Excel Experience
December 2015
Enthusiasm Abounds in the Excel Classroom
‘Twas two weeks before Winter Break, and for GT
Not a sound from the EXCEL room. Quiet as can be.
The binders for Excel were all put away
For we’re doing something else in class today.
The students were nestled by laptops or tables,
Computers were logged in; iPads were enabled.
It’s Hour of Code week and with full concentration
The kids are engaged, and I’m feeling elation.
When out of the silence, I heard someone say,
“This is hard, I can’t do it” “Don’t give up, okay?
Try again. Do it differently. You can do this!”
And when they succeed, they’re beaming with bliss.
On Tynker. On Lightbot. On Kodable too.
On Code dot org website, Crunchzilla for a few.
Coding for all ages, for big and for small.
Now code away, code away, code away all.
Coding at home...
Or these free apps:
Hopscotch (IOS)
Lightbot (IOS, Android)
Kodable (IOS, Android)
Tynker (IOS)
BC - Before Coding...
2nd Grade GT - Everyone is having so much fun creating individual Prezi's to share endangered animal research, I finally had to say "what you have done is good enough". Now comes the challenging part - next week, each child gets to present his Prezi to the class. When they say "Do I have to?", I ask "Are you trying to ask if you have the PRIVILEGE of sharing your presentation?" First time sharing is tough, but it will get easier!
3rd Grade GT - Passports are ready, complete with fingerprints, photos and visas. Many have booked their flight and accommodations, with some purchasing travel insurance. Keeping accurate balance sheets, matching travel vocabulary and writing in the travel journal is ongoing, as they continue to prepare for their trip to the land of their ancestors.
4th Grade GT - Tension. Compression. Torsion. Not just for bridges. Focusing on building writing skills while addressing social/emotional aspect of gifted children, I asked each student to write about his personal tension, compression or torsion, read only by me. Love their insight and honesty! Next stop...Bridge Companies are forming. We're building bridges!!!
COMING SOON (next week) to an Excel classroom near you...
AND FINALLY
I Ho Ho Hope you have a Happy Holiday Season!
Woodland Springs, Keller-Harvel & North Pole GT Specialist