I'm back!

So, last year was the longest and shortest year all packed into one! My change in district, school, and grade levels left me very busy playing catch-up all year, but I am ready to hit this year and begin sharing my new adventure with you.

Here is my first activity. My district offers a summer 'Tech Tune-up' course. One of the expectations was to use a new tech tool to tell about your summer or introduce yourself. I chose to use Adobe Spark. It is online presentation tool. It allows you to create one page, multi-page, or video presentations. It is kind of a mix of Haiku Deck and Animoto (if you are familiar with those tools) all wrapped into one. Adobe Spark is fairly easy to navigate once you understand what media you can add to the different options (Post, Page, or Video).

Here is my final creation about my summer!

Summer Fun 2016

It is time...

I have been putting off writing this post for about a month now, but with school starting within the week, I had to do it. 

It couldn’t wait. As school staff are getting back together, the texts are starting to roll in.

This was the hardest thing to put into words. 

But it is time.

After many wonderful years with Princeton City Schools, I have decided to take on a new challenge. You can’t put 16 years of teaching experiences into a post...the laughs, the tears, the successes, and yes, the failures too.

So I’m going to make it short and sweet! 

• I treasure each child I had the honor of teaching more than you will ever know. 
• I respect the parents I had the pleasure of working with who trusted me day in and day out with their precious cargo. 
• I value the staff who I had the privilege of working with each day as well as laughing, crying, and playing some competitive boardgames every now and then. 

I will miss you all. 

Please keep in touch and know that I am only an email or a text away if you need anything. Seriously, if you need anything! (Give me a couple weeks to get acclimated to my new position though! *laugh*)

Thank you Princeton! The Vikings will always hold a special place in my heart!

Love,

Melanie


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For those of you wondering, I am going to continue to blog about my new experiences. Stay tuned!

Animal Projects

End of the year is always a busy time. For the first graders, this always means animal project time!!

Here are a couple projects from our first graders.

Isaiah did his project on the Great White Shark. Here is the 'glog' or online, interactive poster he helped create using Glogster EDU.

Dan (who is has challenges for speaking for long periods of time) typed his project, then helped create his own voki to give his animal project speech on Cheetah's. He was very particular about the hair and skin color, sunglasses, and the black and orange jersey top. We struggled with getting the right voice as his first choice, the Daniel voice, had an English accent which did NOT make him happy! He setting on the James voice.

Sharing the LOVE!

My starry night creation

About a month ago, I attended a painting night for the alumnae of my high school. It was a fundraiser for an organization that brings art to people who would not ordinarily have access to such activities. The person "instructing" us, Sarah, runs the organization called Art For All People. (If you have a minute or two, please check out the great work that her organization does.) She took us step by step through the process of creating our own painting. Although I was nervous and very unsure of my ability to follow her simple directions, I was impressed with the outcome. The subtle similarities and delicate differences in each of the canvases were pretty amazing. I was brave enough to share my painting (Look to the right!) and I hope my friend doesn't mind me sharing her work as well! (Scroll down to the bottom for our picture. I will also share my second painting completed through a fundraiser for this organization.)

I was inspired by her story and what her organization does. My creative spirit was sparked and the students (and you) reaped the benefits!! I hoped you enjoyed our creations to speed a little LOVE at Valentine's Day!

Here are a couple examples of the Valentine's Day paintings that the students did. The students painted with minimal assistance. (We were using acrylic paints so we offered a little help to keep everyone clean.) The students chose either the word LOVE or a heart shape as their main focus. The word or shape was "written" with painters tape. The students used white, purple, and white to cover the canvas with valentine colors.

To add some color contrast, a small red heart decoration was added as well the work love to the heart painting. (Mrs. B added this detailing to complete the picture.)

The students LOVED the activity and many thought they were 'real artists' because they were using a paint pallet and canvas. We hope you enjoy our online gallery!

