Celebrating Computer Science Education Week

HOUR OF CODE2021

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week (December 6 - 10, 2021) classes at Spofford Pond Elementary School participated 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 thousands that takes place during this week around the globe.

Every Spofford Pond student got the chance to spend an hour trying various coding activities from the Hour of Code website.  Students learned computer science skills, math skills, problem-solving and perseverance in each coding activity. They worked collaboratively and creatively to solve the puzzles and move through the programming lessons.

It was an exciting week of amazing discoveries, fun creations and confidence building exercises.

Check out our video of future software engineers, developers and designers!

Here are a few reflection posts from students who participated in Hour of Code 2021:

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?

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

3-5.CT.b; 3-5.CT.d; 6-8.CT.b; 6-8.CT.d

Apps Highlight

App Versatility Showcase

Students in Mr. Duffy's math class recently used the app, Explain Everything, to demonstrate a math standard.  Students were challenged with the task of creating a video tutorial (Khan Academy-style) for a 4th math standard.

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?

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

3-5.DTC.a.3,3-5.DTC.b.1, 3-5.CT.e.3

WeVideo

Inspired by Real to Reel

In order to learn the basics of the video editor, WeVideo, students in The Hive (grade 4, Ms. Davis & Mrs. Valzania) were tasked with creating a book trailer for Peter Brown's The Wild Robot.  Students created storyboards, learned about the preview pane, investigated stock media and layered audio, video, images and titles in the scrubber to create their final projects.  What a great project for beginning film writers, producers, editors and technicians.

Check out these finished projects:

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?

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

3-5.DTC.a.3; 3-5.DTC.b.1

BreakoutEDU

Roz is in Trouble!  Can You Help?

Students from The Hive (grade 4, Mrs. Valzania & Ms. Davis) used their collaboration skills, worked together and never gave up! Using their background knowledge both teams worked efficiently without anger or frustration.  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 "The Wild Robot" and this competition against the clock sure put these young minds to work!

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?

Digital Citizenship Week

Celebrating Digital CitizenshipOctober 18 - 22, 2021(and beyond!)

"Digital Citizenship Week is a week-long celebration promoting digital well-being within K–12 schools, advancing Common Sense’s mission of helping students thrive in a world of media and technology. Learning never stops, and neither does digital citizenship. Teaching our students digital skills and inviting them to reflect on how media and technology affect their daily lives is essential to helping them connect with the world around them. Digital Citizenship week is the perfect time to engage our students around these essential life skills using resources from Common Sense Education."

commonsensemedia.org
At Spofford Pond School we promote digital citizenship everyday.  In classrooms around the building students are not only expected to follow our acceptable use policy rules but also to adhere to good digital citizenship.  Digital Citizenship is a set of rules and responsibilities that inspire the responsible use of technology, digital devices and online accounts. Part of being a digital citizen at Spofford Pond School requires one to make good choices when using technology.  The idea of digital citizenship is that it is truly a life skill that empowers the user. As digital citizens, students will acquire knowledge about the role they play when they use technology in the classroom and beyond.

You may wonder, how can you help at home?  Here are some resources for families:

Help your student balance their time:

Talk with your family and sign a Family Media Agreement.

Check out some of these videos:What Does it Mean to Be a Digital Citizen?#Devicefreedinner

Common Sense Media Parent Concerns

Technology Essential Questions:

What does it mean to be a Digital Citizen?
What are our rights and responsibilities as Digital Citizens?

What can students do to keep themselves safe when working online?

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

3-5.CAS.a; 3-5.CAS.b; 6-8.CAS.a; 6-8.CAS.b

Safe Beginnings

Digital Citizenship Overview

During the first few weeks of school students was given the opportunity to review the Spofford Pond Digital Citizenship rules.  After going through our A.U.P., reviewing some rules and watching some safety tip videos, students signed a digital citizenship contract, pledging to follow the rules.  Digital Citizenship is an importance piece of technology use and it is a subject that we will be investigating throughout the year in all classes.

Digital Citizenship Resources for Families:
Common Sense MediaCommon Sense Media Parent ConcernsGoogle's Be Internet AwesomeCyberwise
Spofford Pond School Handbook/Acceptable Use Policy

Technology Essential Questions:

What does it mean to be a Digital Citizen?
What are our rights and responsibilities as Digital Citizens?

What can students do to keep themselves safe when working online?

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

3-5.CAS.a; 3-5.CAS.b; 6-8.CAS.a; 6-8.CAS.b

Fall, 2021

Hello Spofford Pond Community and Welcome Back!
I look forward to working with all of youthroughout the upcoming school year.
Sincerely,

End of Year, 2021

Wishing you all a summer of good health and happiness!See you in September!

