Bitstrips for Schools

Bitstrips for Schools is a great tool for engaging students through the creative, storytelling medium of the comic strip.

I made this bitstrip comic as an exemplar for the students in my Grade 7 placement class.

In my Grade 7 placement class we are learning How to identify purpose and audience in various media texts.

We will be using bitstrips so that students can apply their knowledge of purpose and audience through the creation of their own three panel comic strip.  They will be creating comics that appeal to a specific target audience within their school (either primary, junior or intermediate students) and who's purpose is to inform this group of students about an event/activity or issue at play within their school community.

In my example I chose an Intermediate audience and the purpose of informing them that Intermediate students at our school are nervous about receiving their vaccination needles this week.

Earlier in the week, students had the opportunity to explore various types of media texts (book covers, magazine advertisements, newspapers, pamphlets, etc.) and answer questions related to identifying purpose and audience, which they then presented to their classmates.

I was impressed by the students' analysis of these texts and am looking forward to seeing them apply the techniques that proved useful to them during that process (in which they relied heavily on visual cues from the texts to help them identify the purpose and audience) to their comics.

I'm hoping to post a more detailed summary of our adventures exploring this activity, and hopefully will have some examples of student work to share!

I am super excited for this project, and can't wait to learn more about bitstrips!

Edublog Post #6: Review

Note: This blog post is post #6 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

Hello Gr. 7s,

Since it is one of our goals to get to know our educational technologies more this year, I've been trying to brush up on my skills and come up with some fun, engaging activities for us all.

I've been having lots of fun receiving my SMARTboard training, and hope you've been enjoying the activities we've tried out in class.

But there is another educational technology that will soon be entering our classroom, and that is our class set of ipads, which will be arriving in the next two weeks!

I am very excited to learn more about how ipad usage in the classroom can help us interact with one another and connect with some of the incredible resources that are available to us on the world wide web.

We'll be having some fun developing media projects with our ipads, and developing meaningful interactions with technology that enable us to appreciate the way in which we can use technology as a tool to enhance our creativity, at the same time that we continue to explore nature and 'learning through doing and creating'.

I'm really excited for us all, that we have the opportunity to take part in such an exciting program and know that we will encounter some wonderful things together!

My journey towards technological understanding is an ongoing process, and one that I am excited to share with you all as we learn together!

                                                                                                                                           -Miss Pollard

Edublog (Blog Project) Educational Online Gaming

Note: This blog post is post #5 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

Hello Gr. 7s,

As you know, we've been reading a lot of articles about reducing our carbon footprint.
We came up with some great suggestions as a class as far as reducing our classroom's impact, and talked a lot about the importance of the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)!

Want to test out your 3R Knowledge?
I'm sure some of you have rooms that look like Anita's (the girl in the game).
You may not enjoy cleaning your room, but you'll definitely have fun helping her out with hers.

Check out I Don't Want to Clean My Room  here 

Remember to consider the way in which the game (as a media text) helps us to better understand the issue of waste.  What is the game trying to help us to appreciate??


Parents,
This game ties in nicely with our Language Arts unit on Media Texts.  We have been reading a lot of media literacy surrounding global and environmental issues and exploring notions of intended audience, personal voice/message and intent/purpose in preparation for students constructing their own media texts in which they will be informing the grade 4s about an environmental issue at play in our society.

                                                                                                                                           - Miss Pollard

Edublog (Blog Project) Educational Online Gaming

Note: This blog post is post #4 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.


Hello Grade 7s!
Growing bored of our usual factor worksheets?  

Then  Factors and Multiples Jeopardy is your game! Grab a friend- or play on your own to test your knowledge.

(2012, October 2). Factors and Multiples Jeopardy [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.math-play.com/Factors-and-Multiples-Jeopardy/Factors-and-Multiples-Jeopardy.html

I'll have the game available to play in our classroom Monday during our first nutrition break for anyone who's interested.

...Could be a great way to review your          

 knowledge before our test on Wednesday!   