Here was my second painting attempt. I am pretty pleased with this one, but I REALLY love the starry night one. I proudly display the starry night painting in the classroom. I hope that you display your child's LOVE painting with pride as well!

~Melanie

Two of the over 50 attendees at the Starry painting night!

Super Bowl and New Year's Resolutions

I usually don't do too much with Super Bowl activities in the classroom, but this year News2You dedicated a paper to the Super Bowl. We decided to use that as a basis for a lesson on voting, learning a little about football, and of course, making a Super Bowl snack. 

The classroom voted 12 to 1 for the Seahawks to win. As we know, that didn't go so well. Here are a couple pictures of our Super Bowl snack. We made fruit dip (following the recipe from News2You….We added cinnamon to the recipe you will find through the link.) 

We loved the fruit dip and apples!

Some of us liked the fruit dip MORE than the apples!

As part of our All About Me lesson, the students made New Year's resolutions about something they would like to learn how to do 'all by myself'. Here are a couple examples of our writing activity and the resolutions the students chose.

Until next time….

January(a little late)…we explored snow without a snowflake in sight!

So during the second week in January, we explore World Snow Day! We talked about snow, we made 'fake' snow, and we made a 'snow' drink….without a flake of snow to be seen. In hindsight, this unit would have been better suited for the second week of February!!

Here are some pictures of our SNOW activities….

Our homemade snow globes (actually snow baggies)

Mixing our fake snow (see about for website recipe)

Still mixing our fake snow 

We used our blender, powerlink, and switch so everyone had a turn to mix up the snow drink. We made lemonade and fruit punch. The students LOVED it and everyone had seconds!!

Enjoying a 'snow' drink

MMMM, yummmm!

Enjoying a 'snow' drink….he tried it and liked it!!

Stay warm…..and check back this week for our super bowl treats, our valentine's day masterpieces, and an exciting announcement about our Donors Choose project (hint, we had a project funded!!)!

~Mel

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!

One of my resolutions is to get better about posting more frequently the things we are learning about in class. My goal would be to post at least once a month. (Fingers crossed)

The Elephant Sanctuary

This week in social studies/science, we have been learning about an Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (thanks to the News2You newspaper this week). We worked on the vocabulary related to the story (elephant, habitat, caretakers, home) as well as discussed where we live (Ohio) versus where the sanctuary is (Tennessee).

Today, the students completed an elephant craft which they LOVED doing. We incorporated identifying body parts as well. Here are a couple pictures from out fun today.

Z adding the elephant eyes.

S adding the elephant eyes.

The finished herd of elephants!

Parent Information Night for Special Education

IEP/ETR Questions? 

Want to meet other parents walking the same journey as you?

Come learn about IEP’s, ETR’s, Testing and Transition Planning and more! 

Come to this informational night to learn more about what is available to you as a parent of a child with disabilities. Learn to advocate for your child and get your questions answered. This event is open to any parent of a child with a disability in The Princeton City Schools.

The meeting will be held on November 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Princeton High School in the Student Dining Area.

A light dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and childcare will be provided.

To register for childcare and dinner, please contact Janet Maine, Parent Mentor at 864-1112 or jmaine@princetonschools.net  Come Join Us!!

Apples and more!

September is one of my favorite months for classroom activities. In September, we always do activities relating to apples and of course, we always cook something! 

This year was no different!

In September, we learned about the inside and outside of apples. We painted with apples. We learned about what an apple tree looks like through the seasons. Then, we ended the month with making blender applesauce with Mrs. Keck's class. It was a great time for the students to spend some time with their friend who are no longer in our class. The students did amazingly well, sitting patiently, for over an hour as each student was able to participate in parts of the applesauce recipe.

Our Apple Paintings

Peeling Apples with the Apple Peeler/Corer 

Enjoying some apple peel!

Using the PowerLink and switch to blend up the applesauce

Using TouchChat app to help 'read' the recipe and answer questions about the recipe

Summer Camp

This is a little late post, but I had to post a couple of the cute pictures from our summer camp unit in August.

