Our First Two Weeks of School

We had a great first couple of days at school.  I had 12 students on Thursday and 15 on Friday.  We spent the first two days enjoying our classroom and getting to know each others’ names.  Some of the students’ favorite things to do were Maker’s Studio, DEAR time, and playing name games.

First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

The students are doing very well at our morning meeting and closing meeting. We use our center carpet as our “home base.” The students are adjusting to our new workstations. We are still trying to determine when and where our best work can happen. So far there has been no fussing about the “cool places to work” because there are always another cool alternative. I am beginning to notice the places students return back to, which are their “comfort work areas.” Next week I hope to identify our individual learning stations and begin working on the procedures for our language and math stations.

Classroom Redesign by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

So far my favorite new classroom activity is our end-of-the-day radio show. The students are beginning to get comfortable with each other and classroom culture is going well. I am recording this podcast on my iPhone each day using the app Opinion.

We created two different videos in the first two weeks of class which we published to our classroom YouTube channel. The first one is an iMovie Trailer, called “First Day of School 2015.” I have made iMovie trailers before and helped students make one, but this is the first time I’ve made one in class with students. It turned out well!

The second video is a paper slide video, which I learned to make this summer in iPad Media Camp. It is called, “Who I Am in Room 108”

First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 
First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

Room108 Podcast 5: What We Like To Do!

This is the fifth episode of our classroom podcast, created using the free Opinion app on my iPhone. In this episode my third and fourth grade students share what they they like to do when they are not at school.

Open/Subscribe in your podcast app

Shownotes:

  1. Our first Paper Slide Video: “Who I Am In Room 108”
  2. My Classroom Website (Google Site)
  3. Our Classroom YouTube Channel
  4. This podcast episode on Opinion
  5. Follow me on Twitter:  @sfryer

One Eyed Minion by avrene, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  avrene 

Room108 Podcast 4: When We Grow Up

This is the fourth episode of our classroom podcast, created using the free Opinion app on my iPhone. In this episode my third and fourth grade students share what they want to be when they each grow up.

Open/Subscribe in your podcast app

Shownotes:

  1. Photos of Our First Week of School
  2. My Classroom Website (Google Site)
  3. Our Classroom YouTube Channel
  4. This podcast episode on Opinion
  5. Follow me on Twitter:  @sfryer
First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

Room108 Podcast 3: What Makes Our Class Awesome?

This is the third episode of our classroom podcast, created using the free Opinion app on my iPhone. In this episode my third and fourth grade students share about the reasons our class is awesome.

Open/Subscribe in your podcast app

Shownotes:

  1. Photos of Our First Week of School
  2. My Classroom Website (Google Site)
  3. Our Classroom YouTube Channel
  4. This podcast episode on Opinion
  5. Follow me on Twitter:  @sfryer
First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

Room108 Podcast 2: Our First Day

This is the second episode of our classroom podcast, created using the free Opinion app on my iPhone. In this episode my third and fourth grade students share about their favorite parts of our first day together.

Open/Subscribe in your podcast app

Shownotes:

  1. Photos of Our First Week of School
  2. My Classroom Website (Google Site)
  3. Our Classroom YouTube Channel
  4. This podcast episode on Opinion
  5. Follow me on Twitter:  @sfryer
First week of school by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

Room108 Podcast 1: Planning New Learning Spaces

This is the first episode of a new classroom podcast I’m starting this year, using the free Opinion app on my iPhone. In this episode I discuss the new learning spaces I’m planning for my 3rd and 4th grade classroom this year.

Open / Subscribe in your podcast app

Shownotes:

  1. My classroom learning design plan
  2. Photos of My Classroom Redesign
  3. My Classroom Website (Google Site)
  4. Our Classroom YouTube Channel
  5. Follow me on Twitter:  @sfryer
Classroom plan by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 
Classroom Redesign by shellyfryer, on Flickr
Creative Commons Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License   by  shellyfryer 

Mobile Learning 2015

Easy Blog Photo
Wes and I had a great time at Mobile Learning 2015. We connected with many friends and made several new connections. I am looking forward to having Cori Araza’s HS students partner with my students to learn how to create games! I am also planning on redesigning my classroom thanks to Erin Klein. Awesome weekend of learning.

Free PBS Technology Workshops in McAlester, Tulsa & Oklahoma City

This month I’m having several opportunities to lead free technology integration workshops for OETA, our PBS affiliate station in Oklahoma. These workshops focus on how to use the free videos and lesson building tools included on the PBS Learning Media website.  (@pbslrnmedia) If you live in or near McAlester, Tulsa, or Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, please join me in the morning on June 8, 9, or 22nd. The registration link to sign up (it’s FREE) is linked from OETA’s education page. The dates and locations for remaining workshops are:

  • Monday, June 8 – 9:30 am – noon, Tulsa (OETA Office, 535 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa, OK 74106)
  • Tuesday, June 9 – 9:30 am – noon, McAlester (Kiamichi Tech, 1004 State Hwy 2, Wilburton, OK 74578)
  • Monday, June 22 – 9:30 am – noon, Oklahoma City (OETA Office, 7403 North Kelley OKC, OK 73111)

I’ve linked the Google Slide presentation and other resources for these workshops on my classroom website. If you have questions in advance about the workshops please contact me via Twitter @sfryer, or leave a comment here.

pbs-jun2015

Black History Biography Projects

My 3rd and 4th grade students spent a month researching different people as a part of our Black History Month project. In our 1:1 classroom students did their own independent research from web, video, and print to create narrated ebooks about their chosen person. Students used Book Creator for iPad to record their final reports. One student chose iMovie and created an iMovie trailer. I’m so proud of how hard they worked and how well their reports turned out.

Staying Curious in Matthews, North Carolina