Here is an interactive secret Santa Village to count down to Christmas with stories, movies and hiddentreasure…. BEST of all…its animated! The kids can read it to themselves or have it read to them  Village: http://www.northpole.com/ Workshop: http://www.northpole.com/Workshop/ Santa’s Den (Click on the books to read or the DVD player to watch a movie http://www.northpole.com/Den/ Weather Station http://www.northpole.com/WeatherStation/ Toy Shop http://www.northpole.com/ToyShop/ Mail Room- Send Santa a letter and get one straight back! http://www.northpole.com/Mailroom/ Clubhouse- Learn all about the Elves! http://www.northpole.com/Clubhouse/ Reindeer Barn- Find hidden stories http://www.northpole.com/ReindeerBarn/ Mrs Claus’s kitchen- Check out the COOL RECIPES!!! http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/ Elf Academy- WOW check out the wicked links!!!!! Interactive games, Teacher Resources and more! http://www.northpole.com/Academy/ Or http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/kentict/content/games/snowman_v4.html Build your own snowman http://www.learn-ict.org.uk/resources/rudolph/rudolph.htm Interactive story to find Rudolf (More for juniors) http://www.akidsmath.com/flashes/mgames/tree.swf This is very cool! Click on the maze to change direction, once you connect the wires the tree lights up! http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/teacher/christmas.html#online More links and games related to Christmas 

Lead Teacher Day 14 September 2012

Another successful day with the girls!
We started the day off playing with Ipads- such fun! I managed to make my first ibook ever (about B1 and B2- Dora the explorer- Garrisons and living happily ever after!) unfortunately we couldn't upload it. I also had a play on puppet pals. I made a very funny skit about me going to the ball with the handsome prince.

We had a yummy morning tea (Thanks SPS) and made our way to BBI.

BBI was very informative- the main focus was on google teacher dashboard and student reflections on inquiry learning online.
I found this hear sitting and listening to- I thought alot of it was over my head as I only use google docs, emails (in ICT cluster only) and blogspot- a whole school initiative we have going at BDS.
Another thing I loved is the thought of "bring your own divice" so kids must use ICT ofr 50% of the time.
Will this work in primary schools?- Can we teach a skill where kids on on different divices?
I love the things BBI offers- I cannot believe the wonderful opportunities our kids have today!

We returned to SPS to have our dear Abby and blog reflections.

Looking ahead to an EXPO- April holidays- looking at the one towards the end- as the learning is fresh in peoples minds and they can hit the geround running at the beginning of the term instead of relaxing and forgetting.--> Hope I can go!!!

Another successful day and I'm looking forward to the next one at B1's house :-)

Cool sites and links

Maths Links- Totally forgot about this cool site! mathzlinks.wikispaces.com and Jet Ski addition http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/jetski/jetski.html Great free resources for teachers to take away the time searching for "stuff" (pepnonprofit.com) and a fun one: build your wild self! mutt maker on animal planet for descriptive writing.
BJ shared http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/33-digital-skills-every-21st-century.html
http://acesnet.wikispaces.com/EduCampAKL+2012
http://www.karaka2wps.blogspot.co.nz/ Blog to comment on and link BDS
http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/tablet-accessories/headsets/8452

Dear Abby
Issues with CM in the cloud for BDS :o( discussion for e-asttle.

Cloud Computing- Why do it? Cost? Options?
EPS- stored email at Gmail- Using Google you can share apps/docs etc so you can have all shared documents like timetables and planning online and you can share them. Kids can get a dashboard- webpage- blog- spreedsheets-surveys etc

Mobile Learning at EPS-
ipad- Voice Plus Application- read story and check pace etc- "change voice for fun- underwater for example.
Zombie Maths- blow up the zombie before it get to the cannon.
Puppet Pals- Read a story and get your charachers to act it out
Dictation/italk/voice memo/word wizard/etc
Comic Life-Spella- word avalanche(free)
Maths game- Star School (Times Rap)
Reading stories
I-pods- much like the ipad- 8 per class so can run a group.
Maths Bingo- word hangman

A very cool day and look at some fabulous apps... guess who wants an ipad now........

Reflection from our Lead Teacher Day

The day began with a quick chat and note taking on this mornings meeting. We have decided to ask staff if they are interested in a "cluster Expo" or similar. We chatted about whats been going well in each school and started a "dear Abbey".

