Blog Archives - MRS PRIESTLEY ICT

Google forms and literacy choice boards

5/27/2020

Since coming back from the lockdown, I have continued to run a choice board similar to our home learning one that I had underway for distant learning. It involved a must-do and you pick activities students can use and choose from in their learning. I really wanted it to be a smooth transition back into the classroom so have continued this for the last two weeks. I have seen so much more engagement from my students and general enthusiasm for learning from them.

So how does it work? Each week I provide 4 must-do activities for my students to complete in our literacy block. These are activities that must be completed by the end of the week. Students can choose which one they do, when they do them and what other activities they want to complete after or before. My students have completed these in varying orders with some completing all the must-dos on Monday and then using the other three days to have free pick. Others have left it all to the last day and some do one must-do a day. There is no right or wrong way and I am there to assist where need be.

This is a blank template for you to create your own! I have attached a picture of mine in use to show you the end product my students see. It is displayed on my active board for students to remember the choices for the week.

Make a copy of my template here

Students can choose their work to complete but before going and doing it they need to tell me via the google form. There are many different ways you could do this, but we have been using Google forms at home so continuing this practice as well. Students log in via the QR code to access the google form, then fill in their choice. They first choose their name, then their activity then push submit. Students can change activities anytime they want, filling this in each time. It then puts all the information into a google sheet for me to then view and collate who has done what.

Here I am showing you how it works, how students access it and what it looks like from a student point of view. I also attach my iPad to the wall using command hooks so students don't need to take it away and can go to one place to log the information. My students also use the class iPads to log their choices too, with this one being an extra option too.

This video shows you how to create your own activity google form like the one I use in classroom. For privacy purposes I can't show you my exact one as it has names with faces, but this is the same thing with examples.

class goal templates

5/25/2020

Class goals are a great way to work on something as a collective in your classroom. I have used classroom goals for over three years, adapting templates as I go depending on my students needs. These two templates are my go too templates that can be used in different ways.

This goal template is great for a written reminder goal in your classroom. You could also create one for yourself and have a teacher goal and a class goal. The class goal could be decided on as a class with your students and be displayed in a part of your room as a reminder. There could also be a reward for your students when their goal is achieved.

These goal templates have spaces for visual reminders or achievements of the goal. In the top, you can edit it to add your own goal and have their reward in the yellow box on the right. As your class achieves the goals, you can put a stamp, sticker or colour in the lightning bolt for each achievement.

Make a copy of these templates below! Adapt them to have them represent your class values, goals or needs! Download the last template!

class_goal_template_3.pdf
File Size:	415 kb
File Type:	pdf

Freebie of the week

5/23/2020

Freebie of the week is back!! This time featuring new templates and ideas for your classroom and teaching practice.

This week is sharing an awesome problem solving template!

I have these template in both my Skip counting and maths packs. I love this because it is perfect for junior students with a space to solve the problem, write a number sentence and then the answer. The reflection part is a great way for students to reflect on the learning which could help with teacher groups or next steps.

This template is on google drawings, with a space for you to write your own problems before printing off. This could be used on paper, google classroom, or put onto Seesaw as an activity.

Make a copy here

Bitmoji desktop - more craze!

5/23/2020

The bitmoji craze is continuing, this time with desktop backgrounds! These are so fun and just another way of integrating Bitmoji into your lives. You can design these anywhere - on drawings, slides, powerpoint. Done with text boxes, shapes and background colours.

So fun, easy to personalise & add bitmoji to your computer desktop background. You could combine bitmoji desktop backgrounds with personalised folders too to add more excitement to your desktop.

I have some templates you can use, simply make a copy on the right, or create your own.

Make a copy of the templates

new resource - short a word family

5/20/2020

This resource is great for students and teachers exploring word families. This focuses on the short a word family, containing 6 word families. They are:

at
an
ap
ad
am
ag

Zones of regulation - teacher lanyard

5/20/2020

This teacher lanyard help is great for students and teachers in the classroom whilst navigating emotions and the zones of regulation. The design behind this was for teachers on duty to be able to use the questions to prompt discussions or issues in the playground while on duty. Teachers can use the prompts to ask questions for students to find out more and create consistency between classroom and the playground.

There are 6 pages that can be printed 6 to a page. Attach it to your lanyard and use it to refer too. Download this freebie below!!

