Amazing Race -- SO COOL!!!

So, as many of you know my job during the summer is working for the Technology Department orchestrating two summer camps for the kiddos in our county, and one week long professional development for our region. This week is the last week of my summer work, which for me is sad! I LOVE working at the technology office - the people and atmosphere is WONDERFUL! It's so cool to have a job to plan only technology based things! It's a nice change of pace from my school year. Although I am sad, I am super excited to get back into my classroom!! 
Today was the first day of our "Amazing Race" Camp. In this camp, we have students split into groups of about 8 students, and lead by some of my fellow teachers from here in the county. The teachers really are just that -- leaders. The entire week is student based inquiry challenges. The teachers that are working are WONDERFUL -- they really let the students take charge and lead them in such an encouraging way. I <3 the teachers I have this week! 
I have set up 9 Start Ups and 9 Challenges for each team to complete. The students follow a rotation schedule to travel through each station by the end of the week, with a special task on the last day. You can see that rotation schedule here.  Each start up is a clue that leads them into their challenges. The challenges require students to work together as a team, using technology as a tool for their discoveries. For example, the first starter (called Clue#1) had students work together to FaceTime "The Great Oz" -- a candy stuffed M&M at the Tech Office! The Oz gave the students a password, which their clue instructed them to take to Ms. Lavinder. Ms. Lavinder had set up a xylophone with snapple bottles and water! Students had to tune the xylophone, and then play a song. It was SO cool! 





I even interrupted the challenges with a "Road Block". Some of our software partners seriously hooked us up with some SWAG! Webroot, our Antivirus software, sent in screen cleaners, mouse pads, and the students favorite, stylus, pen, flashlight combinations. (They donated a TON for our summer programs -- and the kiddos LOVE it). iBoss Security donated tshirts that were created to look like security shirts, and our middle school group went crazy over them! 

iBoss Security SWAG!

They are BEYOND excited -- Webroot SWAG ! One of the kiddos even said, "It's a flashlight, AND a stylus! My brother is going to be SO jealous!" 

These kids show off their webroot mouse pads -- they came in 2nd for the day ! The race is ON tomorrow! 

Screen Cleaners, courtesy of Webroot. They restick to your iPad over and over again! The kids  did NOT want to share these with anyone! 

One of our challenges was to land an RC Helicopter on a series of  helipads. The sequence was ROY G. BIV - which was part of the students' challenge to figure out! They were just given a few clues, and the colors. It was so cool to watch them work! 

Students here were working to set up a FaceTime interview with someone  across town in our offices! 

As you can see, our kiddos has a G-R-E-A-T time at camp today. I can't wait to see how Day 2 goes. If you have been thinking of doing an Amazing Race themed anything - I would be happy to share my resources! 

Summer Technology Camps

Wow - it's July? What happened to my summer! I have been working ALL summer. (Really - I have!) I was the director of our county's summer programs, and they were SO successful this year. Our first camp, Soaring Eagle Digital Media Academy, ran from June 17-20. We had about 75 students attend, and it was AMAZING! Students learned Computer Animations, Digital Storytelling, Creating Video Games, virtual world science, and more! The best part (students voted) was our new addition this year, the "Digital Playground" This was an hour, split into two 30 minute sessions throughout the week. Students were give "play time" with aeronautics (YES! We had helicopters, planes, and all other RC things), iPads, games from the Chrome store, and more! It was so cool to watch the kids explore. Check out the photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.588542761180339.1073741830.582997498401532&type=1&l=90566ad866


Last week, I worked on our county's RPDIT - a week long professional development for teachers. As the chairwoman, I worked with all the instructors, on registration with our WONDERFUL secretary Barb (I'd be lost without her!!), and by the end of the week I was exhausted. We had between 65-80 teachers, ITRTs, and Technology Representatives from ALL over south west Virginia each day. Wednesday, July 10 was VSTE Day. We partnered with the Virginia Society for Technology in Education to provide over a dozen break out sessions on Wednesday. It was AMAZING! I even got to see a 3D printer in use! Even though I was in charge of finding instructors for each class, and helping our technology director to design the classes, I still learned a ton of cool ideas from my peers!  I gathered lots of new ideas, and even finally got on the Twitter Wagon! You can follow me @teach3rdmath :) I have so much to put into my classroom next year, I can't wait to go back! (Remind me that I said that August 5th when we have our first day back! Check out some photos of participants of RPDIT 2013

Next week wraps up our last summer camp for the kids in our county - and it has an Amazing Race theme! I am SO excited. For the past 5 or so years, we have done a CSI themed camp, which is always a hit. Amazing Race is new for us, and I'm sure it will be a learning experience. It certainly was a learning experience for me planning the camp! The students are in 9 groups, and throughout Monday-Wednesday they will travel through 9 challenges. On Thursday, students will work using iMovie to create a movie trailer of their journey through the week. We will have a "showing" of the movies for parents and community members on Thursday @11.  Just as on TV, during the race there are "Road blocks", challenges, and even starter challenges that students must work together on to receive their next clue! Each clue is in an envelope, and we will have all stations set up and watch the students move through. We are expecting between 60-70 students each day. I will post updates at the end of the camp.

After camp next week, I transition back into my role as classroom teacher, and leave the technology office. (The thought makes me tear up!) I guess I have the best of both worlds -- I get to play ITRT in the summer, and keep my classroom throughout the year! If you would like any information on any of the camps or Professional development that I organized for Franklin County, VA this year, shoot me an email, I'd be happy to share!

PS-- Sad news-- my BFF and co teacher Candice will be moving to 2nd grade next year. The only good part about this is that my niece will be in 2nd grade with her, and we will still be neighbors. Check out her blog: http://adayinthelifeofmsbowles.blogspot.com/