Blog Archives

All The News That Fits...and More

1/22/2016

Valley View Counselor, Leslie Eriwin, and Instructional Partner, Heather Petruzinni, have teamed up this year to provide some wonderful opportunities for students to learn from each other.

The idea of students creating, producing and editing their own video newscasts and Morning Announcements originated several years ago when Joan Prinz thought it would be great for students to participate in this type of activity.

She and Mrs. Erwin collaborated on this for the last two years. This year Mrs. Erwin and Mrs. Petruzzini have added Cannon the Science Man and Word in the Hall to the video productions.

Students use iPads and an iMac to create a variety of weekly and monthly videos that entertain, inform; and build community, creativity and leadership in the Valley View Community.

The students do the script planning, writing, and filming. They also do some of the video editing.

The videos are posted on our District Media Core site for easy viewing.

The News Team

The News Team is a leadership opportunity for 5th grade students. The inspiration behind this is to provide an outlet for creativity, leadership and a sense of giving back to their school community and leaving a legacy behind for others.

5th graders apply and interview for 8 different positions (anchors, news reporters, director/editor, camera operator).

A broadcast is prepared each month - students write stories about school events (book fair, bingo night, etc), or school staff, or the VVE community. While there are 8 main News team members, any 5th grader can submit a story idea and we incorporate it into the broadcast or make a special segment - for example, 2 students like to do commercials - they did one about the school store and will be doing one for Bingo night.

Also, 2 other 5th grade students do Fun Fact Friday where they talk about a fun fact (what a teacher did over the break) or a fun fact about Valley View as a special segment.

Morning Announcements

Morning Announcements are an opportunity for all students (1st-5th) to practice being on camera or in front of others, being recognized in the school, having a moment to shine, practice public speaking, and practice being a role model. Morning Announcements videos play every Friday.

Cannon the Science Man

Cannon the Science Man - Was something that a 4th grade teacher was inspired to do...She wanted to encourage all students to be scientists at home and find science to be more accessible. This is our first year trying it, but the idea is that other classes could watch in during their Science time to see what other students are doing and get excited about doing Science at home. A 5th grader hosts this show and 4th graders are featured in this segment.

Word in the Hall

Word in the Hall - Inspired by Word on the Street from Sesame Street, introduces new vocabulary words to students, to promote social emotional learning ideas, to spur conversations in all settings, and for fun.

Two 5th graders interview students and staff all around the school about these words and what they mean to them.

Words that have been done so far are determination, hope and responsibility.

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Teachers Come Alive with Aurasma!

1/4/2016

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Valley View Students saw teachers and staff in a new light as they watched them transform into well known storybook characters in front of their eyes!

In support of our Balanced Literacy Initiative, teachers and staff used the ChatterPix Kids app to capture their favorite storybook character and record a special message to the students,

Julie Cimino, art teacher at Valley View, initiated and facilitated this delightful experience for all of the students and staff. Her organization and support, helped all of us, staff and students, feel successful using technology for fun and learning.

She made herself available before and after school to help teachers and staff create their storybook character video using the ChatterPix Kids App.

She spent many hours linking every staff member's photo to their ChatterPix Kids video that they had emailed to her..and creating the gallery.

We had 100% participation, including custodians, secretaries, and cafeteria personnel!

Students used the Aurasma app to view the transformation of all of their special people here at Valley view.

She taught her third fourth and fifth grade students, during their art classes, how to use the Aurasma App to view the videos; and then she read a poem to them to set the stage ( see the video below)

As they they went on the gallery walk they were delighted to see the new character their teachers changed into.

The following week, the third, fourth and fifth graders took their primary grade buddies through the gallery showing them how to use the Aurasma app and helping them discover the storybook characters their teachers transformed into.

This was an amazing project that had 100% buy in from every single staff member on the campus; which demonstrated how committed everyone is to student success and enjoyment of reading.

The librarian set up a table containing the books in the library that the teachers characterized in there chatter pics video.

The conversation about books and characters, and the delight in the students faces as they watched their teachers transform, was priceless!

Check out the slide show below...
Everyone was so very creative in expressing their character with the ChatterPix App.
In the video below the slide show there are 2 characters singing to the students.
Several more sang also..some yelled...some growled...there was even pirate talk!

2nd Grade Teacher, Christine Stueve, Created her own video of her students enjoying the AR (augmented Reality) experience. Click The Storybook Character Project, scroll down to find it, enjoy!!

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