Google Classroom, Skype and KidBlog... Oh My!!!

This week has been a week of technology in the classroom. I've been using Google Classroom for the past several weeks to have students complete English and History Assignments. This week, I ventured into having them take Cornell Notes in Google Classroom using a template I created. For some, it was a hit! Other students lacked the enthusiasm of their classmates, but were engaged none the less. I figure it's mostly because they were using their Chromebooks and creating something they could refer back to time and time again.

I'm not sure what I would do without my devices!!!
We LOVE our Chromebooks!

Wednesday was the day! We have been reading One for the Murphys as part of the Global Read Aloud Program. Finally, on Wednesday we connected with a class in Ripon, WI and conducted a Mystery Skype and Discussion about the book. This was an AWESOME experience for the Trojans! Even more exciting was some of the students in WI were wearing Raiders and California shirts which was a BIG hit! Neither class guessed the correct location, but what I learned was I really have some work to do in Geography with these kids! They enjoyed collaborating with the other students about our book and learning about about Cross Road Charter School. By the way, they were most impressed with the fact that there is a retracting wall in the back of their classroom which connects the adjoining room! So cool!

Skyping with Ms. Mott's class in Ripon, WI.
Special thanks to Nelda Taylor and Cheryl Carter
for their assistance videotaping and taking photos!

Over the past few weeks we have been blogging about what we have read in One for the Murphys, and citing textual evidence in our posts. Next up, responding appropriately to a post and structuring that post with four essential elements! Look forward to seeing photos and mishaps on teaching providing appropriate blog feedback coming soon!

Huge thanks to @ucdjoe for sharing this on Instagram!
Starting this week, this is our model.

Global Read Aloud Kick-Off Next Week

As I sit here preparing for the Global Read Aloud Kick-Off next week, I'm busy reading One For the Murphy's, and everything I can about using Skype in the classroom and #mysteryskype. I came across an amazing blog of how to conduct a Mystery Skype and what to have the students do to remain engaged and participating with another classroom in another part of the US or another country. Thanks to Mrs. Morgan's Superstars for the helpful information! I wouldn't have been able to navigate the world of Skype in my classroom without your helpful tips!

http://mrsmorgansstars.edublogs.org/skype-etiquette/


For the Global Read Aloud, I will be blogging here about our classroom experiences and my students will be blogging on KidBlog and communicating with classrooms in Wisconsin and hopefully another classroom in Canada or South Dakota. I'm still working on the second connection. Each week we will be reading a specified number of chapters and writing about what we have read. In addition, we will be focusing on the theme of the story as we learn all about Carley.

Check back for updates and videos about our Skype experiences!

Global Read Aloud

When reading, The Book Whisperer, Miller mentioned the Global Read Aloud program. I talked with a couple other teachers and decided to jump in with both feet! Just one problem... I need the books for my classes! Since I've had such success with Donors Choose in the past, I figured I would throw this project up there and get a class set of "One for the Murphy's" by Lyndy Mullaly Hunt.

Now the only problem is time... Global Read Aloud starts on October 6th and continues through November 14th. There are specific chapters we are to read throughout the weeks to communicate and connect with students around the world who have selected the same book. So, I need my project to fund and ship as soon as possible! 

Here is where you can help. For the first week (through 9/26) of this project, all donations are doubled with the code "INSPIRE". That means I only need $100 to be donated (since it will double to $200). That is only five donations of $20, ten donations of $10, twenty donations of $5, and so on. If you could, please donate! This will ensure my kids can participate in something so much bigger than just inside my classroom in Fairfield! 

http://www.donorschoose.org/project/global-read-aloud-day/1355356/?rf=link-siteshare-2014-09-teacher_account-teacher_1775968&challengeid=303159 

Thanks for considering to support my class and donating to my project! I appreciate it!  

Fight On!

This week was full of USC goodness in Room 17! We celebrated a huge win against Fresno State on Saturday (52-13). Then I shared photos from this game with my students. (I received these photos from a friend who attended the game.) My students were so excited to see these photos and experience a small part of an USC football game!

Tommy Trojan at a USC Football Game

On Tuesday afternoon, we had a guest visitor, Sasha Spala, current USC student and daughter of Pat Shamansky, FSUSD Board member. My students loved every minute of our time with Sasha and learned so much about USC and college in general. Some of the most popular questions were, "What food is available at USC?" and "What happens when you are late to class?" Sasha graciously answered all of their questions and explained the amazing experience college is and how to make the most of that experience!

This week I had the fortunate opportunity to meet with the amazing Cheryl Carter, who explained all about Google Classroom, Canvas and blogging. I'm making every attempt to get my students to start a blog, hopefully linked here, where they can communicate with USC students and learn more from the world around us! Fight On!