Behavior Management

Oh wow, it's been SO long since I've posted!  I started a new job as a kindergarten SPED para and I have basically just gone to practicum, work, home, then sleep!  I am two weeks into this new job and I absolutely love it.  It's exhausting and challenging beyond belief, but when a student has a really great behavior day it makes it all worth it!

So the school where I work uses ClassDojo.  The aim is to give points to students who are behaving well and/or on task.  There is a school-wide goal of, I want to say, 50,000 points.  When the school as a whole has a great week they get special rewards.  This Friday was hat day and it was so much fun to see the children wearing their hats.  They LOVED it!

An awesome thing about ClassDojo is that it's free!  You enter in your students' names and each student is given a little monster avatar.  You can have the page up all day so the students can see it.  When you see a student doing something good you can give them a Dojo point.  I like to think of it like House points in Harry Potter.  It is a really great positive reinforcer.

I do think I'll use ClassDojo even if the school where I work doesn't.  The class can set goals daily, weekly, monthly, etc. and have rewards when they hit their behavior goals!

November Currently

Okay, this is not related to technology in the classroom, but I love Farley's Currently SO MUCH I had to join in!

Listening:  I'm watching my 2.5 year old nephew who {LOVES} Mickey Mouse.  He's watching a Three Musketeer Mickey movie on Netflix.

Loving:  As I sit here typing I can see my neighbor's front yard.  There is a beautiful red tree.  If the light was better I'd take a picture to share.  I must say that fall is my favorite season!

Thinking:  Oh yes, I've started Christmas crafting.  I'm making a chalkboard stocking holder and a card holder.  Too bad chalkboard paint has to cure for 24 hours...I don't want to wait!

Wanting:  My sister-in-law is due with their second son, Henry, any time now.  I think they'll be heading to the hospital soon!

Needing:  I cannot wait to meet little Henry!  He needs to hurry up and get here!

A Yummy Pin:  I pinned this Nantucket Cranberry Pie recipe from Pioneer Woman a couple of weeks ago.  I recently saw fresh cranberries in the store so I think I should make this soon.

It looks too yummy!

Well, I've had fun with Currently.  Time to think about technology now!

Using Technology to Teach Science

I'll go ahead and admit it:  Science was not my favorite subject in school.  I didn't get it and I wasn't interested.  It wasn't until recently that the field of science has really captivated my interest and imagination.  (Thank you Doctor Who.)  I don't want my students to have the same experience with science that I had.  I think the more students can have the opportunity to witness science before their eyes and explore it hands-on the more they'll gravitate to that subject.

Enter:  Digital microscope.  You hook a digital microscope up to your computer and can view the images on the screen.  If you can connect your computer to the class projector then the whole class can participate in looking at the magnified objects.  I found this digital microscope on Amazon for around $45.

I also found a list of iPad apps from How Stuff Works.  If I am so lucky to have iPads in my classroom this will be a great resource.

I'm off to explore the sun and moon on my iPad...