Kim+Au's+Page


 * Kim Au - Kindergarten @ E. W. Luther

Lesson 1 ** For our 10 minute math with Investigations, we are often asked to do a Question of the Day with the kids. In the past I have used a pocket chart to ask the question and have had the kids move their name cards to answer the question. There are always two choices so the pocket chart is divided down the middle.

Attached is an image of how I changed the lesson using the notebook software:

Using the Smart board the children now could answer the question of the day by dragging a picture of themselves to the corresponding column.

Attached is an image of what the final screen looked like:

With this altered lesson the students were easily able to see what everyone answered. With the old way and using name cards my non readers most likely did not know who answered what. Also, I made sure to address the absent kids because we are always talking about how our class has 20 students total. This way they can see that 2+15+3=20. My students are still learning how to manipulate images on the board so this lesson did take a lot longer than a regular question of the day, but this is something that can be easily worked into the beginning of a lesson as children are walking to the rug.


 * Lesson 2 **

Each week we work on printing our letters. I model how to write a particular capital and lowercase letter on large sheets of chart paper. A handful of children come up to practice the skill, and then everyone goes to their tables to complete a printing practice page.

With the notebook software I can display large sheets of handwriting paper on my Smart board. The kids are able to see the middle broken line better so it makes modeling the strokes to write the letters easier.

Attached is an example of the lined paper I use.



This was the first time the children used the pens to write on the board so it was really a practice run. They really enjoyed seeing their printing on the board. Using the Smart board for printing practice enhanced how I modeled the printing and how the children practiced.
 * Lesson 3**

Each week we have Letter Show & Tell. Children bring their items from home to share, and I write the word and draw a matching picture on a large sheet of chart paper. Then children are dismissed to their seats to complete a page in their letter journals, recording pictures from our class poster.

With the Smart board, I recorded the show and tell items in much the same way. The children liked how I could change my written words into text. Using the board gave a much larger presentation for the kids and made it easier for them to draw and record their pictures and labels in their letter journals.

Attached is our Show & Tell poster at the end of the lesson.



The unexpected added bonus is that it has made me a much better artist! My students agree.


 * Lesson 4 **

We've spent the week reading several versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We took some time to compare the original version to Jan Brett's retelling, The Three Snow Bears. In the past I have used a pocket chart Venn Diagram to compare similarities and differences between two ideas.

To compare the two stories and enhance my lesson, I created a Venn Diagram on the Notebook software. I opened the first slide and we discussed the original version with the words that I had already filled in (on the left side). Then on the second slide they helped me fill in ideas for The Three Snow Bears. I wrote their ideas on the right side, but then changed my writing to text. Finally, we grabbed and moved the phrases that represented both stories into the middle part of the circles.



The board enabled me to brainstorm ideas with my students and write them on the board in front of them. In the past I have always had pre-made cards ready for the pocket chart. With the board I had children come up and drag the phrases into the middle spot. With the brainstorming and watching text being moved, It was more interactive than a pocket chart allows.


 * If we had the entire picture gallery I would enhance the lesson with pictures as well.