Hour of Code Hits A113!

Students learned a new way we can sign out of the classroom using Google Sheets! Thanks to Alice Keeler who shared her template on Twitter last night! Students learned how to use a drop down to check in and check out, as well as how to fill out the appropriate columns so we can keep track of when students leave the classroom. Several are excited to try it while others prefer the paper version. Jake announced he “refused to let technology take over his life.” I can appreciate that comment which is why they have the choice of how they would like to sign out of the room. . . for now! 

During computer lab students were very busy using Code.org. All students received their account information and began coding. They LOVED watching the videos and coding either in the Minecraft or Star Wars activity. I heard comments such as “This is so challenging!” and “How did you do that?” Squeals of excitement also filled the room. Students had to figure out how to use code to move characters on the screen. They will be coming home with their account information today!

In spelling I suggested those students who choose the blog homework use other sites like BrainPOP to blog about! They might also want to blog about something we are learning in school. If they would like to write about a current event in the news and what they think about it that is also a welcomed idea! 

In reading we heard the story of Paul Revere and his famous midnight ride. Students will be creating a character poster of good old Paul using Google Draw or on paper. They have to choose some words that describe him, known as character traits. Using textual evidence to support their thinking will be incorporated into their drawings. We completed our math topic today and will be reviewing the concepts tomorrow. The assessment is on Thursday. We also had time to celebrate Claudia’s birthday today. Kudos to Claudia who has been coordinating our BICO volunteer program. We have many agents participating and the feedback has been very positive thus far. 

Ask your agent how the Quidditch tournament went today! I am hoping as I write this they remember teamwork skills! Last night after the Pats game our coach announced how proud he was of his team despite the loss. I am sure our agents will make us proud on the field today!

We Are Thankful

We are THANKFUL for:

#Olivaagent1: my family

#Caitlynagent2: my friends

#Anishaagent3: my friends and family

#Teddyagent4: good health

#Ceciliaagent5: what I have

#Lexieagent6: my friends and family

#Ryanagent7: my family

#Jakeagent8: food

#agent9: my class

#Emilyagent10: my family

#Jackagent11: my pets

#Benagent12: my dog

#Jackagent13: food

#Oliveragent14: food and Korean cuisine

#Jeevanagent15: food and clothes

#Nathagent16: my friends

#Devinagent17: my family and a turkey

#Katieagent18: my family and pets

#Hannahagent19: shelter

#Avagagent20: my family, my cats, and my fish

#Minuagent21: my friends

#Maelynagent22: my family, friends, and my pets

#Jacobagent23: my family, my friends, and my teacher

#Ms.Freedmanagent24: airplanes to take me away to see my grandmother, creativity, innovation, and people who think for themselves

#Mrs. Capletteagent25: my family

#Drewagent26: every living thing in my house

#Claudiaagent27: my family and friends

 

My BrainPOP Blog from The Agents

We spent some time exploring the new MyBrainPOP in the computer lab today! Students had a lot of fun watching videos, making maps, and playing games. I asked them to reflect on their work today by sharing two things they liked about MyBrainPOP, one thing they wished they had access to, and one question they had for MyBrainPOP. 

#Emilyagent10

I love the games and videos! I wish we could make our own movies. How did you come up with BrainPOP? 

#Oliveragent14

I like that I have the freedom on BrainPOP, and I can play games. I wish you could make your own movies. What gave you the idea for My BrainPOP?

#Teddyagent4

I like how you can watch any of the movies. I like how you can play all the games. I wish that you let us suggest and vote on new video ideas. How do you those the names and letter Tim and Moby get?

#Maelynagent22

I like that BrainPOP almost has ever video, and it lets us do a lot of things with it. I wish you could create a quiz for another person. Is BrainPOP thinking of any other ideas to put on its website?

#Jakeagent8

I like that I can play games. I like that I learn from it. I wish I could create my own game. Why did you pick to work at BrainPOP and why?

#Nathanagent16

I like how there are coding games. I also like that you can take the quizzes. I wish you could play more coding games. Are you going to add more quizzes, activities, and games? 

#Ceciliaagent5

I like the games. I like the new topics. I wish I could create animations in make a map. What inspired you to do BrainPOP?

#Benagent12

I like the length of videos. I also like the categories. I wish you could expand it a little more. Why did you name the site BrainPOP?

#Ryanagent7

I like how My BrainPOP has games and videos. I wish there was a game with football involved. Why did you update BrainPOP?

#Claudiaagent27

I really like all the games there is to choose from. I also like how organized it is. I wish that you could design your own video to have. Which video is your favorite?

#Hannahagent19

I really like how you make a map and how you can learn about all the subjects on BrainPOP. I thing I wish I could do on it is draw. How did you come up with the website?

#Minuagent21

I like the new home screen and that it is easier to find things. I wish there was a discussion page so you could say what you like about BrainPOP. How long does it take to make a video?

