TCEA Pre-Conference Workshop!

VOCABULARY is a big deal for my class because I have the ESL group.  It is important that they understand what words mean so they can use them properly.  With the lack of experience, since the kids are barely five in kindergarten, vocabulary is a key component to their learning.

I chose the VOC session for my pre-conference.  It was a great experience!! There were different stations that we could explore and try out.  YIPPIE!  Hands-on learning for teachers!  We love it as much as the children.  We worked together in groups to try out these different ideas and explored the different apps that could be used.

OF COURSE I was drawn to the GOOGLE ONE!  YES, I said GOOGLE.  We all know that I LOVE GOOGLE.  My life-time goal is to work for GOOGLE when I retire.  :)  The activity was called "Google-ize Vocabulary".

So ......... at STATION #6 there were several options on how to achieve the task.
Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt in Google Slides
Virtual Word Wall in Google Slides
Create Vocabulary Posters in Google Drawings
Animated Vocabulary Cards with Google Slides
Online Flashcards with Flippity
Comic Strips in Google Drawings
Make Vocabulary Come Alive in Google Drawings
Stop-Motion Animation with Google Slides
Frayer Model with Google Slides

As a group we decided to work on the "Virtual Word Wall" option.  The example was from a blog by Matt Bergman.  (https://goo.gl/8MBMYe) HINT TO SELF:  Be sure to type the GOO site correctly or it won't work! DUH!  Capital letters matter!!

Here's a screen shot of what he did.

Using Google Slides is great.  I think I have mentioned a thing or two about Google!

I was going to show you our work, but I had to request permission.  I guess we didn't think about checking the settings when we created it.

Basically we started with a new Slide and inserted a the vocabulary topic which was BEACH.  Then we added text boxes that had words that describe things that had to do with it.  We used..... (I'm tired, let me see if I can remember...... pail, flip-flops, and wave.)  Then, you find pictures of those words and link them.

Since, I will be teaching PREK next year, how will this help them?  Vocabulary is a big deal from what I hear.  I will learn more when I go to a WEEK long training.  YES I SAID A WEEK long training.  I heard that it was good, so maybe I will learn something, since I don't know a thing about PREK.  Well I know they cry, can't tie their shoes, and probably don't know how to write their names.  YES I AM SCARED! SCARED of FOUR YEAR OLDS!  They look cute, but looks are deceiving.

OK... FOCUS!
I will put the TOPIC in the center and the vocabulary words around it.  So the first unit is BACK TO SCHOOL and that will go in the center.  Then I am thinking that I should use pictures instead of text boxes.  I will add things like school, bus, maybe real pics of myself, my aide, a pencil, marker, crayons, calendar, Bee-Bot, etc.  Then they can click on it and it will show them the word so they can start to get exposure to words and letter sounds.  Wonder if I can add an audio file?  (I drank too much coffee, I think.  I am getting to hyped up about this.  I need to settle down.)

When I get permission to access the document we made in class, I will link it.

The presenter was Diana Benner and she works for TCEA.  Her website is https://sites.google.com/site/dbennerorg/about and you can access her handouts from her website.

Let me know if this is something that you plan to use in your classroom and how it worked out for you.  I would love to hear you ideas, thoughts, and feelings on it.

Until next time........

TCEA Elementary Conference in Galveston

Have you been to the TCEA conference in Galveston?  If you have - YIPPIE!  If not, whhhyyy?  You are missing out!  This is great.  This is my 5th year in a row to attend.  I love it.  I always learn lots!  My brain is on overload.

