Makerbot 3D Printer

Recently, the proposal I posted on Donors Choose for a Makerbot 3D Printer was funded! When the box arrived, I couldn't wait to unpack the printer and set it up. I filmed the first print and showed a time lapsed version of it on the morning news. After seeing the video, our teachers and students were curious and wanted to know more. They kept asking, "But where does the paper come out?" 

Now that I have mastered printing items from the SD card that came with the printer, I am exploring Thingiverse and the Makerware software. There is a group of sixth graders who have started exploring Tinkercad and Blokify. We hope to have some student-designed items ready to print soon!

World Read Aloud Day Blogging Challenge #3

During the month leading up to World Read Aloud Day, I'm participating in the World Read Aloud Day blogging challenge. Each week, blogging participants respond to a question addressing the World Read Aloud theme "Raising Our Voice." The prompt for week 3 is to post a photo that gives readers a glimpse into your reading life. This could be your favorite place to read, your bookshelf, your library, your classroom, a book from childhood that you still re-read today, your favorite person to read with. Anything that brings joy to your reading life will work!

My favorite part of my reading life is sharing it with my children. Each night after dinner and before brushing teeth, we curl up on the bed and read a chapter of a book. Even though my two children are very different (Katherine is 13 and Caleb is 8), they can always agree on good books. We are currently reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. They love Percy Jackson and enjoy learning more about Greek mythology.