Educational Adventures

Magnificent Macrame

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Reading and Me

2024-01-09 / / 0 Comments
  1. How do you feel about reading?

I have never been a reader, but I have always wanted to be one. I wish I would just grab a book in my free time and read. Once I start reading, I love it, I find it’s hard to put the book down. My problem is starting a new book. I only start reading if it is something I need to do for school or work, never on my own time.

  1. What types of books do you like to read?

Mystery, crime, thrillers. I do not like to read things that get me super confused. And I love a book with a happy ending

  1. List some hobbies and things you like to do outside of school.

I am more of a T.V watcher instead of a book reader. I spend a lot of my time playing with my daughter and creating a fun loving life for her. I love walking my dogs, and being with friends and family.

  1. Who are your favourite authors?

I would have to read more to have one.

  1. Tell me a bit about the last book you read that you really enjoyed.

I read Refugee in a 5/6 class when I was an EA and I loved it!

Photo from: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/refugee/id1206979704

  1. Tell me a bit about what you have been doing since last semester during your winter break. How have you been spending your time?

My time was spent making up missed playdates and adventure time with my daughter. We walked the dogs every day, went swimming, spent time with family, and did a lot of house cleaning.

  1. What subjects or topics do you like learning about?

I really enjoyed learning math but am not a fan of math. I am really excited to learn more about literacy and science this year.

  1. If you could read a book about one thing, what would that be?

Suspence.

SD5 District Resource Center

2022-11-25 / / 0 Comments

Think library, but instead of books, there are shelves filled with resources to help children learn from inside the classroom to outside. Oh, but there are also a ton of books!

SD5 Resource centre

Open Monday to Friday, 7:30-3:30, the staff who run the resource centre are there to help you find what you need. Hidden in the basement of Kootenay Orchard School is the mecca of all learning resource centres.

From exploring the human heart….

to juggling….

math manipulatives..

to snowshoeing..

The district resource centre is there to provide teachers and parents with endless amount of fun and educational resources.

The resource centre also offers online resources like Destiney Library. https://sd5.follettdestiny.ca/ Here, teachers, parents and even students can find a book that is available at any library in SD5.

For many many more resource opportunities, please visit the link below or email the staff at the resource centre.

Email: resource.center@sd5.bc.ca

https://www.sd5.bc.ca/resources/drc/Pages/default.aspx#/=

Design Lab

I unfortunately did not get to join in at the design lab to explore the amazing features it holds. I have however have had the opportunity to work with Ryan in a 5/6 coding class before when I was an EA.

I remember when the kids found out Ryan was coming in to teach they were all very excited. When he was teaching the kids they were all eagerly paying attention and couldn’t wait to get their hands on the technology we were using that day.

Each kid worked with one of these Micro:bits https://microbit.org/ and a laptop and together learned how to code pictures, like the heart, onto their Micro:bit.

When it came time to explore the technology, the kids were hooked! They spent the entire time programming their codes on the laptops, and then transferring the data on to their Micro.bits.

https://codewith.mu/en/tutorials/1.2/

“Mu is a Python code editor for beginner programmers based on extensive feedback given by teachers and learners”

codewith.mu

I had a great time watching the kids play with these thingamajigs! Since I had never even heard of this technology before, I had to take notes along the way, that way when a student needed help, I could try and help by reviewing my notes. Something that I have learned is very important to do while Ryan is explaining the new piece of technology.

For more information on this awesome, fun little coding activity please visit https://codewith.mu/en/

2022-11-24 / / 0 Comments
https://web.seesaw.me/

In this weeks class, we dove deep into the world of Seesaw.

What is Seesaw?

Seesaw is a digital portfolio for teachers and students to share what is going on in the class room digitally to their families. It is also an online platform that teachers can use to create and store activities.

How Can it be Accessed

  • Desktops
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Phones

The Benefits of Seesaw

Students: -through reflective process of uploading, students gain responsibility of their work. -helps gain confidence -communication tool with teachers and family -constant support through feed back and comments.

