Using technology to help deepen understanding of math concepts.

Technology helps our students understand difficult concepts…and share what they have learned!

We often think of technology as being really cool, fun and often more as “play” than work.  What we don’t always realize is that technology is also opening up new ways to learn for those who struggle with a particular concept.   

2nd graders in Mrs. McNair's classroom enjoy learning about math concepts. 

Learning to understand the concept of subtraction when using large numbers is easy for some students, but for many, it is a difficult concept and it takes practice. Mrs McNair is using the math view in Kidspiration to help students grasp the concept and to be able to explain their understanding of the concept

On their first attempt with the software, they learned to create a chart to show the hundred, tens and ones - then manipulate the virtual base 10 blocks on the screen to show their understanding of the math problem on the board.   

It didn’t take long for them to realize that there were multiple ways to solve a math problem and they eagerly shared what they were learning with their partners. The software allows them to color the blocks, to move the blocks around, to separate and regroup the blocks and to show them with or without labelled columns.  Practice makes perfect… and when the practice is engaging,  it’s much easier to become a great math student.   This will be an ongoing project so watch for more on this in upcoming weeks.

First Grade: Understanding personal and cultural events of families in "Who We Are"

First Grade has been learning about personal and cultural events in their “Who We Are” unit. Throughout the unit of inquiry, students examined the personal and cultural events of families. Through comparison, students also explored customs and celebrations in each other’s families and families around the world.

Various learning experiences helped the students make connections to gain intercultural understanding and respect. Here are a few of the wonderful opportunities the students had the opportunity to engage in:

·         “Long ago, people found a way to light the darkness . . . Light was so important in their lives that they came to use it in worship and in celebrations” (from “Celebrations of Light” by Nancy Luenn).

o    Students had the opportunity to explore holidays that shared a common element . . . LIGHT!!! The students were able to select the holiday they wanted to inquire into (from a list). They then went to the teacher responsible for that holiday, learned more about it and then returned to their class to share their knowledge with their classmates.

Students who chose to go to Ms. Fitch’s class learned about the Japanese festival “Obon Matsuri.” This is a festival that honors the dead; each student created a lantern to honor a loved one, keeping in line with an Obon Matsuri tradition.

o    Students also had the opportunity to learn about traditions from community members. The volunteers who agreed to speak with the children shared how their culture has impacted the traditions that they have in their family, as well as challenges and/or positive ways their culture/ traditions have changed.

Volunteer speaker shares the traditions from her culture (Chile) with Frist Grade students.

Throughout the exploration of this unit of inquiry, the students were asked to consider what they were learning from multiple perspectives. This is a powerful tool for learning about other people and cultures; thus helping students gain an understanding that the importance of family and community beliefs, customs, language, and traditions are universal. Way to go First Grade!!!

5th grade use technology to learn about the past

Mrs. Birrel's 5th grade class are engaged in learning about the tools and technology from the past. They are learning how the past has influenced the present by using computers to view photos of medical and other equipment from the 19th and 20th Centuries. Working together in small groups, they are able to talk about the old fashioned equipment and compare it with the tools and technology of today and realize that what we have today has evolved from the things that were used in the past.

Partnering with Community Members to Enhance Our Understanding of the World

Last week our 1st grade was fortunate to have guest speakers from our community; a firefighter, state trooper, lawyer & middle school principal connected to a unit of inquiry they are exploring under Sharing the Planet. Our school counselor, Mrs. Mutscher, also contributed to this unit with a counselor lesson.

The central idea is: “Citizens can work together to create a peaceful and organized community.” In this unit 1st grade investigates characteristics of good citizens before discussing how cooperation leads to a peaceful community, and resolving conflicts peacefully. This is an important unit for students, as it helps in the establishment of a collaborative classroom, illustrates different perspectives on cooperation and provides opportunities for the children to practice peaceful conflict resolution.  In their presentations, our community representatives talked about how they work with others to “keep the peace.”

One of the benefits of teaching and learning in the PYP is how it strives to provide students with a way to connect to their learning. It does this by making that learning relevant. By bringing in members of the community, 1^st grade teachers were able to support students as they made these connections. The opportunity to ask questions of the speakers allows our students to engage in meaningful conversation and deepen their knowledge of the concepts they are studying.

