Exploring Scoop.It and Other Possibilities

I'm spending a lot of time this summer looking at tools I've known about but haven't quite explored, those that I haven't used in a while, and also some brand new tools.  I'm trying to decide which tools to use as I begin the school year  - tools to help find information and organize it, tools to help create and share, and tools to help collaborate and connect.  You couldn't, and shouldn't, use every possible tool, although I believe it's important to at least find out what's available.  And, sometimes, you might decide something you thought would be great just isn't suited for your particular needs.  Even if everyone else loves it, if it isn't helping you, then put it aside.

So here is what I'm looking at today - Scoop.it.  Choose a topic to "curate."  Resources come to you.  Add them to your page, or not.  And you can also collect your own resources that you want to include on your page.  Share with others in a variety of ways.  See what others are curating as well. For now, I'm just exploring.  My page on creativity is still a work-in-progress. Click on the image to see the full Scoop.it page -

Don't Get All Sharpie on Sudan

  by  United Nations Photo 

If you return to your classroom for the new school year with Sharpie in hand and simply draw a line across all your maps and globes to divide what was once Sudan into what is now Sudan and Southern Sudan, you're missing a world of learning that could happen in your classroom - whatever age or subject area you teach. 

In the last few weeks I've been exploring Southern Ocean and how scientists classify such things, and now I am learning more about how and why a new country emerges. There's conflict that can last years, then decisions to be made within the new country, communication with other countries in the region and elsewhere, and planning that involves world organizations. The new country needs leaders and those who believe in the changes being made. You don't just draw a line on a map and call it "done."


Some of you may have seen this map of the world by Simon Rogers and Jenny Ridley.  (First time using Prezi?  Click the play button under the image and then use the magnification tools to the right of the image. If you don't see the tools, mouse over the right side of screen and they will appear. Takes a bit of practice, and it's not the best way to view a map actually.)  It's helpful in seeing the borders of countries and some stats about the world.  But, even more fascinating to me are the comments posted below the map.  While you can't tell the expertise, country of original, etc. of all those postings (meaning some additional investigation would be needed), the fact that these debates can and are happening in the world is an important thing to share with the learners in your classroom.  It's unfortunate that comments have been closed on the page, possibly because they were becoming a bit heated? 


THIS is what teachers should be taking back to the classrooms and sharing with students--that even a map is open to debate, and I think all maps should come with a debate. What a way to learn, to spark interest, to generate the desire to investigate a topic, and to make those places on the map actually mean something!


Random Add-On...
By the way, I was checking the spelling of Sharpie and ran across the Sharpie web site - it's totally awesome and worth checking out! Apparently, there's an entire Sharpie World I've been missing...time to update my maps again!!  Sharpie Web Site

Junior Doodle

This is the second year I'm working with Junior Doodle.  I have connected to the Creative Juices blog and their What the Doodle posts and created our own primary-level version of this activity.  I've found this is a great way to build vocabulary, connect with some creative authors and illustrators, develop critical thinking skills, and have some fun.  Basically, you obtain a word from a random word generator or any way you'd like.  In our classroom, we start by thinking of the various meanings and uses of the word.  Then we discuss some of the possibilities for creating an interesting drawing (later the children might find other ways of representing the word that are not just drawings).  Then, at the end of the week, we share.

We have only done one word this year, and the second word was just introduced today - it's "conductor."  What can you do with conductor?

Find out more about Junior Doodle here - http://tinyurl.com/24x8lnr

Outside the NECC Walls

So, after all my reflections on NECC, I have to say that my favorite part was the people-watching. During the keynotes, sessions, the volunteers, outside the conventions center, at the receptions, the vendors--there was so much going on! And surrounding the many aspects of this conference, a city was bustling with workers, vacationers, families, etc.

I think I saw it suggested somewhere - that we have a "conference without walls." And we are definitely at a time when all of our sessions do not have to take place in rooms in the same building. We can be "out and about" the cities where we are having the conference doing some great hands-on learning and discussions.

One of my favorite parts of my NECC-plus-vacation was the Fourth of July parade. Instead of watching the parade, I found myself watching the spectators. With the countless phone, photo, and video gadgets, the people--children, adults, seniors--were involved in the parade in more ways than just as viewers. There were flags being waved, but more often than flags, I saw cameras and cell phones flying high above the crowds trying to get a great photo. Here's where our learners are. Here's where our educators should be. Here's where the collaboration, sharing, and learning by doing are taking place. They've got the tools and we can facilitate the learning - taking it to the next level - outside where things are happening...

BubbleShare: Share photos - Easy Photo Sharing

Live Meme Tagging

I am the worst at participating in a meme online. I start my thoughts and don't finish. Aside from that, I find the process very interesting - that people post their thoughts about themselves and share and then, that people comment. The comments are mostly supportive, funny, and interesting themselves.