Stonefields Visit:
We had a great visit to a brand new school, my very first visit to a new school! Great shared learning areas, use of storage and ICT. I loved the roll of photos showing on the monitor. I also enjoyed the trolley teaching station and furniture! woo hoo! I also really enjoyedthe simple learning model and "breakthrough" no child should ever find something too easy. We came back and did a great PMI :-)

Smackdown:
A sharing session of cool new sites :o)

More Smackdown

Bridget:
http://www.learn-ict.org.uk/resources/rudolph/rudolph.htm

http://www.akidsmath.com/flashes/mgames/tree.swf

http://ngfl.northumberland.gov.uk/christmas/

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/teacher/christmas.html#online

See the
“12 days of Web 2.0 Christmas” song below :o)

25 days to Christmas
Here is an interactive secret Santa Village to count down to Christmas with stories, movies and hidden treasure…. BEST of all…its animated! The kids can read it to themselves or have it read to them

Village:
http://www.northpole.com/

Workshop:
http://www.northpole.com/Workshop/

Santa’s Den (Click on the books to read or the DVD player to watch a movie
http://www.northpole.com/Den/

Weather Station
http://www.northpole.com/WeatherStation/

Toy Shop
http://www.northpole.com/ToyShop/

Mail Room- Send Santa a letter and get one straight back!
http://www.northpole.com/Mailroom/

Clubhouse- Learn all about the Elves!
http://www.northpole.com/Clubhouse/

Reindeer Barn- Find hidden stories
http://www.northpole.com/ReindeerBarn/

Mrs Claus’s kitchen- Check out the COOL RECIPES!!!
http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/

Elf Academy- WOW check out the wicked links!!!!! Interactive games, Teacher Resources and more!
http://www.northpole.com/Academy/
So many more Other interactive XMAS Links :-)

Belinda:
http://mathzlinks.wikispaces.com/

Lyndal:
http://www.blogblings.com/black-and-white-blog-backgrounds.html
http://shabbyblogs.com/backgrounds.html
http://jellypages.com/
http://www.allblogtools.com/category/blogger-templates/cartoon/page/5/
http://www.snazzyspace.com/

Ruth
http://www.topicbox.org.uk/
Microsoft autocollage http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=8776
http://e-learningforkids.org/
http://www.benettonplay.com/toys/flipbookdeluxe/info.php
shoutlearning.org
http://mrspancake.com/index.php/doodads/show_one_category/category/christmas/

Sara
www.rhymezone.com
www.iwl.me/
www.xtramath.org
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/books/index.shtml
http://rellco.wikispaces.com/

Veronica
http://www.tes.co.uk/

SMACK DOWN!!!

My Favourite Time of the day!
12 days of Web 2.0 Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
A tip to expand my business globally
On the second day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the third day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the fourth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the fifth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the sixth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the seventh day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the eighth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Eight Wiki entries,
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Nine ladies blogging,
Eight Wiki entries,
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Ten lords IM’ng,
Nine ladies blogging,
Eight Wiki entries,
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Eleven podcasters podcasting,
Ten lords IM’ng,
Nine ladies blogging,
Eight Wiki entries,
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my cool colleague sent to me
Twelve Stumblers stumbling,
Eleven podcasters podcasting,
Ten lords IM’ng,
Nine ladies blogging,
Eight Wiki entries,
Seven Facebook pokes,
Six Twitter nudges,
Five Second Lives,
Four YouTube videos,
Three Del.icio.us bookmarks,
Two social networks,
And a tip to expand my business globally!

BDS Goals

Key Goals:

* To ensure all students are given the opportunity to use ICT equipment

* To ensure that all classrooms have a class blog

* To ensure all teachers will give students the opportunity to learn Cyber

Safety skills through specific teaching

* Teachers will take part in peer observations focusing on ICT/Solo integration

* Staff are expected to share ICT/Solo on a roster at staff meeting

* Teachers planning will show integration of ICT

Lead Teacher Day- GOOGLE!

We started off chatting about Google
Google has so much to offer!

Blogs, Gmail, Google sites (own webpage), Earth, Maps (street view) Docs, spread sheets, surveys (FORMS), Presentations (like powerpoints)Drawing, Table (Beta), Collection

Google Education requires a school email address and stays in "Botany" domain- it comes with a Gmail address and it is all monitored by you the teacher. The students have their own Gmail address linked to yours.

Kids can have individual blogs (No AGE limit in Google Education!) They can have Google pages- for assignments- like their very own web page.

You as the teacher can manage and monitor all students work- so it help with Cyber- Safety.

Google Page can be linked, you can upload photos etc.

You can have a teacher dashboard (it's not free) its $4 per student per year, it can be part of the activity fee.

You can do all teacher planning, LT plans etc. If you leave the school or something happens- you can always access work in the shared place.

