Computer Lab Visual Lesson Plans W13

 Click here to see my lesson plans for the lab this week.

Chocolate Glitter ActivBoard Flipchart Page Pack

Two of my favorite things in one Flipchart Page Pack - Chocolate and Glitter!

This collection of 5 coordinated themed flipchart pages for use with ActivInspire software will allow you to create a variety of lessons for all ages!  It is perfect for teaching or reviewing any topic. Each flipchart page includes action object icons that will allow you to write on, highlight, erase and turn the flipchart pages.

This is the complete package for creating a beautiful, fun, eye catching and coordinated flipchart on ANY subject. Just add your content and teach!

Each page has the following action object icons on it (Please note action objects are not shown on the preview images):

*Home
*Reset
*Select
*Highlighter
*Pen
*Eraser
*Next Page
*Previous Page

How much? Just $2!

Get your's from my TpT store today!

Last Year's Teacher Study Group and Books I Want

Kristin Ziemke ran a teacher's Study Group through the Big Shoulders Fund last school year on ways to teach kids to engaged and thoughtful independent readers. I was lucky enough to take part:) It was super informative and and so refreshing to be around teachers into teaching and looking for new ways to teach.

This pic is from the first day of our study group! Kristin was so sweet and packed our book for the course, Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis' Strategies That Work , a spiral notebook, a pen and a stack of PostIt's in these lovely bags. She also always had snacks at our meetings:)

 Our last meeting was at Grace Educational Resources, a place where teachers and schools can come and look at books and resources from educational publishers they represent before they make a purchase. We had a chance to look over a ton of books and have our last meeting there. Their card is below,  I love the way the paper looks like linen!

The books below are the ones I wanted out of all the ones we looked at:

Connecting Comprehension and Technology: Adapt and Extend Toolkit Practices by Stephanie Harvey, Anne Goudvis Katie Muhtaris, and Kristin Ziemke $43.88. (Amazon Link)

No More Sharpening Pencils During Work Time and Other Time Wasters (Not This But That) by Elizabeth Brinkerhoff and Alysia Roehrig $14.49 (Amazon Link)

The Next-Step Guide to Enriching Classroom Environments: Rubrics and Resources for Self-Evaluation and Goal Setting for Literacy Coaches, Principals, and Teacher Study Groups, K-6 by Bonnie Campbell Hill and Carrie Ekey $23.16 (Amazon Link)

Another study group is starting soon and I'm in it! Updates soon:)

Wonderful Website - BoomWriter

Ever heard of Boom Writer? Me either. It looks super cool so I might just give it a whirl at some point in the 3rd Quarter.

Here is a video that describes what it is. LOVE YouTube:)

Are you using Boom Writer? What do you think?

How I Made My CD Flowers

When I decided to redo my lab this year I knew I needed a eye catching entrance! I stumbled on this design by accident - it just sort of happened:)

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I did know I wanted  a "Welcome to the Computer Lab" sign/banner hanging in the window. This banner (created with the Schoolgirl Style Pink and White Polka Dot Collection) is a LOT better than my first design, which was a single sheet of construction paper. Blech. I like this WAY better!

Every room has these 3 floor to cleaning windows next to the entrance. I have two because my room is two rooms combined.

The thing that gets the most ooohhhs and ahahhhhs are my CD Flowers! Below is the view of them when you are standing outside the lab entrance. Love the shiny CD backs and the grass growing out of the base of the window. And yes, I taped up Every. Single. Blade.

Below is the view from inside the lab looking out. When I started this project I didn't match up the CDs - each flower was made up of a bunch of different CDs. Then I realized that each flower was going to be seen from both sides(duh), so I made each flower from one type of CD.

Here is a wide shot of them from inside the lab. The curtains are from Target.     

This is the window by the exit in the back of the lab.

My supplies: CDs, clear packing tape, and leaves and stems from whatever color paper you want. Be sure to pre cut your leaves and stems. This will make the process go MUCH faster.

Also, please use clear packing tape because it will be more transparent and hold longer.

Why do I have so many CDs? Well, before I got here that's ALL that was used at my school. No internet, just programs on CDs. The person before me kept every item that was bought for the labs. EVERY ITEM. I tossed a ton of stuff but I actually kept a bunch (well, I'll be honest, most) of the CDs because I was planning to have the kids make turkeys from them.

Yeah, I know.

Just for the record, that has NEVER happened in the 7 (yes, 7) years that I have had these CDs stuck in a cabinet, then a desk at the front of my lab.

I have everything stored in this container in one of my cabinets.  This way I can quickly repair any flowers if I need to.

This is also a Throwback Thursday post.

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? Hosted by The Teacher’s Desk 6, it when you simply look through your PURR-fect Previous Posts, perhaps a particular favorite of yours, and re-post it! Be sure to grab the TBT button from above to add to your Throwback post.

Computer Lab Visual Lesson Plans W12

 Linking up with DeeDee WIllis at Mrs. Wills' Kindergarten for A Peek At My Week!

Click here to see my lesson plans for the lab this week.

The Sunday Scoop

Linking up with Kristen and Juliet from Teaching Trio for this week's Sunday Scoop!

Go link up at Teaching Trio to share your Sunday Scoop!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Hope your kiddos aren't too crazy today:)

Fall Fantasy ActivBoard Flipchart Page Pack

Unleash the beauty of fall on your ActivBoard with the Fall Fantasy ActivBoard Flipchart Page Pack!

I'll admit it I LOVE bokeh!! LOVE IT! (Yes I'm shouting). When I saw this digital paper I knew I had to make a Flipchart Page Pack from it.

This collection of 8 coordinated themed flipchart pages for use with ActivInspire software will allow you to create a variety of lessons for all ages!  It is perfect for teaching or reviewing any topic. Each flipchart page includes action object icons that will allow you to write on, highlight, erase and turn the flipchart pages.

This is the complete package for creating a beautiful, fun, eye catching and coordinated flipchart on ANY subject. Just add your content and teach!

Each page has the following action object icons on it (Please note action objects are not shown on the preview images):

*Home
*Reset
*Select
*Highlighter
*Pen
*Eraser
*Next Page
*Previous Page

How much? Just $2!

Get your's from my TpT store today!

Free Technology Posters!

Troxell has some great tech related decor for you! These technology rule posters are perfect for your computer lab or classroom, especially if you are 1-to-1. Here is the complete collection...

I used my absolute fave product (as of this school year) Scotch Mounting Tape to hang these up after I laminated them.

A little dab in the corners will do 'ya.

Love the way these look on my closet door:) 

Head here to download yours today! 

Wonderful Websites - Flipped Learning Network, Hello Mrs. Sykes

Click the pic and the site will open in a new window:)

Edmodo Lesson #8 ~ DIY Halloween Snacks and A Preview of Edmodo Mondays

Hey!

I wanted to post this now because it's a "Halloween" lesson, but it has taken us a minute to get here.

5th Grade has been on an Edmodo adventure since school started - I've been at it longer than that. I'm going to start a Monday series called Edmodo Mondays that will detail our 10 week intro course to Edmodo on the iPad. I'll start from the beginning while also telling you a bit about current lessons.

5th is still working through "Opening" "Working On", and "Turning In" Edmodo lessons. I do NOT want the direction page back! Added this video response lesson for more practice with this task.

You can check out the lesson .pdf here.
You can watch the lesson video here.

Computer Lab Visual Lesson Plans W11

Time for a new Quarter and a new color! I had forgotten that I chose a color for each Quarter of school this year.

I did this mainly to make my Year at a Glance form easier to read. See?

 Second Quarter is blue, as you can see:) Click here to see my lesson plans for the lab this week.