See you in 2021

Enjoy the break!

Mrs. Kosakowski

Celebrating Computer Science Education Week

Hour of Code, 2020

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week (December 7 - 13, 2020) classes at Spofford Pond Elementary School were encouraged to participate in an Hour of Code.  Hour of Code is a worldwide phenomenon that reaches tens of millions of students in almost 200 countries. Spofford Pond’s school wide coding event is just one of hundreds of thousands that take place during this week around the globe.

In years past, all students would take part in the Hour of Code with me during their library-media classes. This year, students were offered access to an Hour of Code hyperdoc with various coding activities from the Hour of Code website.  Students were given the chance to learn computer science skills, math skills, problem-solving and perseverance in each coding activity. Through the hyperdoc they could work creatively to solve the puzzles and move through the programming lessons.

The Hour of Code hyperdoc offered opportunities for amazing discoveries, fun creations and confidence building exercises.

 
  Technology Essential Questions:

What are the fundamentals of computer programming?
How are algorithms used in coding?
How can you use computer programming to complete a task?
How is computer programming useful in real life?
How might you use computer programming in your future career?

SPS Tackles Hybrid Model

Technology and the Hybrid Model

Hybrid in the Classroom

As we end our first full month of hybrid learning I thought I would share a few pictures of how things look in the classrooms, in terms of technology.  In-seat students and teachers interact with remote students via Zoom on the Smartboard or interactive display.  Teachers are stepping up to the challenge of digitizing lessons, and organizing and running many different devices to make this happen.  Students, both in-seat and at home are patient, helpful and respectful.  The technical aspect is a learning curve for everyone and everyone is rising to the occasion.  The Spofford Pond community is certainly making the best of what can only be called an interesting situation!

Until next month, I wish you and your families a restful break!
19 Best Virtual Thanksgiving Ideas, Activities and GamesWide Open School Holiday Gratitude Activities

Mrs. Kosakowski

School Year 2020 - 2021

Technology Takes Center Stage as a Tool for Learning

In all my years (I won't say how many) either as a student, a parent of students, or a teacher, Fall 2020 marks the most interesting start to a new year school that I have ever experienced.  In fact, I am sure everyone in the Spofford Pond School Community is feeling the same way.  Back to school traditions have been reconstructed and various models for learning have been discussed, implemented and tweaked.  Everyone is working overtime to try to bring some semblance of "school" together.  Throughout it all, however, there has been one constant:  the extended use of technology in the lives of everyone involved.
At Spofford Pond School we are using a variety of technological devices and software tools to design and deliver content and curriculum to students.  Teachers are digitizing lessons and using technical tools to provide instruction for their sections of remote students.  Apps like Zoom, Padlet and Flipgrid have become staples in our digital tool box.
Additionally, it is also important to remember we are a Google for Education school.   Students use educational Google accounts to access Google Classroom, Slides, Docs and Forms (and more) which are all applications our teachers use to digitize their lessons.
In order for your student to be most successful with these apps, it is imperative that they use Chrome as their internet browser.  This is key for those students that are accessing remote materials from a Mac or PC.  If your student uses a Chromebook, you are good to go as Chromebooks automatically browse the internet with Chrome!
Here is some additional information about why using the Chrome browser is the best fit with our students' Google for Education accounts.
For Students:  Mrs. Boulay's Library-Media Classes:

For Families:  How to Sign Into Chrome and How to Install Chrome:

Be sure to check out other parts of this blog for information regarding technology use at our school.

A New School Year, 2020-2021

Hello Spofford Pond Community and Welcome Back!
No matter what model we find ourselves in, I will look forward to working with all of youthroughout the upcoming school year.
Sincerely, Digital Learning Specialist

End of Year, 2020

Wishing you all a summer of good health and happiness!

Remote Learning June 8 - 12 Send Off to Summer

Instructions for joining a Google Meet

Students will receive access to these awesome remote activities through their Library-Media Google Classroom prior to June 8th!

Grade 6 Remote Activities

Grades 3 - 5 Remote Activities

See you out there!