ICT help desk- is a Google FORM.
Accounts, Assett Register and School Charter all in Google!
Teacher Goals- Appraisals- notes filled in all year

** Super Clubs Plus- Is run by Telstra- Its about Cyber Safety- it's a social networking Site (like Fcaebook) but it promotes cyber safety. There is an monitoring system
The school send off an application- they accept you, You send them a spreadsheet of names and they add the kids and send them each a password. Its FREE!!!! They answer cyber safety questions, earn medals and use the points to decorate your page. :o)
http://www.scplus.com/d/index.php

RSS Feeds (See previous blog notes)

25 Days to Christmas!

Here is an interactive secret Santa Village to count down to Christmas with stories, movies and hiddentreasure…. BEST of all…its animated! The kids can read it to themselves or have it read to them 

Village:
http://www.northpole.com/

Workshop:
http://www.northpole.com/Workshop/

Santa’s Den (Click on the books to read or the DVD player to watch a movie
http://www.northpole.com/Den/

Weather Station
http://www.northpole.com/WeatherStation/

Toy Shop
http://www.northpole.com/ToyShop/

Mail Room- Send Santa a letter and get one straight back!
http://www.northpole.com/Mailroom/

Clubhouse- Learn all about the Elves!
http://www.northpole.com/Clubhouse/

Reindeer Barn- Find hidden stories
http://www.northpole.com/ReindeerBarn/

Mrs Claus’s kitchen- Check out the COOL RECIPES!!!
http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/

Elf Academy- WOW check out the wicked links!!!!! Interactive games, Teacher Resources and more!
http://www.northpole.com/Academy/

Student Lead interviews

In week 2 this term we had Parent Interviews, a 3 way interview driven by students. At the interviewWe discussed the reports, students shared their work, goals and achievements with their parents. The parents were encouraged to be active in their students learning and discuss student learning and goals openly. This was very positive! Parents were amazed to see the amount of work that the students do in class. Not alot of discussion was needed between parents and teachers as the reports were so informative.
At the end of each term we sent books home for parents to sign and leave a positive comment- this is just a snapshot of the work students do! I love watching the kids show of all their hard work, they are so proud :o)

ICT lead Teacher day

We needed to bring along one (or more) good idea, website, web 2.0 tool or software application to share. 5-10 minutes each. This is sometimes called a Smackdown!
Bridget: http://toonlet.com/
My Poor Ears!story: http://toonlet.com/archive?m=s&i=60196 All ages!
It is free
It requires registration
It provides a simple to use editor
It has a set of different frames and characters to choose from
It lets you tell your story using speech bubbles
You can share your finished strip via a direct link or embed it in your blog or wiki
Lyndal: All ages!All ages! Shared SOLO at BDS- Notes sent home to parents, a walk through the classrooms and whats been hapening in room 22 with SOLO. Great way to grab ideas.
Belinda: Educamp: Link to share All ages!
Fabulous MATHS WIKI with links! http://mathzlinks.wikispaces.com/home also http://litworks.wikispaces.com/ Library http://users.ece.utexas.edu/~valmstrum/s2s/utopia/library4/src/library4.html and http://www.zooburst.com and http://educampnz.wikispaces.com/
SARA: http://www.studyladder.co.nz/?lc_set=
Veronica: http://www.snacktools.com
Ruth: Year 1-2 interactive activities, http://demo.iboard.co.uk/curriculum.htm# Digital learning objects for all ages: http://digistore.tki.org.nz/ec/p/home Interactive maths activities for years 1-3 and http://digistore.wikispaces.com/ http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au./countmein/children.html Useful site for ESOL day: http://www.learningchocolate.com/?st_lang=en Developing vocab.
A blog to check out: http://kauri3wps.blogspot.com/ and http://www.readwritethink.org/

SMACKDOWN: http://acesnet.wikispaces.com/EduCampAKL+Smackdown+2011

We had a play with some of the new ideas / discussions about how these could be used to improve learning.

Class Visits: Visit some classes at SPS check out a variety of rooms, look at ACTIVboard activities Pod 3 - Michael and Edwina using Activboards in Maths, Pods 1 and 2 - reading slot, have a play on Activboard in Ruth’s room :o)

RSS Feeds:
what are RSS Feeds?? A way of keeping up to date with websites and blogs. RSS means you can susscribe to a blog and it will alert you when there are updates. Google.com/reader FOLLOW THIS BLOG -->this is where they go! Create groups- cluster blogs, educator blogs, class blogs, school blogs, leader blogs etc...
igoogle.com- personalise your own home page and add all your favourites.
ALSO...Google Alert= Grab an email every time BDS is mentioned on the web, what is being said, who is writing it...
- why use them? We wont forget to look on blogs to check out whats happening. This will email you when one of my fav blogs are posted on...
- how to use them? How not to use them, Google is MASSIVE!!! seriously the things you can do! Add a funky background, set it up , track things, add blogs, get notifications, track people.... I know!!
Trim down the blogs to the ones you want notifications of regulary.

