the VERY BEST iPad Storage EVER

iPad instruction is one of the best parts of my job, Be good to yourself and do not get stuck in an elevator with me and bring up 1:1. Be wise and don't join a Tech Advisory committee with me - I go a lot crazy when we go there.

This week, getting back into the building, I have been reminded just how much EXTRA work goes into iPad instruction. Especially that August prep groundwork so your teachers can jump and go.

Our Third grade teacher took on 1:1 instruction mid year last year and I was IMPRESSED with her flexibility and the learning that happened in that class. This week she did it again for sure.

Anyone who works with more than three iPads in a class knows how unwieldy, and space consuming iPad storage is. Not to mention expensive.

My teacher pulled out one of the cardboard mailboxes that every building has piled up and put it to use! Holes were drilled in each compartment (through the back) and the wires were strung to the charging units.

Teachers are amazing. I saw another Teacher this afternoon walking down the hall with an old mailbox and I hope she is doing the same thing. This unit puts the iPads at kids' height, it puts the charging and maintenance responsibility literally at their level.

This did not cost a dime. This Teacher already had the strip cords. Last year she stored the iPads using dishracks which is not a bad idea but I LOVE the reimaged mailbox!!!!

Promethean ActivTable - Now, We're Talking!

This  fall will start our second year as a STEM school. When we applied our School Board was supportive in as much as they could be. We have received PD, Science Kits, accommodations and many more things I am sure I don't know about.

What we really need right now is Technology. Grants seeking support for 1:1 tech have been submitted and rejected time and again. The list could go on for a bit here so I am going to skip to the good part: A Promethean ActivTable is coming our way!!!! I am not the person to ask about details so again I will breeze over that part.

I checked out the ActivTable and I am excited, more than excited actually! My first thought was that this would be an Interactive Board with legs and would garner some attention for the first month of school then gather a little dust.

After investigating, I love that Promethean KNEW we would think that and created a Table that is to be used collaboratively and not with six kids waiting their turn.

I don't expect that I will use the Table too much in the Library because of the 6 student limit (unless I incorporate centers, which would be a home run) but I am thrilled to see this technology at our school. As of now it seems like tech that is not a gimmick and will engage students while growing us as a STEM school. As we get rolling in the year I look forward to updating the Table progress.

This makes me say again Thank You, Diane Lauer! You are a MEDIA and STEM hero!

Girl, PLEASE! From Media Specialist to Tech Integrationist

 

Obviously, the driving force of this blog is: How Does Media Fit into STEM Education? This is our first year as a STEM school - with the massive amount of change and progress we have made as a staff, this question mattered to me alone for the first part of this year.

Before I moved to the library I was the Tech Facilitator for our school. My heart is in the library but I brought so much Tech from the lab down the hall that our library has been a different place since I moved in. Moving to a STEM curriculum and supporting that has been a challenging and fun fit for me.

That said, I feel like Chicken Little running around my building squawking "We need more tech! We are falling behind, there is no reason for this! Pick up those heels! Girl, PLEASE!"

As a staff we are creating the Master Schedule for next year and I am thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to be on the edge of change in our school. Currently kids come to the library for a total for 60 minutes a week, with check and "media lessons" in that time.

Holla! Next year it looks like kids will retain check out time and the rest of my time will transition to Tech Integration. I will be able to be in the classrooms, lab and offices driving and supporting tech. (And yes, I do realize people reading this know what Tech Integration means).

I will continue to ask my big question but now I feel like I have more tools to take Media where it should be in our school and  engage our modern readers.

Next week at the Leadership Meeting I am presenting a Tech Timeline to our Committee....I get to convince our Staff to jump on the Tech Train in 4 minutes or less, no problem! I came across this fantastic Tech Matrix that will illustrate where we are as a staff and where we should be. I hope to be in solid Infusion territory by August with our staff following. Not a bad way to end the year!

Who DOESN'T Want to be a Marine Biologist?

 

Knowing I wanted to add STEM Careers as a rotation in the library is one thing. After just two days of teaching STEM careers, it is completely another. I am just going to put it out there: when I grow up, I want to be a Marine Biologist!

I emailed author Mary M. Cerullo to discuss the possibility of a SKYPE session with my kids. I was pleased to hear she attended a SKYPE for authors session but bummed to hear her schedule won't allow a session until fall (but not surprised). I am also looking forward to the publication of her new project, four books about sharks for 7-10 year old readers. I will DEFINITELY check back with her in the fall.

The waiting list for Giant Squid is second in our library only to Zombie Makers. This text is fascinating and relays Clyde Roper's career long quest for the elusive giant squid. The link below is a wonderful video that Grant Galland put together for a 2nd grade classroom.

Beng a Marine Biologist

 

As our school has made the change to STEM and I  learned more about this, I have always wished my kids had this education. This week, looking at all of the SUPER COOL things you can do with a STEM education, I wish I had received a STEM education. Amazing!


 

        

STEM Careers - the endless possibilities!

 

 This week we had a STEM Leadership Retreat and one of the things we did was review the pressing need we have for STEM education. And that is the biggest understatement I could have used.

I had already planned to cover STEM careers this week and the retreat work reinforced that. Last week I came across Careers in Biology from @scienceamy. (via one of my favorite blogs, http://mrscrookreads.blogspot.com/ Thanks to both of you) This year I have beefed up STEM non fiction and the kids are fascinated by it all so I anticipated a fun week.


I also came across this amazing Pinterest Board STEM Works (truly, I can not happily remember life before Pinterest) which led directly to the website http://www.stem-works.com/

The amount of exciting possibilities on this website is amazing! The biggest challenge is choosing what to present and sifting through this content. An exciting week is looking better with each click.

Earth Day: the original STEM PBL

                                               

Is there a STEM approach to Earth Day? the approach we tackle in the library is answering the question "What can we (2nd graders, 1st, etc) do to help the Earth every day?"  I don't think there is a more basic PBL question we could ask students anywhere. In recent years some fantastic titles have been published (in every genre but especially highlighting Ecology) and this makes Earth Day insightful and thought provoking in the library.

One of my favorite titles we read this week is The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. I love it particularly because the main character, Liam, makes noticeable changes to the city he loves. This book led to a lively discussion and exploration about rooftop gardens. For kids in almost rural-ish Colorado, the concept of a rooftop garden was novel. It was fun to watch the discussion grow with their comprehension. A quick Google search revealed rooftop gardens that fueled the conversation.

I also love that a quick search at www.mimioconnect.com for "Earth Day" resulted in pages of age appropriated lessons and activities for the Mimio Board. LEES kids love the Mimio Board! www.mimioconnect.com is an amazing resource if you are not using it already.

Tim and Moby did not disappoint for the older kids, either. www.brainpop.com provided a glance at the history of Earth Day (Moby, meet Rachel Carson) and posed the same question to kids: what can we do to respect our home? Below are more titles that I am using this week throughout K-5:

            




        

The newest book by Victoria Kann, Emeraldlicious, was a surprise Earth homage for the spring. My first graders wanted to know "What happens to our trash after we throw it away?" So glad you asked! The following video is a little long (10:43) but is aimed at kids and through humor and interesting acts kept 6 year old's attention the entire time.