No Paper/Pencil Challenge

1. Mountainview Elementary School Morgantown, WV No Paper/Pencil Challenge

2. What Was The No Paper/Pencil Challenge? Teachers were asked to incorporate hands-on activities, mini project-based learning activities, and technology into their classrooms for one special day. They were asked not to use paper or pencils for any of the activities they did during that day. At the end of the day, teachers and students were asked to reflect upon the experience. Some of their reflections will be shared here.

3. Building Log Cabins

4. Kindergarten Teachers’ Reflections I think it helps to remind teachers that there are lots of ways to teach material, and changing things helps increase student engagement. Anytime we can make students more enthusiastic about school increases their overall learning. When it’s fun, they remember! I really enjoyed adding some new twists on things the students are already learning by incorporating more technology and games. The students were engaged in the activities and seemed to be very happy. Mrs. Casleton Mrs. Carr Today was a fun and adventurous day for both the teachers and the students. Overall, I think the challenge was a huge success and lots of fun for all involved. Mrs. Albright

5. Kindergarten Students’ Reflections It was the best day of my life. I loved it the most! I liked doing addition on the Smartboard. I loved it. I liked it because we were helping the Earth (by not wasting paper).

6. Smartboard Angle Activity

7. First Grade Teachers’ Reflections Although it was like many of our days, the students enjoyed recognizing the types of activities that were done without paper/pencil. We had a great time! We always use the Smartboard and computer programs to practice our reading, spelling, and math skills, but this time we went one step further and used the programs more extensively. The class really enjoyed their day. It was fun! Mrs. Lenhart Mrs. Thomas

8. First Grade Students’ Reflections I thought it was a good idea. I liked it because we got to do fun stuff, and we saved trees! It was fun. We should do it more often. Thank you for the No Paper/Pencil Day. It was awesome. It was the best day in my life. I liked it. It was really, really, really fun.

9. Symmetry Activity

10. Second Grade Teachers’ Reflections I enjoyed the No Paper/Pencil Day for many reasons. First, it helped foster creativity in my planning. I thought of how I could best use technology and hands-on activities with the students. Second, the students were very engaged in the lessons which cut down on behavior problems and increased their task completion. Next, I had fun teaching my lessons, and my enjoyment transferred to the students. The experience has prompted me to look at how I plan all my lessons, not just for “special occasions”. Ms. Shay My students and I really enjoyed participating in the No Paper/Pencil Day. They kept telling me they wanted to do it every day. I would love to participate again next year. Mrs. Swango

11. Second Grade Students’ Reflections I loved it! It was the best day of my life! It was so cool!! I loved it so do it again soon! It is so much fun, and fun is good for me! I thought the day was super! I loved it! I thought that it was the best school day ever. It was awesome! No Paper/Pencil Day was so much fun! I think all schools should do it! We did lots of activities! I think you would like to do it at your school! It was a fun day. Sorry for the excitement. I get so excited sometimes. Yesterday was just so good. You can’t blame me for that, can you?

12. Straw Lines and Rays Activity

13. Third Grade Teachers’ Reflections The day seemed to be an enlightening experience for the students who had not previously recognized how many activities we already do (like this) in our class. It was a fun day for me as well. The children loved all the activities I had planned and were very motivated to learn! I truly feel student engagement is a key for learning success, and we had a non-stop day of it! Mrs. Patterson Mrs. Bowman I thought the day was a huge success! It was so neat to see the students so excited to be learning. It also helped to remind me how much the students do enjoy unique activities and that they motivate students to want to learn. Mrs. Himes

14. Third Grade Students’ Reflections I loved it so much! We did fun things like make shapes out of marshmallows and pretzels. I liked it a lot. It was very fun. I felt really good. It was awesome! It was better than any other day! I was so happy – no paper or pencils. We should have it every Monday. That was no ordinary day!

15. Marshmallow and Pretzel Geometry Activity

16. Fourth Grade Teachers’ Reflections The No Paper/Pencil Day was enjoyed by all. I liked the way it was an exciting and motivating day for everyone. The students commented throughout the day how fast the day was going. I do think the day was a success. I am already thinking about next year’s challenge. Thank you for challenging us to think outside the box! As I reflect on the day and read my students’ reflections, I want to challenge myself to plan and teach this way more and more. Mrs. Peoples Mrs. Hylton

17. Fourth Grade Students’ Reflections Yesterday was awesome!!! The teachers taught us in a fun way. You know, if a teacher teaches you straight from the book, you don’t pay attention! They taught us with games!!! Yesterday was a great day!!! I loved it! I liked it because it was like work that was hiding in the fun and games. It would be so fun to have another day like that.

18. Math Whiteboard Activity

19. Fifth Grade Teachers’ Reflections The challenge day was awesome! I thought the whole day was exciting. The students were the most fun. Throughout the hallways I heard, “This day rocks!” All the students could talk about was how cool the day was. We used the netbooks for the first time and discovered how much we truly could use email as a focal point in our classroom. I am definitely looking forward to the challenge next year. Mrs. H. VanScoy Mrs. Shinkovich The day was great! My students loved it! They were all actively engaged at all times and were very excited! They were highly challenged, but they worked to completion. In their words, “Today was awesome!” I asked all of my students if they liked the challenge. It was funny because one of my students threw her head back and said, “It was so great. I loved school that day.” Mrs. Kovac Mrs. Hammond

20. Fifth Grade Students’ Reflections The day was a lot of fun. We loved using the netbooks for Math. My friends and I were emailing math questions to each other. In my opinion, I think that the class loved the school day more than they usually do. The challenge day was awesome. I learned how to build a club house on the computer. It was very, very, very fun. That was the best day ever. This was the day I shouted, “Hallelujah!” I think it was a good idea for all kids to find out about technology. I think we should do it again!

21. Math Netbook Activity

22. Closing Remarks It was really neat to hear the “buzz” about this challenge as soon as the posters went up around the school. I heard students talking about how they couldn’t wait until that day. Once it came, it was nice to walk up and down the hallways seeing the excitement the students had for the activities their teachers had planned. I also enjoyed that when my students worked with me, they were all so pleased with their activities. It was even cool to hear the teachers discussing what worked well for the day. Overall, this challenge was a successful way to highlight the “good stuff” that goes on in the classrooms on a regular basis. Mrs. Holbert

23. Credits • Implementation: • Teachers and students of Mountainview Elementary School • Donations: • Dinsmore and Shohl – Partner in Education • Huntington Bank Mountaineer Branch – Partner in Education • Kitchens and Bath by Design – Partner in Education • Lydotta Taylor – Edventure • Nancy Napolillo – Director of Technology Information Systems, MCS • Support: • Monongalia County Schools (MCS) – Morgantown, West Virginia • Sandra Brown – Assistant Principal, South Middle School, MCS • Sandra DeVault – Director of Instructional Services, MCS • Norma Gaines – Federal Program Manager, MCS • Jennifer L. Smith – Technology Support and PowerPoint, Mountainview Elem.