Google Groups

I really enjoyed the collaborative aspect of the Google Groups assignment. I think both students, parents, and instructors can all appreciate that the collaboration is not limited to only the physical classroom. The students can begin their group project in class by planning out what they would like to do. They can start on the project together and then finish their part of the assignment at home if needed. The students are able to collaborate outside of the classroom though the they would be working at home without the physical presence of their classmates. This also allows the students an opportunity to think about the project and work on it in an environment that may be less stressful for them. Some students do not work well under the pressure of their peers. Being able to work on the group project in the comfort of their own home would provide them an opportunity to slow down and think about the project more.  I would have personally loved the opportunity to work like this more when I was in elementary school. I feel that Google Groups would be extremely useful in a classroom setting and can definitely see myself using this with my students.

ISTE Standards:

  2.Design and develop digital age learning experiences and asessments

• a.       Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
• c.     Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

3. Model digital age work and learning

• a.     Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
• c.    Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats

Kelsey Pie Goes to The Dentist! 

Once upon a time in a far away land, there lived a fairy princess named Kelsey Pie! She was the spunkiest, and most daring fairy princess in alllllll the land. But, Kelsey Pie had one little problem….. she was ADDICTED to CHOCOLATE!!!! Kelsey Pie would rummage through all the kitchen cabinets, the secret stash in her daddy’s room, and even Mrs. Bubblebutt’s cookie jar! One day, Kelsey Pie’s mommy said, “Kelsey, brush your teeth, and floss reallllly good. You are going to the dentist today baby girl”. Kelsey screamed, “NOOOOOOO!!”. Kelsey Pie ran to her daddy and begged not to go. But, mommy said she had to go. Kelsey Pie was so scared of the dentist. The worst part of all, was that this dentist was the meanest and nastiest dentist in the whole world! His name was Dr. Payne. Even worse, he is a big, scary, and hairy TROLL! (Sarah) 

Dr. Payne’s office was not what you would expect. The dentist’s chair was made from the back seat of a 1973 Ford Pinto and the upholstery was torn with it’s rusted springs exposed. A tetanus shot is required before having any procedures completed with this big, scary, hairy, troll of a doctor. Dr. Payne uses dirty ditch-water and silt from a local quarry to clean and prepare his patient’s teeth. When Dr. Payne is done with cleaning the teeth he will often use a mixture of pureed Sour Patch Kids and rubbing alcohol to polish them to a shimmering, sugary, painful, shine. The reason Dr. Payne did this was to ensure that his patients would always come back for more dental work. Dr. Payne was lonely and had no friends with the exception of the algae that grew along the walls under the bridge where he lived. Dr. Payne wanted other friends that weren’t eukaryotic organisms. (Danin)

It was early one Monday morning when Kelsey’s dad brought her to meet Dr. Payne. All the things that everyone had told her had came to be true about him. He was an ugly troll who stood about 7 feet tall and weighed over three-hundred pounds with hair all over his body. Kelsey looked around his office at all the needles and mixtures that he had brewing just for her and started to scream, “NOOOOO daddy please don’t make me do this” loud enough that everyone on that side of the community could hear. She promised her dad that she would never sneak in the cabinets to eat chocolate ever again. It was too late for the screaming because Dr. Payne was ready to begin the procedure on her. Just as he was mixing his dirty ditch water to start to clean Kelsey’s teeth, she thought of a plan. She knew that Dr. Payne was lonely and did not have any friends so she came up with a wonderful plan to get him some friends. (Alana)

Kelsey had many friends.  She knew exactly how to attract people to Dr. Payne that would make them want to be his friend.  She then coaxed him not to do the procedure by making him an offer he could not resist. Kelsey then began to paint him a mental picture of how much happier he would be if he had people to be friends with.  She first told him about all the wonderful friends she has.  Johnny Bills from Never Land and Casey Rolls from across the Bay Way Bridge were her very best friends.  Kelsey saw how interested he was in finding friends like she has.  He was worried about his appearance and became sad at the thought of people being afraid of him.  Kelsey assured him if he would be friendly and clean up a bit that he would find friends easily.  Kelsey took a liking to Dr. Payne and realized that he was not so bad after all.  He was just a misunderstood dentist. (Shelby)

Once Kelsey Pie got home, she told her mommy all about her visit with Dr. Payne. She explained to her mommy how she felt sorry for the dentist because he had no friends and everyone was afraid of him. She then preceeded to tell her mommy her plan for getting Dr. Payne some friends, but she needed her mommy’s help. 

The next day, Kelsey Pie and her mommy went to Dr. Payne’s office to pick him up. Dr. Payne was confused as he did not know what was going on. Kelsey’s mommy drove and drove and finally pulled up to The Magical Makeover, which is a salon on the other end of town. “What are we doing at a salon?”, asked Dr. Payne. “We have brought you here to help you clean up a bit.” responded Kelsey Pie. Dr. Payne was shocked that Kelsey Pie would go to such lengths to help him. No one had ever been so nice to Dr. Payne before. 

The fairies inside the salon could not believe what they saw when Dr. Payne walked in. The amount of hair and his horrible smell disgusted them. They immediately went to work! Kelsey Pie and her mommy sat and waited. 

A couple of hours later, Dr. Payne was finished! His results were unbelievable. Dr. Payne looked like a completely different troll. He was no longer covered in hair nor did his horrible stank follow him. Dr. Payne loved his new look. (Brittany)