# data[].attributes.body
Still seeing lots of our families on Tuesdays and Thursday which is awesome! Still REALLY missing everyone and the kiddos...enjoying the sunshine we had and hoping for more...joined Shannon's class meeting last week...found a new silly youtube star...Officer Crabtree...must be my silly British humor! Not really a 'celebration' but good to read how everyone is doing!

# data[].attributes.body
In an effort to streamline Google Classroom for my students and families I created my virtual classroom.  A one stop place students can go to access weekly resources.  Check out the video if you'd like to see it in action.
https://tinyurl.com/landryvirtual

# data[].attributes.body
What an amazing experience this has been.  My celebrations this week are the letters I have been receiving from my students.  I even received a nice letter from some parents!  What has come to mind for me this week is the effort we are all putting into connecting with our families and the impact that is having.  I think they are our best advertisers for new students coming in.  Have a great week everyone!  5 left!

# data[].attributes.body
I decided to purchase a set of Beast Academy math books or second grade students since I seem to be compulsively shopping these days, and I loaned them out to a few of my 1st and 2nd graders for review.  They really loved the format and have been actively engaged in the graphic novel/math instruction and the different thinking required in those books to solve the problems.  If there are any teachers (2-5th grade) who are interested in seeing how this instruction/math work is laid out, I'm happy to share.

# data[].attributes.body
As many of you know I started recess this week...I had one student show up...but I put the invite out the morning of and posted the wrong date initially.

So, in our class meeting last night...we had recess instead of our usual Prodigy Party.

I learned how to use breakout rooms and it was amazing to see kids talking like they would at recess or lunch!

I will be promoting recess all next week! I have noticed it takes 2-4 weeks of promoting something new before it builds a following in the digital classroom!

# data[].attributes.body
I have not seen her since Christmas! She called us Wed and said she was coming home Friday and planned to leave early in the morning. Last night, I was watching TV and exploring Twitter on my phone when someone came up behind me and asked what I was doing....It was Kelsey!!! She decided to surprise me and come home earlier than planned! Apparently Bj and Hailey knew about the surprise. Kelsey and her boyfriend Cody parked at the neighbors house and snuck in through the back door. Such a nice surprise!!!

# data[].attributes.body
I love hearing everything that is going on with all your classes and kiddos.  Much to celebrate!  I learned how to make a flipgrid and have enjoyed seeing the kiddos and their responses.
Happy weekend and Mothers Day to all -

# data[].attributes.body
This is a celebration in so many ways!!! Get ready to smile :)

# data[].attributes.body
Ok, I put on my big girl pants and will give this a try...
This week Kristi (and Shannon) set me up and taught me how to use Screencastifi(?) so that I could share in Kristi’s read aloud for her class.  I actually did it!!!  Much to my sons dismay, I’m on YouTube!! LOL. THANK YOU so much Kristi, for allowing to join in and taking the time to teach me!!!
AND... Happy Teacher Appreciation to all of you!!  You are ALL so incredibly good at what you do!!!❤️

# data[].attributes.body
Fist off, I miss you all tons!!!

I got a good response from my kiddos turning in their last opinion writing.  I was able to give positive feedback on all of them!

# data[].attributes.body
Extremely thankful to be part of the BD Family, Happy Staff Appreciation!
Watched Tech Bonanza which included a few new items I didn't know about.
Participated in the District 3-5 Grade Level Meeting and had good discussions.
I continue to make contact with ALL of my students/families each week!

# data[].attributes.body
I learned how to use Screencastify this week! With the talent show coming up, I thought it would be fun to make something for the kids, so I did a music video of Lost in the Woods from Frozen 2! I might record it again since this was my first take at making a music video, but here it is if you would like to preview it! Just click on the link below and it will take you to the video in Google Drive. Enjoy!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

# data[].attributes.body
I finally got a Chromebook to a student that we had been struggling to make contact with. She Zoomed with the class this week!

# data[].attributes.body
Emmy and I continue to work with the whole Attendance issue...it can be quite a chore tracking all the information down to make sure whether or not each family has been 'touched' by a staff member...but how fun to find out that we're close to 100%! It certainly takes a village and our team is showing the love!

# data[].attributes.body
I made a little video for my students using iMovie trailer.  It was super easy and fun.  I plan on doing several more!

# data[].attributes.body
With the help of my OT and a teacher I now am up to Zooming with 4 students!!  I am loving seeing their faces and they are working so hard.

I enjoyed the TechBonanza.  I loved how they all had so much fun creating it.

I successfully upgraded Zoom, I am getting better with the Bamboo drawing tablet when working with students and am getting lots of continuing ed done for my license and certification. Happy Face.

# data[].attributes.body
So many celebrations this week! Happy Teacher's week everyone! You are awesome! Feeling so blessed to be a part of the Black Diamond family. Thank you for allowing me to visit your Zoom meetings so that I can see students. Thank you Shannon for sharing the fun presentation from Tuesday. Your group is hoot! I loved it! I visited Debbie's class this morning and was so touched with the students telling one another how much they missed each other. Brought tears to my eyes. Celebrating Patti and Emmy as the navigate the front lines at school! You two are awesome! Thank you for all that you do. To be at or near 100% in connecting with students is amazing.

# data[].attributes.body
I finally got my first padlet going with a book club I'm hosting for my students. https://padlet.com/april_drake1/fb1m9qlzll4c5xyz
We're reading The Cricket in Times Square.   And I had great fun creating an interactive virtual classroom where kids can click on the elements and go to various assignments.

# data[].attributes.body
I have one kiddo who I've really worked with this year on being a leader.  This student had moments of struggle and moments of greatness.  When we went to distance learning, I worried so much about this kid because this student is a leader...not necessarily going down the best path!  Over the course of the last 7 weeks this student would do an assignment here and there...maybe.  This student did nothing leading up to Spring Break.  The Monday after Spring break I noticed this student turned all of the assignments in, but upon further investigation I realized NONE of the work was done.  I had a phone conversation with the student and the student agreed to do better the next week.  However on Monday the same thing happened again, so I scheduled a Zoom meeting to discuss how turning in work that wasn't done was lying.  This student agreed and said they'd do the work.

Today, I received a text from the student "Can you help me with the math?" YES!!! I quickly jumped into a Zoom with this student and we had the best meeting. We were both laughing by the end and the student left with the biggest smile across their face!!