Google Docs

I love using google docs!  First of all, I cannot tell you how many times I've lost a document that I was in the process of creating.  Sometimes I type so fast that I accidentally delete whole lines of text.  With google docs, it automatically saves every few seconds and can be accesssed from any computer, so if I need to make changes or updates do my document and I am not in front of  my own laptop, it is no problem.  Here is a Science lesson plan I created and saved in google docs.  I plan to utilize this more often now than I do Word.  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DwY9Gtrpc2M4cSpUgCPbXTBQABFbxqfR5v8JNvIup-Y/edit?usp=sharing

My Experience with Wiki

I found Wiki to be a little more challenging to set up initially but with anything the more I practiced it, the easier it was to navigate.  I decided to create an information page about our upcoming fourth grade field trip to the Ft. Worth Stockyards and a sign up sheet for those who will be attending.  I can forsee using wiki in my classroom for party sign ups, scheduling conferences and other general announcements.  Here is my wiki page http://andringasuperstars.wikispaces.com  

New Web 2.0 Tool

I had the most fun with the Tackk web tool!  It is so user friendly and in a matter of minutes, I was able to post a few family pictures and write a quick text.  You can edit, change backgrounds, make lists or graphs etc.  I can envision using this in my classroom for student research projects and presentations.  It would be very easy for fourth graders to navigate on their own.  Check out my web 2.0 tool page for more specific information.  Here is a link to my Tackk photo project http://tackk.com/3l1zar

Digital Poem

I wanted to share a motivational poem I created to give to my fourth grade students as a year end gift.  I used the website http://littlebirdtales.com to create a digital poem with audio and pictures.  You can check out my digital story at http://www.littlebirdtales.com/tales/view/story_id/230133.

Life is an Adventure…Chase your dreams!!

by Laura Andringa

 

Dream your biggest dreams, and soar  through the sky

Never ever back down, all you have to do is try!

Imagination and passion are what drive you from within,

Take that leap of faith and let the journey begin.

Dream big dreams and let your imagination run wild,

For one day soon, you will no longer be a child.

Life can take you anywhere on adventures great and small

Always believe in yourself and stand firm, proud and tall!

 

 

 

 

 

My Favorite Inspirational Quote!!!

I love to post inspirational quotes on the white board each morning as students enter the classroom.  Starting the morning off on a positive note helps set that tone for the entire day and the kids can't wait to see what the new quote is. At first, I wrote all the quotes on the board but as the year went on, I had several students beg to do it for me.  Now, I rotate through the class list and each student gets an opportunity to write something positive and sign their name to it.  It warms my heart to see what fourth graders have heard or feel is important in encouraging their fellow classmates.

Here is one of my all time favorite quotes.  It is prominently displayed in our classroom and I post it on all my e-mails underneath my signature. 

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think."
(Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh)

Blogs I've commented on

 I am so impressed with these wonderful teachers and what they are doing in the classroom! Check their blogs out:

Candace Florance http://www.kindergartenrocksandotherthoughts.blogspot.com

Monica Houdek  http://www.firstyearteacher200.blogspot.com

Sarah Stritmatter http://www.thelightninginme.blogspot.com

Delicious Account

Delicious is a wonderful way to bookmark my favorite websites for future reference. This site helps to organize, tag and easily access sites, while at the same time sharing and learning from others. Very user friendly! http://delicious.com/fourthgradesuperstars

Principal Observation: Cork Explosion!

I recently had my principal come in for a 45 minute classroom observation as my year end PDAS. I planned, plotted, researched and stressed out for weeks in advance.  As a new teacher, I wanted everything to be "perfect."  I was in the middle of a Science unit on Weather and had the perfect "hook" for the lesson. I decided to demonstrate a cloud in a bottle, but I wanted to kick it up a notch.  Once I found this U-Tube video, I was sure this is how I wanted to introduce our lesson about clouds and how they can help predict the weather. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=msSVQ903T8k

I decided to adapt the experiment by utilizing a clear, 2 liter coke bottle, rubbing alcohol, a wine cork and a portable electric air compressor. A small amount of rubbing alcohol is poured into the bottom of the 2 liter bottle, it's corked and an air compressor with a needle pumps high pressure into the bottle (simulating high barometric pressure).  When the air is released (low barometric pressure), the liquid molecules form a cloud inside the bottle.  I accidentally pumped a bit too much air into the coke bottle and the cork exploded out and hit the ceiling, causing the principal and several students to jump back and scream.  Although the experiment went a bit haywire, it made a huge impact on the kids and I kept right on teaching, explaining the importance of using safety gear (I had on goggles and had kids stand back) and how sometimes experiments are unpredictable.  The cloud in a bottle was impressive and the kids are still talking about that lesson.  My principal gave me incredibly high marks on that lesson for engaging the students and using interactive, higher level thinking skills for them to problem solve and make weather predictions.

Reflections of a First Year Teacher

 

I am thrilled to be in my first year teaching 4th grade! I previously worked as a P.E. teacher's aide at our school for 4 years and decided I wanted to work more one on one with children and help make a positive impact on their academic lives. Initially, I thought I'd love to teach Kindergarten or first grade because those sweet little ones say the cutest things and are just so innocent. When I was offered a 4th grade position, primarily teaching Math and Science, I was a little intimidated to be honest. I thought I wouldn't be able to actually remember let alone teach 4th grade Math. What if they asked me a question I had no clue how to answer? What I discovered is that I had to let go of MY insecurities and focus on what inspired me to teach in the first place; the children themselves.

As a beginning teacher, I strive to create a positive, upbeat learning atmosphere which centers on encouragement, fun, and a cooperative team spirit. Every morning, I greet my students with a warm, firm hand shake, a friendly smile and a compliment. This not only models professional norms, but it is a way I connect personally with each of my students and show them I genuinely care about them. I also enjoy introducing each lesson with a “hook” to ignite the fire of learning with a new concept. It might be a mystery box full of objects that relate to each other in some fashion, an upbeat song to introduce our topic, an interactive game, or a dance motion to spark interest. For instance, when teaching my students the difference between a numerator and denominator during a math lesson earlier in the year, I jumped up onto the top of a desk and showed them that I was a nerd (numerator) on top of the desk (denominator). Not one student has ever forgotten that a numerator is the top portion of a fraction and the denominator is the bottom. Here is another great Math attention grabber for fractions that the kids love.

 

To me, it is critical as an educator to be a positive role model by demonstrating integrity, genuine love, and respect for all students. One of my favorite quotes displayed in my room is a reminder of just that. “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” This belief is the foundational cornerstone of all that drives me to strengthen and improve the teaching profession. I care deeply about children and build positive, meaningful relationships with each one in order to inspire them to greater levels of achievement than they thought possible. The great educator, Marva Collins, sums this up well. “The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious; to have one idea spark another. ”  If I am able to have that kind of impact on the life of a child, then I am deeply honored.
                   As I reflect on my first year of teaching, I can truly say my greatest personal reward is seeing students realize their fullest potential with passion and perseverance.  I absolutely love the uniqueness of every student and the challenge that comes with building each individual up to achieve academic victories.  What a privilege and honor it is to be called a teacher!