Matter: Learning About Gas @resvt #NGSS #Science

Students conducted experiments to gain a deeper understanding of gases like air!

Watch the Slideshow in Fullscreen: https://sharalike.com/s/qZxn

Learning From The Bright Side! Using Social Media In A Positive Way To Share Our Voices @MaggieVanDuyn @resvt #maggiesbrightside #StudentVlog #Vlog #CaseyNeistat

Sharing yourself with the world isn't always easy, in fact, it can be quite scary.  As we begin our adventure with vlogging, I wanted kids to learn from, and talk with, people who have made it over their personal hurdles to find the gift that opening yourself up to the world can hold.
I invited Maggie Van Duyn into our classroom to talk with us about how she shares her life in such a beautiful and honest way through social media.


Link to video: https://animoto.com/play/0oiTIx9l1X1rhRSguPTIsA

You can learn more about Maggie & her story by going to her ever honest & inspiring social media accounts:
https://maggiesbrightside.com/
https://www.facebook.com/maggiesbrightside/
https://www.instagram.com/maggievanduyn/
@MaggieVanDuyn 

Learning About The Magic Of Vlogging With Mr. Berry! @MichaelBerryEDU @resvt #Vlog #StudentVlog #Community #Empathy #CaseyNeistat

Mr. Berry and I started vlogging with students my first year at RES.  We knew that vlogging would give students a stronger voice and build their technology skills, but what we didn't realize, was that vlogging would strengthen our relationships and create a magic inside them and inside our community that is indescribable!
I asked Mr. Berry to come into our classroom to talk about the power of vlogging and answer our questions.  We reflected on what we already knew, learned a lot, and felt more ready and inspired to start vlogging than ever!


You can read Mr. Berry's beautiful blog post about his visit on his blog:
https://michaelberryedu.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/student-vlogging-with-kblefrancois-edtech-edchat/

Life Is Better When We're Dancing! @resvt @jratey @Meghan_Trainor #Spark #MovementBreak

Sometimes, you just have to dance!  We love to get our heart rates up before diving into the next part of our day!

We Chose Our First Vlogger!!!! #StudentVlog #Vlog @resvt @BenWhiteEdu @darcierankin

We chose our first vlogger today and we are so excited!  This is a homework assignment, so your children are putting their videos together at home using WeVideo.  Mrs. Rankin, Mr. White and I can all help them with the editing when they need it.  They can also refer to the class blog and Google Classroom for help.  If you do not have internet access at home, Mrs. Rankin and I will give them time in school to put their vlogs together.

Information on all the things their vlog needs to have and resources they can use are in their home/school folders, on this blog, and in Google Classroom.

We are are so excited to start vlogging!!!

We Start Vlogging Next Week!!! So, Why Vlog? @resvt @BenWhiteEdu @MichaelBerryEDU @CaseyNeistat #StudentVlog #Vlog

Over the past few weeks, we have been studying vlogs.  Mr. Berry and I started vlogging with students in 2015 because we realized its value.  Vlogging gives students a voice and allows them to share the story of their day through videos and filmmaking.  
As a classroom teacher, I watched how vlogging strengthened my classroom community, while also building people's confidence.  Vlogging also allowed students to share the parts of themselves that we don't get to see at school.
This year, Mr. White will be vlogging with us and meeting individually with each student to support them in the editing process!  This will be a time for them to connect with Mr. White and strengthen their skills as filmmakers!  Mr. White will also take on the vlog challenge by answering our questions by making vlogs himself!
As we study vlogs, it is clear that the best vlogs are those where people are honest.  Vlogging is about sharing your truest self--messy hair, messy house, just talking into the camera and being yourself! There is no pressure for everything to be or look perfect.  Kids should not plan things out, however, they may place the iPod down to record themselves coming inside or leaving the house, etc.
You can watch the vlogs we have made in the past by going to the links on my class blog.  We are so excited to start this journey together!!!

Why Vlog?  Casey Neistat is someone we study to learn the art of vlogging.  He is incredible at storytelling and creating beautiful, yet real, films.  You can watch the video below to learn more about the power and purpose of vlogging!


When your child is ready to vlog, they must go to Google Classroom to review the rules they need to follow when making and editing their vlog.  Knowing the structure is important before they start, so they are sure to get the necessary footage.  Also, It is a lot of work to change the start of the film in WeVideo when you have used multiple tracks.  So kids need to take their time when putting their vlogs together, editing each piece before moving onto the next.   

Know the rules:

Vlogs Must:

(Make sure to get the necessary footage!)

Each vlog must start with a title and date--See below expectations:

*Video of a moment in your life

*Video of a setting (May do time lapse/ fast or slow motion)

*Overlay Title of Vlog   L4_Vloggers

With vlog number under title   Vlog_001

*Video of a second setting--if possible (May do time lapse/ fast or slow motion)

*Then overlay the place Richmond, Vermont

With the date under the place January 4, 2018

*(Look at Casey’s Title and date as an example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU8AuQeB788 )

End with a hold on your face

After the hold on your face, don’t forget to:

*Site music used (Don’t have to site WeVideo music)

-Remember to use http://makerbook.net/ to get awesome music.  
The best sites for music on Makerbook are Bensound & YouTube!

