E-lementary E-Learning

NREA Conference St. Louis, MO

October 16, 2015

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Randy Maurer, Principal 

Eastern Elementary School

308 South Harrison Street

Greentown, IN 46936

Successful E-Learning In the Elementary

I.  Introduction of Workshop

1. QR Code and Ow.ly (Url shortener)
2. The Principal's Tie Rack Blog
3. Eastern Elementary School and Eastern Howard School Corporation

II.  What Makes E-Learning Successful?

1. What is E-Learning?
1. "E-Learning is prepared (blended) lessons, relevant to our curriculum, able to meet all of the student's needs, and without the need for the internet out of the classroom."
2. My Four Points
1. Relevance of the Curriculum
2. The Staff, Students, and Parents
3. Accessibility of the Material
4. The "Tech"

III.  Relevance

1. Standards Based Curriculum
2. Continuation of the Classroom
3. Not Busy Work!!!!!
4. Engaging or be prepared for complaints.

IV.  The Staff, Students, and Parents

1. Teachers-Building Islands of Success Not everyone gets onboard immediately.
2. PD and Sharing Make showing off teachers within your building a priority through tours or PD.
3. Tech Coach or Manager  We have 1 Tech Coordinator, 1 Coach, and 1 iPad Manager
4. Parent Tech Night  Great way for parents to get on board with the apps.  Students occasionally mislead parents.

V.  Accessibility of the Material

1. All Means All-Everyone should be able to access the material at home.  IEP's can be met and other accommodations.
2. The materials you send home should be available to all students, whether they have wifi at home or not.  We use E Backpack and we are moving to Canvas.  Google Classroom works the same way.  The files can be downloaded and stored on the tablet.  Use PDF Expert or Notability to make marks on.  It turns in when they come back to school.
3. Make the information transfer point at school.-All of the information should be downloaded and uploaded from school.

VI.  The Tech

1. What do you all use?-iPads and laptops seem to be what everyone is using.
2. BYOD This is a great way to start.
3. School Provided Tech-Everyone is in a "school provides tech" district.
4. Teacher choose the apps and software.  This provides vetting and ownership.  It will get used until something better comes along.-We charge $5 in the book fees to pay for the new apps the teacher is using that year.
5. Flipping the classroom and the office.-Be the star because the kids love you.  They will "share you."  Video and audio are important because it personalizes it for the kids.

VII.  Touch Cast-Mr. Maurer's Flip of Choice

1. Relevance
2. Staff and Parents
3. Accessibility
4. The Tech-Vapps, Pictures, Maps, and More.

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Successful E Learning In and Out of the Elementary

NextGen IDOE  Summer of eLearning Conference

June 17, 2015

10:15 a.m.-11:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.-12:00p.m.

Randy Maurer, Principal 

Eastern Elementary School

308 South Harrison Street

Greentown, IN 46936

Successful eLearning In and Out of the Elementary

I.  Introduction of Workshop

1. QR Code and Ow.ly (Url shortener)
2. The Principal's Tie Rack Blog

II.  What Makes E-Learning Successful?

1. Audience Answers- Thank you, Candace (IDOE eLearning) for you clarification on the expectations and the guidance you shared with us today.
2. My Four Points
1. Relevance of the Curriculum
2. The Staff, Students, and Parents
3. Accessibility of the Material
4. The "Tech"

III.  Relevance

1. Standards Based Curriculum
2. Continuation of the Classroom
3. Not Busy Work!!!!!
4. Example from other schools
5. Engaging or be prepared for complaints.

IV.  The Staff, Students, and Parents

1. Teachers-Building Islands of Success
2. PD and Sharing
3. Tech Coach or Manager
4. Parent Tech Night

V.  Accessibility of the Material

1. All Means All-Everyone should be able to access the material at home.  IEP's can be met and other accommodations.
2. The materials you send home should be available to all students, whether they have wifi at home or not.- 1 teacher said she had a class where all kids had wifi, once.  Everyone else knows of staff or students without wifi.  
3. Make the information transfer point at school.-All of the information should be downloaded and uploaded from school.

VI.  The Tech

1. What do you all use?-iPads and laptops seem to be what everyone is using.
2. BYOD-Noone is using BYOD.  It is informal.
3. School Provided Tech-Everyone is in a "school provides tech" district.
4. Teacher choose the apps and software.  This provides vetting and ownership.  It will get used until something better comes along.-We charge $5 in the book fees to pay for the new apps the teacher is using that year.
5. Flipping the classroom and the office.-Be the star because the kids love you.  They will "share you."  Video and audio are important because it personalizes it for the kids.

VII.  Touch Cast-Mr. Maurer's Flip of Choice

1. Relevance
2. Staff and Parents
3. Accessibility
4. The Tech-Vapps, Pictures, Maps, and More.

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Things To Do This Summer

Summer.

