Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Which Items Can I Purchase?

Ms. Moerdyk's 2nd graders were caught using the ActivExpressions to learn about money. The students were given a math problem with multiple items (each with a different price) on the Promethean board. The teacher then asked a student to come up to the board and drag a hidden amount of money. Once the class saw what the amount was, they had to decide which item could be purchased with the amount that was dragged from the "Activ Bank."


Students then used their ActivExpressions to enter their selection of the item that they could afford. Students were engaged in this activity, and they were learning skills which are applicable in the real world - calculating the value of the coins they saw on the board and then evaluating which items could be purchased with that amount. 




Tuesday, September 10, 2013

RRISD Moves to SharpSchool for Web Service

 Making a Change

Teachers are working on creating a new updated web page using the districts web tool SharpSchool. The entire district has converted to SharpSchool. It has been a smooth transition for the public and a much easier web page to navigate.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

WE WILL PASS THE STAAR WE KNOW IT!


Bluebonnet Elementary faculty, staff, students, and parents rocked their way through a music lipsink video to help excite everyone about the STAAR test.


Technology can be used to motivate and accelerate learning!

Above & Beyond


Our 4th grade students went above and beyond as did their teacher Darla Ruggerio. The students took video of themselves giving instruction, information and some good entertainment. After editing the video they produced the movies for their families and had a huge drama night.  Students performed other speeches and showed the video to a large crowd of family and friends.

Great use of technology and theater.





INSTANT GRATIFICATION


Bluebonnet teachers are using the Promethean responders for instant feedback on students knowledge. Students are using the responders to answer questions. The immediate knowledge of knowing if you are wrong or right helps solidify correct information for the students. Responders are used on a daily basis in many classes providing true technology integration and not just technology usage.



The Library is Changing for Today's Kids


Books are not the only hot commodity in the library these days. Lessons are given on the Promethean board, students look up research information using the computer, and computers are used to look up books!

The library is a hopping place for technology.



Monday, March 25, 2013

Bluebonnet's 
BELIEVE IT OR NOT


Students in Ms. Garcia's First Grade did some great timeline projects.  Yes, first graders open a popular software called Kidspiration and created a timeline about an individual in history.  Students had already done all their research using the computers to complete their timeline with factual data. 

I'm glad our first graders are so smart and can use their knowledge in creating work with technology. 

What did you do when you were in first grade?

Monday, March 18, 2013

THEY JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH

Teacher Brittany Gundersen and her students love using their responders.  Not only does it make the class interactive but students and teachers alike get an immediate feedback on their knowledge.



ROOM 16 ROCKS TECHNOLOGY
KATHRYN MOERDYK IS BRINGING THE WILDLIFE INTO HER CLASSROOM

A pair of bald eagles joined the Alcoa Davenport community in Iowa in 2009. They built their 7-foot nest on our 400-acre facility in a tree near the Mississippi River. In the spring of 2010 they fledged a pair of eaglets and later that year we installed our firstEaglecam. Employees and the community helped name the eagle pair Liberty and Justice. In April 2011, an online poll named the single eaglet they fledged that year “Freedom”. In 2012, they fledged three eaglets that were named Faith, Hope and Spirit by online voting. 


Ms. Moerdyk's class checks in on the Eagles ever so often to see how they are doing.  Students love seeing a living animal in it natural habitat and enjoy seeing an animal that is living in another state. It is amazing how you can bring real life happenings from just about anywhere in the world, right into your room with computers. 



If you would like to see the EagleCam click here!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Literacy Night
 at Bluebonnet Elementary 

 B I G    H I T

Making reading the main attraction, Bluebonnet Elementary hosted celebrity readers including:
Dr. Chavez - Superintendent of RRISD
Round rock Mayor - Alan McGraw
Soccer Star of the Austin Aztex - Leone Cruz
Toros Basketball player and Mascot

While reading was the focus, teachers showed video of students in their classes using the reading strategies taught here at Bluebonnet Elementary.

Even when something as basic as reading is highlighted, you can't get away from the technology!


Friday, February 22, 2013

Morning Announcement

Here at Bluebonnet Elementary announcements are very important.  Our students do the morning announcements or broadcast every morning live.  These students come in during lunch and after school to plan and script their information.  The 5th graders then come in each morning and under the guidance of Mrs. Seals and Mr. Husmann they use a powerful program called Adobe Visual Communicator as they produce live the actual show as it plays to all the classrooms.

What a great real world experience!



Friday, January 18, 2013

Ms. de Becze's 5th Graders are Learning with YouTube!


Ms. de Becze has not only a nack for teaching in the classroom but also for providing instruction online. She has created many helpful youtube videos students and parents can refer to at home.

Click the link below to her web page and pick a lesson!






Monday, January 14, 2013

Technology Keeps 

Stations and Rotations

 Rock'in and Rolling!


Erin Haid keeps students engaged and on task at their stations using technology.  The Promethean interactive board is running math fluency with 3 students at a time while the individual computer is working their math skills individually.




Students are having so much fun they forget they are learning!