learning – travelteachlove

SeeSaw for the Win!

October 12, 2018 No Comments

Over the summer I listened to some podcasts about a new tool I could use in the classroom called SeeSaw. Now granted I had seen a thing or two about it before on Instagram, but I hadn’t taken the time to research it to find out more. Why did I wait so long??? SeeSaw is both a website and app that allows students to create an online portfolio of work that is shared with their family. It has been super easy to use and the company even runs free PD sessions online, so getting up and started was a breeze. […]

Classroom Connection

Flexible Seating with Students

August 31, 2016 No Comments

Whew, we all survived the first few days of a new school year! It has been a great start to a new year in a new grade thanks in part to flexible seating. Although it has only been a few days, flexible seating is proving to be the best thing I could have done in my classroom! Students are engaged, working, and seem happy with the flexibility and responsibility of picking how and where they sit. After practicing using different seats, I thought it would be fun to graph what students think about their choices so far. After our morning meeting, students […]

Classroom Connection

Flexible Seating for Flexible Learning

August 15, 2016 No Comments

As a new school year approaches I am preparing for new challenges and new adventures. This will be by first year teaching 2nd grade, so there is a lot for me to learn before my students come through the door for the first day of school. This summer, besides pouring over curriculum to familiarize myself with the differences between 3rd grade and 2nd grade skills, I am also preparing my classroom space as well. Deciding on classroom layout is one of my favorite things to work on over the summer. It is a time when all things are possible and all […]

Classroom Connection

Pen Pals

March 29, 2016 No Comments

Since coming back from Spain students have had the chance to ask questions, see pictures, and learn more about all things Spain. Many of the questions have been centered around school, students and what life is like for kids growing up in Spain, which makes sense since students are kids. I tell students all about my observations from my school visits, but it’s just not the same as going yourself. The next best thing would be to learn about student life from actual students. Luckily there is a way I can make this happen. I contacted our tour guide from […]

Classroom Connection, Travel

Spain School Visit

February 16, 2016 3 Comments

The absolute highlight of my trip so far has been the visit to the private school. There is just something about being in a school, and talking, or attempting to talk, to students and watching teachers in action that I love. After arriving at Colegio International Alminar, we started our visit with a mini presentation put on by one of the teachers, Mercedes. She explained the school mission, what a typical day looks like and answered our many questions about teaching and school life in Spain. Then it was off to the classroom. We broke up into small groups so […]

Classroom Connection

STEAM: Designing Sledding Ramps

January 31, 2016 No Comments

As a way to try out a STEAM project before diving into making windmills when I get back from Spain; my buddy 1st grade teacher and I decided to take on a smaller STEAM project with our classes, designing ramps for model sleds (bottle caps). Teaming up together to collaborate on this project could not have been better! The first grade teacher, Jess, and I worked together to find a easy first STEAM lesson we could do with our two classes. Jess found the perfect lesson that only required a few materials, and included a great graphic organizer for collecting data and […]

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Learning (Finnish) Isn’t Easy

January 17, 2016 4 Comments

Recently I had a major lightbulb moment about teaching and learning. To prepare for my upcoming trip to Finland this summer, I decided to embark on a quest to learn a new language, Finnish. For some this may sound like a walk in the park, but for me let me tell you, it is not easy. I have never considered my self a “language” person. Three years of Spanish in high school was my own personal hell as far as I was concerned. A passing grade through Spanish III was enough to meet the foreign language requirement for an advanced diploma at my […]