Check out their website and start making plans for next year.  If we can get a group of us from the blog and FB together, we can plan a meet up!  :)

My schedule this year looked like this:

Sunday (pre-conference)
Out-of-the-Box, Student-Centered Vocabulary
Projects

Monday
Green Screen on a Teacher's Budget
DIY Listening Center
Going Further with Google Slides
Alexa: Your Own Personal Artificial Assistant in the Classroom
Birds of a Feather (PREK)
Robots and Screen-Free Coding for Young Learners: Play with KIBO

Tuesday
Don't Blow Your Top for What's New in BrainPop
Learning on the Go with GooseChase
Coding with Pre-Readers
Interactive Four-Year-Olds
Little Hands and Big Ideas: PreK Technology Integration



MORE DETAILS IN THE NEAR FUTURE....... (After I rest and my brain takes a nap!)

Technology Not Required This Time

Here are some cute DIY activities for names and sight words.

https://playtolearnpreschool.us/name-activities-preschoolers/

NO TECH TUESDAY

While I was "resting and relaxing" today, I decided to make something.  Crafting is relaxing for me!!

Home Depot sells paint stir sticks for 10 for $1!  (Their competitor said they don't give away sticks, unless you buy paint and then it's one per gallon.)

I'll have two classes in PREK next year.  I did two different colors. 

I painted the sticks, added the magnetic tape, (from Amazon), printed the pic with my HP instant ink printer, added magnetic tape to the picture, and ready to go.  The letters are from Target kitchen section.  They were on clearance for $2.08 a package.  Hope to find some lower case letters soon.

Hope the new PREK kids will like making their names and their friends names!

 

   

Moving to Pre K Next Year

It's that time of year........ the principals start moving teachers around.  I am not sure why they do this, why they think it's a good idea, but it seems to be what they do.

This year I was told that I would be teaching PREK next year.  Although that is what I wanted, I have to embrace it.  I will learn to deal with it. 

I decided to put together a few things on Amazon that I could use in my classroom next year to help the students learn and have fun.

Here is my wish list:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1DCGJVQT28UAF/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

All Kids Love Slime

Students of all ages seems to love SLIME! 

We made SLIME with our third grade partners during Christmas time.  That was fun for my kindergarten class as well as the third grade students who were "helping" us. 

Since it is the end of the year, it is a good time to do these kinds of "science experiments". 

I found this website and thought I need to save that for next year as well. 

Here is the link.....

https://ultimateslimeguide.com/master-your-slime-video-1/

Details on How to Make the Silhouettes for Mother's Day

I put together an instruction sheet for the Silhouette Pictures so I will remember how to do it at the end of each school year.  I thought it would help other teachers as well.  I tried to put as many details as possible so whether you are TECH SAVY or NOT, you can do this!  YES YOU CAN! :)

Here is the link:
How to Make Silhouettes of Your Students

Let me know if it is helpful.  I would love to see photos of the ones that you create!

Until next time..........

Remember Using an Overhead?

Technology has come a long, long way.  I remember in the "old" days.....no, I'm not old.... not really old.  I remember "a while" back, teachers used overheads!  Do you remember those days?

Well, now PowerPoint did the trick.  It was fun to see the students faces when they saw their photos were now silhouettes.  I made a how to guide.  Some of the features may have moved due to updates, but this is how I did it at the time.  Click here and this might give you some more information.

They loved decorating the frames for their moms!  We printed out the silhouettes on regular copy paper.  Then, glued the large popsicle sticks around the picture to make a frame.  The students decorated them with markers.  Then we trimmed the paper around them. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms out there!!

Luncheon

I was invited to the luncheon by TRTA.  They presented me a "big check" and a certificate from the local chapter. 

MORE GOOD NEWS!

Well, Well, Well,....... LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!

The Children's Museum of Houston had numerous applications for this award.

I had to answer questions, submit letters of recommendations, put together a portfolio with essays and photos. Then they narrowed it down to four people.

Then FIVE board members came in to visit the classroom, the children, and my teaching abilities at different times.

If heaven had a phone, I would call my daddy! He would be overjoyed with excitement!

It was a long process, but I won!! I am the Martel Early Childhood Educator of the Year!

I WON!

I WON!

I WON!

Yes, I am excited!!