Regulation lanyard help

NZ$0.00

Regulation lanyard help

This regulation freebie will provide a reminder for students and teachers to talk through their zone and emotions. There is a cover sheet, emotion explanation and then a card for each zone. These provide questions for teachers to scaffold the conversation and also some sentence starters for students to use when answering. Great for teacher on duty or just a visual reminder on a teacher lanyard.

For the same size as mine, I printed 6 to a page.

Word mat - freebie

5/18/2020

I love word mats and have a few different types in my classroom. I have my main word, sound and blend cards that I use then I also have a simplified version featured here that I use right next to my students. This is handy for quick recall, featuring their name, first sound pictures and also some common words.

This freebie can be downloaded for free below!

Find the template to make a copy here

Phonics Table Mat

NZ$3.00

Phonics Table Mat

This is perfect for students who know and understand Jolly phonics! The alphabet chart at the top work alongside the key aspects of the Jolly Phonics programme.

There is also a digraphs section below with key digraph they might need to use in their writing. Students have space to write their name at the top and also refer to for use with colour names and key high frequency words.

This is only available with rainbow border background.

Table Writing Charts

NZ$4.00

Table Writing Charts

These table writing charts are the perfect addition to your writing programme. These provide students will images, words and phonics prompts to help them decode and complete their writing.

Included are:

-alphabet chart

-adjacent consonants /digraphs chart

-word card

These are larger A4 versions of my mini anchor charts.

Mini table charts

NZ$3.00

Mini table charts

These table charts are perfect for some extra assistance with maths, reading or writing. There are charts in this bundle that can be used with those cute double sided IKEA frames. Simply print these out, put a hole punch in the top corner, attach rings and have them sit on the frames! Students can flip through the charts they need and use them in class.

These are made in google drawings on paper size 12x15cm. They are best printed in 4 per page layout, to ensure they are the best matching size for the frames.

Charts included:

-alphabet chart

-sound chart

-adjacent consonants chart

-100s chart

-number formation chart

-common words

Back to school - now what with Seesaw?

5/15/2020

So you might be going back to school now - in New Zealand we are. Level 2 means schools are open again and that means teachers and students are to return for a new norm. What will it look like? I don't know. But one thing is for sure, I will be continuing on with my digital skills that I have using during distant learning. A huge part of this is using Seesaw.

As you know already, Seesaw is my all time favourite app for the classroom. The possibilites with this are endless. What I love is the opportunities for students to document their own learning, reflect on it and use the tools to create content that is relevant to the student themselves. The learning can then be shared with family members to bring them into the classroom.

What are some things you can do to keep Seesaw going in your classroom?

Making time
To continue with Seesaw in the classroom you can start by time in your programme to use Seesaw. This could be in reading, writing, maths or an allocated afternoon slot. Continue the skills you have been practicing at home but within the class context now.
Some of these could involve modelling, explicit sharing and even coaching from other students.

Class Codes
Now we are back in class, the home learning codes won't be needed - unless you have students using them still. When in class, you use the class codes which can be printed via your Seesaw screen and students can join via QR code. They simply scan the code via the class app and student mode, then have access to the class work to add their learning.

The home learning codes are great for students that are working from home but when you are back in class, you can swap over to the class codes which are designed to be used in the classroom.

Seesaw space in the classroom
If you have space, create a Seesaw area in your classroom where students can go to for help or assistance in the classroom. I have things set up in my space that will help students independently. I use the freebie posters from Seesaw that have tips and tricks, but also these Seesaw visual posters that explain each of the tools. Download them for free from my TPT store.

Task cards
I have created many Seesaw task cards that are available for purchase to take student learning that little bit further. All of these are available on my website and TPT store - but these freebie task cards are a great way to get students started with using Seesaw. These work alongside the implementation guidelines from Seesaw, with really simple activities to teach each of the tools for students. These task cards also have each step in pictorial form for students to follow.

Available on my TPT store.

Seesaw activity library
The Seesaw activity library is full of thousands of premade activities that you can use to really extend your use of Seesaw. You can search via grade level, subject level or even learning intention. You can save these and then assign them to your class for students to complete!
When you're confident, you can even look into making your own activities that specifically meet your students needs.

All of this is available in my slides and recording that I recently ran in the holidays. It runs you through how to make your own activities and unpacking the library. Click on the links below.

More ideas?
Check out my free ebook giving you 40 specific ideas that you can use Seesaw in your classroom. Access it here.

