#researchnotresearch

Working with a grade level on several "green" related research projects ... alternative forms of energy, effects of the water cycle, and global warming and how arctic animals are adapting. Love it. The first discussions were with final products where the students would create a Haiku Deck to present findings to a city council/senate about forms of energy we should use. Or Puppet Pal plays explaining solar energy and why we use it here in TX. Or Chatterpix (iMovie looped together to get around the 30 second rule) where a polar bear talked about how what humans do to the environment affected them.

Exciting, right?

Tried to start off right also brainstorming questions. Finding that "third space" that Guided Inquiry suggests.

Makes my head hurt, though, when I see two honors students with a book open, typing into a Google Doc. Same exact sentence structure, just changing some vocabulary to "put it into my words."

Then still with the sentence style searches. "How does hydrolectricity work?" First of all, let's check our spelling. Was I talking to myself when we went through and jotted down keywords? And a few synonyms?

And apparently there is MUCH more to do to help them understand how to frame a search.

I would love to be able to say I felt like I'd done everything right the past two days. Not so much. :/ On the plus side a teacher brought by a project her kids did in the classroom for an author visit next week (post to come) and it so adorable. So there is that.






On a side note ... if you want something for Monday and can get around the fact I'm not sure these are completely kosher (if they HAD official clip art I would totally purchase it) ... go here or here.

#IMWAYR April 27

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now… who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.

Eeek! What happened to Skitch? Screenshots are all funky. Sorry if you can't read it. Go here for a clearer view.

For literary value: Water Can Be ... (seriously ... poetry in a water cycle book)
For giggle value: Flight School.
For awesome storytelling w/o a word: Girl and  the Bicycle.
For sheer geeky thrills: all three Epic Yarns. I posted Instapics of my favorite spreads a while back
For historical, new to me-ness: Gingerbread for Liberty!
For "it was OK but I didn't love it like all the other bloggers seemed to ...": Circa Now.

I'm in the middle of the audiobook version of Ally Condie's Atlantia. I also have All the Bright Places checked out on Overdrive. Ever so many E ARCS. And a few historical fics (I thought, anyway) that came in on a book order. I love historical fic and was looking for more that the kids would read. Not sure if I got those or not, we'll see.

I can hardly wait for #bookaday. 6 more weeks.

Finally ... Frursday April 23

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! NO SCHOOL TOMORROW! We are a funny city. I'm going to embed this board and hope nothing odd shows up ... you just have to see it to believe it. Remember to click through if embedded things don't show up.
Follow Visit San Antonio's board ¡Viva Fiesta! on Pinterest.
Tomorrow is for the Battle of the Flowers. Yes. Ladies threw flowers at each other. To honor the heroes of the Alamo. It just sounds so funny to say. I was hoping to find a funny someecard someone had made but alas. And I am not funny on purpose. Only by accident.
I am not a parade go-er, however. So no personal experience. #avoidcrowdsatallcosts
So. In our Friday Focus today we got reminders about applying to present at both TLA or TCEA. I am torn. I haven't been to TLA in forever and it's in Houston ... and I have a sister that lives in Katy. So that would help with the cost. But ... I don't know. I love the tech. But I miss the authors! Is it bad to think about both? Of course if I'm not presenting maybe they wouldn't let me go. And do I want to present at both? Stress.
I WANT THIS SO MUCH! ALREADY! I wonder how much it will cost. I don't have one at school yet because all things budgetary have gotten 300% harder this year and that is not exaggerating. But I might try next year. Maybe.



Yes. This is true.



Also yes. #5 is true. Don't have one. :/ Also I used to pay a fair amount of money for red highlights. That was a lot of upkeep. Now I pay {somewhat} less to cover less savory colors growing out of my scalp. More than my MOM. Thanks Dad's genes.



This quote was from a religious conference but let's also point out ... the thought fits in SO many ways in education and in technology and social media.



And I already shared one yesterday so there is the five. Got a big book order in during testing so that, at least, was fun.

Will Can Fly

It's gone viral now but a college roommate knows the family. Aren't these photos fun? I think my favorite is the one with him in the monster hat, flying through the trees. Little guy has taught his family a lot. (Click through if you don't see the pin ... and then click again for the original source!)





Hope you had a great Earth Day. I'm fighting a monster headache (I think from being outside in the oak pollen test monitoring the past two days, but I don't really know) so that is all for now. Later!

#britlitfunnies Greg Heffley? Meet Tom Gates

Candlewick sent me a copy or I might have missed it as ... dare I say this out loud ... I haven't been a fan of Greg Heffley since book 3. Liked book one when it was online. Even had a great online book club with some decent forum conversations. Since then? I get tired of being asked where it is 70 times a day. "Checked out. Look at all the other funny books!" (And they are--I've never hidden them away, even when tempted!)

So thank you, Candlewick and author Liz Pinchon, for adding some variety to the humor book rotation!

Thank you, Candlewick! #britlitfunnies #kidswilllove #mighthaveeatenachocolatebeforetakingthepic #photo365

A photo posted by Angie Oliverson (@msoreadsbooks) on Mar 13, 2015 at 7:04am PDT

I am still waiting on kiddo feedback (I should have just given the book to a student straight off but I sent it to library processing first) but I think this is going to be a winner. Things like wanting to see your favorite band, or siblings tormenting each other, or parents doing things their kids don't approve of, well ... that crosses the pond both ways, does it not? There is a short glossary in the back for a few terms (ie biscuit and jumper) but with the doodles most of the meaning can be gleaned from context.

Dear Deer and Dear JC aka Gilbert Blythe,

Sorry we both lost yesterday. You much more than me. What on earth were you doing running around the median of a divided highway? Lost and confused, I suppose. I've been there. :(




"I am in the depths of despair." Only a few years older than myself. I dreamed of someday meeting someone like him even more than Han Solo and that is SAYING SOMETHING.

I've reread these books more than any other. He played a character and his loved ones and friends knew the real man. We're all just mourning his portrayal of a character. But it is sad.

 

Finally Friday April 17

It's FRIDAY! :) Next week is our testing week. Three days of sitting outside in the devil pollen for 3.5 hours, then 1.5 in the cafeteria, then 2 in the condensing room. #thingsthatarenotveryfun #orveryusefultoanyoneseducation I know some librarians get shut down for weeks/months for testing so I'm really trying to not dread it beyond all belief. I am trying. Thank goodness Friday is a holiday.
If I didn't already have a collection of snail mail cards that I never send I would be ALL OVER these.



How adorable are these?



#3. #8. #9. #11. And somewhat #7 though as soon as some things leave you can't EVER get them back. #conundrums



Yum.



Current state of education?