Reading Fluency in Seesaw

Here is the link to more task cards for Seesaw:

https://ideas.seesaw.me/hc/en-us/articles/115004555103-Seesaw-Task-Cards

Oh Boy --- Today's Yays and Nays

Time for reflection...so, here's the thing.  I need to ask myself why I went to all the trouble to put books into Seesaw and then have the kiddos screencast.  Too many steps for the purpose at hand?

Pros to putting a book in Seesaw for fluency practice as opposed to one page of text

1.  I can pick text that is on their level and they can practice it during the week (uh, you can do that with one page of text...next?)
2. I can make the text thematic. (valid point)
3. If text is too hard, students can just read one or two pages. (yep, also valid)
4. Pictures make it more interesting. (nice but not necessary) 
5. Kids learn how to screencast on an iPad.  :)

Pros to putting one page of text in Seesaw for fluency practice and recording IN Seesaw

1. WAY easier to set up!
2. Not as cumbersome.
3.  If students choose text, it gives them more ownership and autonomy (yikes...my control freak might have been part of the above set up)
4.  More sustainable
5.  Timing more accurate

I guess I should venture into Seesaw to see what they actually did.  Ya think, Jill?  Here goes.  Wish me luck.

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Why did this happen?  Add that to the list of cons...

And in writing...

...students were matched up to publish their topic (tree ID, photosynthesis, life cycles, or trunks and roots) in any way they choose to do so.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  I shouldn't be to discouraged yet.  Here is what I am thinking as I process.

1.  We all need to begin with the end in mind.  They didn't know they would be doing this when they got started learning about trees.  So they were not working towards the end product.

2.  I kinda threw them into the deep water and said "Swim!".  When I asked the students at the end of the day if they liked the choices, 2/3 said yes, 1/3 said no.  

3.  Many were working independently, so the proof will be in the pudding.  BUT I will want the choice to be more structured next time and I want to show more exemplar options.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

via GIPHY

Seesaw Task Cards Rock!

Here are some Seesaw Task Cards! One on fluency!

Fluency

Okay, so here is what I ended up doing to set my students up in Seesaw for fluency practice. 

I set up a picture taking station with a piping thingy that used to be a laundry basket and a table extension from my dining room table.  It also works to use two milk crates and place the book between them and the board over them.  The camera peeks out over the top so you can take a picture of the book without all the wobbling.

High tech photography station

Then I chose 4 books that were in my students' reading ranges.  For each book, I took pictures of the first several pictures (100 words or so).

Then, I put them into Seesaw (You can put several pictures in one post by selecting "Add more pictures" when you are choosing from your camera roll.  Shout out to Dillyn for helping me figure this out.).

I assigned the right books to the right students. Here is what I am going to have the students do:

Here are my directions for my students:

1. Go into Seesaw and click on the Fluency Folder.
2. Open the post you see there for you.
3. Go to your control panel and hold the circle button down 

Hold the double circle down for a few seconds (it is under the camera icon).

This will pop up:

4.  Turn microphone audio ON.
5.  Start recording and go back to Seesaw.
6.  Read the story and record.
7.  Save into Photo Library.
8.  Go to Photo Library and post your video to Seesaw.
9.  We will do this every day for a week.  I am so excited to see how you will grow!

Here is a copy of the directions I will give the students:
Instructions for Seesaw Fluency activity

Let me know if  you try this or have other ideas!
Happy reading!

Fluency

After talking with my curriculum director, I am inspired to crank up fluency practice in my classroom.  My task for now is to create activities on Seesaw with texts from my students' reading levels so my students can practice a text each week every day to increase fluency.  I will have them read it into Seesaw and see how they increase their fluency from Monday to Friday.  

We are starting a unit on snow, ice, and winter.  So my challenge will be to have all the texts connected to that theme.  

Not sure exactly how this will pan out, but I'm gonna go give it a try.  Stay tuned...

Just One Thing (JOT)

What is one thing that went well this week and one thing I'd like to improve?

Let's start with the positive, shall we?  With a short writing time today, I decided to change my plans and have partners write poetic pep talks for next week when we are taking state tests.  Jam* wrote more than he's ever written.  Four teammates finished and took their poems out to the hall to record with some mad beats from Flocabulary.  I plugged one team's poem into Ditty.  (I  need to find out how you can change the tune or theme on Ditty.)  They seemed to "get it" and want to help their teammates feel good about their abilities to take the test and manage stress.  Except for the one poem about a phone and being alone and wanting a pep talk.  Someone didn't give clear enough directions, it looks like.  

Now for the growth area.  Maybe the lesson felt like a disaster because a peer was in watching me and doing a mock evaluation.  No.  I don't think that was it.  It just was a disaster.  Let me back up.  We are teaching theme so that we can compare and contrast themes from books by the same author with the same or similar characters.  I had them draw a theme from Dog-of-the-Seawaves.  We had created themes a few days earlier with friendship and love.  But did I use those?  No, I did not. (For one, I couldn't find them.)  I rationalized saying to myself that they can whip out another theme.  (Wrong turn #1)  

Students went and wrote other themes, but finished at staggered times (of course...didn't think that through).  So when we went to throw our snow balls and record evidence under the theme, there were like 4 students doing it.  The whole activity was an exercise in futility.  Students were frustrated and so was I.  Fail. 

So, what to learn here?  

Growth Areas

1. Keep track of your papers

2. Model, Model, Model

I did not model this activity well enough or often enough.  (Shout out to Mr. Myers who suggested we need to do more of that before we send them out on their own.  In this case that would have helped tremendously.)

3. Plan more meticulously

Can I do this?  How?

1. Get trays for papers

2. Err on over-modeling

3. Think through things more thoughtfully (list steps?)  

I'm not going to make big goal plans for myself, but I see now where this is going.  I just wrote things down.  I am making myself more accountable by seeing my growth areas and thinking of what I want to change and improve.

I'll call that a good day's work.  Even with the fail.  

*I will use random food names for my students.  Just to keep things light and anonymous.  

Flocabulary: Educational Hip-Hop

Ditty App

Disclaimer: Please investigate any apps or websites that I mention carefully to make sure they work under your circumstances and for your kids before you use them.  Sorry to state the obvious.  I just don't want to send anyone down a surprise path.  This way anyway.  Other surprise paths, sure!

Showing Up

Alright then.  Here I am.  Showing up.  Just getting a first post done, so the mountain doesn't seem so insurmountable.  

Why am I here?  One reason only.  To become a better teacher.  I am convinced that by reflecting on and articulating my experience, I will grow.  

My knees are wobbling a little.  But seriously.  How can I teach my kiddos about a growth mindset if I am not willing to live it myself?

Well, that wasn't so bad.  Let the floodgates open.  Well, just a little please.