Families: -constant and immediate updates on their kid. -allows opportunity for encouragement and engagement. -helps develop a support network at home.

Teachers: -formal and informal assessments of students learning. -concrete means for assessment. -allows for teachers to reflect on their own work.

Information provided above was taken from https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17wnPJLLT5SRiscTwJJr4fF3-qtFunWSnIxWvVkduZTg/edit#slide=id.g19221b54d24_0_0

Some schools districts won’t allow some digital portfolio platforms because the data is stored in the United States. Luckily for us, Seesaw’s data is stored in Canada, so it is approved for the schools in our district (SD5).

If you are wanting to go and explore Seesaw for yourself, please click the link below and request a demo class to begin exploring.

https://web.seesaw.me/

2nd Day Presentations

2022-11-17 / / 0 Comments

Virtual Field Trips

Being able to explore our world from inside the classroom! Giving kids the opportunity to see things they may never get the chance to see.

What a Kindergarten field trip could look like:

A trip to the zoo!

Please visit the John Ball Zoo to enjoy a virtual trip to see the animals.

John Ball Zoo

What a Grade 8 field trip could look like:

A trip to Mount St. Helens!

When creating a virtual field trip in your class it is important to stage the event and get into character to hype up the experience for the students.

After exploring, other online resources to help prepare the experience are: -Kai XR (digital makerspace) https://www.kaixr.com/makerspace-classroom -Canva (Create worksheets and passports) ://www.canva.com/ -Thinglink (create digital activities for kids) https://www.thinglink.com/ -Jamboard (digital interactive discussions) https://jamboard.google.com/ -Quizlet (create an online quiz or flashcards) https://quizlet.com/ -Kahoot (game based learning) https://kahoot.com/

Pros:

  • Very engaging comparing to textbook learning
  • Very inclusive and accessible to everyone

Cons:

  • Can be expensive
  • Technology doesn’t always work

To learn more about virtual field trips in the classroom, please enjoy the video my classmates created

Virtual Reality in the Classroom

What is it?

Virtual Reality – Wearing a headset to see a different environment in-front of you.

Augmented Reality -See the real world, but with a digital overlay, while wearing glass

Extended Reality -Merges the first two

There are two different types of virtual head sets that can be worn.

Stand Alone

-computations built in -cameras built in

Tethered

-Computations not built in -Camera set up and watching from afar

Playstation VR

Pros

-Engrossing and novel -Hands on learning -Learning in new ways -Technology advances

Cons

-Outdated hardware -Gaming bias -Expensive -Immobile -Motion Sickness -Arduous setup

Click the link below to watch someone showing what Playstation VR looks like https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1591-CUSA10653_00-TITANICVRA151912

Meta Quest Z

Educational Applications: –Librarium https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/6291815170892714?ranking_trace=429020690806193_6291815170892714_SKYLINEWEB_3bcdef9b-479e-4f2a-94f4-6d6284c59d92&utm_source=www.google.com&utm_medium=oculusredirect –Hand Physics Lab https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/3392175350802835/ –Nanome https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/1873145426039242/ –Star Chart https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/877457905696954/?ranking_trace=429020690806193_877457905696954_SKYLINEWEB_10cb4455-85f8-4afb-87e6-56bb2a284112&utm_source=www.google.com&utm_medium=oculusredirec

Pros

-Simple setup -Affordable -Portable -Diverse software -More of a computer

Cons

-Lower computing -Charging -Potentially distracting -Potentially distracting -One player at a time -Educational software limited -Limited support for people with diverse abilities

2022-11-15 / / 1 Comment
Created with Canva

The knots we have learned throughout this journey: -Lark’s Head Knot
– Square Knot
-Spiral Square Knot
-Double Half Hitch Knot
-Horizontal Larks Hend Knot
-Small Macramé Wall Hanging

I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey with me. Together we learned 5 basic knots and then turning some of them into a macramé creation. I hope these tutorial will be helpful to anyone who wants to take macramé crafts into the classroom

Here is another video I found on YouTube of a bigger Macramé craft that uses many of the knots we learned 🙂

2022-11-13 / / 1 Comment
Created with Canva

In this weeks video I show you have to create a small macramé wall hanging using 3 of the knots learned in previous videos.

