Learning is fun!
Posted in apps, nonfiction lesson, reading skills, and third grade
Third graders had fun creating talking nonfiction text features using the Chatterkid Pix app in the library before winter break. They were to explain the purpose of the text feature and to give concrete examples in a first person voice. They had so much fun! When they finished, they played Sara Malchow’s BeeBot Robot Nonfiction Text Features Game. (see link to her TPT store below)
Posted in fourth grade, reading skills, technology, and TTESS 1819
Fourth graders analyzed procedural text in the Jackson Library. I gave them a QR Code to scan which took them to a page about how to fold an origami dog. They then took a screenshot of the pages and used the iOS 12 markup tools to show their text evidence. They also had to answer STAAR-formatted questions I created for them. This opened up good discussions and strategies to make sure they were paying attention to details in the text and interpreting the diagrams correctly. Check out the video of their work!
fix number 4 – ‘step 9’
Posted in first grade, picture book lesson, reading skills, and robots
Today in the Jackson Library, first graders used the Beebot robot to sequence story events in Britta Teckentrup’s book, Bee. During the story, I would pause when the bee landed somewhere and the kids had to program the bee to travel to that picture on the grid. I like how they helped each other problem solve when it didn’t go where they wanted. Great timing to honor Hour of Code this week!
video made with Boomerang
Posted in apps, picture book lesson, reading skills, and second grade
Second graders had fun in the Jackson Library today with Luca la Luchadora. We read the story about how a little girl’s abuela encourages her to stand up to playground bullying by showing her a vintage luchadora costume and telling her about the legacy of the luchadora’s power. When Lucia wears the costume, she not only stands up to bullies but also rescues Coco the puppy when he is stuck on the slide. By the end of the story, she realizes that she doesn’t need a mask or costume to stand up for herself. We identified causes and effects in the story and created a Luchadora or Nino mask from Nino Wrestles the World. At the tables, they chose from either a Lucia mask or a Nino mask and decorated it. They played a fun luchadora mask game on the iPads. Thanks to Shawne Briggs, Sheffield Primary Librarian in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, for ideas for this lesson. Check out her Wrangler Library tweets!
Hou Chronicle Author Interview
Lucia luchadora mask – drawing attempt by AK
Crazy Masks app
Posted in augmented reality, reading skills, technology, and third grade
Before the book fair, third graders explored Google’s Toontastic app to retell the story Oh No Astro! from the asteroid’s point of view. We used context clues when we read this story to determine the meaning of: rambunctious, loitering, humiliated, clarity, and confrontation. After the kids created their videos, they used NASA’s augmented reality app to look at spacecraft models in 3D!
Tweet from the author:
Posted in apps, first grade, reading skills, and second grade
Second graders enjoyed a fun read aloud in the Jackson Library last week titled Monster Trouble by Lane Fredrickson and illustrated by Michael Robertson. We follow Winifred Schnitzel, a little girl who is not easily frightened but is annoyed by monsters interrupting her sleep. She devises several plans to deter them with one finally succeeding in the end. Great opportunities abound for students to use context and picture clues to determine the meaning of unknown words in this story. I like how the author created Winifred full of gumption and innovation and I like how the illustrator gives each monster personality and conveys a myriad of emotions Winifred has when dealing with her annoying visitors.
At the tables during check out, the kids enjoyed the interactive read aloud app, Even Monsters Get Sick.
Posted in apps, first grade, holiday, picture book lesson, and reading skills
Last week in the Jackson Library, first graders had fun with a new spooky story, Fright School, by Janet Lawler. There are excellent vocabulary words in the story, so I created an interactive poster with words and corresponding pictures. We used context and the fun illustrations to determine the meanings of the words. During check out, we had fun with Amanda Noll’s I Need My Monster interactive storybook app and no spooky library lesson would be complete without doing The Monster Shuffle dance at the end!
words studied: scolds, seeping, relish, foul, clutch, quake, peer
Posted in fifth grade, games, holiday, reading skills, technology, and TTESS 1819
Last week in the Jackson Library, fifth graders played a Jeopardy-like game called Factile.
I created questions in categories based on the book, Halloween Motel, on a Jeopardy-style board. Then I purchased the Premium version of Factile to 1) print out my questions and answers and to 2) be able to play in Buzzer mode. If you use the free version, you can still play but you have to have the teams take turns or determine yourself who raised their hand first. In buzzer mode, the computer tells me who buzzed in first by putting a yellow thumbs up on that team’s avatar.
First, you open your saved game in Factile and then click ‘Buzzer Mode’. Then it generates a code like Kahoot. Give one iPad to each team captain and have them type in the code. Then you start the game and choose a category and question amount. The computer will tell you who buzzed first and then you either click the check mark to issue their points or the red x to deduct points. The kids loved it!
TEK 2d: I can identify the meaning of common idioms in the story. 11b: I can identify details that contribute to the theme and can draw conclusions about the ending.
Posted in apps, kindergarten, picture book lesson, and reading skills
Kindergarteners at Jackson became sleuths this week when we read the famous artist Jon Burgerman’s book, Rhyme Crime. They laughed out loud at the funny drawings and rhyming pairs in the book. When Hammy’s hat was swapped for a cat, the kids had to come to the poster put the cat on Hammy’s head. They loved solving the riddle of how the thief escaped jail at the end! We played the Partners in Rhyme app during check out. After check out, we played Jack Hartmann’s fun interactive rhyming game!
Posted in apps, fifth grade, reading skills, third grade, and TTESS 1819
Last week in the Jackson Library, third graders played a Kahoot assessment (see links below) after our Goldilocks and the Three Martians read aloud. Fifth graders played one after our Old Henry read aloud. These assessments are not only fun, but the new Kahoot Pro! for Educators gives me an inside look at which questions were the most difficult for students which helps me to adapt my teaching to better meet students’ needs. Plus, we had lots of fun!
Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text: Fiction: Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding.
FIFTH GRADE LESSON
Old Henry
6.b: I can explain the roles and functions of characters…including relationships and conflicts
GS Story WM 3-5
Kahoot Pro for Schools Feedback
