Above the Line in Elementary

I previously shared my Round Robbin strategy for working on word problems  HERE My participation in the Leading Edge, Online and Blended Learning Certificate program forced me to consider how to transfer this type of lesson to a solely online classroom environment. The basic strategy that I use in the classroom is to divide the students into small groups and have them rotate through a series of word problem stations to collaborate on problem-solving.  Instead of using paper and pencil, and having students physically move around the room, the word problems could be presented in a Google Slideshow. Each team members would select one slide for which they would be responsible.  Here is an example of a slide deck set up with word problems Word Problem Slide Deck Example By using a Google slide deck, students can work collaboratively even if they are not all in the same room. They can leave comments for their group members.  The slide deck page allows students

I came across this video on Business Insider, and It made me think about how I celebrate failure with my students. In this video, SPANX CEO, Sara Blakely, talks about how she learned about failure at a young age from her father. How amazing would it be if all our students (and fellow teachers) could learn this important lesson? This video makes me think about how I can celebrate failures in my classroom. I already have a poster in my room that says "FAIL = First Attempt In Learning," but could I actually high-five a student for a "failure?" Would it help my students develop a growth mindset and learn to take risks? What are your thoughts? Would you implement a "celebration of failure" atmosphere in your classroom? How do you think you students would respond to it?

I got this great idea when I attended the the Google Geo Educator Institute last July. I scratched the surface of the suite of Google Geo tools by using My Maps last year, but I have learned about so many more features and how to enhance student learning using these amazing tools. When my students return from spring break, I plan for my class to maintain a shared map of all the places they visit. This can be accomplished by creating a  Google Form  and then importing the data collected on the form to a "MyMap". Students will complete the form indicating where they went and why they went to a particular location. Once students add entries to the form, the data can be collected in a Google sheet and that sheet can be imported into a Google Map where pins will automatically be dropped on each location. Check out this video to see how to import data from a Google sheet into a Google Map. My mind was blown! All the data that the students enter in the form is viewabl

Another strategy that I use in my Math class that promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and collaborative conversations is what I call a "Round-Robin."  It is fairly simple, but it gets the students up out of their desks and working together to solve story problems. I divide my class into six teams (about 4-5 students each) and each student creates their own recording sheet by folding a plain sheet of white paper into thirds. The first time they do this it takes some time and explicit instruction, but after a few times, students can create their recording sheet quickly and with little direction. I put two copies of the story problems in plastic sheet protectors at each table group. Students begin working on solving the problem together in the appropriate section on their recording sheet. To ensure equal participation, all students must complete a recording sheet, and the group does not know which sheet I will collect from each group to be awarded points. Students are

Thanks to the new devices we have at my school, students have more access to technology, and I have been able to transform many of my lessons and enhance the student's learning experience. I am particularly pleased with the outcome of this lesson transformation! In fourth grade, we read   By the Great Horn Spoon !  by Sid Fleischman as one of our core literature selections. This adventure story ties into our CA History / Social Studies unit on westward movement and the Gold Rush. The book tells the tale of a young boy, Jack, and his butler, Praiseworthy, traveling aboard the Lady Wilma around Cape Horn on their way to California with the hope of striking it rich in the gold mines! Because geography plays such a big part in understanding the history of the time, and the events of the story, I had the students complete a paper map on which they marked the route of the ship and the noteworthy places in the story. This is last year's project: I knew I had to