We used marshmallows to paint a "campfire" as well as made a pretend campfire in the classroom by twisting construction paper to make logs, then adding red, yellow, and orange paper for the fire.

In one of our summer camp stories, we learned about actives that take place at summer camp. One of the activities was tie-dyeing. We decided to tie-dye bandanas. The students were allowed to choose 2 colors to decorate their bandana. Here are a couple of the finished products with their artists.

Welcome Back!!

Summer seems to have came and went pretty quickly this year. The nice, cooler weather was a nice change to the hot, humid weather, but it put a damper on some of my pool days with my kids. We started this year talking about summer camp and things we didm this summer. 

You may have noticed books and visuals coming home regarding this theme. These materials are part of the Unique Curriculum that we will be using throughout the school year. The curriculum follows grade level standards as well as the Ohio Academic Content Standards-Extended. (Clinking on the links will get you additional information about these materials.) We will also be doing a daily journal (binder) that will be sent home each day where the students will 'tell' about their day. Look for this to start in the next week or so. It will be picture bases so that the students can help 'tell' about his/her day. 

I have posted the newsletter for September on the Newsletter tab as well as sent home a hard copy. Be sure to check it out as it has important dates, themes for the month, and my contact information.

If you have not done so already, please return the photo/video permission form and the donors choose permission form. I would like to use the next couple weekends to start posting pictures of our classroom activities so I need those forms back ASAP.

Look for pictures of our first couple weeks soon!!
Have a great week!

Melanie

Petting Zoo

Our theme this month has been animals. We have read about baby animals and mommy animals. Our latest book was called At the Petting Zoo (from Unique Learning Systems). We followed Jack as he got to pet several animals and their baby animals at the petting zoo. Each student was asked what animal they would like see at a petting zoo. We created the following class presentation/book using an iPad app called  Haiku Deck!

Enjoy!



Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app

McDonald's, here we come!!

Stop by and support Evendale Elementary

April 9th from 5:00-7:00pm

20% of the proceeds gets donated back to the school!!

* I'll be the photographer and social media correspondent!!

And our good fortune continues...

If you read the previous post, you would be aware that we were luck to win a $500 Staples gift card to purchase needed supplies for the classroom. In addition, we also were the luck recipients of several iPad cases.

Now I am writing to let you know that one of our Donors Choose projects has been funded!! Thanks to some great people over at the Caring Classrooms community, our iPad mini project was features on their page. The amazing members of the community donated what they could (usually $1-2), but when 50+ people band together, great things can happen! And it did for us. In a week or so, our classroom will welcome an iPad mini with protective case. I can't wait to see the students reactions!!

If you would still like to support our classroom, we have one project left that is getting close to closing without completion. We are looking to gain several protective iPad cases so that the students can utilize the school let of iPads. Currently, the 'smart cover' cases do not offer enough support or protections for our students due to their motor challenges. 

Here is the link if you would like to support the other project. If each visitor would donate a $1-2, this project would be funded within a couple weeks!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

And the winner is...

our classroom!!!

  

I am happy to report that our classroom won The Classroom Project contest which was sponsored by USC Rossier Online. Not only did we win, but we won the 'grand prize' which was a $500 gift certificate to Staples. I was so excited to make our first purchase of binders, dividers, and a color printer. These items will be used to support a new curriculum that we are piloting for the rest of this year. (I will be writing a separate post about the curriculum soon.)


In the same week, I was fortunate to receive another gift for the classroom. Thanks to Big Grips iPad cases, several original iPads throughout the district are now a little more protected. Big Grips donated 8 cases and frames for the original iPads that are being used within several of the special education classrooms throughout the district. Thank you Big Grips for supporting education ~ wonderful students and school everywhere!!

Thank you USC Rossier Online and Big Grips for making a difference in our classroom!!

