Blog Archives

Get ready for the solar eclipse

1/31/2024

Kelli Grabowski, CA BOCES Regional STEM Coordinator, worked with Enchanted Mountains to produce four videos on their website that explain the solar eclipse that will take place in our region on April 8, 2024.

Kelli explores the answers to four central questions:

What is a total solar eclipse?
When will the total solar eclipse happen?
Why is it a big deal?
Where to look?

Check out these videos on the Enchanted Mountains website.

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Building Legacy, Legos, and Robots

1/31/2024

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Sometimes the best way to describe the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Core Values, including Gracious Professionalism, is with first-hand accounts and pictures. This article showcases some stellar examples in the Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES region.

Brian Kelly was a team member on the Allegany-Limestone Lego Troopers in 2010. They were the inaugural winners of the CABOCES Traveling Lego Trophy. In high school, Brian volunteered as a mentor for the Allegany-Limestone teams and once he graduated, he returned as a judge. He and his mother, Marcel Kelly, continue to be two of the most dedicated and experienced judges in our region

This is how Brian describes his experiences:
"I have been a part of our local Lego League for just over a decade now. I have had the pleasure of being a participant, mentor, and judge.

As a participant, Lego League was the highlight of every school year. It was more than just playing with Legos at school—it was about the thrill of challenging our robot at the table, the unbreakable camaraderie among teammates, and the pure joy that only creativity can create.

Transitioning to a mentor, my perspective shifted. I witnessed teams experiencing that same exhilarating rush, building camaraderie, and exhibiting brilliance fueled by passion. Watching my students as they tackled global issues with inventive solutions was a moment of immense pride. The excitement of scoring points at the last second and the laughter when robots unpredictably navigated the map were unforgettable.

Now, as a judge, I'm privileged to observe the next generation. I see their enthusiasm as they share stories about their robots, like why their robot is named 'Bob3.0' and the tragedies of 'Bob2.0' and 1.0, why they did what they did, and which part they enjoyed the most (often it is to hang out with their new friends).

Each year, I return not just out of nostalgia, but to witness the ongoing spirit of innovation and camaraderie in Lego League. It's a testament to the enduring appeal and educational value of this fantastic program.

It goes without saying that I was able to embark on this journey thanks to those who supported me and my exploits. No one better exemplifies this than my mother who has been there through every step of the process, from chauffeur to beloved colleague.

As the inaugural winners back in 2010, holding the traveling Lego trophy was a moment of triumph and joy. I assure you, there were many times when I thought little Sherman (our robot) wouldn't make it, but he pulled through every time. The trophy symbolizes not just a victory, but the journey of learning, teamwork, and imaginative problem-solving that defines the Lego League experience.

Coaches and mentors inspire their teams to do their best, both as individuals and together. Without them, there would be no program. The FLL Coach Award is given to the coach whose leadership and guidance are clear and best exemplifies the FIRST Core Values.

The 2024 Coach Award was presented to Vicky Mattison who was nominated by her team, the Wellsville Middle School Lego Lions.

This is what Vicky's team said about her:
Our coach deserves any award given to her. Without her, we wouldn't be here. She takes extra time out of her schedule to help us. She makes us continue working when we feel it won't work. She still deals with us and is thoughtful through our mistakes. She lets us decide on what we want to do. She recognizes everyone's ideas.

When we need time to rest, she gives it to us but also convinces us to keep trying.
Especially from the Lego League graduates, we will always remember her.
P.S. We also love her because she feeds us Oreos!

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who supports the FIRST Lego League experience for the students in the Cattaraugus-Allegany region.
Contact Karen Insley, [email protected], or Jean Oliverio, [email protected] if you want to learn more about coaching and/or judging and supporting kids who will change the world.

Footnote:
The original CABOCES Traveling Lego Trophy was built in 2010 by 16-year-old Nick Oliverio. It is awarded annually to the Champion team, who has the prestigious honor of displaying it at their school for a year. While in their possession, the team may disassemble, rebuild, and/or enhance it, but they must return it in one piece the following year. This fourteen-year regional tradition has become a highlight of the Awards Ceremony at the CABOCES Qualifying tournaments.
On January 27, 2024, the Trophy was awarded to Team #40220, the Belfast Wizard of dOgZ team, coached by Beth and Josh Hazelton.

By: Jean Oliverio, CA BOCES Student Programs

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What's in the warehouse: Slumberkins, Adventure ship, Mail carrier kit

1/31/2024

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We have been busy adding more kits onto the system as more and more teachers are aware of all the great resources we have on our shelves in the warehouse. This month I’ll spotlight a few that may be new to our readers.

Slumberkins empowers children to be caring, confident, and resilient. Founded by a special education teacher and a family therapist, Slumberkins was created to bring effective early emotional learning tools into as many homes and schools as possible. We have purchased several of the book sets that focus on resilience, confidence, and caring.

Imaginative play takes centerstage with our Adventure Ship. It stirs the imagination for hours of play alone or with a group of friends! Encourage your students to become authors and use it as a device for storytelling with the emphasis on adventure. It is the perfect size for little hands and easy to set up. The Adventure Ship can be combined with blocks and other toys for multiple ways to play.

