Video Book Reviews

Our most recent writing unit had my students doing some serious review writing. Following along with Calkins’ Units of Study, we began by judging our collections, then moved into becoming review writers of all things, and ended with writing book reviews. Last year I only made it through the first two bends, so I was exceptionally excited to dive into this third bend. When I read that celebration should be in the style of Reading Rainbow – I took it very seriously and used the week before Spring Break to bring some technology into the classroom and create our on Reading Rainbow Styled Reviews. 

At first, I thought this would be a fairly easy task:  

Students read a book. 

Students write a review. 

Students read their review in front of a green screen. 

Teacher adds cool background.  

Audience whoos and ahhs. 

Well, I should have known better – whenever bringing technology  in, always leave time and room for lots of trail and error. 😊 That’s exactly what we went through! But after quite a bit of work on my end, I think we’ve ended up with some pretty cool (though novice looking) green screen reviews. 

Here’s what ended working for me: 

I used the app green screen by DoInk.

I taped each student in front of green butcher paper reading their review using a school Ipad. Before recording I had a good idea of the background I would be using. I wanted something that resembled a newsroom. So when I taped I kept students towards the right of the screen, leaving room for the newsroom tv on the left.

Then I just surfed the internet for a background. I could have stopped there and just merged the image and video together using the app, but I had a vision that I was persistent on seeing through. I wanted the book that was being reviewed to be pictured on the newsroom tv screen, while the student reviewed it to the right.  

This is where things got complicated. First, I had merge the image of the book and the newsroom background into one image. My school Ipad did not have a program or app to support this, so I found that the easiest way was to use Pow-toon on my computer to create the blended image. Then I did a screen shot and saved it as a jpg. At this point, I had to transfer those images to my Ipad to use as the background on green screen ap. 

Quite a bit of work – but I’m very happy with the end result. Hopefully next year, after more trial and error, I will be able to give you a more streamlined way to create these very fun reading rainbow inspired reviews.

 So here is a sample of the before and after:

Here's the link to Luke's finished review: http://youtu.be/MmC5FtKUXzQ

Fancy New Desktop

I spent my frigid President's Day cleaning up my computer. This meant organizing my documents, clearing up all the random icons/docs on my desktop, archiving old emails, and just basically do a technological spring cleaning.

My crazy cluttered desktop was one of the biggest problems. Here is the before: 

When I take away the background you can really see all the junk I had on it:

Files! Files! Everywhere! I couldn't stand it anymore - not only was it lacking a serious cute factor but it was completely unorganized. If  I needed to access something quickly - aka my Spring Conference schedule, I was hunting . . . where is it in the rows of unidentifiable icons? 

After probably spending - more time the I probably should have - voila! a cute organized desktop - where everything is easy to find! 

Yes - this is my desktop now! Blow it up and you will see it is screenshot I just took. Don't you just LOVE it ?!? Everything organized and pretty and neat. Don't worry if you don't want to organize by blogs, programs, documents, to-dos and notes - you don't have too. I added those titles. So here's how I did it.

Getting the cute desktop organizer: 
First I picked up the super cute background from Inspired VA Services. She has several different designs to choose from and even offers to customize one for you if you contact her! Super nice right?!

After choosing the design I added the text using PicMonkey and fonts I had from DJ Inkers. Next I set it as my background and started arranging icons.

Creating Custom Icons:
But that ended up bothering me too - this adorable background and ugly little file folders and chrome icons all over. So I decided to learn how to create my own icons and it's unbelievably easy.

First drag the shortcut to the webpage (in my case blogs) or files you want on your desktop. Then find an image you'd like to use for the icon - save it to your pictures. Then go to Free Online Icon Generator and use the generator to create an icon. I used the 48 x 48 size. Finally right click on the old icon, then properties, and change icon. Browse to find the one you created online. Easy shemeasy lemon peasy.  Soon you will be creating icons for everything! See my heart box - I even created them for my different network folders.

Now the trick is locking the icons in place. I read that you need to:
- right click on the desktop
- go to view
- uncheck autoarrange and align to grid
- place your icons
- go back to view and click refresh

I'm worried though that when I reboot or link to my projector they will move. I will most likely cry if that happens.

But until that I'm happens it calms my soul to look at such and organized desktop - not if only my real desk looked this nice. :-)


Update: I have rebooted my computer, connected it to a projector, and used extend screen option and my icons have stayed nicely in place. :-) Yay! 

