I don't know how many of you are using Google Drive, but there are many great resources available through it. I have created a QR code scavenger hunt for use by teachers, possibly in small groups during a faculty meeting. The hunt takes you to many of the resources provided by Google. To use the QR codes just download a code reader onto any device, wifi is not required to read the codes once you have a reader.
Here is the link to my Google Doc of the scavenger hunt: Google Doc for Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Monday, September 15, 2014
Acceptable Use Policies
The Madison County Schools Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP, was written in 2001, and revised in 2012, to inform employees, students, and parents of appropriate technology use for the school district. The AUP can be found here: Madison County Schools AUP. While teaching for Madison County, I reacquainted myself, my students, and their parents each year with our AUP.
The AUP first states that the goal for technology in Madison County schools is to promote educational excellence, and it is a privilege that can be taken away with improper use. Violations are outlined including any activity that is damaging to the hardware or student, or that may go against school policies. One violation that stood out to me was giving out personal information online including full name, address, and phone number. I understand that this is to protect students identity and location, but technically this includes employees as well. It seems to create a gray area since employees may find it necessary to give out such information.
The AUP goes on the thoroughly outline Internet safety including being personally responsible and
Internet safe by not revealing for identity to a stranger. Internet filtering is explained and readers are reminded that online activity will be monitored by the district. Electronic mail is permitted and provided for employees and select students. Access is for professional purposes, but personal e-mail is acceptable on a limited basis. With this in mind, it appears that Gmail would be permissible under Madison County's AUP since there are no restrictions on email providers. The AUP also outlines the use of web pages and Internet publishing, along with security. A large section is devoted to copyright restrictions and the consequences of breaking copyright laws. The last section goes back over specific consequences for violations of the AUP.
Overall, I think the AUP clearly states Madison County's expectations for technology use within the district. The main point of an AUP is to protect the district, the employees, and the students. Madison County's AUP clearly states how to use technology responsibly and any recourse for not doing so.
The AUP first states that the goal for technology in Madison County schools is to promote educational excellence, and it is a privilege that can be taken away with improper use. Violations are outlined including any activity that is damaging to the hardware or student, or that may go against school policies. One violation that stood out to me was giving out personal information online including full name, address, and phone number. I understand that this is to protect students identity and location, but technically this includes employees as well. It seems to create a gray area since employees may find it necessary to give out such information.
The AUP goes on the thoroughly outline Internet safety including being personally responsible and
Internet safe by not revealing for identity to a stranger. Internet filtering is explained and readers are reminded that online activity will be monitored by the district. Electronic mail is permitted and provided for employees and select students. Access is for professional purposes, but personal e-mail is acceptable on a limited basis. With this in mind, it appears that Gmail would be permissible under Madison County's AUP since there are no restrictions on email providers. The AUP also outlines the use of web pages and Internet publishing, along with security. A large section is devoted to copyright restrictions and the consequences of breaking copyright laws. The last section goes back over specific consequences for violations of the AUP.
Overall, I think the AUP clearly states Madison County's expectations for technology use within the district. The main point of an AUP is to protect the district, the employees, and the students. Madison County's AUP clearly states how to use technology responsibly and any recourse for not doing so.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Boxcars and One Eyed Jacks
Here is a link to a math game that might be fun for decimal place value. It's similar to another place value game but adds the challenge of decimals. You will need dice (boxcars) and playing cards (one eyed jacks).
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/boxcars/boxcars008.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/boxcars/boxcars008.shtml
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Ideas for Teaching Plot: They're Quite Comical!
Start saving the comics from Sunday's paper! You're going to need those for several connected practice ideas in SF Unit 1. Comics are great little short stories that offer high-interest reading for almost everyone.
I've found a few connected practice ideas and resources for reinforcing PLOT. These are all for use after the concept has been practiced together. One way students can practice finding the plot elements is by using familiar text, such as fairy tales they have heard for years. They can always record the plot elements on a printed plot diagram, or they can record them in an online plot diagram. ReadWriteThink has an online plot diagram at this link: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/plot-diagram/ Students can write the element, explain the element from the story, and then move it to the diagram. This would also be a fun whole class or small group activity on the Promethean board.
Another idea I came across uses Fractured Fairy Tales and student made comic strips. The students can view the Fractured Fairy Tales from YouTube such as these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB1EE-FDgMk or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAAkauRR-y4 and then create a comic strip plan based on the plot elements from the fairy tale. Here is a form for the comic strip: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pAyzjzc2RnSXNQ7D-LR0X2fzUCKIQrxykEaAmul--oc/edit?hl=en_US You could take this a step further and have the students actually create their own Fractured Fairy Tale with a comic strip form and then actually make this comic strip online at: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/comic-creator-30021.html I know that's a lot, but it might could be used during a lab time, for those early finishers, in a library class, or over an extended time period.
