Nofiction Features Make the News!

Mrs. Jordan and her third grade students have recently completed a study on nonfiction features. Text features helps the reader make sense of their reading. The Common Core English Language Arts: Reading~ Informational Text Strand for Grades 1-5 states: Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text. 

After the study of text features was complete, students wrote their individual scripts for their text feature segment for the highly anticipated Team Jordan News greenscreen production.

News room image created in the app explain everything

Using the app explaineverything we first created the personalized set for Team Jordan News. The next step was to record each student's segment in front of the big green screen. 
The fun began when the video clips were placed in the GreenScreen by DoInk app. This app allows three layers of video and images. Bottom layer held the background image of the News Room, the text feature image was placed in the center layer, and the video segment was placed in the top layer. With a little adjusting, the images were lined up for the perfect final effect.
Click on the video below to see Nonfiction on the Team Jordan News.

Common Core Standards for Grade 3:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5
Use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur)

Google + Google Forms = Magic

Teachers are enjoying creating tests using google forms.

Students are enjoying taking tests using google forms.

Grade three students recently completed a unit of study on Matter. 

Together teachers and I worked on creating a digital form of this test. We loved using google forms. One test was created and shared with all the teachers. Very Easy!

This is a picture of the teacher view. Do you know the answer to the first question?
The plus sign on the right is how new questions are added.

A few classes took the test on the laptops and some used the iPads. The nicest part is it doesn't matter which device is used because forms works on all devices.

The MAGIC begins when teachers want to grade the tests!

Google Forms creates a spreadsheet with all the data.

With the Add-on Flubaroo, teachers click GRADE Assignment, select the answer sheet, and POOF all the work is done for them.

MAGIC!

Google Slides in Action

Collaboration at its BEST!

GAFE (google apps for education) has changed the way teachers are teaching and students are learning at Proctor School!

Mrs. Lampe and Mrs. Murphy decided to really bring the collaboration piece to the extreme with their fourth grade students. This creative project is titled Midwest Google Slides. Students in one class have been partnered with students in the other class on the same project.. Each small group is responsible for 2 slides in the completed project. Students collaborate through the comment feature found in google. It has been an engaging and powerful project as we watch these fourth graders work.

This is what the slide document looks like right now. Stay tuned for the final version.

The power of commenting is evident as these teachers take this opportunity to model the process.

Rubric used for assessment:

Teachers help students guide their students' projects by using a rubric. Students refer to this while working and use this as a reflection piece as well.

Tour of Steward School With Dr. Seuss

March 2 is the day Steward School joins others to celebrate Read Across America. Our theme this year is Oh The Places You'll Go.  Click below to take a tour of the wonderful happenings at Steward School. You will get a look at our guest readers and our school. Enjoy the visit. Stay tuned to see how many miles we travel as we spend the month reading and tracking our progress across the halls of America.


"Musical Madness" | Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat [Game soundtrack] | Keith Leary

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

The Day is Here!
Let's All Cheer!
It is a Big Birthday Day!
Hip Hip Hooray!

Steward Teachers all chose their favorite Dr. Seuss book.

Check out the video below.

Can you guess who is who?

Music credits CENTENNIALSINGS