Day 54: Razan, 2nd grade student

New Family Addition Leads to New Experiences

Razan, a 2nd grade student in Mrs. Estep's class, recently had a new member added to her family.  Her baby brother has brought new joy into her life, as well as some new learning experiences.  In the video, Razan shares a "how-to" book that she hopes will teach others a valuable skill for anyone with a newborn baby brother or sister.

Razan How-To from HZN165 on Vimeo.

Day 53: 5th Grade Junior Ecologists

Junior Ecologists Museum

From the informational brochure:

"Junior Ecologists in Mrs. Humm and Mrs. Ringhiser's rooms have been collaborating to learn all about ecosystems by studying different habitats around the world.  Throughout this project-based learning research project, students have used their 21st Century skills to demonstrate communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking!  We are very excited to share with you!"

Ecology Project from HZN165 on Vimeo.

Presentations that were created and used during the museum hours:

Day 52 : Miss Tucker's 1st grade students

Today's post comes from Heather Tucker, 1st Grade Teacher at Hilliard Horizon Elementary

Exploring Changes with VoiceThread

In Social Studies, we are learning about how things have changed over time. 

Each student chose a topic they wanted wanted to explore, for example, TV, games, baby dolls, houses, schools, clothing, telephones, etc. We looked for images of each topic on the internet. This helped us compare things from the past and present and how they change over time. Some students even brought in artifacts from home, like a James Brown record! :) 

After exploring, students drew a picture of what their topic looked like in the past. Then we really had to use our creative thinking and our new knowledge to come up with a prediction of what we think each thing might look like and what it might do to help us in the future. After drawing our pictures, we wrote down a caption to go with each past, present and future picture. We used the computer webcam to take pictures of our posters and then recorded our comments. 

This is such a cool way to share our new knowledge with others!

Take a look at some of the VoiceThread projects students created:

Day 51: J.J., 3rd Grade Student

Saved by a Book

Many of us can think of the one book that changed us as readers -- the book that saved our reading life.  Before reading that book, we didn't really take an interest in reading.  However, after reading that one book, our reading life was saved and we became life-long readers in that moment.

J.J., a 3rd grade student at Hilliard Horizon, recently came across a book that has saved many students' reading life: Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  In the video below, J.J. talks with Mrs. Showalter, one of Hilliard Horizon's ELL teachers, about how his reading life has changed.

Day 50: Emily Potter, 2nd Grade Teacher

Sharing the Love for Reading

One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is read aloud.  I find this is also one of my favorite things to do as a mother.  The amazement, suspense, giggles, and innocence a book can give to a child is priceless.  Through my effort to keep things "fresh" in my second grade classroom, I've found some new books that have captivated my students and my 3 year old daughter.  

Mo Willems is an author that has recently found a place in the hearts of my family and second grade friends.  I've found his books lend themselves to many teaching concepts and make reading just plain fun.  As I read his books to my second graders I have been taking them home to read to my daughter as well.  Knuffle Bunny has already found it's place on the "classics" shelf in our house!   

On the flip side, my daughter received a book for Christmas last year called, I Want My Hat Back  by Jon Klassen.  This book is one of my daughter's favorites and is now a favorite of my class!  

This ability to share good books with my family and my class is so much fun.  

Mrs. Potter is a 2nd grade teacher at Hilliard Horizon Elementary.

Day 48: Sharon Esswein, Hilliard City Schools

Writing as a Gift

I see it everyday when I awake…our grand daughter’s letter to us saying how she loves us SO much that her heart is going to BURST with JOY.  Those simple yet powerful words mean more to me than any other gift anyone could ever give to me.  In fact, those words are so special to me that I put them in a frame.  

This got me thinking about Ralph Fletcher’s story in his book titled Poetry Matters where he tells about being a college student with no money at Christmas time.  He decides to write a poem for each family member.  Ralph stays up all night, writing, and then rolls up each piece, carefully tying them with ribbons and tucking them into the appropriate stockings.  He awakes to hear his little sister’s excited voice when she discovers her poem.   

Think about giving the gift of writing to your nearest and dearest this season.  Writing touches hearts.

Sharon Esswein is a Teacher Leader for Hilliard City Schools.

Day 47: Tami Remington, 1st Grade Teacher

Today's post comes in part from Tami Remington, 1st Grade Teacher at Hilliard Horizon Elementary.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/venosdale/7815225552/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Today, a group of 1st grade and ELL teachers met for one of five "data team" meetings that take place throughout the school year.  A data team is a group of teachers who collect and analyze specific student data in order to identify classroom trends.  Teachers collaborate on lessons and instructional strategies they would like to try in their own classroom to best meet the needs of their learners.

This data team meeting was different than usual.  Two second grade teachers opened their classrooms up for 1st grade teachers to come in and observe a literacy lesson.  The 1st grade teachers came in ready to look for instructional strategies and language that they might use in their own classrooms.

Here is list of observations and reflections from one 1st grade teacher, Tami Remington:

Personally, I felt many emotions!

• "Happy"-that my children are going to such an amazing classroom!!

• "Proud"-that we have such amazing teachers at Horizon!!

• "Impressed"-that the students were so engaged with the lesson!!

• "Jittery"-because the lesson was so amazing that I wanted to jump in and join in!!  

• "Encouraged"-I learned so many things and am excited to use some of the ideas in my classroom towards the end of the year to better prepare the kiddos for 2nd grade!

Each grade level will be participating in data team meetings similar to the one held today.  It's just one way we are all working together to continue to provide high-quality learning experiences for each one of our students.