We got to set up our own RSS Feeds!

Dear Abby:A great discussion over lunch, sharing problems and solutions, overall... we are all on the same page and have it pretty good!

Blog Reflections: Thanks Shelly Park for hosting us all day, was lovely to have a walk through classrooms and see some solo displays, art work and ACTIVboards in action! You are alot like us where you use the small amount of equipment to its full potential. :-)

Here we go....

Welcome to term 3!!
We have parent interviews, a middle school production on Little Red Riding Hood and our new Inquiry unit starting in week 6 YAY!!!!
It's going to be a great term :o)

Solo Taxonomy

We sat down last week with Pam Hook and planned our next focus- Structures.
I realised while sitting there that I have come quite far with my learning. We were planning the various stages and I was able to think of maps that would take students to the next level of their learning.
I left feeling really positive... I wish the unit could start straight away, waiting another 10 weeks- i'll need to re fresh my Gung Ho!! :o)

On a totally different topic...

I've decided to start the school magazine next term- It's looking like time will be tight in term four, I've managed to collect great photos already- this years going to be the best one yet!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

The lovely PTA have approved $1500 for laptop pods trolleys/cows.
I have searched the net high and low and can't find any!!!
We have 8 laptops that need storage... I'm looking for hard wearing metal, weather proof cows- either two trolleys 5 and 5 or similar.....
Any ideas anyone?????
Thanks
B-)

cool counter

My kids love being given a time limit to complete things, they also work very well on a time limit!
My student teacher found this online time BOMB last week
Here is the link, give it a try :o)
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/bomb-countdown/full-screen/

Issues.....who has tissues.....

Anyone else having problems commenting on Blogger???
I have been trying to reply to a comment and even when i'm signed in it just takes me back to the login page.... after signing in 3 times and doing a word verification on MY OWN BLOG! I give up!!!!
B1 my comment to you was....... "Smarty Pants"
Very professional lol

OMG OMG OMG

So today i'm sitting there looking for a free download to capture my screen when the IT guru Peter says "hold fn and click print screen then paste it into the document"..... seriously, cool! who would have thought!?! I had it all this time :o)

sharing BEST Practise

Cluster Share

Reflection

A very successful day today! Although ive just posted the minutes so i'll talk about what's been happening in room 20.

First of all I suggest you visit our class blog...
http://room20bds2011.blogspot.com/ we are so proud of our progress!
Tomorrow L and I are making a presentation for the staff.

Yesterday the kids used fodey.com and created 3 advertisements for our BDS garage sale this Sunday. Another thing i've been using in class is google translator for my little asian boy who has no English. I am able to ask questions and communicate with him using this fabulous tool! Yesterday I typed up in english our class model of our story based on a house fire and  he could read it in chinese and then draw a picture related to the story! Very very cool tool.

Sites we're trying over the next few weeks include:
City.lego.com link to comic builder create a class login and use for comic building skills.

Art Rage , check to see if BDS can still use it- I forgot how cool this was!!

Smile box- for photo sharing and scrap booking.
Tagxedo- like wordle in shapes
Poster-street.com free posters for teachers
Kerppof.com spell a picture
http://www.picnik.com/

The lead teachers were very impressed by BDS and how far we have come in SOLO/Inquiry and ICT in general. It was lovely having a walk around the rooms.

We enjoyed a lovely morning tea and lunch together and it was nice to just have a great chat and catch up on life in general.
Looking forward to our next lead teach day, will link our presentation from staff meeting once it's completed and  when i manage to find that photo shop site i'll link that too!!

Minutes from Lead Teacher Day

Minutes


ICT lead Teacher Day

18 May 2011

Present

Elm Park: Belinda, Sara, Veronica

Botany Downs: Bridget, Lyndal

Shelly Park, Ruth, Edwina



Agree on Agenda

BEST Practise: BDS made blogging compulsory- It went down well with the staff- the support for the staff has been really good. We thought that it would be a great way to use the skills they have learnt over the past 3 years on the cluster. Look at updating blog roll on the wiki.

Belinda shared City.lego.com link to comic builder create a class login and use for comic building skills.