#Jackagent13

I liked all the games that were available to me. I also liked all the world history video. I wish that I could make my own quiz about a topic. Do you have a small robot Moby?

#Agent9

One thing I like about My BrainPOP is the games. Another thing I like is that it is new. One thing I wish it had would be TV shows. Are you going to add anything newer?

#Lexieagent6

I liked how you could search anything and then watch a video for it. I also liked how all the categories were on the side. I wish I could make a quiz. Why did you redo it? 

#Avaagent20

What I like about BrainPOP is that you can play games and watch lots of videos. I wish I could connect to my classmates’ computers and make a map with them. Why did you make this cool upgrade to BrainPOP? 

#Jacobagent23

What I liked about MyBrainPOP is that I could save anything I want. Another thing is that I can take my own quiz. One thing I wish I could do is create a game. How did you create My BrainPOP?

#Devinagent17

I like how you added the games and the quick tour. I wish that there were new games. Why did you redo the site?

#Oliviaagent1

I like how you can watch BrainPOP videos everywhere. I also like how you can play games based on the lesson. I wish there were videos about sports and people who play that sport. Did you create the games or get them off a different website?

#Caitlinagent2

I like that I can make a map and share it with Ms. Freedman. I also like the freedom to see any movie you want. I wish that we could make your own movie to share with classmates. What was the first update BrainPOP had?

#Drewagent26

I like how there are so many movies to pick from. I also like how there are other choices so you can play a game or make a map. I wish I could make my own movie. How long did it take you to make all the movies? 

#Katieagent18

I like how you can make a map because it is very helpful. I wish you could like the video because you can tell who likes the videos. The question I have is who invented BrainPOP and why did you invent it. 

#Jeevanagent15

I like that it is very organized, so you can find things easily. I also like that there is a get started video. A question that I have is why did you change the website? I wish I could write a review on a video to say if the video was good or not. 

#Anishaagent3

I like the new set up. I also liked the walk through. I like the games too. I wish you had a BrainPOP video about the Taj Mahal. Why did you change the look of BrainPOP?

#Jackagent11

I like that you can just clik on any topic and a lot of videos show up. I like that there’s fun games and you actually learn in them. I wish anyone can go on and look at videos even though they are not signed in. Why are the videos so short?

What's Your Red Rubber Ball?

I was very exciting to kick off our Friday morning with our Red Rubber Ball project. Today I shared the story of the The Red Rubber Ball, sharing the rules which we will be internalizing throughout the year.

7 Rules of the Red Rubber Ball by Kevin Carroll

Everyone needs to have a red rubber ball. This is our passion, what we are chasing after day after day.

1. Commit to it. You should have a great desire from deep within to chase your red rubber ball every day of the year. It should be your motivating force to chase your passion, it should bubble up from your inner soul.
2. Seek out encouragers. You can't do life alone successfully! You must build relationships with other people who have a real and genuine interest in your pursuit of the red rubber ball.
3. Work out your creative muscle. Creativity will be a needed tool for you to develop and use due to the fact that life does not always go as planned. Our path will not always be obvious or easy to follow, therefore creative solutions will be needed to compensate during these times so that we can continue to pursue our red rubber ball.
4. Prepare to shine. You must practice and prepare during the quiet moments off stage so that when your opportunity to shine presents itself you are prepared to shine. You must believe your hard work will one day repay you. You must first do the hard work in order to reap benefits and rewards. You have an opportunity each day to live out your life's passion and work in pursuit of your red rubber ball.
5. Speak up. You must never accept the boundaries placed upon you by others, instead you must alter course in pursuit of your red rubber ball when needed. Leaders need to demonstrate courage. Leaders are needed who believe they can get others to buy-in to their red rubber ball. Leaders need to be able to inspire. Leaders need to be good storytellers.
6. Expect the Unexpected. Planning is an imperfect science, events and circumstances will occur that are outside your control and that impact your plans in a negative way. You can't predict these events, but you can prepare yourself for them by expecting the unexpected. This will better enable you to keep true to your pursuit of your red rubber ball.
7. Maximize the day. Everyone one of your days is made up of 86,400 seconds or 86,400 opportunities to chase, kick catch and run after your red rubber ball.  Play is serious business, and play is serious in business. There are opportunities that arise for purposeful play in business settings. You need to harness such opportunities, show them to your people and take advantage of them yourself.

Chasing Your Red Rubber Ball

• Block out some time in your schedule for play next week. Devote some time to your favorite hobby.
• Seek out ways to incorporate play into the workplace in a productive way that enhances the atmosphere and lifts your team up to a higher level.

Students will be deciding what their red rubber ball is. What gets them up in the morning? What are they passionate about? What dreams do they chase? I cannot wait to see what they come up with during our unit this year which requires some deep reflective thinking! Last year I realized my red rubber ball was learning, and I started off thinking it would be teaching. This year after some self-reflection I believe it is innovation. What is your red rubber ball?

Check out the Nike commercial he inspired from the words community and play: