Remembrance Day Thoughts

I am slowly getting things ready for our school Remembrance Day service tomorrow...my classroom choir is performing a simple, but pretty song, "One Little Candle", my student leaders with the Student Council will be helping with the service either by reading a few poems, carrying the wreath or handing out programs, and I have the technology to set up in the morning for some of the videos we'll show and the sound system so we can be heard...throw in trying to complete the Grade Three Assessment that I was working on today, and the report cards that I have been obsessing over, and I am definitely looking forward to a weekend, even if the weatherman is trying to tell me that it's going to include a storm.

It has been an interesting week, with lots of good conversations about peace, war, and everything inbetween...I have included a few of our favourite books from this time of year:

This first book, "The Enemy", is a touching story about how both sides in a war are so much alike.

Reading this next book is always difficult, as it tells the true story of how a zoo is forced to destroy some of it's animals to prevent them from possibly escaping during the bombing of Tokyo.

This is a sweet story about a bear during war time.



This is a great book for young children, about feelings of and for those involved in the war.

(Click on the book pictures for links to the Chapters website.)

Anyway, have a great Friday! (and wow...that makes three posts this week...don't worry...I'm sure this burst of energy won't last for long...actually, I'm sure it's more of a method of procrastination until all the other stuff that I need to get done is finished!)

Take care,

Tammy

Gotta Love Technology!

Today was a busy day (I know what you're thinking..."Aren't they ALL busy days?"...and yes, it's true..they ARE all busy...)! Our principal brought in a guest for the day (as well as a few subs to cover some of our classes while we worked with our guest)...Our guest was  a teacher from another school division with a strong background in using technology in her school.  She worked with the middle years teachers on various websites and programs, and how to use them with our kiddies.  Then, she worked with us early years teachers on how to make the most of interactive whiteboards (mainly SmartBoards). We got a lot of fantastic ideas, but by the end of the day, I can honestly say that my head was full!

Technology has been a big part of our school life lately...even our S.A.G.E. day was used as a brainstorming day, with some of my colleagues sharing ideas on mimio activities, SmartBoard work, and hands-on iPad tips.

 



If you are starting to use an iPad, feel free to download my iPad tips by clicking {here}...this is not a list of apps, etc...it's simply some tips on how the iPad works.  I hope that it helps!

I'm still discovering how to fit technology into my classroom on a regular basis...the desktops, the mimio, the iPads...but the exploration is definitely fun!

Take care!

Tammy

November Currently

Wow!  I have never joined up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade, with her monthly Currently...but I thought maybe it would get me moving and add to my blog this week...

So..here goes!

Oh my! That was much harder than I thought! I seem to be fixated on time right now...or more accurately, a lack of time...lol...Well, I'm sure that will change after November is done...oh wait - after that, it's Christmas concert time...did I mention that I also am in charge of our music program, and planning all the concert stuff? That must mean that January will slow down then...or maybe February?...lol

I guess I can't complain too much about this past week...even with Halloween and a full moon, my kiddies were pretty good. We got our own version of a jack-o-lantern done, and the kids loved them...Unfortunately, I didn't remember to get pictures before they all went home...GRRR...however, I did find a picture I had taken from another year, to give you an idea...

 

These were jars that we covered with glue and pieces of orange tissue paper. For the next step, I found pictures of jack-o-lantern faces that I just photocopied so that my kiddies could design their own look. Then, we covered the entire outside with another coat of white glue to finish. The one improvement that we made this year was that we used green pipe cleaners to wrap around the mouth of the jars, then curled the left over end of the pipe cleaner to make part of it's vine!  When we turned on the battery-operated tealight candles inside each jack-o-lantern, and turned off the classroom lights, my kiddies were thrilled with how they turned out!

 

Well, I hope all of you survived your October, and that your November goes by as smoothly as possible!

 

Take care!

 

Tammy