  • Lark’s Head Knot
  • Square Knot
  • Double Half Hitch Knot (left & right)

Materials

  • 8, 3 feet pieces of cord
  • Some sort of base to build off of (I used a pencil)
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Fringe brush

Directions:

  • Make 3 rows of alternating square knots
  • Make 2 square knots with inner cords
  • Make 1 square knot with middle cord
  • Create a diagonal row of double half hitch knots (left & right) on either sides of the triangle shape
  • Finish with a square knot in the middle
  • Brush out the ends half way down

Please enjoy this tutorial video I put together 🙂

2022-11-12 / / 1 Comment
Made with Canva

This week in school we learned about gamification in the classroom with technology. As a kid, we had a few programs that we could play and learn from in school, but nothing like the students have today. When we did have online games available, they were very limited and not as exciting as they are today. It amazes me how the teacher can be so involved in the background, prompting what types of questions are asked or not asked, watching students progress and seeing who is logging in and advancing, and monitoring where students may be struggling, giving the teacher ideas on what needs to be taught.

I know people today have mixed feelings about students playing games to learn in school. Scientist have done a lot of research around this topic, and there are many benefits from students learning by gaming. Please watch this youtube video below describing the the board brain and how it reacts when in this state. Judy Willis speaks about how you need to make your classroom more exciting and engaging to get the students brain in a more functioning state. What better way to excite and engage kids than playing games!

When I become a teacher I will absolutely use technology in the classroom and allow students to learn through gaming. In today’s world, technology is all around us and I think it is important that myself and my students follow along and learn how it all works. By gaming, students will be able to explore technology and learn core curriculum information. Students can finally have fun while learning math, and as a student back in my days I was math could have been fun.

As an EA, and in class this week, I was introduced to many online gaming sites that students enjoyed learning from. Here is a list of links to some of the online sites that I have learned about.

EA Games

Class Games

I really enjoyed learning about gaming this week and wanted to continue my gaming outside of the class time 🙂

2022-11-11 / / 0 Comments
Slideshow created with Google Docs

In our presentation, my classmates and I researched “what makes a good classroom blog/website. During our first group meet-up, we all just browsed the internet and discovered what interested us. From there we each did individual research and then came back together to create our presentation.

Alannah was drawn to a website design and instantly started to create a classroom website on Jotform. These are some key points she made on the website.

To visit the website she created and see what can be done with a classroom website click the link below

Learn more

Next, Kelly found interest in Google Sites and she also created a well organized and informative classroom website.

To see more on Kelly’s website, please visit the link below

Learn more

Kelly added an extra feature that I really liked and wanted to highlight it on my page. It’s called classroom screen and it has so many handy tools to use to help manage a classroom. From a timer to managing classroom noise level, this online resource can be very helpful. I hope you enjoy it as much I do!

classroomscreen.com/app/screen/w/5e987b5c-9b31-47c6-867a-1f5028738777/g/4cf51947-5803-4d60-a97e-1c1701ba6f8d/s/0541614e-93d7-4475-8414-b8fc3711ff24

Cassidy and I went a different way and explored more private classroom websites that work well to explore the kids’ work and communicate with their families.

Cassidy explored the platform Seesaw, which is now being added to our local district. I encourage you to go on and discover all the amazing features Seesaw has to offer. You can go on and request a demo class, so you can learn the site before showing it to your class and their families.

Learn more

Finally I researched the class website Class Dojo. The cool characters are what drew me into the website because I know the kids would love creating their own avatars. Although this website is offered free, there is an option for a paid version which unlocks more features for the teacher, class, and families.