3rd Graders Make Work Easier

Third grade students recently finished their summative assessment for their How the World Works unit. Their central idea was work happens when a force causes change.  Students were challenged with creating something that would solve a problem or make life easier.  Students had to address the work that would happen and  the energy needed to help solve the problem or make work easier.  Students could present their creation using any format they chose.
Check out a couple of samples from Ms. Olson's class. These students used Padlet, an online bulletin board, to organize their ideas. Students really exercised their creativity and came up with some pretty innovative ideas!

http://padlet.com/embed/849kiccuee8g

http://padlet.com/embed/1y8amntkfqao

1st Graders Take Action @ Home!

1st grade students have been learning about natural resources in science. Some of Mrs. Sharp's students took action by going home and reusing common household items and turning them into something new and useful. We get excited when students are able to put their learning to use out in the real world- nothing is more satisfying to a teacher!  

Check out some of their creations below!

Anuj used a shoe box for a question/answer type game about birds.


Briley made a bird feeder out of a large water bottle.

We celebrate students who take action at home- if your child has put their learning to use at home, fill out one of the Action at Home forms and send it in to their teacher.

5th Grade Students Design a Green City

5th Grade students finished their Sharing the Planet unit last month. The inquired into the central idea Using and conserving resources alters our relationships with communities and environments. To show their understanding at the end of the unit, students were given the real world task of creating a "Green City" that would run entirely on alternative energy. In their presentation, students had to discuss the impact on the community and environment as well as the conditions that must be necessary for the alternative energy forms to successfully power the city. Check out some samples below from Mrs. Walker's class:

1st Grade Reflects...I Want to Be Like

First grade students recently completed their Where We Are in Place and Time unit where they explored the central idea Exploring influential people from the past can inspire our way of life. After they studied characteristics of people who influenced the past and how people's previous actions inspire future change, students reflected on who they might want to be like. Students uploaded their photo into Phrase.it and wrote a speech bubble of who they wanted to be like and why. It is evident that this unit get students thinking about how they can use what they learned from others to make good choices today! Check out a few samples from Mrs. Moyer's class below and see the whole class by clicking here.

Student Council Takes Action

Student Council took a field trip last week.  They visited University Village Memory Care Facility and sang carols with the residents!  Our student council visited twice this past Spring and enjoyed it so much they couldn't wait to go back and visit again.  Although they had fun, their visit had purpose!  Here is an interesting related research on the power of music to boost memory.

4th Graders Take a Virtual Tour of Texas- and Send Postcards!

Students in 4th grade recently took a virtual bus tour through the regions of Texas. They took notes on each region as then went. Students used Padlet, an online bulletin board tool, to collect their notes and thoughts. As an assessment, they created a postcard on a Google Drawing and wrote a letter about their favorite region, using facts and details to back up their reasons. See Ms. Barrios' class hard work below:

5th Grade Explorers Trading Cards

5th Grade recently wrapped up their Where We Are in Place and Time unit where they investigated the central idea "Human discovery and exploration shapes the individual and the world." After studying several different explorers, they made trading cards to show what they learned.  Students researched what motivated the explorers and what their impact was.  Students in Mrs. Kim's class used Microsoft Publisher to put together their cards, while students in Mrs. Walker's class utilized Google Docs.  Check out some of their awesome work below:

Links to Mrs. Walker's Class Explorer Trading Cards

1.  http://goo.gl/NgIEkW

2.  http://goo.gl/WAq1Kq

3.  http://goo.gl/PjKS9O

4.  http://goo.gl/riJCF2

5.  http://goo.gl/2KJKo4

6.  http://goo.gl/S47UKs

7.  http://goo.gl/lfvk2o

8. http://goo.gl/WIo182

9. http://goo.gl/Lf05Km

10.  http://goo.gl/1dPlFd

11. http://goo.gl/BfTC6g

12.  http://goo.gl/IcMbO6

13.  http://goo.gl/fgnEQw

14.  http://goo.gl/fWYbW1

15.  http://goo.gl/Fhhbxf

16.  http://goo.gl/A5mbfm

17.  http://goo.gl/OFjit6

18.  http://goo.gl/dD8sbN

19. http://goo.gl/jC1LlR

20.  http://goo.gl/jMFgiF

21.  http://goo.gl/Wj8Nah

Stony Point Ambassadors Visit COE

Stony Point High School Ambassadors recently came to visit COE 5th grade students.  They talked about the Academy Program as well as what the IB looks like in high school.  This was one of our activities for Education. Go Get It Week.  Throughout the week, students learned about a variety of colleges and careers as well as the skills and knowledge that are necessary to be successful. The Stony Point students were a high point for our 5th grade.  They talked about what a typical day was like, what they needed to do to be successful in school and how they say their education preparing them for their future.  Students got to ask a lot of really great questions and were excited about the opportunities that lay ahead of them in the next few years!

