"I have always imagined that Paradise will be some kind of library." ~ Jorge Luis Borges

Friday, October 28, 2016

"You could give us a little more time but otherwise you did a really good job with the project overall."

The fifth graders watched their Browsing and Borrowing iMovie projects today! I so enjoyed watching them watch their videos. Much clapping and celebration followed each movie. They could all appreciate the work that had gone into the projects.

After they watched the movies, they listened to the second graders share back, via VoiceThread, what they learned from the fifth graders. The fifth graders then reflected on the projects. 

I appreciate how honest my students are and I take it as a compliment that our relationship is one that allows for this honesty. As always, there is room for growth for all of us. We are all learners on this educational journey.  





Anything else?

audio quality 
better music
sound effect
voice
The sound was scratchy
I would change the music
The beginning and credits
Timing
I would add music
I would want to make it easier to hear what we were saying.
I would change a transition there wasn't really a transition.
I would make it more interesting
have a better ending
I would like to add a better voice
make it longer
Better lip syncing! (Voice overs)




What could I (Mrs. Reed) have done to make this project better?

Help film a little more
More iMovie access
Have longer to do and maybe be able to do it out of school.
You can explain how to use iMovie better and the different things you can do in it
I thought you did a great job with this project.
Don’t dive full in
give us more time.
Ms. Reed already helped our group a lot, and I don't think there is anything else we need her to help with.
You can help us put them together because i found that hard, but other than that you did a good job helping us.
You could give us a little more time but otherwise you did a really good job with the project overall.
Nothing. This project was great.
I think we should all be able to use computers since they have more capabilities
you can make it easier to use iMovie
more time
I think you did a great job and it was very easy to understand
I think it is perfect as it is.
Nothing
Nothing! You gave us the help that we needed!
explain how more of iMovie works
give us more time to finish
We should of maybe go over how to add sound
Nothing but I think we all would benefit from doing this more often.
Please give us more time! Thanks!

What other ideas do you have for using iMovie?
book trailers
book trailers
book recommendations
Book ideas
organism project
Book recommendations
Shark Tank, book ideas, and colonial america
How to find a book
tour of library
how the library works
Teaching how to do a project (video to introduce the project)
I would recommend book trailers
How to play an instrument
introducing the library to kindergardeners
Slideshows about other things.
something with our buddies
Using materials in the library
What genre means
maybe an intro to something
Maybe create an iMovie about bullying
Book Trailers
Making real movies
video about summary of year end of year
recommendations for books
book trailer
end of year summary
recreate scenes from short books we read
I think we should be able to do a tutorial... maybe for a project.
surprise presents to teachers

Thursday, October 27, 2016

ReedALOUD: The Bear Ate Your Sandwich

Today, my first graders and I participated in Read for the Record, the JumpStart literacy initiative that raises awareness about the importance of early reading experiences for children. In its eleventh year, the hope is to break the record for the most people reading the same book on the same day.
This year, the book selection was The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Juila Sarcone-Roach.

In this engaging and wonderful story, a bear is accidentally transported to a new "forest." 
The bear uses its senses to explore this new place.
Hunger sets in and the lovely scent of a sandwich, left alone on a park bench, beckons. You can imagine what happens next.
At least, that's what the animal belonging to these two ears explains...
to much laughter from my readers. 

After reading and discussing the story, the students drew pictures of a bear visiting our school:















For the record, this was a fabulous day!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

All on a Tuesday Morning: Life in a School Library

One Tuesday morning...

in my school library...

during choice time...

this is what I witnessed:

Collaborative problem solving



Taking ownership of our library






Creative Story Telling

Reading

Word Building


All of this occurred after these fourth graders helped me hone the Library Neighborhoods Lesson...more on this later!

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Wherein 5th graders impart their knowledge about browsing and borrowing routines


The fifth graders are taking on a leadership role by using their knowledge of browsing and borrowing routines to create videos for the lower grader students. The project has taken three weeks: brainstorming and planning, filming, and editing. Below are a few of the finished projects. I am incredibly impressed by their understanding of how to communicate a message. I have shown the these and the other videos to the second graders and they have been both engaged and informed. You can listen to their comments below as well.

Following the videos are examples of student work during the process as well as ways that the three classes of fifth grade work was organized. 





Second graders share what they learned:

How did this project progress?


First: the students worked in table groups to share what they knew about browsing and borrowing. 










Second: They planned their skits





Third: They filmed their skits

Fourth: They created their iMovie projects


I used this table to keep track

The fifth graders will watch their videos and evaluate their own this week. Stay tuned!

Library Teacher friends, as always, if you see something here you want to replicate, please do, and let me know how you have improved any steps!