6th Grade

Teacher Spotlight: Tiffany Pontius, Truman Elementary

October 2017Josh Whiting

TNN — Truman News Network

Breaking news! All Salt Lake City news reporters and anchors just may have their job security challenged due to some up and coming talent…hungry for reporting the news. That’s right! Truman News Network, or TNN, is currently taking up residence at Truman Elementary in Taylorsville. Student council members as well as guest reporters tell it like it is every week. Their well-received news cast is filled with information about the weather, sports, holidays, special events, book of the week, word of the day, staff and employee interviews, and the habit of the week. What is the habit of the week, you may ask? Well, on top of all the other awesome things going on at Truman Elementary, they are also a “Seven Habits of Happy Kids” school, wherein they review key ingredients of being successful in life!

TNN is organized by Tiffany Pontius, the School Technology Specialist for Truman Elementary. What could be an overwhelming and daunting task is smooth sailing due to Tiffany’s awesome organization and procedural planning. The best thing about this is that Tiffany prepares her students to be in charge of the news programs. This includes choosing the stories, writing the scripts, and deciding what props and backgrounds to use in place of the green screen when filming and editing. It is purely a situation of a student-led activity. No “sage on the stage” for Tiffany! She simply facilitates this well-oiled machine of news and information. She has used her skills as a top-notch educator to empower her 6th grade TNN members so that they gain confidence in running the news segments.

How do they do it? It all begins with a storyboard. Students choose what assignments they will have for the upcoming news cast during “staff meetings.” Reporters are then on the hunt for the news that will enlighten and inform the students. The student anchors create the script and film the leads. As soon as all of the elements are completed, one of the students edits the footage at home using WeVideo.

When asked the most challenging aspects of this project, the students replied, “…being able to film without laughing…getting everyone on the same page…and finding a time when all are able to meet.” What a terrific way to teach students how to collaborate in an authentic setting!

They also commented that the best thing about TNN is “…being on camera…writing the scripts…editing…hanging out with their friends…and working with Miss Pontius.” We would like to thank Tiffany for being a vital part of Granite School District. Her willingness to go the extra mile with her students and allow them to experience project-based learning, collaboration, problem solving, and creativity in the classroom should be celebrated.

Be sure to visit Truman TNN on YouTube!

Spotlight Created by Pam Moeai, Educational Technology Specialist and Team Leader.

Student Spotlight: Video Projects for Refugee Students, Oakridge Elementary

April 2017Josh Whiting

The 6th Grade students at Oakridge Elementary have been working with their teachers in Project Based Learning. The focus of their projects has primarily been around how we can support refugee students in our area. With the support of their teachers Krystal Bowen, BJ Nelson, and Laurel Myers, students researched areas of need and then created videos that would support a student’s transition to our school. This allowed them not only to explore new cultures but also utilize new technologies such as screen casting, video editing and voice-overs.

Here are examples of their work, produced and shared using Adobe Spark. Click on a screenshot to view the video.

Fire Drills Student Production - Screenshot — Fire Drills

How to Use a Computer Student Production - Screenshot — How to Use a Computer

The Asking Questions Song - Student Production - Screenshot — The Asking Questions Song

Fire Drill Procedures - Student Production - Screenshot — Fire Drill Procedures

Spotlight Author: Melissa White, School Technology Specialist at Oakridge Elementary and Valley Crest Elementary.

Teacher Spotlight: Helen White and Ross Pope, Whittier Elementary

November 2016Josh Whiting

Helen White is a 6th Grade teacher at Whittier Elementary in West Valley City, Utah. Ross Pope is the school’s technology specialist. Mrs. White and Mr. Pope co-teach lessons often. In the lesson featured in the spotlight above, they led students in a collaborative writing exercise, which proved a great way to integrate the 4 Cs of 21st Century Learning in the classroom. Students utilized classroom Chromebooks and the collaborative writing capabilities of Google Docs to co-author stories based on pictures from The Mystery of Harris Burdick. Thank you to Mrs. White for sharing this great classroom activity with us!

Spotlight created by Heidi Meenen, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Teacher Spotlight: Jennifer Buck, Upland Terrace Elementary

May 2015Josh Whiting

Ms. Buck is an amazing 6th grade teacher at Upland Terrace Elementary. She incorporates technology in her classroom seamlessly. I had the opportunity to observe her class creating Kahoots to review math concepts that they had learned throughout the year. The students in her class use iPads to create their review quizzes.

This spotlight showcases the excellent instruction that Ms. Buck provides her students. Her lesson is so well organized. She lays out very clear instructions and encourages feedback from her students. Her students exhibit 21st Century skills; collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity are happening in her classroom.

Spotlight Author: Heidi Meenen, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Teacher Spotlight: Mandee Cossa, West Valley Elementary

April 2015Josh Whiting

Mrs. Cossa is a fantastic sixth grade teacher at West Valley Elementary. She incorporates technology into the classroom daily, creating lessons that are both meaningful and fun. In this video, students in Mrs. Cossa’s class are working on multimedia projects after studying figurative language. The students use the Chromebooks, YouTube, the WeVideo Chrome app and Google Presentations to complete their projects. Mrs. Cossa has created a creative and positive learning environment where students work collaboratively on a regular basis.

Spotlight Author: Teresa Bruin, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist

Teacher Spotlight: Christina Van Dam, Roosevelt Elementary

February 2015Josh Whiting

Miss Christina Van Dam is a sixth grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary. I had the opportunity to visit her class and watch the innovative things she is doing in her classroom. Miss Van Dam’s students use Chromebooks in their classroom. While I was visiting her classroom the students were learning about moon phases by completing a webquest.

The students were actively engaged in the learning process. Using a digital tool such as a webquest allows the students to interact with video, text, and graphics, making the learning experience come alive. Students could also work at their own pace, allowing them to revisit concepts that they might not understand. One of the students made the comment that Miss Van Dam’s lessons allow for exploring and learning at the same time.

Miss Van Dam also takes advantage of using her classroom website, Room 42, as a valuable resource for her students. Each student knew right where to navigate and how to access the resources needed for the lesson. She has created a classroom environment where technology is the norm just like using paper and pencil. Her students are engaged in the learning process, they are so well behaved, and it makes the classroom environment is so inviting.

Spotlight Author: Heidi Meenen, Granite District Educational Technology Specialist