School Podcast

The Great Polar Bearier Riff

NEW EPISODES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Students in Ms. Stewart's sixth grade and Ms. Sierpina's sixth grade classes have new episodes in The Great Polar Bearier Riff, Spofford Pond School's podcast.  Topics include personal beliefs and body systems.

Here is a glimpse into grade six's "What I Believe" series:

For more episodes, follow this link to find our podcast directly at Anchor or you can search for "The Great Polar Bearier Riff" and listen to our podcast on:

Podcasting Essential Questions:

How can we infuse classroom curriculum with technology that is easily accessible

and simple to use?

How can we use this technology to delve deeper into subject matter?

How does this technology strengthen research, writing and collaboration skills?

How does this technology strengthen speaking and listening skills?

Can't Stop the Feeling

This Teacher Feels Appreciated

We Miss You

Spofford Pond School Misses You!

take care,

Google Slides

Mrs. O'Brien's Students Create Digital Portfolios

These fifth graders have been busy creating digital portfolios. "A digital portfolio is a computer-based collection of student performance over time. Portfolios make classroom learning more accessible to parents, administrators, and other district support staff because they provide a window into student learning. A portfolio showcases both student achievement and student learning over time." - Melinda Kolk, "Building Digital Portfolios"

For Mrs. O'Brien's students, creating a digital portfolio is an opportunity to not only showcase their learning, but to also take a moment and reflect on their learning goals and their strategies for achieving them.

The tool we have been using to create our digital portfolios is Google Slides. 

Creating a showcase of learning goals, achievements, peak moments and habits of mind has been a wonderful process for the students, the classroom teacher and myself.

Technology Essential Questions

How can we use this technology to keep a record of progress?

How does a digital portfolio help extend student thinking?

How can we use this technology to teach the art of reflection, curation and collaboration?

Breakout EDU

They're At It Again! Mrs. Gibson's third grade class attempts another Breakout Edu!

Students in Mrs. Gibson's third grade classroom stepped up to the challenge, worked together and never gave up!  Using their background knowledge on grammar and sentence structure both teams worked down to the last minute without anger or frustration.   Both teams solved all but one puzzle in "Exclamatory Evan's Sentence Scrabble".  Even though they did not breakout, they still had a great time!  Hosted by their sixth grade buddies, Jillian, Emily and Kate, this breakout challenge was a tricky one!

Just taking a moment to give a well deserved shout-out to Jillian, Kate and Emily for creating and leading this Breakout EDU for their third grade buddies.

Setting up the physical kits for these sessions can be tedious. These three designers have met the challenge with gusto and have produced yet another fun challenge for younger students.

Great Job Game Designers!

Technology Essential Questions
Why is exploration an important part of learning?
How can an "escape room" experience motivate students and inspire active participation? How can an "escape room" experience inspire critical thinking, collaboration, communication & creativity? How can we empower students by letting them lead the learning?

Google Site

Creating Websites in Grade 6

Students in Ms. Stewart's homeroom class have been learning how to use Google Sites to create informative websites about body systems, nutrition and exercise.  Working in groups students were tasked with creating a site that is not only factually correct, but also easy to access, read and understand.  Their target audience?  Their third grade buddies!  Word on the street is that these sites will be a great resource for even our youngest Spofford Pond students.

Ms. Stewart's Website Designers

Check back soon to see our finished products!

Technology Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

How can this digital tool help us create a project that sparks curiosity?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework:
6-8.DTC.a.1-3; 6-8.DTC.b.1; 6-8.DTC.c

AR VR Experiences

AR & VR Google Expeditions in Grades 4 & 6

Students in Mr. Duffy's, Ms. Stewart's and Mrs. Sierpina's classes had the opportunity to use our AR/VR (augmented reality/virtual reality) kits to explore topics like forces of nature and body systems.  Augmented reality allows teachers to bring a life size skeleton or a tornado into the classroom and gives students the ability to investigate abstract ideas as topics are brought to life.