Toolkit Training

I was asked by my reading coach and principal to provide a training to our staff on The Primary Comprehension Toolkit after break. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity - thrilled that we were going to beginning the implementation of these amazing resources which I have been raving about since my interview. So over break I've been rereading the teacher's guides, going through my supplemental resources, and even picked up a copy of Staff Development with Comprehension Toolkits: Implementing and Sustaining Comprehension Instruction Across the Curriculum. So needless to say - by desk has been covered with these bounteous texts.

After many hours of reading, highlighting tabbing, digesting, quoting, typing, revising, and editing I've ended up with a pretty good presentation. Because I used some of the slides from the Staff Development book I can't publish it here.

But to sum it up my presentation included:
- An Introduction to Comprehension Strategy Instruction
- An overview of each strategy, with a activity to launch it that teachers could take back to their classrooms (most came from Comprehension Connections), and an opportunity to look at and discuss student work with the strategy
- A walk through of the Toolkit components
- A modeled lesson
- and  time for PLCs to dive into the materials

This will be my first formal training at my new school and I am so excited to be sharing a resource that I love! Here it goes .  . .

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UPDATE:

So . . . the training went great even though I was dragging from being up all night with the flu. But I feel like the teachers walked away with some ideas to use when students get back next week as well a better idea of why and how we can teach comprehension strategies.

Thank you to my literacy coach, Christy Patriarca, staff developer Angela Butler, and authors Stephanie Harvey and Tanny McGregor for your help in putting this together! 

Reflection and Resolutions

"Reflection allows us to improve, revamp, and revise. Reflection is essential."  

- Harvey, Goudvis, Schroden

As the year comes to a close and we embark on 2015 - I find myself reflecting on all the successes and setbacks of 2014 as I begin writing my resolutions for the new year. So lets start with some reflection.

2014 was a whirlwind, both professionally and personally for me. It was my first full year back in Ohio and I feel like I really began settling in to both my home and my position at Perry Schools. Along with the "settling" came some amazing opportunities as well as some painstaking hurdles. So here are my Cheers and Jeers of 2014. Professional to Personal.

Cheers

Jeers

Traveling to NYC for Teachers College Participating in the Planning and Training of PES Staff in Reading and Writing  Hosting Mentor Schools for Staff Development in Writers Workshop Participating in Instructional Rounds Introducing Primary Comprehension Toolkit to my school Reforming ELA curriculum for 1st Grade Having a best friend, +Alexa Farmerie  join my team Buying a home in Ohio Making it "my own" Being a Playhouse Ticket Holder The "Cleveland Independents Deck"  Electric Run Road Trip with my sister +Kristina Ambrosia-Conn and good friend Holly Visiting a childhood favorite vacation spot - Ocean City, NJ The marriage of one of my besties, Jenna

Having to drive home from NYC on the 4th of July because flights were cancelled Extensive, tiring, sometimes under appreciated hours of work of new math and reading curriculum Renovating my new home and finding that their is still a ton to do Replacing the furnace that blew Time Warner - enough said Family Illness  The lost of my beautifully inspiring Aunt Margie

The table is a nice graphic, forcing me to remember that they year had more highs than lows and to be grateful for all the amazing opportunities and people in my life. 

So moving into the new year. I have decided to follow my sister's lead and do 15 for '15. 

1. Complete the 2015 Reading Challenge

2. Run in the Color Run - which means I better start conditioning now! 

3. Complain less, encourage more - which also might mean biting my tongue 

4. Begin Weight Watchers, hit my goal weight, and love my body - LESS McDonalds!

5. Start pursuing my Masters - so I better decide if I want to go into Ed leadership or Curriculum . . . can't I do both?!?

6. Rally my favorite couples ( +Linda Teese, +Alexa Farmerie +Ashley Mingoy +Derrick Braden +Michael Licata , +Sarah Rhoades) together and go on our own version of a "Couples Retreat".

7, Blog More - I promise to try! Starting small with once a month, but hope to up that especially come summer time

8. Less Social Media - More Developed Personal Relationships. This means I'm vowing to put down my phone when in the presence of others

9. Be a more gracious daughter - calling regularly, showing my appreciation, returning the favors

10. Be a more attentive wife

11. Be a more playful pet owner

12. Work towards achieving/doing something from my vision board

13. Do something entirely for myself, by myself

14. Be a better listener - putting the phone down should help

15. Avoid a midlife crisis in Feb - when I turn the big 3 - 0

So there it is. Hoping that at the year of this year I can also have a longer list of Cheers than of Jeers. Happy 2015 and good luck on your resolutions! See you next month - or sooner! ;-)