BYOD Day and Prezi

Thursday was an absolutely fabulous day of learning for the students and for me. We began the day with our BYOD learning where students practiced their active listening. We started with a discussion on why the students had brought in their devices. Students discussed the idea that our brains often go to "sleep" when we are watching TV so when we watched this content area video we wanted to keep our brains awake by recording what we were hearing!
After recess Miss Adelle began to help us learn about Prezi. We worked in partners to explore the types of things that we could do to demonstrate our learning during our Space study. She taught us how to begin and how to add photos and the students taught her how to create shapes.
The most important idea that I take away from these two activities is that I have so much to learn from my students. They are eager to explore and to take risks. They play with technology and discover as a result.
Before this work session I met with Liz from Pacific Cinematheque and Adelle to discuss our plan. I  said that I knew about Prezi but had not created one and I was OK with not knowing everything. I was willing to learn and discover with my students. I am willing to try and fail. I am not afraid.........

Loving the Learning!

I spent the evening with an enthusiastic bunch of IML contacts, Bryan Hughes and the amazing IML helping teachers from Surrey school district!
I can't believe I am lucky enough to work in a district that understands the power of bottom up learning for their teaching staff. I have been given the awesome opportunity to work with an amazing staff of excited learners and the students are the ones that are benefiting! YES, that's right's  the teachers are actually the learners and the risk takers as they try to facilitate powerful learning opportunities for students.A willingness to fail in front of and learn alongside students has made GT a stimulating place to work and learning. I can't wait to share all the iPad tips and tricks that I learned from Bryan!

New Design!

A special thanks to Kristen from  for turning my ideas into this awesome looking blog design. Your patience is much appreciated!

Today we(me and the grade three superstars) had a discussion about reflection. We were becoming aware that when we reflect we are actively thinking about something we have done or learned. Evaluating what we were happy with and what we wanted to adjust or change. Easier said than done. The students began by reflecting about why doubles were an important strategy for Numeracy. We chatted and chatted and many students were able to verbalize why doubles were important and how they helped with addition and subtraction, however, much was lost in the recording of their thinking. The answers that were written appear to be what the students thought I wanted to hear rather than genuine connections. Sure there were a few bright lights but not as many as I had hoped.  We obviously need more practice at this recording strategy!

In my classroom I encourage mistakes both in myself and the kiddos. I read an article this weekend that discussed the idea that we actually can learn from our mistakes! I love the idea of the growth mindset! What a relief! I told my students the exciting news. At the end of the day one of the cuties came up to me and told me that he was going home to make more mistakes so that his brain could become more powerful! Loved it, laughed out loud with him! I think we all may look like bobble heads soon!
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2012/02/18/fascinating-study-on-what-learning-from-mistakes-does-to-the-brain/

I am looking forward to an exciting week of learning as I meet with facilitator from Pacific Cinematheque to develop our project plan, attend an IML dinner on iPad2's, and have a BYOD day this Thursday to develop our active listening and thinking skills while learning about the Sun.