Mr. Duffy's students investigate forces of nature

Ms. Stewart's students investigate the circulatory system and the skeletal system.

Mrs. Sierpina's students investigate the skeletal system.

Technology Essential Questions:
Why is exploration an important part of learning?
How can an augmented reality experience motivate students and inspire active participation?

Are there technological solutions or enhancements to supplement what is being taught?

Polar VorTechs Video Club

Check Out Our Creations

The Polar VorTechs video club (grade 6) meets once per week to dive deeper into the world of video production.  Students come together as writers, directors, cinematographers, audio technicians, editors, talent, and more (you name it!) to produce short videos clips to share with the Spofford Community.

Here is one of our productions from this winter:

Stay tuned!  There is more to come!

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Google Sheets

Getting Ready for the Science Fair

GRADE 6 SCIENTISTS COLLECT AND INTERPRET DATA IN PREPARATION FOR 2020 SCIENCE FAIR

For the beginning steps of their Science Fair projects, grade 6 science classes got an introduction to Google Sheets. Students setup tables to collect their science experiment data. Then, with the help of Google Sheets, they turned their data into charts so as to have a visual representation of the information they collected throughout their experiments.  For many students, this was their first experience with Google Sheets and digital data collection. Until the Science Fair, students will continue to add information to their tables and charts, in preparation of presenting their findings at the fair.

Good Luck Grade 6 Scientists!

Grade 6 Data Collection and Interpretation

Google Sheets Essential Questions

How can this technology be used to enhance this science project and communicate knowledge?

What basic skills should students know about this digital tool?

How does this digital tool help students manage data?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework:

6-8.CT.c

School Podcast

THE GREAT POLAR BEARIER RIFF

NEW EPISODES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Students in Ms. Stewart's sixth grade and Mrs. Cronin's fourth grade have recently added new episodes to The Great Polar Bearier Riff, Spofford Pond School's podcast.  Topics include personal beliefs and Native American culture. Here is a glimpse into grade six's "What I Believe" series.

Students Recording Their Episodes

For more episodes, follow this link to find our podcast directly at Anchor or you can search for "The Great Polar Bearier Riff" and listen to our podcast on:

Podcasting Essential Questions:

How can we infuse classroom curriculum with technology that is easily accessible

and simple to use?

How can we use this technology to delve deeper into subject matter?

How does this technology strengthen research, writing and collaboration skills?

How does this technology strengthen speaking and listening skills?

Virtual Reality

A Field Trip Across the Milky Way

Students in Mrs. Bouffard's grade 5 science classes had a uniques experience.  They got to take a virtual field trip through our solar system and across the Milky Way. Using our VR/AR kit generously supplied by BEST and the PTO, students put on the Google goggles and using Google Expeditions were led on a virtual field trip to the Sun, the inner and outer planets, Pluto, the Asteroid Belt, the Kuiper Belt, and the Oort Cloud.  It was spectacular! Questions arose and visuals were oh-ed and ah-ed!  We even wondered about the Asteroid Belt and the possibility of a "fifth" missing rocky planet!

Technology Essential Questions:

Are there technological solutions or enhancements to supplement what is being taught?

Why is exploration an important part of learning?
How can a virtual reality experience motivate students and inspire active participation?

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

Grade 5 Breakout EDU

Is Your Teacher an Alien?

It is an age-old question and Mrs. Bouffard's grade 5 science classes attempted to find out the truth once and for all.

Students got to use their collaboration skills and their knowledge about the solar system when they were faced with this Breakout EDU challenge. They were challenged to use clues, critical thinking, common sense and collaboration to solve puzzles and open a variety of locks on the BreakoutEDU boxes. The theme was solar system and the answer to question "Is your teacher an alien?" was locked inside the box.  Be sure to ask your fifth grader if they got to the bottom of this challenge.

Technology Essential Questions:
Why is exploration an important part of learning?
How can an "escape room" experience motivate students and inspire active participation? How can an "escape room" experience inspire critical thinking, collaboration, communication & creativity?