Games

This is one of the topics I discussed one week, but alas it is lost in the nether-regions of cyberspace.  I use games, especially in math, almost every day.  This is a great way for the students to review their basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.  The grade-level I teach is 4th, but their basic skills are very weak.  This is the year they will come to realize how important it is to have instant recall of these facts and the games we play help them.  I use shepphardssoftware and their balloon pop games and also their algebra games. 

SpellingCity is another great spot.  I used this in second grade and the children begged to play it!  We used the hangmouse most.  They loved getting to use the interactive board and hearing the music.  (Oh, and their goal was not to wake up the cat and have him catch the mouse).  They LOVED the music that played when they were successful.

In school we use Funbrain and other sites for the children.  A new added this year is IXL math.  Although this is not really a game, it does offer some features as a game.  The children are earning gold medals for their math skills.

Although life cannot always be a game, games have a place in the classroom, but cannot take the place of actual teaching.  In my opinion, they are great for introductions, practice and conclusions to lessons.

Rubric for CP

Digital Story Telling Assignment Sheet & Evaluation Rubric

Student: ______________________________________________________ Description of Project: ________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Approved by: _______ Start Date: ________________ Completion Date: __________

Evaluation Rubric

Appropriateness - PASS _____ FAIL _____

• The feelings of others are respected, people are treated with dignity, language, music and visuals are appropriate for an elementary audience and the subject is appropriate for an elementary audience.

Interview Evaluation Rubric

(Excellent) 5...4...3...2...1...(Poor)

Subject

• is interesting 5....4....3....2....1

• is educational 5....4....3....2....1

• is relevant to topic 5....4....3....2....1

• provides insight into person or topic 5....4....3....2....1

• is discussed thoroughly 5....4....3....2....1

Concept Score ______ out of 25

Content

• Presents interesting information 5....4....3....2....1

• Language is used properly and effectively 5....4....3....2....1

• Images and/ or graphics relate well to content 5....4....3....2....1

• Student(s) demonstrate thoughtful approach to subject 5....4....3....2....1

References are provided. 5....4….3….2….1

Content Score ______ out of 25

Technical Aspects

• Subject is framed well, images are well composed 5....4....3....2....1

• Pictures are clearly visible 5....4....3....2....1

• Sound is clear and understandable 5....4....3....2....1

• Story is well edited effectively, flows well 5....4....3....2....1

• Titles are used effectively 5....4....3....2....1

• Transitions are used effectively 5....4....3....2....1

• Project was completed in a timely manner 5....4....3....2....1

Technical Score ______ out of 35

Total Score ______

Project Grade ______

, A = 85 - 80, B = 79 - 65, C = 65 – 5, D- 50 - 34, F = 35 or below and/ or failure of Appropriateness

Discussion topics

Not sure where all my discussions disappeared to on the Lesley Wiki, but I did do them. 

I can see where technology is important to my children and will aid them in their learning.  I use my Smart board every day and it is a great resource.  The manipulatives help the children is as a whole group what the concept is that we are learning.  However, with that said, sometimes nothing beats a hands on activity.

Curriculum Project

I wound up not doing this one, but it was posted on the wiki.
Sep 11, 2011 3:49 pm

