Construction Zone!

Oh it is really happening.....
The redo of the computer labs is well under way....

WOW! These guys work fast....and then they want to know stuff like:


 Hey Lady!!!
Where do you want the computers?
What color do you want to paint?


I do think it will be worth it....
and with the help of Corey and some consultation with some of the rest of you...

I think we have a great plan for the 2 labs.

If you are smart...and staying away from school to have a relaxing summer....
Here is a virtual peek into the construction zone.

The old "Small" lab now almost feels like the "BIG" Lab....

Here is the way I see the labs laid out...

This is the current large lab....

Notice that the layout here is to have "Pods" of computers rather than rows....this allows us to have kids doing more collaborative work.  The "instructional" area has moved too...Now it is back close to the door to the other lab.  There is still plenty of room for a class to sit to get instructions and the traffic flow in the door is better....

This is the "Small" Lab which now does not fell small at all!!!

There is actually a wonderful large seating area for instruction now.  This lab is laid out in the more traditional rows.  It feels so roomy after the tight quarters we have been used to!

And then here is the new doorway between the books and computers....I am sooo excited to think about being able to use the library during test times!  I bet you are too!

We do have a few books and book shelves to move to make it all work....oh well....what would the start of school be with out moving books...Just ask Lisa!!!!

Hopefully all will be ready by Day One.....these construction guys are amazing!

See You TOO soon!!!

Wanna Go to Camp? Tech Camp at PSI!

I can not wait  to spend my mornings sitting on the deck looking at the flowers....

Well...I will have to look at the WEEDS too-until I get enough energy to go out and attack them....

But enough about ME...tee hee!
What about you?

I hope you have a summer bucket list that includes a lot of memory making events....

Speaking of which....

How would you like to go to CAMP?

Tech Camp at PSI....?

What: Two different classes/session to explore and learn ways to integrate the iPads and audio/visual production into your teaching.

• Each session is 2 hours long....

• You may sign up for 1 session or both...

• The sessions will be offered twice!

• There is space for 10 campers in each session

• The counselor will be "interesting"!

Here are the Dates/Times!

Wednesday August 1st- 10 to Noon  

iPad Treasure Hunting

Thursday: August 2nd-10 to Noon

Lights Camera Action...

the basics of Movies and Sounds in the classroom

 

Monday August 6- 1 to 3

iPad Treasure Hunting

Tuesday August 7

Lights Camera Action...

the basics of Movies and Sounds in the classroom 

 

 

This is being funded by Professional Development....so you will be paid the hourly curriculum rate for the time you are at camp!

Wow!

A camp that PAYS YOU!!!!

 

Click on this link to enroll!

 

 

 

 

 

June 4-13 in the Media Center

Be sure to sign your class up for a 30 minute read a loud time with me!

The sign up is on the table by the computer schedule.

I am NOT available on June 4...that is the day the 5th grade students in Sra. Rodriguez's class will spend the day in the Computer Lab...that was my Carnival Auction Donation...should be a fun day!

All student library materials are due next week. 

We will give the library cards to the students who have all materials returned.

Please start returning the materials that you (the teacher) have checked out!

The computer lab is open right 'til the end.....tee hee!

More than 65,000 books have been checked out this year....

That doesn't even COUNT the Teacher Book Room Books....

No wonder our kids are achieving the way that they are!

• Beginning THIS week, students who have ANY overdue books will NOT be able to check any new materials.

• The last week for regular library book check out is May 29-June 1!

• All library materials are due  the week of June 4-8. (this includes BOOK BOXES)

• There are no library book check outs the week of June 4-8.  We will let you know which students still need to return books.

Help your kids by stressing the need to clear up "book problems"!

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help in "tricky situations"!

You may continue to use the Teacher Book Room until the end of the year so that you have reading materials for your students.



Please return as many of the "teacher materials" that are regular library books as you can "do without". 




I would love to schedule a "read-a-loud" with your for about 15 minutes sometime on June 5,6,7,8, 11 or 12 ....Come see me to schedule this!

The computer labs will be available until the very last day....

iPads at PSI an Update

 

 The iPad Cart is ready to check out!

It has been having a lot of fun introducing the iPad cart to the students.
Our kids really love them....and it is good to give them a chance to explore before you need to use them for learning activities!

Here are some things you need to know:

All iPads have a barcode and MUST be checked out!

The iPad cart was purchased for student use in the classroom.  

It will be checked out as a unit!

If you need a single iPad for your classroom!

 There are 2 iPads that are not part of the cart.

We would like you to use these and  NOT take an iPad from the cart.

Please respect the 3 day check out limit for these iPads.

If you need the iPad cart for your classroom!

Sign up for the iPad cart on the calendar clip board that we use for Media Spaces and Equipment!

 The iPad cart may be checked out to your classroom one day at a time.

The cart will need to be returned to the Media Center each day after school to ensure:

The security of the cart

proper recharging

proper synching

You may check the cart out for consecutive days as long as you return it each day

Please remind your students about the need to use these wonderful tools with care and respect!
Let me know if you have any questions.
We are also looking for suggestions for how to manage the cart efficiently, so if things occur to you we would love your comments.

