Skype Chat with Author Jarrett Krosoczka

A big THANK YOU to the PTA for sponsoring the very first author Skype visit at Forest Creek Elementary! JarrettKrosoczka shared his trade secrets for writing and illustrating, and our fourth graders are clamoring for his Platypus Police Squad and Lunch Lady series books!

We were able to hold two Skype sessions with this friendly author at his home in Massachusettes. Mr. Krosoczka showed students his at-home studio, answered questions about the writing process, and led students in illustrating emotions. We can't wait until his books and illustrations arrive on campus!

iPads for the Next Generation

Mr. Alvarez (5th grade) and Mrs. Rodgers (Kindergarten) have both been awarded the Next Generation Classroom and therefore have iPads to use with students.  These iPads are part of a district initiative and stay selectively with these teachers' classrooms.

Mrs. Rodgers is beginning her second year using iPads and students have TAKEN OFF!  Today, we completed an Acceptable Use lesson on how to properly use and care for the device, as well as display good citizenship with internet use.  Students used an app called Doodle Buggy to explore in math!

Mr. Alvarez is beginning his first year in using iPads with his 5th grade classes.  Because 5th grade is departmentalized, he uses the iPads with the three classes to which he teaches math.  Therefore, Mrs. Queton's students and Mrs. Yamout's students each have an opportunity to use the interactive devices.  Here is a picture of students completing a math warmup using Apollo from Atlas Learning!

Orientations

We've wrapped up orientations with the all of the grades.  Thank you for joining us for these special nights of meeting the teachers, administration and other school personnel!  For your convenience, all presentations are housed on our main website {forestcreek.roundrockisd.org} under the tab titled 'Orientation.' You may also click on each thumbnail below, which will take you to the presentation.

August 13 - New Parent/Kinder Orientation

 

September 1 and 3 - Open House

Science Day

On Friday, April 17 Forest Creek Elementary enjoyed Science Day! Students participated in activities, lessons, and heard members of the community speak about all fields of science. Events included recycling, food chains with iPads, a hands-on live mammals exhibit, a Holstein cow complete with a digital farming presentation, environmental pollution presentation, a Home Depot car construction station, a bridge building competition, and an interactive Grand Canyon model.

Thank you to two of our teachers, DeAnna Jezisek and Meaghan Kirby, for their hard work coordinating the schedule and securing presenters.

Collaborative Biographies

Students in Mrs. Bartholomew and Mrs. Fry's fourth grade classes recently collaborated to complete biography projects.  After Mrs. Bartholomew shared a research template with both classes via Google Docs, students logged into their Google Accounts to complete research on their chosen Texas hero.  Students collaborated to find interesting facts, timeline information, relative photographs, and create a bibliography.  This information was then used to create individual student projects.  Some students made three dimensional projects to tell about their Texas hero, while others created posters.  See their creations below!

Plickers for Pre- and Post- Assessment!

Plickers is a digital tool that allows teachers to collect real time data without students needing to have a device of their own.  Teachers create a class on the www.plickers.com and print out response cards for students.  Teachers enter questions in the form of a quiz they can then use as a pre- or post-assessment in class with students.  This form of polling students is much more engaging then traditional paper-pencil quizzes.  The teacher can also provide immediate feedback to students by showing the correct answer after all students have answered.

Third grade teachers Mrs. Shogan and Mrs. Couture have been trying out this digital tool to gather formative assessment data on their classes. Students love responding!

5th Grade Plays

Mrs. Yamout's Language Arts classes have been working hard to write original scripts for plays.  Each team had to include a setting, characters, and stage directions for their play. After the plays were drafted and published on a Google Doc, the script was input in Adobe Visual Communicator.  This program allows the script to scroll down the screen and students to select their own background for filming.  With the help of the ITS, students recorded their original play in a WMV file and could share it with the teacher and peers.