Belinda also shared Comic Life 2- you can create templates, load to blog or make a movie. Save as a Jpeg! Belinda happy to email instructions, looking around $6 for licence.

ipad puppet pals on ipad, can load extra sets of characters- the application is free. Great resource and motivator for children.

Art Rage also available on ipad.

Garage band- plug it into amps! Choose instruments, and make a band!

Smile box- Lyndal shared.

Tagxedo- like wordle in shapes

Poster-street.com free posters for teachers

Kerppof.com spell a picture

http://www.picnik.com/

Classroom Visits:

Everyone really liked communication for all.

Writing on the mimio

Enjoyed looking through all class blogs.

Wiki use integrated in literacy and numeracy.

Only have a few computers in each room but it’s used so well.

Confidence has increased greatly.

Anna and her digital learning centre has worked really well, and so many classes are benefiting from it! Lots of positive comments!! Well done Anna



SOLO/INQUIRY

BDS had Pam Hook come for a TOD at the end of the Xmas holidays, we got all the maps, and worked through them. We then shared our worked at staff meetings. In the last school hols, we had Pam Hook again and did our planning with her in occupations. Great insight- we planned as a whole school, then broke off into teams to go further. Solo is part of inquiry- it does not stand alone. Staff have had a really good go at it, some are displaying in modelling book, maps on mimio programme. E.g. tornado Lyndal used the cause and effect map.

Look at our school motto- and houses- compare and contrast how we do our BEST always.

Boys are really enjoying SOLO, it helping lift boys achievement.

Lyndal and Bridget bringing SOLO into reading lessons. Its about getting a grasp on the map- when you can use it- and use a wide variety to the maps.

Chapter book exercise- use the SOLO map to do the book review.

It helps visiting other schools to get new ideas and understand how to use it.

A lot of children at SPS sit on multi-structural, using the assessment rubric.

Discussion on how to move them to extended abstract.... Car has wheels, motor etc.... if it didn’t have 4 wheels it wouldn’t work! So use things kids know to get a handle on the TOOLS not the subject. USE the BECAUSE..... So to keep ourselves safe from a house fire we need to... give kids the starting sentence.

Groups share.

DEFINE MAP: My aim is to write a definition: Rubric 1 idea, 2 ideas etc etc

I have several ideas about penguins and can explain them and form an opinion. Use this to collate ideas and write a definition.

Relational: A penguin has two ideas because.....

Extended Abstract: several ideas can explain them (because) and form an opinion.

Veronica shared her inquiry book:

Lyndal shared our BDS inquiry plan.

The value of Inquiry, school visits, everybody being on board and being committed, use our CRT time to get PD, Belinda in doing inquiry and questioning, Pam Hook.

Dear Abbey

Discussion with cluster about school issues and lead teacher support offered.

ULEARN

ULearn Rotorua

Costs, accommodation, information- as it’s during the holidays we may be able to send more teachers...

Learning @ Schools Share new knowledge and ideas



Email I sent to Bruce to sell it at BDS

The U Learn conference is now is Rotorua and takes place during the school holidays.

It begins on Wednesday 19 October (9am start) through to Friday 21 October (1.50pm finish)

It includes 6 breakouts- these are presenters from NZ schools who offer practical learning experiences and 5 keynote speakers

1. Simon Breakspear (Australia)- Author of Talent Magnets

2. Jack Bacon (USA) Author of many educational books

3. Graeme Aitken (NZ) Decisions made by policy makers

4. Jan Herrington (Australia) Authentic learning in higher order thinking

5. Professor Stephan Happell (UK) founder of Ultra lab



Registration is:

Early bird bookings (march- July 31st) $595+ GST

August-October $645+ GST



Accommodation costs vary and prices are based on 2 beds per room:

The Motels/Hotel in the area are:

• Millennium (Official conference hotel) $264.50 per night- (2x queen beds)

• Silver Oaks $130 per night ( 1x queen bed and 1x single bed)

• Distinction Hotel $199 per night (2x queen beds)

• Kingsgate $199 per night (2x double beds)

• Sudima Hotel $159 per night (2x double beds)

• Ridges (not listed) around $190 per night (2 queen beds per room)



Possible teachers to go....

Briar, Louise, Lauren, Keiko, Gareth, Jenny, Michelle, Erna/Sue perhaps at another school

Elm Park are sending 4 people to go to U Learn.

Shelly Park are unsure.

Victoria Fair in Scotland- linking classes through skype and blogging in the first week of June as her class are studying schools around the world.

Discussions on schools, similarities and differences.

Look at updating class blog roll on wiki for each school to keep in contact and comment on each others work...????

Lead Teacher Blogs/reflections