Modeled Drawing with 2nd Graders

This was a lesson that was done with my class on Friday.  I really appreciate Ricky Mikelman for volunteering her time to help my class learn!  She is SO talented in math and knows just what questions to ask!

2nd Grade TT from Theresa Trevino on Vimeo.

Perfect Day!

Bird's Eye View

Yesterday, we hit a milestone marker for being the most productive team ever!  We were very fortunate to be given the gift of time with our dear friend, expert, genius in mathematics - Ricky Mikelman.

Mini Lesson

 She came and helped up create 10 videos to use with our classroom.  It was such a great feeling because we had SO many questions on how to teach certain objectives - simply because the standards have raised and we are now doing more like 3rd grade math than 2nd grade math.  I think deep down inside, teachers are just naturally perfectionists.  We really want to do well at teaching a concept the first time.  I think I can probably speak on behalf of almost all teachers - there has been at least 1 lesson where we have failed miserably and had to  "retrain minds" after the fact.   Once this happens,  we just have this innate

knowledge on great first learnings.  So today, we did something that we usually do not know do - we took the time to "talk" out our lesson before we taped.  This was extremely helpful!
Another great "a-ha" that happened was to invite our administrators, iCoach and some wonderful student teachers to create a video.  It was a complete by-in!  I know our team really enjoyed it because it helped them understand what we have been doing.  I think that there is a lot of empathy for all the time being spent and they can now relate to us and how hard it is to stay after school when you are just flat-dab exhausted!

New Voices / Hands on Tape

Stay tuned for more exciting news that happened after school!

First Week Debrief

My Co-Workers in My Classroom After-school!

We did it!  We had our first full week of a "Flipped" classroom.  I really wasn't sure what I was going to expect at first.  I had to put some sort of trust into the process - which looks and feels so differently than that of the traditional learning.
A few years ago - I changed the way I managed / ran my Language Arts block of time... So, knowing that placing all the trust into a process - was something I'd have to do knowing that research supports it!

So, Monday night's homework was to watch a video.  It wasn't that long - under  10 minutes for sure!  Some of my kids did not watch it.  When it came to math time, they went into the hallway and were given time to watch it before joining the class.  That helped me to take the kids that had watched it, through a practice session while I worked with the rest trying to get them caught up to speed.

I find it interesting to know that their excuses for not doing homework where:

• I had soccer practice tonight!
• I had football practice tonight!
• I didn't know what you wanted me to do!
• I couldn't watch the video on my computer!

Then, my answer to that was: "Oh!  I hear that you really enjoy playing _____!  Well, I want you to know that professional soccer / football players are educated.  So, maybe you need to prioritize your time better, knowing that you are going to have to work hard to play sports..." and then, "Let me help you with that computer situation... You are always welcome to come to class early to watch a video. Just let me know!"
The next night went better - at least with my class.  I had 2 kids that came in early for help - but that was from the week prior.  (This next week, I'll have them take a working lunch in order to help them get caught up.)
Everyday, kids are excused from the cafeteria at 7:45 and head towards our rooms.
In addition to all this, I've given my students some morning work (from the prior day) to help create a "snapshot" of who understands and who doesn't.  From a quick glance - I can really tell!  That is where I think about small groups.  I jot down antidotal records and input them into their Pensieve.  This process is AWESOME!  (The kids are really understanding  a lot - considering that there are SO many learning gaps.)  That will be used later on in parent / teacher conferences.
So, if anyone missed at least three of the practice problems, then they are to meet me at my table.  They are having to be honest with themselves - and with me!  That is the self-determined learning in action!
On some days - I do model again what it is that I'm asking the kids to do.  At least they are able to decipher if they are "on target" or not.
I then have them try a few with a partner!

Tomorrow, I am going to have a "Jam Session" with a colleague.  I plan / hope to post more about the other encounters that happened, such as:  loading the wrong video, video taping issues, upset teachers who are being asked to attend more training, upset parents, etc...
Stay tuned.... it is only going to get better!
Major thanks though - to my team!  They are all contributing and "going along" with this - maybe it is to humor me, or maybe its's a challenge - but I love them!  So glad we have taken the "Road Less Traveled!" We have bonded more this year, than any other!

Flip - Take 2!

Before I go any further, I need to recognize and say "Thank You" SDE for all their help, ideas, manipulative ideas!  Because of their expertise, we are able to receive training to become better educators in the world of Singapore Math!  Being introduced to it several years ago - it has changed the way I like to look at solving problems.

Today we had a much better day at making video tapes.  It was obvious by how many lessons we really were able to record.  I think on the first day, we recorded 3 videos.  That, obviously was not a lot - but more so a time to use "trial and error" while we stumbled through lessons & videotaping.

Today, we created 15 videos that students will have the opportunity to watch, re-watch and possibly gain great on ideas for future recording.

"Behind the Scenes"

I know this might be on your mind... but what in the world did our workspace look like? Well, fortunately, I am able to crop that out of my movies so I don't have a "background" to contend with.  Also, we have not officially returned back to class.  On Tuesday, I set up my computer, document camera, a few chairs, a tripod & video recorder.  That is it... nothing else!  I have not even begun to unload from summer!  In fact, if my principal entered my room, she would totally be disgusted at how thinks are literally falling out of my closet...  I should take a picture to post next time.  :)

Today, we tried to:

• Remind kids that they can pause and re-watch
• Teach kids & parents how to make Bean Sticks for counting
• Give them challenges
• Create a video on our own - without help from an expert mathematician - a.k.a. Ricky Mikelman  (she doesn't know yet - I am going to surprise her)
• Remember to turn off the AC unit during taping and we needed a break - turn it back on and talk about what we were going to do next.  

Other issues to deal with:

• We noticed that it was hard to see our numbers that we were writing because our hand was in the way.
• Write down the name of the lesson before you tape it.. Makes it easier (and saves a lot of time) to remember without having to watch the lessons over.  
• Ask the district for a space on the server to house the videos so that other schools can have access to them too. 
• Suggested that I look into SkyDrive / VBrick for storing videos.
• PLN - You will need one!   I joined Flipped Learning Network.  There they have groups formed for your specific need.  You do have to ask to join, but after you do, you will be prompted to select groups to follow...  We also decided to collaborate in Pinterest.  I learned at the ISTE 2013 conference that you can easily dialog with others on a board.  So, I created on called Flipped!  Thank you Theresa Cullen for that idea!
• Remember to silence your cell phone and turn off any "instant notifications" so it wouldn't pop up on the monitor during recording.  
• Discovered that the document camera showed a huge delay from the sound to the motion.... might be better record over the shoulder rather than a monitor.