Spreadsheets in the Classroom

This week we learned about spreadsheets, and how to use them. I can think of many ways to use spreadsheets in my future classroom, especially for math. The graphs are on the spreadsheets are a great tool. Instead of having to draw all these graphs, all the students will have to do is organize the data on an Excel sheet, and a perfect graph is made. Actually multiple graphs of all sizes, shapes, colors, and configurations can be made. In the second grade math core, students are to be able to identify parts of wholes. Spreadsheets are a perfect way to show that 18 students make up one whole class, just by a simple formula on an Excel sheet. Or they can make their own shapes and shade them, right on the computer, it's instant and it's accurate. I know when I try and draw a perfect circle and then divide it into four equal parts, it doesn't always work out so well. But if one makes a circle on Excel, then has it divided into four parts, it will be perfect. Another standard requires the students to model two and three digits with decimal points out to the one hundredths place. On Excel it has a button that does decimal places, and it will even write the number out in words, what a fun way for the students to learn and practice. I could go on with ways I could use spreadsheets in the classroom, but the one thing I know I will use them for is for grading. The students will not be using this as a resource, but it will sure make my life a whole lot easier. I have used spreadsheets many times in life, for my summer job at the county office, in my school career thus far, and I know I will continue to use them far into the future.

Using Google Docs in my classroom

I looked at the 2nd grade Utah State Core Language Arts Curriculum. There are lots of objectives that say pre-writing, then compose, next revise, last edit,and publish a story. Google Docs are perfect for this kind of thing. They are all online, so they can't use the excuse "I forgot my homework" and the students can help each other out. Another Language Arts Standard says "students will understand, interpret, and analyze narrative, and informational grade level text." As the teacher, I can make a Google Doc of an article or anything, then the students can log on and analyze it all online. They can also put their comments right into the Google Doc, so other students will be able to see what other students thought. Google Docs could be used for other subjects as well, in science, for example, I can send an informational text on the planets, then have them discuss it all online. Social studies, math, etc can also be taught/enhanced by the use of Google Docs.

Cooperative Writing Using Google Docs

So once upon a time...there was a man who was driving in the middle of a horrible rain storm. His windshield wipers stopped working, during this storm. He decided that since the rain was starting to freeze into snow and hail he needed to stop at the next exit and get a room for the night. Then, he saw a blurred green exit 124 1 mile, the lodging sign followed, and it was blank. He began to think through his options. Well I could just sleep in my car, or 'oh no' he said 'it's Friday the 13th!' and i don't really have anything to keep warm i might freeze (knowing that if he left his car running he'd run out of battery or gas). Then in the distance he saw some lights...he began to be hopeful. He jumped out of his car and began frantically waving his yellow rain jacket at the on coming car. to be continued.....

Cooperative Valentine's Writing

Once upon a Valentine’s Day, there was a little girl named Sam. Sam had been up all night gluing and cutting red, pink, and white valentines. It was a very daunting task. But it was defiantly worth it, as she thought of the look her valentine would have on his face as he opened up the beautiful valentines. She realized that she was running late as she glanced at the clock and flew into a panic. Grabbing her valentine, her keys and shoeing the cat out the door she jumped in her car and sped down the road. On her front windshield was a Valentine, but she didn’t stop to take it off, she was already running late. Who was this valentine from? Hopefully, it was not from her creepy friend named Rofus. Again, she pondered on the strange name: Rofus. “Where is that name from? Why does it have a distinctly sinister feel when I say his name?” She brushed the thought aside as she continued driving to school. She proudly walked up to her beau and gave him his Valentine. He just smiled.

UEN Lesson Plan

I did a lesson plan for 2nd graders, on how to use the food pyramid to eat healthy. It is part of the content core for 2nd grade, and I like smartboards, so my lesson uses one. If you want to read my lesson plan, here is the link: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=22802