Blog, blog blog blog, blog some more

It’s the greatest time of the year for us in Louisiana, It’s test prep season. Whoo Hoooooo. Yes, I know that technologically alllll year is test prep season, but those few weeks right before testing are the most intense. I constantly look for ways to use Web 2.0 tools and technology to help my students. We have used Wallwisher in my class several times and the kids seem to like it. Here is a page that we used to respond about our Hurricane Katrina memories.

My latest attempt at Wallwishing requires that the students post a sticky note with a definition, synonym, example or picture that illustrates the math concept. Yes, I did say math concept. This English teacher is teaching the concepts behind math verbs. Across the curriculum is the only way to live. =D

Quick How To Video

Their assignment was to choose at least 3 concept walls to respond to.

The walls and concepts are as follows:

1. Label
2. Solve / Calculate
3. Simplify
4. Model
5. Show Work
6. Predict
7. Identify / Find
8. Graph
9. Classify
10. Evaluate
11. Justify and Explain

What sort of cool things are you doing in your class to make Test Prep less tedious?

Anyone else have any other test prep activities to share?

@TIME: See TIME’s pictures of the week | http://su.pr/6a2U92

Which one is the most interesting to you? Why?  Put a link to one of the interesting pictures within your blog and then tell me about it.  What do you notice?  Who? is doing what? when? where? why? and how?

How do you create a blog post about a quote?

First you read the quote.

Then you read the quote again.

Then you read the quote and ask yourself what did they mean by this?

<Describe where the speech, panel discussion, presentation, or assembly took place>. < Explain who was in the audience and what the event was about. Why did they come?>. <Then, describe who the speaker(s) were, in general.> <End this paragraph by introducing one of the speaker’s specific quotations>

“<Put quote here>.”

Hearing this quote just made me realize that < finish this sentence>. <Add two or three more sentences explaining what the quotation means to you.>

Another quote that stuck out to me from <describe the event> was <explain who said this and when it was said.>:

“<Second quote goes here>.”

Seeing this quote again, I see how <Explain why this quote has power for you.>. It opens my eyes because this quote is saying that <Finish this sentence, then write three or four more explaining what this quote means to you.> Now keeping this in mind, <Ask your reader if they agree with you and/or your speaker>.

Another quote that surprised me was something <describe the speaker> said. This surprised me because <explain what was remarkable about these words when you heard them.> It really shows <explain why this quote is important to life in general>:

“<Put a quote that goes on for more than one sentence here.>”

<Add more of your own thoughts about this topic.>

Confidential 9/11 Pager Messages Disclosed: http://bit.ly/5me1Fa

What is your opinion?

Should they be kept private or made public?

Don’t forget to use the blogging to agree or disagree tips

Give your response a title.

Explain what you think the cartoon, picture, video, quote is saying/showing.

• What point is the is the creator making?
• What is the issue, theme or big idea?
• Can you connect this to a film, book or experience?
• What is your opinion?

Your response should be a thoughtful relection about the prompt.

RT @CBSNews: Food Banks Report Surge in First Timers

Many Were Middle Class Who Lost Jobs or Wages http://bit.ly/7Y5gFk

How does this affect you?  What do you think that you can do?

Your next assignment will be to create a Podcast of your interview as Booker T. Washington.  You must: have a partner be your Interviewer and you must answer at least 10 questions in character.  Remember that you are Booker T. Washington and therefore you must answer as though you were him.  For example, as Booker T. Washington you cannot list a car as a mode of transportation.

• Blog post with Videos that show how to use Audacity
•  Ning for our Up From Slavery study
• The interview questions can also be found on the Up From Slavery Ning

To blog is to share and to share is to grow =D

Read “A Lady in a  Machine-Shop.”

Then write an essay explaining what skills and qualities Margaret Knight possessed that led to her success as an inventor.

• Be sure to include specific information from the article to support your ideas.
• Do not merely summarize the article.
• Remember that your response will be evaluated in two ways–on your understanding of the article and on the quality of your writing.

Read “Teen Drivers,” and think about the ideas the author presents.

Then write to explain some ways that your views on teenage driving have been confirmed or changed as a result of reading the article, teen drivers

• Be sure to include specific information from the article to support your explanation.
• Do not merely summarize the article.
• Remember that your response will be evaluated in two ways—on your understanding of the article and on the quality of your writing.

Read “Read “But I’m Not Tired!”   Think about the ideas the author presents in this article.  What changes should schools make to adjust to students’ sleep patterns? 

Write a letter to the principal recommending changes that could be made at your school to adjust to students’ sleep patterns. 

1. Be sure to include specific information from the article to support your recommendations.
2. Do not merely summarize the article.
3. Remember that your response will be evaluated in two ways–on your understanding of the article and on the quality of your writing.