The Classroom Project

USC’s Masters of Arts in Teaching Campaign

I was made aware of this contest. I am very excited to submit this entry into The Classroom Project. Thank you to UCS Rossier Online for the opportunity to enter my wonderful students into this  contest!

The funds being offered through The Classroom Project would provide me with the needed funds to create accessible learning materials for my special education classroom. Each school year, I start with a different mix of students. Some students have backgrounds full of experiences and sometimes there school experience begins with me. Each year, I try my hardest to make his or her school experience meaningful for each student. Often this means adapting and modifying toys, books, and a host of other school materials to help accommodate the unique needs of the students. These modifications require supplies that I often purchase out of my own pocket because many times the items don't fit into an expense category within the school budget. In addition to these supplies, we also participate in various cooking activities throughout the year. The cooking supplies and materials are also out-of-pocket, but the experiences of these cooking activities are priceless.

My classroom is deserving of these funds because they are an amazing group of students who give 110% in everything they do. The students enjoy exploring and learning and any time I can support this, I do. As an educator, I have realized that the best ideas are to be shared. This was one of the reasons I started the classroom blog a couple year ago. If we were lucky enough to be awarded funds from The Classroom Project, I would be to sure to share about our purchases, creations, and learning with the world.

Thank you for this opportunity!

Feel free to explore the blog as it is a small glimpse into our wonderful classroom. Here are just a few pictures that show our unique, colorful, exciting classroom projects!

Learning to work together and help our friends

Introduction to watercolors and they fell in LOVE!

Practicing a little stringing beads

Showing off our cat masks we made as a part of the Global Read Aloud author study of Eric Carle

One of our many cooking activities - making applesauce for Johnny Appleseed's birthday

DonorsChoose.org

I have heard a lot about the site Donor's Choose. I know several 'friends' (education connections around the US) who have posted projects on the site. I didn't have much time to explore the site until now…along with a little nudge from a representative from Horace Mann Foundation who spoke at a recent staff meeting.

Click HERE to visit our class Donor's Choose page.

Well, I have posted my first project as of 10:45pm 12/3/2013 and now we must wait to see if it will be approved. (If you click on the link before it is approved, you won't be able to read anything and the only option is to donate to a 'future' project.) After approval, Donor's Choose will allow individuals to donate to the project. It will be posted for up to 4 months, but figures crossed it gets funded before then. As I complete the form, I was bummed that I wasn't able to give a full picture of our great classroom and highlight the students in the way I would have liked. With the being said, I thought that I would post my full "tell us about your classroom and project" answers that I was forced to condense for the actual proposal.

Parents, do not feel obligated to donate. I am posting because I believe in sharing all aspects of the classroom with you and I want you to know the exciting things that are happening at Evendale.

If you are a visitor to our class blog, first of all, thank you for visiting and taking the time to read about us. Also, please consider taking a peek at our first project (hoping to make it projects, plural, very soon) and help support my wonderful students. If you have any questions, feel free to comment. I am still new to this and I am sure their will be a slight learning curve. Thanks for your patience and continued support.

12/4/13 ~ UPDATE: The project is LIVE!! Use code DISNEY and Disney will matching donated funds! Thanks in advance!!

Here is my non-condensed version:

Introduce us to your classroom

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we need to teach the way they learn." ~Ignacio Estrada

 All students deserve access to 21^st century tools to prepare them for their future. Some students will use these tools to practice skills. Some students will use these tool to create and express what they know. Some student many even begin to use these tools as their voice. In many ways, increasing technology use within the classroom can provide these students with life long skills.

Take a peek inside our classroom. In many ways, our classroom is the same as an elementary classroom. We have reading group where we are working on identifying information from a text and understanding main idea. We play with our friends. We learn to write our name. We have math group where we learn how to count. What you might notice when you take a peek is that we are accessing the curriculum and school environment in various ways. Some of us need adapted seating, such as a wheelchair. Some of us need access to adapted writing materials, such a pencil grips or a keyboard. Some of us need access to technology to practice our skills or as a means of communication.