Recently,  I decided to give a writing prompt pulled directly from the world of social networking. They wrote their prompts in their journals - a place where they mostly have free choice about what to write. The prompt: The Top Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About Me. A good topic to learn more about your classmates.

These little guys really took this task seriously. They covered their papers for privacy. Most children spent a good 1/2 hour in thought and writing. Even students who struggle with writing were "into" this assignment. And then they lined up to show me what they wrote - where did that come from??

And, when I began reading their entries, I was amazed. I learned so many new things about them, and I learned that they are really funny, interesting, diverse, and thoughtful people. I also learned a lot about them as writers.

Now, I am thinking, just like with a blog or Facebook meme, perhaps we will tag a few classes to complete this task. It doesn't have to take that long, and I would love to see what another class could do with it. I would love to see children tag their parents too :)

One of my favorite top ten entries is from a student for whom writing is not really a preferred activity...

#5 I like to move it, move it! (Think of the song - was in Madagascar)

Hands on Science Meets a Great Final Presentation

Not only do second graders learn sorting and classifying, they can now document their learning with an Animoto video!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

EraserTown USA

Welcome to EraserTown USA - The New Primary Classroom Blog! Here is a place to discuss and share the many ways to promote creativity in the primary classroom--whether it is by using technology in a developmentally appropriate way, designing long-term projects as a way of integrating the curriculum, integrating the arts into other subject areas, or any other way your imagination allows.

If you teach in a primary-level classroom, you might have experienced the EraserTown phenomenon yourself. Now that it is summer, EraserTown is funny--not so much when you are trying to teach a math lesson. Let me explain...

My second graders have desks. They sometimes sit at their desks. I sometimes try to teach a lesson while they are at their desks. They don't like that. So, they find ways of amusing themselves while I am "doing my thing." Sometimes the children will read a book, sometimes they chat, sometimes they gaze out the window, sometimes they go ahead in their math workbook. I have taken to observing this behavior and following up on what is really happening and not just correcting the children who seem to be not paying attention to the lesson. Often times, they know exactly what is going on with the lesson. Good for them, they are learning to multitask!? And at such a young age!! This year's class was exceptionally creative. There were a handful of children who collected small erasers. During desk lessons, they constructed (yes, constructed) small towns in their desks with whatever they could find, and the erasers were the people of the town. The sides of the desks had signs and pictures (via PostIt notes). They had little plastic containers (from the cafeteria) with everything from pencil shavings to small plastic bears. At the end of the day, while the children waited for their busses, the towns were still bustling with activity. While EraserTown does not match our district standards, you have to admit, it is quite clever! And as many times as I de-constructed the towns, those little builders kept building.

Luckily for me, I had many other ways of amusing my students that were academically sound as well as creative, motivating, and cooperative in nature. Even though I work with young children, I have found that they can do very "grown up" things. We were fortunate this year to have the technology tools available in our classroom to engage these creative learners in projects and lessons that would meet their needs, although not all of our projects required the use of technology. Here are some things they were able to do this year:

• Learn how to set up and use a SmartBoard


• Use MacBooks and software - right in the classroom - HOORAY


• Troubleshoot when there were problems with technology equipment (imagine 25 troubleshooters talking at once - something I had to fix)


• Use digital cameras for classroom projects and act as the "press" at school events (photos were used on our school's Web site)


• Write, direct, produce videos--one was even featured on our district's cable channel, and we even managed a mini film festival at the end of the year


• Write their own science textbooks


• Participate in webinar and videoconference events - they love the back channel (chat) feature during webinars


• Put together a circus in one week - performed for other students, staff, and family members
  

The biggest surprise for me this year was when I came back from a technology meeting with what I thought was a funny story for my class. Some of the adults at the meeting thought that second graders would not be able to use a SmartBoard. I chuckled to myself knowing that my students were not only using the SmartBoard, but they were also orienting it (a prized job) and troubleshooting (correctly) when it wasn't working. I told my class what the adults said thinking they would laugh (ha-ha they think we can't use it). Instead, my students responded with words like, "That is insulting." "That was mean." "Why do they think we are dumb?" When given the responsibility, they really do take it seriously and do their job well AND they learn some very valuable skills at a young age.

During the summer months I reflect on the past years of teaching and I make plans for how I want the next year to look. I fear that if I don't respond to the EraserTown phenomenon directly, I will be missing the chance to harness that wonderful creativity for learning and growing. And, now that I have some valuable technology available right in the classroom and know how these young children shine when they are given the chance to use these tools, I know that I will continue to develop projects that include such things as making movies, participating in interactive video conferences, and learning outside the classroom and away from those desks!

Now that I think about it, maybe we could have created EraserTown - The Movie!! Oh well, you never know what next year will bring.