Either for use as a Play-Based Learning kit or for use in learning about our Community Helpers, we have a Mail Carrier Kit. It includes a realistic, weatherproof mailbox with a front chute and a rear opening for removing the mail. The mail bag set includes 22 plastic preprinted 4" x 6" postcards with an easy to write on surface. There is also a nylon mail bag with a hook and loop shoulder strap.

Take a look at our warehouse and all of our new resources. Are we missing anything you might want your students to utilize in the classroom? Let me know...I love to shop!

By: Alexandra Freer, CA BOCES Learning Resources

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Using choice boards to engage students at Ellicottville Elementary

1/22/2024

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Everyone wants to feel like they have a choice; students are no different. They want to feel like they have some say in what they are learning and how they are learning it. While this may not be possible every day and for every lesson, choice boards are a great way to achieve this.

A choice board is a document with various activities on it that students can choose from to practice mastering a certain concept. For example, if you want students to learn more about the water cycle, you could provide various resources or activities that encourage them to delve deeply into the topic. Some of these resources might include links to educational videos or articles. It might also include links to a review game, like Gimkit or Blooket, to allow the students to practice associated vocabulary or facts.

The “choices” (and the board itself) do not have to be digital, either. You could have a variety of options that the students can complete tech-free within the classroom, like reading a short story, drawing a picture, completing a crossword puzzle, etc. The format doesn’t matter, but empowering students by giving them choice does!

The teachers at Ellicottville Elementary have been working on incorporating choice boards into their classrooms with the help of the ISS Model Schools team. One third-grade teacher, James Przybyla, spent several planning periods learning how to create hyperlinks and QR codes so that he could create a digital choice board to help the students to practice multiplication facts.

Mr. Przybyla’s students loved using the choice boards that he created for them. When reviewing their multiplication facts, several students commented that they loved “playing these games”. The students do not even realize that they are learning because it just feels like playing to them. However, the repetitive nature of these game platforms encourages memorization of the math facts without the students becoming bored or complacent.

Not only did the students love playing the games, but they also really enjoyed being able to choose which activity they wanted to engage in. Some students gravitated towards Blooket’s “Monster Brawl” game, while other students would rather answer questions and earn bait to go “fishing’ in Gimkit’s “Fishtopia” game. Giving students a choice of how to practice their multiplication facts means allowing them to learn on their own terms and to take some ownership of their learning.

When praised for taking the time to learn this new skill, Mr. Przybyla selflessly said, “It’s worth it because it’s for the kids!” This was a great reminder that students should be at the center of everything we do as educators, and giving students choice is an essential part of a student-centered classroom.

In Mr. Przybyla’s room, as well as many others, choice boards have been a great success! If you would like to learn more about how to create choice boards, including digital choice boards with links to digital review games, please feel free to reach out. I would love to help! You can email me at [email protected] with any questions or to set up a time for training.

By: Brooke Neaman, CA BOCES Professional Development

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A Journey into Coding at Friendship Central School

1/3/2024

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At Friendship Central School in Friendship, New York, a dynamic collaboration took place on December 4th, 2023, as I led a model lesson alongside the school's Itinerant librarian, Sally Severtson. Together, we engaged 4th and 5th graders in the fascinating world of coding using Scratch (scratch.mit.edu). Scratch is a free program. And if you are worried about Ed Law 2D, don’t be. Students can use Scratch without having to log in.

This innovative session aimed to introduce young minds to the exciting realm of computer programming. As technology continues to shape our daily lives, fostering early exposure to coding not only cultivates essential problem-solving and critical-thinking skills but also empowers students to become creators in our increasingly digital world.

Learning to program shapes in Scratch offers a hands-on, creative approach to understanding the foundations of coding, laying the groundwork for future success in a variety of fields. A lot of Math is also used in this activity. Some of the job opportunities for computer programmers are things like Software Engineer, Web Developer, Data Analyst, IT Security Analyst and Game Designer. The average salary range for these jobs are $50,000 to $150,000, and not all these jobs require a college degree. By imparting these skills at an early age, we equip students with the tools to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and contribute meaningfully to the digital era.

Sally Severtson stated that student behaviors were much better than expected when doing the team-taught activities with student. These lessons focus on computation thinking, which is one of the 5 “main sections” of the Computer Science and Digital Fluency standards that all New York State schools must impliment. If you or your school is interested in having this type of experience, please contact Rick Weinberg at [email protected]. These learning opportunities are provided by the 517 Model Schools CoSer.

By: Rick Weinberg, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Innovative Teaching

Get ready for the solar eclipse

Building Legacy, Legos, and Robots

What's in the warehouse: Slumberkins, Adventure ship, Mail carrier kit

Using choice boards to engage students at Ellicottville Elementary

A Journey into Coding at Friendship Central School

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Get ready for the solar eclipse

Building Legacy, Legos, and Robots

What's in the warehouse: Slumberkins, Adventure ship, Mail carrier kit

Using choice boards to engage students at Ellicottville Elementary

A Journey into Coding at Friendship Central School

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