Hour of Code Party 2014

As promised here are some photos from our Hour of Code Kickoff Celebration for staff:

During the week of December 8 through the 14th all classes at school participated in The Hour of Code during their scheduled computer times. Students had an opportunity to explore http://code.org, http://blockly-games.appspot.com, and/or http://lightbot.com/hocflash.html.  

I love that students are still asking if they can use Blockly when they come to the computer lab. I'd say that was a successful implementation.

How did your school (or class) celebrate Computer Science Education Week and The Hour of Code?

Hour of Code is Coming

December 8th through the 15th is designated as Computer Science Education Week. Code.org is spirting an initiative to challenge 10 million students to give computer programming a try. It is called The Hour of Code So many resources are available at:

• hour of code -
• Code -

I am preparing a kickoff party for Monday to help teachers begin to think about ways to celebrate The Hour of Code in their individual classrooms. This should be so much fun. I will have photos of our event soon. But I wanted to share something that I created. I used the only software found at Avery.com to create business cards with commands on them. A class could use these to "program" each other or their teacher. Shuffle the cards. Choose one. Follow the command. You have created a program. It might be fun to create attribute cards too. Like numbers. How many steps forward or how many steps backward? But for now, this is what I created. Thought I might share. FYI, the robot clipart is available inside the Avery.com software. Thrilled with that. I decided to go with a Robot theme for our celebration. Our students will have an opportunity to try several online and offline resources. I can't wait to see their comments.

Click here for pdf

I'd love to know what you think of the file. Will it be useful to you?

STEAM Café Started

This year similarly to other schools our building needs are larger than our building space. So the mobile lab that I built two years ago was to become a classroom. Thankfully administration supported the idea of my using some space that was once part storage and part faculty lounge. The space was more a storage area than a faculty lounge. But we did have a microwave, refrigerator and a bathroom. Over the summer I was blessed with the opportunity to visit Nashville, TN with the Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute. We discussed and explored many educational and edtech themes together. Thanks to Kristy Vincent we had a maker faire evening. Recently I had done some reading about STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics) instruction in the classroom and elementary school. With all these ideas swimming in my head and thought of where will I work with staff? And how will I encourage my colleagues to bring some creativity back and yet still make strides towards the common core? I passed a coffee house in Virginia called "Steamy's Cafe" twice. Each time their attractive sign out front caught my eye. While exploring a teacher store on our road trip (What else do teachers do on summer vacation roadtrips?) it finally clicked. I emailed my principal with my idea. What if I borrowed the "teachers' lounge"? I could redesign it to have multi-use spaces. We could of course setup an area with laptops for professional development. We could setup an area to make the lending library useful again. We could setup an area for teachers to come have their break and enjoy a lunch together. I'd like to incorporate the STEAM idea. Maybe make it the STEAM Cafe? And the idea was born.

So when I returned from my road trip I got to work. I reached out to members of my PLN and DEN-ln. Thank you guys! I asked if you had the opportunity to design such a space what materials would you put out. There is a joke that goes around Facebook - Teachers the only profession that steals from home and brings it to work instead of the reverse. I looked around my boxes (created when I packed up the Mobile Lab). I looked around our apartment. I visited The Christmas Tree Shop, The $1 Zone, Walmart, Target, and online stores. Supplies were gathered. Areas were designed for the various intertwined disciplines of STEAM. Coffee pots were invested in and more.

The space developed and unfolded. There was no official launch. Teachers just slowly discovered it. Some are so enamored they declare, "Don't tell people. Let this be our secret". Others are joyful and share the news with others, "Have you seen the STEAM Cafe? I'll bring in some coffee. Should we bring in some milk? Oh I have left over Halloween candy can I bring it to share?" I admit I love hearing the conversations.

So thank you to everyone and their enthusiasm. Thank you to administration for letting me have a vision and run with it to fruition. Below are a few photos from the transformation. I unfortunately don't have many before photos. But believe me it was dusty and stacked with boxes of useless items. Things were condensed and reorganized, cleaned and rearranged.

