Thursday, March 17, 2016

6th grade google applications/email update

Hi 6th grade parents!!!

I just wanted to update you on the email and google application progress in 6th grade. So far, a good majority of the class has struggled with retaining the core foundations for moving forward with these assignments.

We have been working with google email/applications for close to a month, and we spend roughly 20 minutes at the beginning of every class passing out username and log in information. This only leaves us with a limited amount of time to conduct activities and they are not being done thoroughly enough for the students to retain the information.

I am going to hold off on moving forward and overwhelming them with more activities, and focus on going back and practicing logging in and logging out of both the computer with usernames and passwords, as well as the gmail email accounts. We can move forward when a majority of the class is proficiently able to log in and compose an email and access their google drive account.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or call my cell phone and I'd be happy to clear any questions or concerns you have up!

Thank you,

Ms. Gerardi

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Grades 2-5 animal research projects

I am very excited to have started our research projects in grades 2-5. This project has been differentiated for each grade level (2-3/ 4-5) so the standards are being met in each grade.

All of the students are conducting research using the San Diego Zoo website. They have each chosen their own individual animal, and are learning to conduct credible research using sites that have credible sources.

For the younger grades, the websites were given to them for all of the necessary information on the research project.

For the upper grades, the base website was also given, but a few in depth questions that were not provided on the San Diego Zoo website were also asked of them.

For these questions, the students are learning to conduct research using the search engine Kiddle. This allows them to type in the questions and sort through credible websites to find the necessary answers.

This research project is a class based project, and they will have little to no work to do for this at home. I like being able to observe and help the students as we move along in this process :).

They are all doing a very good job with this, and I am impressed with the amount of growth they are displaying in Educational Technology!

If you have any questions regarding the research project, please feel free to contact me at any time!

-Ms. Gerardi

Student feedback

Hi parents!

I just wanted to take a second to touch base in regards to student feedback.

For grades 6-8, we complete assignments weekly using their gmail account. I share items onto their google drive, and after they complete them they share it back to me for grading and comments.

I share these documents back to them via email and google drive for them to view their grade and comments.

You can access this through their school email account that was created!

Grades K-1 have been receiving feedback weekly through daily formative checks on their work.
Sight word bingo, Spelling practice, Keyboarding practice all produce a grade at the end of the task. I review the grade with the student, positively affirm the correct work, and discuss what was incorrect and how we can make a plan to fix it!

Grades 2-5 have a similar system for feedback but they receive feedback on keyboarding/typing tests, research projects (written comments on research papers that we are still working on) as well as verbal affirmation and checking for understanding via formative assessment.

After grades 2-5 finish their research projects they will have a bundle of graded material with feedback returning home!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me:
Kgerardi@bethlehemsaginaw.org
or contact me by phone at:
619-204-5691

Thank you :)

Ms. Gerardi

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Introduction

Introduction
Howdy all!!!!

For those of you who I haven't met yet, my name is Katelyn (Katie) Gerardi. This is my third year teaching, first year at Bethlehem! I have taught Middle School ELA/Reading and Writing and all subjects in 5th grade (Social Studies, Science, Math, ELA). I love teaching, but am especially blessed to be working with such an amazing group of students. Your children have been lights in my life, and have helped me in my ever growing journey in Christ.

I graduated from Central Michigan University with my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a concentrated minor in Language Arts.  I am currently in graduate school, also at Central Michigan University, working toward obtaining my Master's Degree in Educational Technology.

I was born in South Bend, Indiana (GO IRISH!) and was raised in San Diego, California. I moved to Michigan in the Fall of 2008 to pursue my teaching degree.

I have a handsome, loving, caring 5 year old son who recently transitioned to the Kindergarten class at Bethlehem. I can honestly say, that was the best decision as a parent I have probably ever made for him! We are enjoying growing and learning with our new family at Bethlehem!

Technology news!

 
Kindergarten has been working with site words! They are playing bingo, organizing in ABC order, and also working with graphing. This is all done on the computer, so while they are getting the foundation skills for reading and math skills, they are also practicing motor movement with using the mouse and the keyboard!

First grade has been working on spelling words, abc order, and keyboarding! They are also practicing motor skills and navigating the mouse and keyboard.

Second and third grade have been really practicing hard on the keyboard. They are playing different keyboarding games, and practicing the proper hand placement while using the keyboard. They have also started practicing how to use shortcuts (Copy and Paste) with their keyboards.

Fourth and Fifth grade have moved into internet research and credible sources. While they have also been practicing keyboarding, they are focusing now on research using the internet. They will move into Powerpoint slideshow presentations to present their research when it is complete!

6-8th grade is working on utilizing google applications through their school google email that we created! This is helpful for them to use collaboratively with other students, and staff in our building! They have been practicing typing and also formatting documents using Google Docs.