Parents: This week's game encourages our grade sevens to build on the work 
we've been doing around 'Number Sense and Numeration'

Our Specific Expectation:

 "Generate multiples and factors, using a variety of tools and strategies."

 What are your favorite (educational) online games??    

                                                                                                                                            -Miss Pollard 

Edublog (Blog Project) - My Online Me

Note: This blog post is post #3 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

Hello Grade 7s!

In preparation for getting started on our "My Online Me" assignments, I wanted to share with you some of MY online tools, which help define and encourage my creative interests.

The internet can be a great place to gather resources that support and further your interests, and our "My Online Me" assignment is a great opportunity for us to share a little bit about one another, while at the same time evaluating and understanding how we use the internet in constructive and engaging ways.

Check out my favorite pages and let me know what types of websites you find helpful in pursuing your own hobbies!

Remember- when we use the internet as a tool to support our creative outlets we are interacting with technology in a productive and engaging way!


Allrecipes  - Recipes Database
I love to cook and bake, and this website is my go-to online resource for recipes.  I love the ratings and comments feature, because it allows me to see how many people have attempted the recipe, and what they did to modify it.  Everything I've ever attempted through this site has turned out yummy... Our family favorite? Well just click here and find out!!:

(2012, September 25). Allrecipes Logo [Online image]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AllRecipes-Logo.jpg



Blurb Booksmart     - Digital Scrapbooking Software
I've always loved looking at old photographs, and finally got around to scanning and categorizing old family photos on my computer.  The Booksmart software is a free download (works on MAC and PC) that allows me to create some really neat digital photo albums that can then be shipped off and published... A great way to get those digital prints off the computer. Makes a great keepsake/gift for family members too! *hint hint!*

(2012, September 25). Blurb Booksmart logo [Online image]. Retrieved from www.blurb.com



Tripadvisor - Travel Resource
I love to travel, and it is my goal to see as much of the world as I possibly can in this lifetime.  Tripadvisor has proven to be an invaluable resource in helping me to book hotels, arrange travel details and decide on places to see, and places to eat!  Of course, you always have to take reviews with a grain of salt (there are a lot of unhappy travelers out there... you'd be surprised!) But it's always good to accumulate and swap tips from fellow travelers.

(2012, September 25). Tripadvisor logo [Online image]. Retrieved from www.tripadvisor.com 




Hopefully this gives you all an idea about my hobbies and interests.
I can't wait to hear all about yours as we move in toward starting our "My Online Me" activities this week.

Until tomorrow,

                                                                                                                                           -Miss Pollard

Edublog (Blog Project) Resource Post

Note: This blog post is post #2 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

                                                                                     Hello Grade 7s!



Today I wanted to talk about one of (if not the most) widely used internet resource available on the web.
I know it's one that I personally  use at least once per day!

...Have you guessed it? ...
That's right, it's our trusty Google search engine!

(2012, September 25). Google Search Engine [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.simpleorganizedliving.com/2010/08/04/go-paperless/google-search-engine/

There's both an art and a science to the way in which we conduct our searches!
When you think about it; our google searches reveal a lot about us and the way we learn/seek knowledge on the internet.

For example, in my own daily uses I use the google search engine to:

• double check the correct spelling of words (definetly? definitely?...)
• quickly calculate conversion rates (ie: Euros to CDN $, inches-feet) 
• answer a pressing question that's on my mind ("Why do cats purr?  Why is the sky blue?") 
• locate a website that I've forgotten the URL for (Find: "Ontario Curriculum Documents")
• look up/research facts 
• discover the weather 
• search for images
• etc...

(Question to ponder: How does YOUR google search engine help make your life a little easier??) 

More often then not my Google.ca page becomes a tool through which I can more quickly access other information.  Rather then have to locate a website which will convert inches to feet for me, I can just type the number of inches I need to convert (ie: "12 inches") into the google search bar in the following way: "12 inches to feet" to find out the conversion rate.

It's like a handy-dandy short cut tool, that makes my life a little bit easier, and always provides me with a quick answer at my fingertips.