Download the ebook here

If you have any questions or need anymore help please send an email or a message and I would be more than happy to help you out!

Narrative writing - new resource

5/12/2020

Narrative Writing Bundle

NZ$8.00

Narrative Writing Bundle

This writing bundle helps you unpack narrative writing and fairytales. It includes anchor charts explaining the aspects of a narrative, templates for story planning and publishing paper! This is great for helping set up your classroom resources to assist your learning and have clear understanding for your students. Great for unpacking narrative writing and looking for a fairytale themed work.

This resource includes:

how to write a narrative anchor chart freebie mat
narrative writing examples, SC and assessments
narrative writing planner
narrative writing teaching material:

-character (character ideas, character traits, character describing words)

-setting (setting ideas, setting describing words)

-problem and problem ideas

-solution

-sentence starters

-enhancing dialogue

-story planner (map, setting plan, character plan, in order)

-writing templates (picture plan and writing x 3, front cover template, writing template x 4)

-word bank

This resource contains 58 pages.

This resource is not editable.

Narrative writing bundle is a great writing resource that helps you unpack narrative writing and fairytales. It includes charts explaining the different aspects, templates to plan narrative writing and publishing paper to publish their finished writing.

This is 32 pages of resources to help introduce and teach the concept of narrative writing but in easy to use resources. This activity bundle is a great addition to your classroom resources and lots of fun to implement in your lesson plans!

Back to school freebie

5/12/2020

New Zealand schools are going back on Monday 18 May. This will look very different to our normal classroom routine before the COVID-19 and will mean lots of changes for health and hygiene practices. But nevertheless, there is opportunity for reflection and learning from what we have all been through.

In this freebie, there are six activities that can be used in your classroom. Some for reflection, feelings, comparisons and more! These can be used in paper form, via Seesaw or Google Classroom. Great for coming back to school.

Download this freebie here!

Seesaw daily check ins

5/12/2020

I use Seesaw check ins weekly to check in, make sure my students are ok and continue the relationships and connections I have with them. Being distant learning, I can't physically see them but this is a great way to hear their voices everyday.

I have created five different ones so far that have different aspects to them. Some are linked to zones of regulation, some with the calendar, activities to reflect on from home and more!

Once clicked on the links, you can save these in your Seesaw library to then assing them as activities for your students.

Find all the links here

New resource - number sentences

5/9/2020

Here is another idea for using with Seesaw, google classroom, whole class zoom projection or paper work - number sentences!
Students use the picture examples to add their number sentence. These examples include 10 for addition and 10 for subtraction, aimed at new learners to the idea for maths. It also has a space for the teacher to add their own hot spot warm up questions (not included). You can add any hot spot idea here for students to use and complete to build knowledge. I have added some quick ideas here that we have been working on in our sessions.

Assign these via Seesaw, google classroom, whole class zoom projection for modelling in your sessions or print them out for hard copies.

Make a copy of this freebie here

Bitmoji scene - breakout

5/9/2020

If you're using bitmoji scenes, this might take it to the next level with your students!
Some of the objects have links to videos students watch to get letter clues. Each of the successful videos give a letter that is used to unscramble a word! Once they have found all 8 letters, students can unscramble their letters to guess a word, entering it into the google form!
Video coming soon on how to make your own!

Want to preview/play mine? bit.ly/canyoufinditbitmojimrsp

Want the template to change/build your own? bit.ly/canyoufindittemplate

Letter fitness game - get your kids moving online

5/6/2020

I wanted to find a way of incorporating phonics and word work with fitness in a zoom session. Tricky, I know. Especially with littles! But i devised this cute game that can be played that gets students moving whilst practicing letter recognition.

How does it work?
The slideshow shows a letter and a fitness move students need to complete. If they have the letter in their name they perform the move! Easy, fun & engaging! Gets students out of their seat and moving in your session!
You can play the game with your kids too! Click on the link to view and play the game!

Play the game here

Guest post - learningarchitects.com

5/5/2020

I was asked by Rob Clarke from Learning Architects to do a guest blog post on their website. I was so honoured and excited as this is my first type of post on a website that isn't my own. In this blog post I talk about using daily check-ins for distance learning. Something I have and continue to use all the time in my programme. I find them hugely valuable and important to gain an insight into the child and their wellbeing.

Read the blog post below on why I use check-ins plus links to some templates!