*Credit/show our production company:

Orange Productions

*Be honest--don’t worry about what you look like or sound like or if your house is clean.

*Be thoughtful in your music choices--make sure we can hear the talking over the music

*Site music used

*Vlogs can’t be too long--Take out the unimportant parts (Remember that transitions
are important!)

*Have fun!!!

Helpful FYI:

Remember to go to Google Classroom for help!  You can access Google Classroom
through your school email--Look for the squares on the top right of the page.  Google
classroom has directions to help you upload photos & videos to your Drive and WeVideo
account, log in to WeVideo, & troubleshoot problems when making your film.

Remember to really secure the first part of your film, then the second, and so on.  It is
very hard to revise the first part of your film when you have a lot of footage that follows--you
have to personally move around the parts on each track.  So, take your time and complete
one part of your film before moving onto the next.  Do your best and follow the above vlog
directions/expectations closely.  You do not want to have to make big changes/additions to
the beginning of your vlog.  

Your school email is always: firstname.lastname@cesuvt.org

Your password is the one you use to log in to your Chromebook

Here are a couple examples of student vlogs:

Students Explore WeVideo As We Prepare to Vlog! @resvt #StudentVlog #Vlog

We have been playing with all the features that WeVideo has to offer as we prepare to vlog and make more films this year!  If they would like to, students can access their WeVideo accounts at home and play with filmmaking!  WeVideo directions are in Google Classroom.  They can access Google Classroom by signing into their school Gmail accounts.  firstname.lastname@cesuvt.org

Here's an example of Janie exploring different features in WeVideo:


We can't wait to start vlogging!

It's Almost Time For The National Geographic School Bee!!! What Can Your Child Do To Prepare? @resvt #GeoBee

Next week, fourth graders will be participating in the National Geographic School Bee.  This is a fun experience that builds community and encourages us to think about the world beyond Vermont.  The GeoBee is meant to be a fun experience that motivates us to think and learn! 
If kids would like to take some time to prepare, below are links they may find helpful.  Remember that the GeoBee will also ask questions about history, culture & climate, while also focusing on vocabulary.

Resources:

Site for the National GeoBee: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/bee/study

A video to help us understand why we participate in the GeoBee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuqHz_KKu50

Meet a winner of the National Geographic Bee and learn more about what geography is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRnyLiD7rt4

You can practice at home with fun Apps like: "Stack the States" or "Stack the Countries"

Here are links to songs that will help you learn where places are around the world: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw1H8aIhKNk&list=PLxgKcGTS69tr4EPzlIlB2xyrPLj2Ivafa&index=1


More Videos to Watch & Study:

Learning To Play & Create Art With Emily Mitchell! @Emitchell802art @resvt #Create #PlayDon'tPlan #MakeArt

Before we left for vacation, Emily Mitchell came into our classroom to share her passion for art with us!  She taught us to relax and enjoy the experience of creating.  She took all pressure off by teaching us the importance of playing and creating instead making a plan that we needed to stick to.
After learning her techniques, we dove in!  The room was relaxed and full of joy as we played with paint and created each piece with care.
The next day, Emily showed us how to explore the layers in our art and transform what we had created into something completely new!  It was an incredible experience and so inspiring!  We are so grateful to Emily for sharing her love of art with us!
We will continue to work on our pieces during mindfulness and throughout the year!  We look forward to thinking about our art and putting words to some of the pieces.  Stay tuned to learn more about our process and continued journey with our art.
thank you Emily!!!



Link to video:  https://animoto.com/play/ZU2YDUNVxlrTSuu17mYozw

To learn more about Emily and all she has to offer, go to: http://emilymitchellstudio.com

We Created Films To Share What We Learned About Different Sources Of Energy! @resvt #NGSS #NaturalEnergyResources #RenewableEnergy #NonrenewableEnergy

In science, we have been learning about renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.  Students broke into small groups to research an energy source that interested them.  They then shared what they learned by creating films.  Check out these incredible films that everyone made!


Link to video: https://youtu.be/WSngVK3hN4w



Link to Video: https://youtu.be/U3bRh7ROMAQ


Link to Video: https://youtu.be/acRa6MizSLA



Link to Video: https://youtu.be/nsqyia-R3EQ



Link to Video: https://youtu.be/bfhQN6Ldq-0


Link to Video: https://youtu.be/U3bRh7ROMAQ

We Had A Reading Party With Our Preschool Buddies! @resvt #Read

Before vacation, we got together with our preschool buddies for a reading party!  It was so nice to reconnect and curl up with some of our favorite books!

Link to Slideshow: https://sharalike.com/s/qX7M