The Merry Month of May-Book Choice Info

Next Monday we begin the MCA testing in the computer lab.

We agreed as a building that all MCA testing would happen in the mornings.

When MCA testing is over....the NWEA MAP Testing begins!!!

Yikes...


 In order for all of that to happen...hopefully happen smoothly :), It will mean changes on the book side of the Media Center!


From now until the end of the year....ALL Book Choices need to be in the afternoons.

Corey and I talked about this and agreed that we need to shorten the time you spend here for book choice time.
Sadly it will also mean that I will not have the time to do lessons with your kids....
I will continue to be there to help whenever I am able!






Please look at your schedule: (and this needs to happen ASAP!

• If you have a morning time...try to find a time on your regular day to come in the afternoon.  It is easier for the kids to not have to change the day they come.
• If you have an afternoon time....let me know what 20 minutes of your existing time you will be coming...this will help with scheduling the groups that have to fit into the afternoons.

• Fifth grade classes can use the English Media block....I can have the kids pick books if they need them during the time they are already scheduled with me.

  The good news for next year....
construction plans for making the 2 computer labs more equal in size and putting a door between the computer labs and library are under way...

Maybe the Merry Month of May next year....will be really Merry!

As always...we appreciate your cooperation and patience during this busy time!

GoodNews and Not So Good News!

The good news.....

PSI is now the proud owner of 16 iPad2s


They arrived in a wonderful cart that is a charging station.


The cart is also a syncing station.

The cart locks for security!

The Not So Good News

hmmmm....you may wonder what the down side of 16 iPads would be?

Well....I have to get them all ready for you....

This is a process that takes some time. 

It is a process that is different than single iPads....because they all have to be synced so they will operate efficiently.

This is something that I am just learning to do...so I ask your patience.

I will get this done as soon as I can.

I would also like to gather a group of interested people to talk about the protocols we will develop to use this great resource....

 

Once we figure these things out...we will have an inservice....

In other words....I don't want to be the iPad Police....I need your input.

Speaking of input.....I have made a link on the Main Student Resource page so you and students can recommend  APPS for the Cart iPads!

Here is the Link:    Recommend An iPad App Here

I guess I would have to say that the news is way more GOOD than NOT!

Feel free to come in and take a look!

¡Flash Mob Maestros!

Are you all ready to join the flash mob tomorrow?
If you don't know what this is all about....talk with a classroom teacher!

I did a little research to discover the "history" of flash mobbing...
This is what Wikipedia says:

A flash mob (or flashmob)^[1] is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression.^[2][3][4] Flash mobs are organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails

 I am particularly struck by the phrase...."unusual and seemingly pointless".....hmmmmm
Anyway...here is the plan for those that weren't at yesterday's meeting!

•  The staff will be doing a flash mob during each daytime talent show.  
• María Reyes will lead the flash mob.  
• She will get up first, start to dance, and then 5-10 seconds later, another person will get up, 5-10 seconds later, another person, and then every 5-10 seconds a couple more staff will join in, until all staff in the gym are up dancing. 
• There is not schedule, simply join in, (but not all at once).  
• When the music stops, simply sit down and we will continue the show as though nothing has happened.
• We will wear orange shirts, Carnival shirt if you have one.  We don't want it to look like something special is going on, so you might want to wear something over the shirt and take that off before you dance.
    
• Pass this along to Amities and other staff that might be at the Talent Show.
  
  
• Anyway...if you don't want to look silly (again hmmmmm), you might want to practice in the privacy of your own home....

Thanks to Maria...we have video of the dance we will do!

Thanks Maria!

This should be fun!

Weebly In Action

The First Grade Team has created the most wonderful website to help their students learn about Mexico.
Click on this link to see the way they used this tool to write a unit!
Just think....with a little up front work (or maybe a lot) the first grade team has unit materials that they can use from year to year!

Mexico

http://psimexico.weebly.com/

•  Fourth Grade is also using this for their biography projects. (I will share these with you when they complete the project)
• I am working on updating the Jumpstart Page using Weebly.  I have finished the Math section. Take a look!

They used a website called weebly.
PSI has a subscription for this site.
If you would like to learn how to add a website for one of your units, let me know!
I would love to show you how!

Spring Test Season

                              

Corey and I are working on the Spring Test Schedule!

• Map Tests in Math and Reading will be administered to 2nd -5th Grade.

• MCA Math Tests  will be administered to 3rd -5th Grade.

•  MCA Science Tests will be administered to 5th Grade.

I counted and got a little freaked out when I realized that:

• This is 26 test sessions for NWEA MAP testing (and that doesn't even count the fact that most of our strong Math students need TWO test times!!!)

• MCA Math will be done in 2 sittings so that means 18 test sessions.
•  MCA Science adds another 3.

 

That is 47 blocks of time devoted to testing from Mid-April to June!

  

This is a complex puzzle of scheduling that will obviously impact EVERYONE at PSI....

We will need to work together to get this accomplished!

 

 

 

Corey and I will formalize the test schedule on Friday

Please send me an email with any field trips or other activities that would impact your ability to take a test (between April 16 and June 2).

 

 

Hope you all have great conferences!