Light Energy: Teaching Translucent, Transparent, Opaque

This week we continue our exploration of energy by studying light. Our vocabulary includes Translucent, Transparent, and Opaque. These words are completely new to many of my 5th grade Scientists.  To help remember them, we use these mind links:

Translucent: Many of my scientists know that the Spanish word for light is "luz", so we remember that a trans"luz"ent object lets the light in.

Tranparent:  We remember that parents want to see EVERYTHING. They ALWAYS want to know what is going on. A transPARENT object lets everything be seen!

Opaque: We visualize that if we have a huge cake, one as tall and as wide as our classroom, we would not be able to see anything on the other side of the cake. THE CAKE IS OPAQUE. It doesn't let us see anything through it.

Thursday Be Talk Like a Pirate Day - Do I Be Hearin' a Mighty Yo-Ho-Ho?!

Avast, me Hearties,

Tomorrow be Talk Like a Pirate Day, so hoist yer colors onto ye mighty Scoreboard.

All yer Mates will growl and be cheered as they give themselves Mighty Yo-Ho-Ho's and Mighty Arrrg's.

Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho...the Pirate Life's for me!

Video Physical Science Gestures

Video of Physical Science Gestures

Instead of trying to explain in words my gestures for CLASSIFY, MATTER, ENERGY, MASS, and VOLUME, here is a link to a video I made demonstrating the gestures and the song I use to teach the definition of Matter:

https://www.wevideo.com/view/93001495

Edmodocon 2013 - Connecting and Collaborating

Wow -- I watched several hours of Edmodocon 2013 yesterday. I was inspired by the teachers who spoke. I was intrigued by the way they used Edmodo. I need time to go through my notes and to watch the presentations I missed. I understand they will be available on the internet within the next few days.

Here are two of the ideas I am pursuing:

• Global Read Aloud -- http://www.globalreadaloud.com/ -- Four books to choose from based on reading ability of your students. Children from around the world connect by reading/hearing the same book during the same time period.
• Skype for Education -- https://education.skype.com/projects/5743-wolf-haven-international-wolves-of-north-america-back-from-the-brink-of-extinction -- lesson on North American Wolves by Wolf Haven, a nonprofit wolf sanctuary in Washington state. Topics include prey/predator, habitat, effect of humans on ecosystem.

Check out the sites and see how you can join in. I hope you will be inspired to connect and collaborate with others this school year.

Tell Your Story Or Someone Else Will Tell It For You...And You Probably Won't Like It

My school is paying the price for not having told our story. We knew we weren't telling our story well, but we never took enough time away from "getting those scores up" to deal with how we were being perceived. Putting our students first was the right thing to do; Failing to tell our story was not.

This summer, I realized I could take control of the my classroom's story. Thanks to Discovery Education (@DiscoveryEducation), Chad Lehman (@imcguy), and Steve Dembo (@teach42), I learned all about the power of social media and how to use it. So, I am going to use text picture messages once or twice a week to show parents what goes on in my class. I am also considering a 1-Second-Everyday-type of visual record  to show at Spring Open House.(http://1secondeveryday.com/)

I act out my story every school day with dedication and lots of hard work. I want my story told -- and I am going to be the one to tell it.

Next Time Someone Asks Me...I Will Be Prepared Because I Read This Article

This summer I have really worked on developing a Professional Learning Network (PLN). I am fortunate to be part of Whole Brain Teaching, passionate educators who want to change instruction in the classroom, and Discovery Education,  passionate educators who want to integrate technology into classrooms. These outstanding colleagues teach me, encourage me, and challenge me.

 I love my job. I love being a teacher...yet, when I hear about testing, test scores, and how they seem to be the driving force in education today, it makes me sad.

So next time I have to comment on the topic, I will remember the words I read today in this wonderful article by Christopher Lehman    http://christopherlehman.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/educations-own-47/.

What are your thoughts?