"About Me"

Remind everyone about your role, learner age(s), technology environment, and technology stance. My name is Helen Wright. I work in a rural public PreK - 8th grade school. While I understand the importance of technology in the 21st century, I don't use it with my classes a lot. The all have their own chrome books. If we do do something technological with younger students, we will use the ipads. My currant class has inspired me to use more technology during library time.

What are your strengths? I would say my strengths are connection to my students, a love of books, and experience in special education. I only see the classes once a week so it is important for them to trust me.Creating relationships with them helps with classroom management. I love sharing books with the kids, whether during read aloud or suggesting a title for them to read. I notice the more excited I am, the more they are interested.  My training in special ed has helped me with my adaptive classes as well as mainstream. Being clear with expectations and patient while waiting can help different situations.

Where would you like to see some improvement whether for you or for your learners? I would like to be more focused on how I use technology. I find myself getting into too much information while researching for my personnel classes as well as ones I teach.

List 5 topics, ideas, areas or specific readings that you have wanted to explore. 

I would like to learn more about storytelling. I enjoy read aloud but I think I could make them more engaging to my students.

PBIS - we use this in my school and I believe there is more for me to learn.

Creating games like kahoot for my classes to help teach library skills.

Time Management. Teaching classes while running a library (plus getting pulled to sub) can get overwhelming. I would like to focus on managing my time effectively in order to get my tasks accomplished.

Google tools. I know there is more I can be using Google for in my library. I could also be an assistant to other teachers. There is the opportunity to become a google educator by taking tests on your knowledge.

Explain why or how any or all of these impact your learning environment or personal growth?  I touched on this above.

Do you know what direction you already would like to go? I think becoming a Google Educator.

Do you see alignment with the course central questions or outcomes?

This would align with course outcomes in Teaching and Learning #2 : Demonstrate fluency with new educational tools, and articulate the affordances and constraints of such tools to support educational practice.

Inquiry Project

The Learner Inquiry Project I designed is for Fourth Grade. Our school's Garden Committee is working on an outside garden space to be butterfly friendly. This project would help the committee come up with ideas to create the space while also involving the students in the plans. Involving students in planning will create a partnership with the Garden Committee as well as help the students use their research skills to learn about local habitats.

How Might We.. Create an outside environment that is welcoming to butterflies?

Resources for Educators:

Bulletin #7151, Landscaping for Butterflies in Maine

This is a detailed bulletin by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Articles from this link can be shared with the students. I believe sharing it all may feel overwhelming to 4th graders.

GARDEN LESSON PLAN: HABITAT AND POLLINATORS

 This lesson is geared towards older students but it is filled with lesson ideas on creating a garden for habitat and pollinators.

Education Grants Program

Planning and creating a garden cost money. Maine Agriculture in the Classroom offers grants that can help. You will need to apply the year before implementing the program.

Passionate about Pollinators  In this youtube video, you will get excited to plan a garden for pollinators.

Resources for Students:

Selecting Plants for pollinators  research here for different plants to encourage pollinators to visit your garden.

The Wild Seed Project Another site to help choose plants to attract pollinators. This link goes directly to list of Favorite Plants for Schoolyards

Maine Native Plants This site is part of the Maine Audubon Site and focuses on plants that are indigenous to Maine. The link will help you chose plant based on critera including butterflies and woldlife.

Technology:

Canva  This can be used to create a poster explaining what would be in your garden and why.

Paint tool for Chrome This can be used to draw outline of garden.

Standard

4-LS1-1.	Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.