Camcorders and Cameras

Mrs. Robinson's second grade class experimented with their camera/camcorder tool built into their KUNO devices. Students learned how to toggle between the forward and rear facing cameras, take still snapshots, record videos, and experimented with panoramic shots. At the end of the class students selected a story from their reading textbook and recorded their voice reading the story out loud. Their focus was to read fluently and with expression. After completing their recording they shared their audio with a friend and gave positive feedback about their expression, innotation and voice.

 

We brainstormed as a group other ways we could use the camera and camcorder feature in elementary classes. Here are some of our ideas:


Camera
Take photos of objects, then practice scrolling through pictures and naming the items
Take photos of places in the school building to learn various locations (gym, library, etc.)
Take pictures of classmates or teachers to learn their names
Use photos of different objects to make an ABC book
Find a representation of vocabulary words and take a picture
Capture some of students best work (projects, A+ on tests, drawings, etc) and save for an end of the year portfolio

Camcorder
Record student voices and assess for fluency
Practice flash cards with partners, the partner holds up the flashcard to the forward facing camera, the other student says the answer to record their response time
Read a story out loud and record their voice
Act out a scene from a book
Record sequences of events like "how to wash your hands."
Solve a math problem and talk out loud explaining the steps
Record your teacher (with permission) explaining a concept that students struggle with

Please comment on this post and share your ideas! We would love to hear from you!

Letter from Michelle Obama

Every year students across the nation read the book "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown. In one particular chapter of the book, Stanley (who was flattened by a bulletin board) gets mailed to visit relatives in California after his parents realize mailing him would be cheaper than buying an airplane ticket. At the completion of the unit students mail a Flat Stanley of their own to a location in the United States. Our third grade students were excited with all the responses they received from various areas of the country.

This year a very lucky third grader recieved a response email from Michelle Obama after sending Flat Stanley to the White House. In Mrs. Obama's letter she mentioned taking Flat Stanley to visit their vegetable garden, to meet their dog Beau, and even into the Oval Office! All the students at Bon Air (and teachers!) were thrilled with the first lady's very personal return letter.

Ebook Apps for Android Tablets

Technology Academy primary grade students use a KUNO tablet for their daily lessons. One of the ways teachers integrate reading on the devices is by using eBooks during silent reading time or during work stations. Here is a kindergarten student using one of our favorite free eBook apps to learn about the animals in the sea.

Some of our favorite Android ebook apps are


iStorybooks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TabTale Books

Storybird

 

Storybird allows students and teachers to create digital stories with illustrations from professional artists. This webtool can spark imagination and creativity with students of many ages. It is also a great tool to integrate technology, writing, and reading
into one lesson.

Students as authors can focus on creating stories with complex sentences, descriptive vocabulary, logical order, and strong voice. Storybird provides the illustrations allowing the writier to focus more closely on their words and language used in their story. Upon completion, students have created something of their own with a sense of ownership and pride.

This website also allows students to become readers and critics of other student work. Storybird offers the opportunity for students to comment on other stories by browsing the online library. Students can provide positive feedback and offer ideas for improvement. This is a great way for students to discuss other author's work, make connections to their own lives, and comment about parts of the story they found interesting. Students can view stories published by other peers in their class or see stories from all over the country.

Storybird also has pricing plans to purchase downloads, paperbacks, and hardcover books of student stories starting $1.99.

Check out some students in Mrs. Fulk's third grade class creating their first digital Storybird story.

 

Examples of Book Covers

Community Day

 

The first grade classrooms hosted a Community Helpers Day. All of the classes welcomed many visitors who work in our community.  They were visited by a firefighter, a paramedic, a soldier, a doctor, a police officer and a nurse. The students were able to talk on the radio and tell what they wanted to be when they grew up.  They learned how to keep their hearts healthy. They listened to their heartbeat and learned how paramedics save people when their heart stops. The firefighter shared fire safety skills with the group. The soldier let them try on parts of his uniform and told about his service in Afghanistan.

Listening to stories

Trying on a firefighters helmet.

 

This student tried on the firefighters jacket.

Here one of the students in Mrs. Ralstin's class dressed up for the special day.

 

Listening to a heartbeat

 

 

 

Welcome Back and Superintendent Christmas Card Winner!

Welcome back from Winter Break. Everyone at Bon Air Elementary Tech Academy hopes you had a wonderful holiday season and New Year. We are anxious and ready to get 2013 started! Prior to Christmas Break one of our very own students, Jaylee Copeland, was selected as the superintendent’s Christmas Card winner. This card was professionally printed and was sent from Dr. Hauswald to school employees and other members of the community. Jaylee was presented a framed copy of her Christmas Card and additional paper copies to send out to her family and friends. Jaylee’s Christmas card included an illustrated reindeer flying over a grassy hilltop with green and red lights twinkling in the sky.

Congratualations Jaylee!!