Grade 6

transitioning with technology

Students in grade 6 spent time this past week cleaning up their Google Drive accounts and thinking about items they would like to keep and share with future school assigned accounts.  Google Drive is one way to house a portfolio of digital work that was created here at Spofford Pond School.  These students are figuring out how to neatly maintain a record of their best pieces as elementary school students and how to share and make copies of the items they hope to keep throughout their Middle School and High School experiences.

Technology Essential Questions

Digital Portfolios

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

How does a digital portfolio help students connect big ideas, across subjects & grades?

How does a digital portfolio help extend student thinking?

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

Interactive Whiteboard

Fun with Jamboard

Another great technology tool in the Google Workspace for Education toolbox is Jamboard. According to the TeachThought website, "Jamboard is a cloud-based app that enables visual collaboration between users in real-time [via] ... a shared ‘whiteboard’ on each user’s individual screen."  Using Jamboard, instructors can:

• Model skills like math, art, note-taking, and other competencies whose mastery can be encouraged through modeling for students
• Collaborate on projects in project-based learning–either between the teacher and students or between students
• Brainstorm ideas collaboratively–for writing, projects, and more
• Concept-map problems and solutions while using inquiry-based learning
• Use in a flipped classroom setting to allow peer groups to collaborate in real-time in class or at home
• Use during remote teaching and learning as an online ‘chalk board’ to lead activities, check for understanding, and more

Jamboards can be found and modified through one's PLN or created from scratch. Here are just a few Jamboards Spofford Pond School classes have been using lately:

Learning about Taxation without Representation

Science Vocabulary

Animal Adaptations

SEL Checkins

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 we use this software to address the different needs, learning styles, interests and abilities of students?

Technology Highlights

Technology Tools for Robust Learning

Spofford Pond School staff and students, whether remote or in-person, have access to a variety of technology tools.  These tools are excellent resources to aid in enhancing curriculum across all subjects and grade levels.  Our digital tools provide students an opportunity to innovate, create and demonstrate knowledge.

One of the most important tools in the Spofford digital tool box is Google Workspace for Education. Google Workspace for Education provides our staff and students free access to a tremendous amount of technology resources from word processing, to digital drawing, to creating presentations and videos. Our school Google accounts truly allow us to make the most of our devices in a collaborative and creative way. Chromebooks are a standard tool in the classroom and used daily for enhancing content engagement and innovative projects.

We also have access to a variety of online like Generation Genius, Brain Pop, Kahoot, Quizlet, Padlet and more!  Be sure to ask your student about one of these great online tools and how they are used in the classroom to dive deeper into all subject areas.
Finally, I would like to highlight the power of the digital badge.  As students learn about various topics, from English Language Arts to Math to Science and more, some teachers encourage further exploration by offering digital badges of completion.  Fun to create, simple to customize and easy to share, digital badges can be a great motivator for anyone!
Check out these digital badges some of our third graders have earned in Science:

Congratulations to our Third Grade SMEs (Subject Matter Experts)!

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 we use this software to address the different needs, learning styles, interests and abilities of students?

School Podcast

The Great Polar Bearier Riff

NEW EPISODES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Students in grade 6 have new episodes on The Great Polar Bearier Riff, Spofford Pond School's podcast.  Be sure to listen in and find out who our sixth graders believe are truly unsung heroes.

Here is a glimpse into grade six's "Unsung Heroes" 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?

Winter Technology

STOP ACTION ANIMATION WITH GOOGLE SLIDES

Google Slides is so much more than just a backdrop for your presentation.  It can be used in many other ways as well.  Recently, students in Mrs. Cronin's, Ms. Davis's and Mrs. Valzania's fourth grade practiced using Google Slides to create stop action animation.
Stop action animation with Google Slides is a great way to express creativity, practice simple digital skills like cut, copy and paste, and learn the basics of storyboard planning.  Stop action animation can be used in any subject area as these short films can demonstrate understanding of all types of concepts and curriculum.

These fourth graders used stop action animation to create "Pun-ny" virtual Valentines.

Click this LINK to see C.S's animated short, "Hooked on You"

Click this LINK to see M.B's animated short, "Bee Mine"

Click this LINK to see O.D's animated short, "Berry Special"

Click this LINK to see E.G's animated short, "The Owl & the Duck"

Click this LINK to see T.Q's animated short, "Donut"

Click this LINK to see J.B.'s animated short, "Zoo"



And the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film goes to........ Grade 4!

Technology Essential Questions:

How can digital storytelling foster critical thinking skills?

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?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework:3-5.CAS.a.1; 3-5.CAS.b; 3-5.DTC.a; 3-5.DTC.b; 3-5.DTC.c.2; 3-5.DTC.c.3