Week 11: Did you say... Skype?

Week 11 began, and ended, with an Author Skype! I am thankful for Skype in the Classroom and the authors, experts, and teachers that are willing to engage with students in the classroom via skype. It has removed the "four walls" and enabled our students to experience so much more than we can offer... It Takes a Village.

The first author skype of the week was with Mrs. Clark's class. They had read the book "If an Armadillo Went to a Restaurant", then we skyped with the author, Ellen Fischer. The students listened intently as she explained the writing process and discussed her book. The students were able  to ask questions, which were terrific!

Tuesday evening was Reading Night at Nance, it was the first time that I had been able to participate. The teachers worked with a partner at a booth, facilitated an activity, and had a take away. The teachers and students were dressed up in amazing costumes. We played reading games, danced to the Monster Mash, and even took pics in the photo booth. What a fun night! 

We had three skypes with the Night Zookeeper this week. Each one was different, but each was fabulous! He had an accent, his time is 5 hours ahead of ours, and he lives in a zoo at night. He is an author/storyteller that takes care of the creatures in the zoo. The kids love him! 

Mrs. Thacker's class read the book, "Ruth the Sleuth and the Messy Room" then we skyped with author Carol Ekster, she  never disappoints. After 35 years as a classroom teacher in Massachusetts, she retired and began writing children's books. She discussed the importance of using action verbs in writing, the writing process, read a book, then answered questions. She is always so patient and so kind!

The last author skype of the week was in Mrs. Aston's class. They are reading the chapter book "The Cat in the City" and are loving it! We were ready to  skype with author Julie Salamon Thursday afternoon and due to sound issues we were not able to complete the skype. But, we got the issues fixed and it went off without a hitch on Friday. 

My Friday ended as it does every week: organizing, producing, and publishing the Weekly Recap. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my journey as I learn and grow each week,
Mrs. Hime

Week 10: Collaboration, Skype, Twitter, Oh My!

Week 10 saw the beginning of the second nine weeks of this school year...

The ELL side of my position is going fabulous. This week Mrs. Gaunt and I met with Reading Coaches, Special Education teacher, Counselor, and the Principal at Nance to look at the first grade students we have worked with throughout the first nine weeks. It was wonderful to see the growth and also to identify those students that may need a change. Smokey the Bear came by this week too!

At Southwest I worked on  a second nine week plan for my three first year immigrant students, they have shown so much progress! Mrs. Bridges (Reading Coach) and I met to make a plan for a few of our ELL students, I am excited to get it started! 

Author Skype was the "Buzzword" at Southwest this week. Two teachers skyped with Paul Czajak, author of Monster Needs Your Vote.  Another teacher skyped with Greg Bancroft, author of Betsy's Day at the Game. Both skypes were amazing! Each author read aloud, then then took questions, I was amazed at the questions the students thought to ask, they  were fabulous! 

               

The Global Read Aloud continued with a week three twitter chat. Mrs. Marshall's class did an awesome job brainstorming the questions! 

My school week ended the same as it has the previous nine weeks: organizing, producing, and videoing the Southwest Weekly Recap. 

I ended the week, and began the coming week, at the Google Summit in Tulsa. I was able to collaborate, learn and grow with not only my amazing Clinton colleagues, but educators from Oklahoma and beyond. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my journey  as I learn and grow each week, 

Mrs. Hime

Week 9: Connect, Share, Learn, Grow

Where has the time gone... I can not believe we have completed nine weeks of school! What is that old saying, "Time flies when you are having fun!".

This week I assisted Mrs. Moore's class with their first Mystery Skype.  They did an awesome job of of using critical thinking skills and teamwork to determine the location of the other class within fifteen minutes. They were in California!

Tuesday afternoon I hosted Southwest's first Tech Tuesday of the year. I was a little nervous that no one would show up after three emails of regrets., but I went ahead and set up like I was going to have a crowd... Twelve teachers came! I was so surprised and grateful... We had a wonderful time of connecting, sharing, learning, and growing. I sent a reflection padlet out the next morning asking for takeaways from Tech Tuesday, thanks to everyone that came and also to those that took a moment to reflect. 

Wednesday afternoon was my Friday, it ended with organizing, producing, and publishing the ninth Southwest Weekly Recap. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my journey as I learn and grow each week, 

Mrs. Hime

Week 8: Each Week is Different, and This One Did Not Disappoint

Each week in my new position has been different, and this week did not disappoint. 

Two second grade classrooms (Marshall & Paul) began Global Read Aloud 2015 by reading The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes. The classrooms are going to connect globally with other classrooms through a Twitter Slowchat. I am so excited to hear about the book and the connections the classes make! 

I was able to assist Ms. Gifford's class with their first Mystery Skype this week... Pennsylvania! It is always wonderful to watch as the students use critical thinking skills and teamwork to determine the mystery location. 

Mrs. Moore's class was ready for their first Mystery Skype and the other class did not answer our call, so what did we do? We went over our game plan for the next one which will be Tuesday October 13th!

I was able to attend OTA/Encyclomedia two days this week and I had the opportunity to share/present one of my presentations "Techify Communication Between Home and School". This one is very different from my past presentations in that I shifted the audience. I usually present my best practices as a classroom teacher and this was geared for admin., but I think it went well.  I have had several people ask if I could share the presentation, but since I am presenting it again at TCEA I decided to make a resource page to share. Please email or comment below if you have any questions, I am always happy to discuss or assist! 

I published Southwest October Innovation & Technology News this week. Six teachers were winners of a book and Author Skype! (I was only able to get pics of four of them...) I also have three teachers that will be participating in skypes with The Night Zookeeper! I am so excited! 

As always my week ended with organizing, producing, and sharing SW Weekly Recap. We are beginning to interview classroom teachers, this week Mrs. Blackketter was up!

I am going to leave you with a powerful slide from one of the keynotes this week! 

Thank you for allowing me to share my journey as I grow & learn each week! 

Mrs. Hime

Week 7: Bridging the Gap Between School & Community

As I reflected upon week 7 I realized that it was a week of 

bridging the gap between school and  community (local and global).  

I had the opportunity to visit with parents on two campuses to discuss ELL and Technology Integration in the classroom, organize and produce the weekly recap video to share the awesome things happening on Southwest campus, as well as  connect students to our global community. 

It was a fabulous week! 

Mrs. Gaunt, Mrs. Gonzalez, and I hosted an ELL Parent Night at Nance. We demonstrated Clinton's new reading program, Footsteps to Brilliance, and enjoyed getting to know the parents of our students. 

The night was a overall success!  

At Southwest I was a part of the extended teachers that were set up to greet parents in the Library. We engaged in meaningful conversations about our various programs while the parents viewed a slide show and had refreshments. 

Both nights at Southwest were awesome!

                                    

Also this week I assisted two teachers with Mystery Skypes: Mrs. Stephens' class and Mrs. Thacker's class both skyped with classes in California! The students used critical thinking skills and teamwork to determine the locations. 

They were amazing (as always)! 

                                       

Another highlight for me this week was an invitation to visit an art class at the middle school. It was a special invitation for me as many of the students were in my first #cpsreds class. I enjoyed getting to see their amazing creations and catch up on their lives. 

Thank you for sharing with me Mrs. Bodilla! 

My week ended with organizing and producing the Southwest Weekly Recap, 

you can watch it below: 

Thank you for allowing me to share as I grow and Learn,
Mrs. Hime