For a walk-through of how Class Dojo works, please watch and listen to the video I made for the presentation.

Learn more

Please enjoy our slideshow and remember to click the links on each one to access the sites and listen to us explain everything to you 🙂

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Y0o1-miYKxtSw5y-XB44FlaXyXijVkgh9GBJ6HFgt4g/edit?usp=sharing

2022-11-09 / / 0 Comments

How can we create a more inclusive classroom using technology?

Provides students with diverse abilities the chance to be included

Virtual Classrooms

Zoom, Teams, Blackboard, and Brightspace- students and instructors meet synchronously. They can be asynchronous by teachers posting assignments students look back at missed work

Pros:

  • Provides extra support
  • access anytime anywhere
  • Every student can have a voice.

Cons:

  • Con: A bit of a learning curve at the beginning
  • Need a device to access online at home

Immersive Reader

Pros:

  • Offers extra support
  • Change the background to support student needs
  • Colour coding words to help learn grammar
  • Translating
  • Choose the speed of the reader
  • Google Chrome extension
  • Used on multiple devices

Cons:

  • Rely on Immersive Reader for reading
  • Microsoft Office is not free
  • The technology might not always work

How does it make things inclusive?

Ability to adjust to suit all learning needs. All students can learn from IR. Helps students who may need the extra support without feeling like they are being judged.

Nearpod

Upload presentations or create your own. You can present live or student paced. White board easily accessed to use. Results are emailed to you when completed.

Pros:

  • Multiple forms to engage
  • student paced instructions
  • supports immersive readers
  • Allows for audio submissions
  • Can add a co-teacher

Cons:

  •        Requires individual technology
  •     Does not allow Canva

Risks:

  • Its all online
  •      America-based

 For more information on these topics, please visit these websites and watch the video my classmates created for you

Group Two

Technology that supports diverse learners

Helps create an inclusive environment and helps prepares students with life skills

Seeing AI

Describes the people, text and objects, using your phones camera, the app says what it “sees” and it can describe a photo.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Free
  • Can assist with many diverse abilities

Cons:

  • Can be glitchy
  • The voice is very technology sounding

Eye Gaze Technology

Lets students who cannot communicate orally communicate

How it works: a switch, blink activation, or dwell

Pros:

  • New way of communication
  • New sense of independence
  • Helps diagnose autism.
  • Opens up so many doors for people who cannot verbally communicate

Cons:

  • Cost
  • May not work for all eyes.

Immersive reader

Reads assignments out-loud for students, helps with editing, helps students with vision difficulty.

Can help students with Dyslexia people with autism.

Pros:

  •  Free  
  • Easily accessible
  • Works well in multiple languages

Cons:

  •        Time to learn how to use
  •       Can require headphones

Breath Think do with Sesame Street

  • App on your phone
  • Breathing techniques
  • Problem solving
  • Helps with behavioural students
  • More proficient problem solvers

Wishes

  •           More customizable  
  •     Set up a schedule

For more information on this groups presentation, please enjoy their youtube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI7eJxw4Ny0

2022-11-06 / / 2 Comments
Made with Canva

In this weeks video I teach you how to make the Horizontal Lark’s Hend knot. I really enjoyed making this knot and found it a lot easier than last weeks knots. I tried filming the close-up from a different angle and I am a lot happier with how it turned out. I also put on a little make-up this week. I started filming before fixing myself up and I had to stop. The lighting was really good, but I didn’t like how it made my face look. I think applying a little make-up really helps when the cameras on you.

I am getting better at uploading the video to youtube, and actually embedding it to my page. I’m not a huge fan of how public it has to be on youtube, but I’m getting over that.

In next weeks video I am going to finally teach how to make a piece of macramé. I won’t be using all of the knots I’ve taught, but you will notice a few familiar ones. The piece I will be teaching will be pretty simple, as this is one I may bring into a class room.

Please stay tuned for next week 😉

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