I will not be going into my classroom on Sunday!

My room is ready, and it is only SATURDAY! This is going to sound crazy, but this is the very first time in my teaching career that I did not have to set up my classroom the day before school (with students) started! The first time in . . . well, since 1987! Maybe tomorrow (Sunday) I will go to the beach!

I love my classroom! I need to take some snaps. The best part is that there is ample floor room for the students to move about, yet the tables are still situated in rows facing the front. I have plants, student art work, and tons of fans! People can't believe it, but I also have TWO air movers to keep my room cooler. (Air movers are the blowers used after floods!) These orange babes really hustle the air in my hot, hot, hot classroom!

I also have VORNADO fans, which I believe are expensive but worth every penny. The model I have is a square shaped one and it quite modern-looking. I have 6 of these soldiers and rely of their might every day (even in cooler weather).

Roaches in my classroom-- nevermore (until next year) !

DISGUSTING ROACHES WERE IN MY CLASSROOM, SO I KILLED THEM WITH insecticide bug spray! This is a yearly practice and works well to eliminate the first line of bugs when setting up the classroom. If there are any roaches to encounter, then they will be doing the backstroke this morning!

Dead roach count as of this morning Friday, July 22:
10 20 big ones!

One of the drawbacks of living in a tropical climates is the constant presence of unwelcome bugs such as roaches, silverfish, centipedes, ants, termites. Yesterday we fumigated the classroom to prevent further infestation! This post will be updated as data is collected over the upcoming week.

For regular bug control, I also sprinkle roach tablets on the book shelves and in the cabinets. When consumed by hungry roaches, these innocuous looking tablets dehydrate bugs until they are immobile. This is a perfect gift for any teacher who hates roaches!

First day back-- a new year, a new start!

This morning, classroom keys finally in hand, I entered E-102 after a semester + summer hiatus! E102's floor sparkled and desks stood in tidy rows. Son Koa and helper Joel assembled and cleaned student shelves, red bins, and classroom fans. Anticipate E102's progress in as I prepare for the new school year!

DonorsChoose.org-funded technology for art class

Most exciting event today: assembling my new ELMO and PROJECTOR! Both items were "Technology + Art Spirit = 21st Century Visionaries" DONORSCHOOSE.ORG-funded projects. Crystal clear resolution is a result of the 5000 lumen bulb! Students will now view art work from books and computer; I think it will be awesomely inspiring. Imagine being able to see (and therefore appreciate) great paintings, drawings, and sculpture in exquisite detail!

Christie LX501 LCD projector with 5000 lumens

Elmo 1349 Model TT-12ID Interactive Document Camera, 96X Total Optical + Digital Zoom and 3.4MP CMOS Image Sensor, HDMI Input

Classroom Layout Kit

I decided to keep the layout of my classroom the same as last year, with the exception of my teacher desk. This year, my main teacher desks will be housed up front near the projectors. About 5 years ago, I created a classroom layout kit using magnets, graph paper, a magnetic white board, and pens. Whenever I have the urge to rearrange furniture, (and I get this urge quite frequently!),  I simply use this kit to visualize. My classroom dimensions are charted on graph paper and to scale (1" = 4 feet). Without any hassle, I can rearrange furniture "physically" without breaking into a sweat! Yes, it did take a while to create this kit, but I use it religiously every year. It is also fun to rearrange and brainstorm on the board instead of actually moving 36 desks around!

Entryway of my classroom!

Current classroom layout!

Classroom Layout Kit on its magnetic whiteboard.

If you are like me and find rearranging furniture to be relaxing, I highly recommend creating a Classroom Layout Kit! You will reap years of enjoyment and entertainment!

P.S. I realize these photos are terrible! I will improve, promise!

If I had a set of iPads . . .

I learned these tech-moves this week at the MERIT workshop at University of Hawaii at Hilo:

iPad Art Room website sponsored by Apple
http://www.ipadartroom.com/

Google forms: questions formats

• Multiple Choice - Logic
• Checkboxes - Number of responses
• Differences between Text and Paragraph Text.
• Images / Video
• Data Validation

Google slides, drive, documents

Google Drive and Docs Add-ons: 

• Research Tool in Docs, Docs Mobile
• Drive Add-ons  
• Easybib, Gliffy & Lucidchart
• Kaizena- Voice feedback for writing-workflow
• Hyperdocs- Google Doc that includes links to content
• Hyperdocs example- Great for “front-loading” context/info
• Collaborative Essay example
• Hyperdocs - Pinterest Board
• Apps we should check out/ apps that you use (Our Apps List - here)

Digital curation: Digital text and images

• How to use Diigo to Collect Online Resources
• Social Bookmarking with Diigo - Lynda.com
• Diigo Power User Tutorial - Cool Cat Teacher Blog
• Diigo Outliner - Organizational Process

Copyright-free resources!

http://search.creativecommons.org/

Edit and view youtube videos without the comments, distractions
http://quietube.com/

Edit a youtube videos
http://www.tubechop.com/

Rewrite an article in lexile level (rewrites done by humans!)
newsela.com

To find a specific text on any page in chrome/google on mac:
command + f

cloud-based bookmarking using tags
diigo.com