COE Cheetahs Celebrate International Day of Peace!

COE Cheetahs have been celebrating the International Day of Peace each year. This year in art class, students are making symbols of peace in origami like cranes, butterflies, doves, hearts, homes, and lotus flowers. Students also pledged to take individual actions.  As an IB school, it is so important to all of us that we each do our part to make this world a more peaceful place.  Check out what some of our students have pledged to do in the video below!

4th Grade Investigates Culture in Who We Are Unit

4th Grade has been inquiring into the central idea "Understanding personal histories, beliefs and values fosters intercultural connectedness." As part of their unit, they invited parents with a variety of backgrounds to come talk about their histories, beliefs and values. Students asked great questions to learn more about what makes each culture unique and also how we are all tied together. Parent volunteers came from Venezuela, India and France- it was a great mix of different cultures and students really learned a lot. We really appreciate all the parents who shared with us and helped foster intercultural connectedness!

Student Council Wins Award!

Chandler Oaks Student Council was awarded a great honor! RRISD Partners in Education chose them as the Youth Volunteers of the Year! Our Student Council has worked very hard this year, both for the school community and the Round Rock community.

Student Council members have taught lessons to the younger grades as part of the 15 Days of Caring, volunteered at the local nursing home, raised over $1500 for charities and the school, helped teachers after school and created bowls for the Empty Bowl Project. They are models of integrity, respect and principle!

Congratulations to the 2012-2013 Student Council!

3rd Grade Economics Fair

3rd Grade students recently held their annual Economics Fair.  As part of their IB How We Organize Ourselves unit, they inquired into the central idea: Economic systems require decisions and choices that impact lives and communities. Students created goods or developed services and invited the school to come to their marketplace. Prior to the fair, all students wrote a business plan &developed marketing.
Students used Vocaroo to record radio commercials and shot a video commercial to air on our morning news program.  Check them out!
Radio Commercials


3rd graders researched options for what they would do with the profits. Groups presented their ideas and  then they voted on their favorites. This year they decided that their proceeds would benefit The Wounded Warrior Project and Austin Disaster Relief. Austin Disaster relief was chosen because they are helping with recovery efforts in West.  The Wounded Warrior Project was chosen because there are several students that parents that are active in the military.  In total, 3rd grade raised about $1500 from their fair for the community!

4th Grade Investigates the Uses of Water

4th Grade students in Ms. Barrios' class searched for uses of water and categorized them using an online Web 2.0 tool called Padlet. Students saw how much water we use for "fun/entertainment" and decided that sometimes that is actually wasting water. They took action and decided to come up with ways to conserve water in their everyday use so they wouldn't feel so bad using "fun water" during the summer. What an awesome example of doing something with your learning! This activity is part of their "Sharing the Planet" unit where they are exploring the central idea, The availability of usable water affects people's opportunities.

Check out their work!
http://padlet.com/wall/id8man1tis
http://padlet.com/wall/63vuhykvfw
http://padlet.com/wall/ewcm57a424
http://padlet.com/wall/mk84okcmms

5th Grade Presents: Artists, Musicians & Authors That Reflect Our Values

Students in 5th grade just completed a research project as part of their How We Express Ourselves unit. The were studying the central idea Art, music and literature can express the values and influence the culture of the time. Students were asked to research an artist/author/musician that reflected their values and present to the class. Students passion came though in their presentations and we were able to learn a lot about what they value and find important.  In this example, you can see that Caleb is passionate about I.M. Pei's architecture- he even dressed up as him!

4th Grades Take Action!

4th Grade studetns are investigating the central idea, The availability of usable water affects people’s opportunities, in their Sharing the Planet unit.  Ms. Gray’s 4th grade class was inspired by a guest speaker from Round Rock Water to clean the trash from the reading garden. The speaker told the students one way to keep our water supply clean is to keep the trash out of the environment, so students decided to start in their own back yard!  Many students use the Reading Garden, so Mrs. Gray's class helped both other students and the water supply.  That's putting learning in action!

5th Grade Gets Inspired by Art

5th Grade is currently in their How We Express Ourselves unit of inquiry. 

Their central idea is:  Art, music and literature can express the values and influence the culture of the time
And the lines of inquiry:
1. Art reflects the values of a time period
2. The legacy of artistic contributions
3. How artists craft their art, music & literature to convey their message

Students looked at a variety of pieces of art then wrote a creative writing piece inspired by one of the works of art.  Once students are done with their piece, they will compare their story with what actually inspired the artist to create the piece.  Have you studied these pieces before?  What message do they convey to you?