app and create a fun and relevant final project. We have also found that students have to think more about color, detail and their overall advertisements' visual presence!
This tool would also be great to use for 'get to know you' projects, or just for FUN!
We are currently using the billboard and poster categories in PhotoFunia to create images with advertisements that were created in our enrichment/ library class. This addition of a tool allows students to work with a different app and create a fun and relevant final project. We have also found that students have to think more about color, detail and their overall advertisements' visual presence!
This tool would also be great to use for 'get to know you' projects, or just for FUN!
Interest Driven Projects in Kindergarten
This week in enrichment individual kindergarteners have started leading their own interest driven centers during their exploratory time. Students meet with me to select a topic they want to share and plan ideas for their center. Each class period a different student will offer a center for their peers. I have not put any limits on the topic selection, other than that materials must be obtained at school and that the student must be excited to share the center with others!
Today a student shared her passion and excitement for ballet and dance. Her center included: teaching students some ballet positions, sharing some books about ballet, coloring pages about ballet, and free dance to classical music!
The students were highly engaged, respectful of her work and the whole class wanted to visit her center! I look forward to all of the student driven learning and exploration which will take place in kindergarten enrichment this year. So far our calendar includes snakes, ninjas, flowers, birds, bookmaking, collages, and fairies-- and that is just this month!!
Today a student shared her passion and excitement for ballet and dance. Her center included: teaching students some ballet positions, sharing some books about ballet, coloring pages about ballet, and free dance to classical music!
The students were highly engaged, respectful of her work and the whole class wanted to visit her center! I look forward to all of the student driven learning and exploration which will take place in kindergarten enrichment this year. So far our calendar includes snakes, ninjas, flowers, birds, bookmaking, collages, and fairies-- and that is just this month!!
Students--Leaders in Learning
Technology use is an important part of our fourth grade enrichment/library lesson plans. As teachers we have spent a lot of time thinking about what the best way to introduce tools is and how we can step back and let students drive their learning. Students know how to play and explore, and we want them to bring this same spirit to their use of technology.
One model that has worked great this year is the idea of student leaders. Students who finish work early are given access to the tools with minimal directions. With extra time they learn the ins and outs of the tools naturally and without a large amount of teacher guidance. These students then become our classroom experts. As other students in class finish their work and move to the tool for creating and sharing ideas, our lead learners become consultants for questions and support. Early in the year we found that the lead learners were nervous about the undirected exploration, but as time has gone on we see students jumping at the chance to explore. Early in the year we observed students going to the teacher with their questions about technology, but now we see them turning to their peers. My favorite teaching phrase in fourth grade this year is 'check in with so-and-so, they are a class expert on this tool'!
It is great to look around the room and see these students leading learning!
One model that has worked great this year is the idea of student leaders. Students who finish work early are given access to the tools with minimal directions. With extra time they learn the ins and outs of the tools naturally and without a large amount of teacher guidance. These students then become our classroom experts. As other students in class finish their work and move to the tool for creating and sharing ideas, our lead learners become consultants for questions and support. Early in the year we found that the lead learners were nervous about the undirected exploration, but as time has gone on we see students jumping at the chance to explore. Early in the year we observed students going to the teacher with their questions about technology, but now we see them turning to their peers. My favorite teaching phrase in fourth grade this year is 'check in with so-and-so, they are a class expert on this tool'!
It is great to look around the room and see these students leading learning!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Planting our Gifts
The flower pots are decorated, the cards are made and today first graders planted the bulbs! Students are working hard to create a special gift for classrooms around the school. As part of their plans to improve the school community-- each classroom will be given a special flower pot designed just for them by a class of fabulous first graders.
Building Richmond
One class of second graders is working on constructing a replica of different buildings around Richmond. They decided as a class that they all enjoy constructing, and picked this project as a way to connect to our community theme. Once complete the town will be placed on a map which they are also designing, and then be available for younger students at RES to use to learn about our town.
Students were engaged in thinking about what the buildings look like, how they could build them with the materials that they had and how all the pieces would fit together.
Students were engaged in thinking about what the buildings look like, how they could build them with the materials that they had and how all the pieces would fit together.
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