But a question to consider is: Can we always trust the "answers" we get through a google search??

This is something I really want you all to think about.  Remember... Just because someone has created a website, or a web article talking about the subject you are searching for, doesn't necessarily mean that it is the best resource, or even a valid resource at all!

We still have to take the time to read, assess and infer about the sites we are taking information from and ask ourselves "Is this a credible source?"

We will be talking more about What Makes a Source Credible this upcoming week in class.
It is my hope that this process will aid you guys in your future projects in my class; and ultimately as you move towards entering highschool.

Hope everyone has a great weekend...See you on Monday!

                                                                                                                                              -Miss Pollard

Edublog (Blog Project) Welcome Post

Note: This blog post is post #1 of a series of 'edublog posts' I'll be creating as part of my EDUC Technology Class.

Hello Grade 7s, and Welcome to our class Edublog!
I've set up this online space for us so that we might share resources and gather ideas and interests on the internet that we can then work with and explore in class!

I am hoping that this blog can become a resource for you, from which you can uncover and extract valuable resources and activities that support your in-class learning and keep you and your families up to date on what we are working on, and where we are going in our classroom.

Some of the things this blog might offer to help you out??

• Links to some cool educational games and/or apps (don't worry.. you won't know you're learning- they're that fun!) 
• Articles surrounding issues/news that pertains to YOUR interests,YOUR lives and YOUR curriculum
• Homework Help tips and tricks... Stuck on one of our problems over the weekend? You may want to browse this page for some helpful tips/ homework walkthroughs.
•  Links to our classroom learning goals and class projects/achievements for families to check out some of the cool things we're creating this year

Remember, this blog is about YOU guys.

I'm looking forward to learning and discovering with you all this year, and am sure that this EduBlog will stand as excellent testament to your achievements and explorations in education.

Happy Blogging! 

                                                                                                                                              -Miss Pollard

Kathy's Words.

 Lessons from a wise woman!

“It is important to give students choices about the activities they are going to do and the methods by which they will accomplish the goals that have been set out for them. Choice allows for negotiation, ownership, and student accountability…Students need to be aware of the path that lies ahead, to learn to challenge themselves to do more than what they know they are good at.”– Kathleen Gould Lundy

iPad app- Toontastic

Today in Language class we got to play with a really cool ipad app called "Toontastic".


Check it out Here! 

Could be a great extension/ culminating activity... a nice, fun and engaging technology pairing to your discussions around Story Structure in the classroom.

                                                                                                                                              -Miss Pollard
         

             

Let Kids Create Lessons

Just a quick little post about the importance of allowing your 'students' to play an active role in devising and shaping their own learning.

I've been tutoring 3 really awesome kids for just under a year now... It's incredible the things you discover about how children learn when you have the opportunity to focus one-on-one attention on them.

The youngest is in Grade 2 this year; and we just started working together on 'official' tutoring sessions.
Yesterday, while practicing our counting to 100 we quickly discovered that we grew tired of that task..Sean would prefer to draw and create art.

This became the perfect opportunity to work off of this newfound excitement and get Sean pumped up about creating some 'Math Art', in which he picked one of the numbers we had been working with, and chose an object to draw that would correspond with that chosen number.  Since he was also working on writing and sounding out the words "I See" in his school work we incorporated this into the activity as well and ended up with an:

"I See  10 Planes" picture, as well as a more complex "I See 3  kids, 1 adult and 2 pets" activity (with the prompt being: "Who's In Your House?")

This extra extension activity probably took all of 10 minutes to accomplish, and really seemed to help Sean draw connections between some of the numbers he had just played with on his worksheet, and with something that mattered and was of interest to him in the current situation.
Remember to be open for these opportunities to present themselves, because a lot of times kids end up creating their own lessons, and if we let them and give them the opportunity to "roll with it" we could end up with something great!
                                                                                                                                            -Miss Pollard 

The Power of Creative Thinking

Check This Out! 