Name Susan Belles
Expected time/ timeline to complete the project This lesson will take approximately 3 days for students to complete. Previous lesson will have introduced different media/computer skills.
Tentative title/ theme The First Thanksgiving, The Mayflower
Goals/ Objectives; Be as specific as possible. See below.
Rationale : (Why you picked this topic? How will it improve your teaching/ parenting, etc? Children will experience hands on activities as they learn about the voyage from England to the New World. Through virtual field trip children will experience what life was like at this time period.
Medium (Which form you will create your project. Livetext, website, URL address, Videotape, Burned CD, file attachment, in the mail, etc.)
Target Audience Fourth Grade students
Lesson ideas or lesson plans that you searched in this topic. For instance, provide URL links.
Teaching Strategies and Methods Methods will include direct instruction, partner and cooperative learning groups. Independent reading, media creation
Evaluation Methods: Assessment strategies: How will you assess your students outcome? Webquest and projects
Resources/ Credits: the print material, electronic resources, websites you already found. APA style.Briefly
1. What is your chosen subject area, theme or topic?
English Language Arts, The First Thanksgiving. Voyage on the Mayflower
2. Who is your intended audience? (Please briefly describe your students) My students are 9 and 10 year old 4th graders. I have several gifted children and I do have an autistic student on grade level.
3. What standards are you addressing from your curriculum? English Language Arts – Goal 3 The learner will make connections with text through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
4. What are the educational goal(s) and objective(s)? Objective 3.03
Consider the ways language and visuals bring characters to life, enhance plot development, and produce a response.
Objective 3.05
Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
Objective 3.06
Conduct research for assigned projects or self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources through the use of technological and informal tools (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
5. What is the specific problem or question you will pose? What was life like on the Mayflower?
6. What will be the specific assignment the students must accomplish?
Groups will work on the following items to make a presentation.
• Mayflower Schematics
• Passengers' Reflections - To familiarize students with the passengers' experiences on the Mayflower, have them read — either individually or in small groups — the Mayflower interviews for passenger Elizabeth Hopkins and passenger Desire Minter. (You may want to print out copies of the interviews for individual reading.) Then have students imagine they are Pilgrims traveling on the Mayflower. Ask the following questions, as well as adding your own, to help evoke in students the sense of a personal, first-hand experience:
• Letters to England
• Time Lines
• Make a movie (?????) Not sure if this is possible but it would be fun for them to learn to do.

7. What is the expected outcome of the lesson? Students will come to understand, Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text including graphs, charts, and/or maps. They will see how people made contributions to how we live now.

Media Literacy

Sep 25, 2011 3:59 pm

I went a visited the web page for Media Literacy. I must say that there was not much there that interested me. I may find something if I dig deeper into the page, however the media available at first sight was not for my grade level. I then explored the Reading Room, thinking that may help explain to me what the website was about. I see many articles listed under different topics, but again nothing that would pertain to my age level of children. I guess I need more guidance here.

I have been playing with my film this week and have goofed it up. I really wanted impact and instead I got, well not much. I found the perfect music but getting the movie to move and interact with the music the way I have envisioned it is difficult. I may chuck it all and start from scratch!

Guess it has been a frustrating week for media :) I have used it quite a bit in my class and my students are putting together a photo story for their pen pals in PA. They are so excited! That will be our surprise for them in October.

Susan B

Assistive Technology

Oct 8, 2011 11:06 am

Assistive technology is important for many students to aid them in being successful in the classroom. I have used something as simple as an index card, with a tiny square cut in it, to help a child read. This card enabled them to see one word at a time instead of becoming confused by many words at at time. Once this skill was mastered we used the reading ruler, which is simply a strip with a colored see through sheet in the middle, which shows only a portion of the text at a time. Then, after this part was mastered we used a highlighter as our "brain" and the child read the word as they highlighted that area. This was very helpful to children who became phonics "bound". As the highlighter passed over the word their "brain" put together the word and they were able to begin to read fluently. Eventually, we came to the part where they just read. It was a wonderful day! Assistive technology does not have to cost a lot of money - it just has to help the child.

Discussion topics

Alas, I am a slow learner.  My discussions are all on the Lesley Wiki under - discussions.  I guess they should have been here.  This is my reflection for this week - I am learning something new everyday.  Don't over think something.  I really did not know what a Wiki was and that was throwing me for a loop!  My son would tell me I have an old mind and during the past few weeks I hardily agree with him!  I am trying though, and I think that counts for something.

Last night trying to join the presentions on WebEx was a lesson in itself.  Our home computer has been giving us fits and even though we were signed up for WebEx it kept telling us there was an error.  How annoying!  While Barry tried and tried to get it going I hopped in the car and zoomed to my Mom and Dad's house in hopes of finding their newer computer more compatible with WebEx.  It took a while but suddenly there it was!  I think I deserve extra credit points for creativity and perserverance! :)  We were able to view the presentations and  honestly - I enjoyed it!  I am sorry we missed the first few, I am sure they were terrific.

Now, here I sit out feeling quite foolish that this was what I needed all along.  I hope this is accessable to everyone - if not - oh well.  I have tried (and tried and tried).