Time for outdoor fun and trips to exciting destinations.  Or, maybe it is a "stay-cation" or time for home improvements.  For kids, it is a magical time to take a break from school and create a different routine.  I can't help but think that some of them decide to put learning on hold.  For those going into Kindergarten, though, it is a time to build up excitement for starting school, and they can use that excitement for good.  Here are a couple activities they can do to keep their skills sharp and create some good experiences:

• Scavenger Hunt:  Backyard, beach, living room, or wherever you go.  Have them find items that are in certain categories:  shapes, colors, things that begin with a certain sound, living things, plants, bugs, different textures, smells, wet or dry, etc.  The world has endless possibilities of things to find.  You set up the criteria and the directions.  
• "In the backyard, you need to find five rough items and arrange them on the porch from biggest to smallest." 
• "See if you can find four pictures of animals or insects with four or more legs.  Or, use this iPad, camera, or whatever and take pictures of them outside."
• "What item do you play with in the pool that holds the most water?"
• "How many different birds have we seen at the bird feeder or bird bath?"
• "Using this stick, how many sticks tall and long are the chairs on the porch or deck?  Can you write those numbers down?"
• "If I trace your body in chalk, you will design your own outfit."
• Shared Reading:  They pick the book and you take turns reading or telling the story.  You may read on side of the page and they will retell the other side.  This helps them be very aware of the elements of a book and it is a great opportunity to show them reading is fun.  Especially when they are reading with one of their favorite people!
• Future Chef:  Have them help in the kitchen.  They can learn about the different tools and what they do.  They are great mixers, stirrers, water fillers, and taste testers.  Measuring cups and spoons are fun ways to learn about parts.  Recipes are great for directions.  And, hopefully the end result is tasty and the memories are lasting.
• Art:  Print off several cards that can be used for school, family, or friends and have them take their time and color them.  These cards can be kept for thank you's, reminders, invites, and anytime notes.  Let your artist shine.  Maybe they can make placemats for at home or for the Fourth of July gathering, or for special occasions.
• Nice to meet you!:  Have your child practice greeting people and introducing themselves at family events, church, or anywhere where they can practice with people they already know.  This gives them the practice of speaking to others, including adults, so when kindergarten does arrive, they already have a voice.

These are just a few things you can do.  There are lots of websites and resources out there that can help you find other activities for summer to get ready for school!  Kindergarten is coming up!  Kindergarten readiness is now!  Let's build up that excitement and get them ready to be ready!  

Every day is what you make it.  Make it a great day!

Eastern Elementary School uses D'Nealian Handwriting.

Handwriting.  This topic is sometimes more debated than politics.
 
Eastern Elementary still teaches handwriting.  Many schools have removed it from their curriculum because of technology.  Or, they don't designate what specific system they use.  We proudly use D'Nealian at Eastern Elementary School.  We notify our local preschool programs of this so they can start introducing it to their 3 and 4 year olds.  Here are a couple of examples of D'Nealian with and without the stroke arrows.

If you have any questions about handwriting or any other Kindergarten Readiness topics, please contact me at the school.

Parent Night for Kindergarten Round Up

Kindergarten Roundup will have a Parent Only Night on April 14, 2015 at 6:00 at Eastern Elementary School.  The night will include presentations from the administration, teachers, guidance counselor, nurse, speech teacher, and special education service coordinator.  We'll have a question and answer secession following to answer all of your questions and help you feel comfortable and excited about Eastern Elementary!  We will talk about a typical day in kindergarten, kindergarten readiness, and forming a good school and family relationship.

You are welcome to bring a copy of your child's birth certificate, proof of residence, and up to date shot records (if they received their kindergarten shots already).  Those items will be necessary to start school.

We ask that this night be with parents only so we can get all of our information out there.  We will have an Open House for Kindergarten students and with fun activities for them to do on April 21, 2015 from 6:00-7:30pm.  We welcome you to both events!

Kinder Quotes- Follow the Leader?

As I have mentioned previously, the students help me with the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance.  One morning I had a group of Kindergarten students come to the office to help me.  I welcomed them and had them come over by my desk.  One young man asked how I did the announcements so everyone in the school could hear.  I showed them the intercom system.  Expecting  them to ask more questions about it, very quickly, the next four sentences from them were:
"I'm going to be the principal of this school soon."
"I'm going to be seven."
"I like the Justice League."
"I have a DS at home."

To which I replied, "What?"

Their attention spans are short lived.  Props to our teachers who keep kids on task and topic while allowing a little wiggle room in our days!

Please subscribe to this feed to receive updates on kindergarten readiness for you and your student by clicking here.

Kindergarten Immunizations

Parents of a future Kindergarten student need to schedule a doctor's appointment now for their child to receive the required immunization boosters.  Don't wait til the last minute.  Routine Kindergarten vaccines usually include: Dtap, Polio, MMR, Chicken Pox, and Hepatitis A.
Kelly Darling, RN, BSN
Eastern Elementary School Nurse
628-0322 ext. 417

Kindergarten Readiness

Kindergarten Round Up Information-Updated!

Ready, Set , Go to Kindergarten!

We are looking forward to welcoming all of those new little Comets into our program!  Kindergarten is a very exciting time for new students and their parents!  Eastern Elementary School will be having their Kindergarten Round Up this year on two different nights:

• April 14 6-7:30 p.m. will be a PARENT ONLY information night.  We will do our normal presentation with them, but this will give them the opportunity to ask questions, meet the teachers and other staff, and get as much info as they can without the worry of the kids.  Parents should bring a copy of the child's birth certificate, proof of residence, and updated immunization record (if available).
• April 21 6-7:30 p.m. will be an Open House format for the parents and kids to come in and meet the teachers, see the classrooms, get a picture taken with a race car and driver, PTO can make popcorn and serve a snack, the bus can take them for a ride around the block, HS groups will do some face painting or the like with them, iPads will be on desks with (get this) some Professional Kindergarten Ambassadors showing parents and kids how they use the iPad in class.

Keep following this feed for scheduling, registration information, fun facts, examples from the classroom, parent involvment and information, Kindergarten Readiness, and much, much more.

--Mr. Maurer

Kindergarten Readiness

I will be making posts to this blog pertaining to Eastern Elementary School's Kindergarten Program and kindergarten readiness.  Please subscribe to this feed to receive updates on kindergarten readiness for you and your student by clicking here.

Our Kindergarten Round Up will be on two different nights this year.