Source Film: Herman's House

...Find out more about the film at it's website here: 

Teach Creatively With LOVE

Teaching is truly an artform, and one of its most amazing features is its ability to help others to uncover their own 'art' [when I say 'art' I'm talking here about anything that receives active and passionate dedication of your time, because I feel strongly that this is the essence of all art- and as I promised earlier; this blog is not simply talking about "The Fine Arts"!] 

 I have always been impressed and impacted by the way in which we can be so wholly and radically changed by something- when we find that 'thing' that we love. Whether it be the arts, sciences, math- or something not so clearly defined by a "subject area" or school room activity.

  As educators this is the single most important key we have towards unlocking our students' sense of  awe and personal aspirations. When we find 'that thing' that makes our students... each and every single one of them, happy, then we have the power to engage them.  

But engaging doesn't mean teaching solely to your students' interests, but rather using those interests to inspire them to explore new avenues and challenge their preconceptions. Personally, I would have loved it had someone have taken the time for me, in elementary and highschool, to rectify my misconceptions surrounding math and physical education.  I never felt comfortable in either classroom situation, and unfortunately as a result, to this day I still have a very limited scope of what "goes on" in a good math or "gym" class.  I still shy away from trying to address a difficult math equation... and I don't want to be that educator; who shys away from the subjects I don't want to teach.

Instead, I want to help children get creative within these subjects, and all subjects- so that they can explore and gain their footholds in each and every discipline.

Student's don't just "not like" things.  They arrive at this point as a result of,

either a misconception about the subject area (perhaps a 'bad experience' within one narrow understanding of the subject) or, more likely, as a result of feeling uncomfortable within the set up of the tasks.  The more they try, and do- in different ways and in safe comfortable environments, the more they open themselves up to love and learn and appreciate the interests and experiences of others.

So remember: Teach What you Don’t Love in the Ways You Love to Teach. – "Miss Pollard"

Welcome to My Blog!

Hello everyone! And welcome to my first-ever official blog!

      To quickly introduce myself- I am a Brock University, Consecutive Education Jr/I teacher candidate with Dramatic Arts as my teachable.
     I graduated from York University's Faculty of Fine Arts in 2011 with a BFA Honours degree in Theatrical Design/Production, and spent those years as an active crew member working on the  Theatre@York mainstage productions.  I have a background in both theatre and film/video production, as well as interests in cooking, baking, reading, scrapbooking, travel and (of course) working with children.  I've been fortunate to have had some incredible experiences working with children; both within and outside of a classroom setting... and I'll discuss some of those learning opportunities in further detail in posts to come! 

     I am really excited about the process of maintaining and updating this blog.  It is my goal that it will serve to highlight the learning and discovering I intend to carry on with for the rest of my life, as I work towards becoming the best educator I can be! 

     I also intend on keeping this blog as a potential resource for other educators/teacher candidates/ folks just plain interested in thinking, learning and teaching creatively, and are interested in making daily discoveries alongside me ... Hopefully you find something that "works" for you here, or else something to inspire and encourage you on your journey.  And that you feel compelled to pass this kind of dynamic thinking along to other educators! :)

Over the course of this blog I'll be posting a variety of the following (and surely I'll think up a few more over time!):

• Reflections on my own personal experiences/learning
• Sources for possible consideration in creating fun and dynamic lesson plans
• Cool things happening in the world of 'creative teaching' 
• My experiences playing around with various classroom technologies, as part of my 'Educational Technology' Cohort
• Ideas for how to integrate "the arts", or creative thinking and planning into your lessons 

     I'm looking forward to the challenges (to both my writing and my reflecting) that this blog will present, and hope you'll bare with me as I navigate this new environment and try to 'find' my online voice. 
   
Yours in blogging,

-"Miss Pollard"

Note:  I will try to employ the term 'educators' in place of 'teachers' here on this blog, in order to address the fact that there are so many different ways in which we can find ourselves in a position of educating, and this blog is really intended to provide opportunities to explore creative/arts education in any of those ways... so educators we all shall be!