Here are a two before photos:

And now for the fun part - a few after photos:

Coffee Area

Science Area

Science Area:
Realia, Discovery DVDs, magnifying glasses, pinwheels, etc.

Science Area

Technology Area:
Laptops, SMARTBoard, desktops, Technology Scrabble

Technology Scrabble - ty DEN friends

Computer Resources

Engineering Area:
Kinex, Legos, cardboard, Popsicle sticks, battery lights, vinegar and pennies (chemical engineering)

Art Area:
Paint, stickers, glue, stencils, construction paper

Math Area:
Dice, unit blocks, geoboards (found during cleanup), books, play money

Sorry this post took so long to get written. I was busy designing and creating. I was busy teaching. Now that I've had a day off, I look forward to returning to my new space. Both this space and I will be growing and developing throughout the year. I hope to have more to share as we move forward together. If you have any ideas for additions/suggestions please share. I'm always open to ideas.

#DENsigh5

Today's #RememberDEN or #DENsigh post is for Porter Palmer. I love the way you see all of us. I wish there was a mirror that let us see what you see. From the first moment we each have the privilege of connecting face to face with you, you know right away who we are. You bring us into your heart. The love with which you greet us every time after be it virtual or physical is heartwarming. Today I noticed this pink mirror that said, "Princess" around the frame. Of course the nickname brought you to mind. But it also made me think of how you see each of us with such love. For that I am grateful. Thank you for loving us all as each of us are.

#RememberDEN, #DENsigh for Porter Palmer.

They need to make one trimmed in rose gold so that I could then purchase it and send it your way. This is not the quality that befits our DENprincess.

#DENsigh4

Today was an actual day of rest. I can honestly say that I did nothing. Well except check Facebook and Twitter. I did no research for work. I went no where. Bill controlled the TV. I slept late and woke up only to play on Facebook and participate in #napchat. Can I just say it was wonderful? I need to do that more often.  But as I went no where I have not taken any photos for today's challenge. But as I looked at my phone I noticed this one. It was taken on our road trip in WV.

#RememberDEN, #DENsigh for Conni Mulligan

Remember DEN and again

Sorry, I forgot to blog my own photo challenge yesterday. That isn't to say that I didn't think of DEN friends. I was at Google Headquarters in New York City. What an honor to have been permitted to visit with administration from my district! We were attending The Google Leadership Symposium, NYC. Of course I thought of DENnis Grice who recently became a Google Certified Teacher through Google Teacher Academy. But there was also this wonderful huge table with bins of Legos out. The Google Tour Guide explained that Googlers are allowed to experiment and explore with Legos to relieve their minds for a few minutes. Google believes this absent minded play may free up the mind to process other great ideas that are brewing in the brain. I love this idea. I will be implementing it next year at school. Look at that fabulous guitar that Andrew Phoenix created during the maker faire at #DENSI2014. Imagine what my staff could create while letting other thoughts simmer for awhile. I look forward to finding out.

So these photos are for DENnis Grice and Andrew Phoenix in lieu of yesterday's post:

#RememberDEN, #DENsigh for DENnis Grice

#RememberDEN, #DENsigh for Andrew Phoenix

Now for today's #RememberDEN, #DENsigh. I was looking for things to revamp/update our professional development space. I came across this monkey at a store that made me smile and think of all those beautiful customized sock monkeys that were created. So today's smile was brought to me by Zulma Whiteford. Every year I am impressed with what one small group of people can do. Lunches packed, monkeys made, books collected. Each year the Leadership Council service project gets better and better. Thank you Zulma for spearheading it all. Know that your efforts are appreciated and many are affected. Both those that receive the offerings and those that participate.

#RememberDEN, #DENsigh for Zulma Whiteford

#DENSigh2

Trying to remember to stick with the blog challenge. Probably a good idea since this was my idea. Lol.
So as I'm gathering things from my suitcases, I come a crossed this:

Haha I totally forgot that I had a Starbuck's card with me. 

But of course seeing this reminds me of Tim Childers.

Have you taken up the challenge of sharing a photo a day that reminds you of a #DENSI2014 friend?