Tell us more about your students.

Let me tell you a little bit about my students. They are funny. They laugh when I make a mistake. They giggle when a friend gets in trouble. They will try and play tricks on me. They are loveable. They are always willing to give a hug or pat when someone is sad or hurt. They know when they need a squeeze and will ask. They are bright. They show the potential to learn and are exciting about learning.  They express curiosity and love to explore new things. They know what they want, they just need some help on how to express that. They often struggle with simple, everyday tasks such as walking, getting dressed, or expressing their needs.

Our school is quite a unique place. We are a small suburban school, which truly provides the best education for ALL students. ALL students as expected to achieve to their highest potential. Students are included with their grade level peers as well as provided a variety of intervention services. In our school, students are met were they are and pushed to reach their fullest potential. With this wonderful elementary school is an extra-special classroom that supports students with moderate to severe educational needs in Kindergarten and First Grade.

For some students within our classroom, this can be quite struggle as they have many challenges. Most of the students within the classroom are non-verbal and we are working on exploring different communication options to best meet their needs. Classroom activities and academic tasks are modified to provide the students ways to express what they know. Physical limitations are also seen within the classroom. Students require adapted seating arrangements and various fine motor supports. We work hard at balancing both the academic and personal skills of ALL the students.

Describe how your students will use the materials you're requesting.

With the many challenges my students face (limited motor skills, vision issues, hearing issues), access to technology and appropriate, meaningful activities has been limited. Since the increase of mobile technology, a new world has been opened for my students. The touch technology not only provides the students with immediate feedback, it also allows them to engage in activities that they may have been reluctant to try. With the advent of the new iOS7 operating system and the ‘switch access’ portion of the accessibility features makes the iOS devices even more promising for my students.

For this project, we are looking to gain an iPad mini with a protective case. This resource will provide so many possibilities within the classroom. Looking at the native applications on the iPad mini, such as camera, the students will be able to document things that happen throughout the school day and share with parents through email. The camera can also be used to add photos to our photo blog that we have for the classroom. We would be able to use the video function to provide video modeling opportunities to students who can benefit from that technique. The facetime feature (as well as skype app) can be used to video-conference with other classrooms.

In addition to the native apps, the plethora of academic apps available for the iPad mini can help provide individualized content to provide remediation, practice, and extension of various skills. Although academic skills are a focus, the iPad mini can also provide opportunities to support life skills such as calculator skills, using a daily schedule, or using the device to help communicate their needs. The protective case is a must add to this project due to the physical limitations of the students. The case included in this project provides protections from drops (which often happen with students who have limited motor skills), water-resistant cover (for some students who are challenged with oral motor skills and sometime drool on the device), ability to easily disinfect the iPad which is a MUST in a school setting as well as with students who also have medical needs.

Adding an iPad mini to the classroom will help support all learners from academic to daily living skills. The students will learn valuable skills that will support their academic growth as well as begin the foundation for skills to help them become productive members of the community.

Close by sharing why your project will make a difference.

Donations for this project will help improved classroom instruction by providing the students opportunities to practice and learn new skills in format that is accessible to all students. For some students, the use of this technology will provide them with additional support for their academic goals. For some students, this project will provide an avenue to show what they know, by drawing or taking pictures. For some students, this project could open up a world of communication for them by providing them with opportunities to explore various communication options.

We are living in a world of every changing technology. The experience of using an iPad mini will help build the foundation for the students in which other skills can be built. Can I say that it will totally shape their future? No, the students are too young and are always amazing me with their abilities. What I can say is that with a teacher who understands the appropriate use of technology as well as knowledge of her students’ strengths AND students who are willing to work 110% to achieve their potential, the completion of this project can be a small step into creating a better future for a class of amazing students.