CMS in the school

I review three different CMS options for this assignment. Two of the options were offered by the course, the other one is the NWEA Skill Builder Dashboard that my school is beginning to use. When it came down to deciding which one would have the most benefit for my classroom, I chose Google Classroom. I liked it because it has a section where you can search for different lessons, whether you are a student or a teacher. I also liked it as an organizational resource. You could store those resources in the tool to use on a yearly basis. You can connect apps throughout the lessons that your students can go do work in, while also attaching an assignment for them to work on at home. It connects to an email and communication, where you can  have a class discussion with students who are having difficulties. If necessary, I can also video conference with a parent, which would help  with certain techniques and routines that I use in classroom on any given day. Here is my review of the CMS options.

Minecraft and Assessment

This week we created our own minecraft worlds. It also began the week of learning technology is never reliable and that sometimes, 6 year olds really know what they are doing when it comes to Minecraft. I spent a lot of time this week playing in students video games trying to learn new concepts and even just how to build. Through this, I saw just how great this game is for my students and how I could use it for their advantage. The students hold a HUGE interest in building and collecting things throughout the worlds. Using this type of activity with rules and requirements would allow for students to begin to grasp a concept of becoming a builder and working on math skills without even realizing it. The following video allows just for one idea of assessment with Kindergartners.

Minecraft Tutorial

This week we began our Minecraft tutorial. Technology was not on my side as I learned that first the software did not want to download, then  my microphone on my computer did not want to work. I was reminded how much technology can be frustrating while trying to also assess in the world. Things do not always go according to plan. While playing minecraft, I was reminded of my first time playing video games and what the games would look like. Today there is a lot of technology that allows for that to change. I am also use to playing video games in today's screens, as compared to the screen I will be working in for minecraft. It has a very different feel.

http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/co6uV8hi7c

Here is the final Piktochart  .  I did take into account some of the changes that Nicole had offered me in the process. I really like this assignment for the fact I was able to communicate with a course member.

Piktochart for Schools

For this week's assignment we had to create a Piktochart based on online tools that we look at. With these assignments I sometimes have a hard time looking at my demographic of kindergartners. While they are learning more about technology in their day to day lives, it is not always easy to get them to explain themselves or understand why we are working on a certain area. I chose 3 online tools that had games and interactive activities for them, whether it be whole class or individual. I have learned over my years of teaching young children, that if you don't make it a game or fun, they do not want to participate in it. So here is my Piktochart  for my students to use throughout the year.

Creating a Formative Assessment

This week I began the process of creating an assessment. In doing so, I had to look at what I would be able to use in the classroom with kindergartners. At the school I am at, we use a variety of assessments through out the year. Some are electronic, while others are pages and pages of information for teachers to fill in. While we are always assessing students to see what they are learning in reading, we are putting some math skills on the back burner. For this assignment, I looked at ways to create a math assessment that I would be able to use this year on my students. The electronic format of it is nice, because I have noticed through years of teaching, that students enjoy things more if they are able to do something on a cell phone or computer. Please see my  Formative assessment piece.

Assessment Genre

This week I looked at  how to use formative assessment during instruction and the value that it has with teaching. I talked about math assessment in specific, because at the school I am at, we are constantly doing math assessments about every 2-3 weeks. I go over how to use assessment in a way that would be more instructional for teaching and allowing us to push our students to be on grade level or above more.
Assessment Genre