Also, I think a way to reinforce the concept with those needing a little extra help could be through the Sunday comics. Many comic strips have a full plot, and since it is not developed into a long story it is easier to pick out each element. You would have to select the comic to be used carefully. They could record these on a plot diagram also.
I know there are more ways to use the Comics to teach plot. Share yours!
More SF Unit 1 ideas to come!
I've found a few connected practice ideas and resources for reinforcing PLOT. These are all for use after the concept has been practiced together. One way students can practice finding the plot elements is by using familiar text, such as fairy tales they have heard for years. They can always record the plot elements on a printed plot diagram, or they can record them in an online plot diagram. ReadWriteThink has an online plot diagram at this link: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/plot-diagram/ Students can write the element, explain the element from the story, and then move it to the diagram. This would also be a fun whole class or small group activity on the Promethean board.
Another idea I came across uses Fractured Fairy Tales and student made comic strips. The students can view the Fractured Fairy Tales from YouTube such as these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB1EE-FDgMk or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAAkauRR-y4 and then create a comic strip plan based on the plot elements from the fairy tale. Here is a form for the comic strip: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pAyzjzc2RnSXNQ7D-LR0X2fzUCKIQrxykEaAmul--oc/edit?hl=en_US You could take this a step further and have the students actually create their own Fractured Fairy Tale with a comic strip form and then actually make this comic strip online at: http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/comic-creator-30021.html I know that's a lot, but it might could be used during a lab time, for those early finishers, in a library class, or over an extended time period.
Also, I think a way to reinforce the concept with those needing a little extra help could be through the Sunday comics. Many comic strips have a full plot, and since it is not developed into a long story it is easier to pick out each element. You would have to select the comic to be used carefully. They could record these on a plot diagram also.
I know there are more ways to use the Comics to teach plot. Share yours!
More SF Unit 1 ideas to come!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
B1G1
That's buy one get one free for those of you not into couponing yet! Here's idea #2, your freebie!
IDEA 2
The second idea I have used for a few years, and only in 5th grade at this point. It came from the book:
Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire by Rafe Esquith. This is a great little book to recharge your teacher power grid before school starts. It's a quick read with several good ideas. In this book he describes how to set up
a banking system in your classroom. I have used this system as part of my classroom management plan, and have gotten great feedback from students and parents. The students apply for classroom jobs, which they will be responsible for all semester. They are paid weekly for their work and then have to pay fees out of their wages. All of this is done on paper and no type of money is actually used. Each student has a banker, one of the jobs applied for, who pays them and charges them taxes and rent for their desk weekly. The students may also have to pay fines for late assignments or neglect of duties. Of course it's no fun to just earn money, you've got to spend it too! At the end of each month I hold an auction where the students can "spend" their "money". I asked the parents to send in little trinkets to be auctioned. I take the highest bidder, and love to watch their bidding wars. We've had pretty high inflation. A plastic ring might go for $1,000 if it is popular. The students can also save their money and buy their desk. I set a purchase price, along with all the fees and fines, at the beginning of the year. This is wildly popular, because once they buy their own desk they can buy someone elses and have them pay rent. I always have a few entrepreneurs who do this! This system does take a little preparation before hand, and I do have to teach them how to bank, but it is worth it. In the process they are learning: economics, math standards, and life skills. You could expand this to include money for good behavior too I guess. If I were teaching this year, I think I would try to have them bank using Excel spreadsheets. Using Excel is one of our Technology teaching standards, and I think a real life use of it could be good.
I have all the forms, the Power Point, a list of jobs and their wages, a fees and fines sign, etc. I would be happy to email them to you if you're interested. Just leave a comment below!
To Do: Get New Ideas? Check!
I know you are starting to get that nervous, giddy energy as August approaches! The store shelves are filled with new school supplies, the sale papers are filled with great deals, and your mind is filled with To Do lists yet to be done. One task on my To Do list every year before school starts is to add at least one new idea to my toolbox of Back To School ideas. I've got two ideas for you that I have loved using for several years now.
IDEA 1
The first idea I got from my mother several years ago, and she passed it along from someone she knew. On the first day of school I gave the parents homework instead of the students. This in itself was a huge hit with 5th graders! I sent home a letter asking the parents to write to me, In a Million Words or Less, about their child. I explained that I did not care about spelling or grammar, but about what they had to share. They could email me, etc. and I always gave a deadline just to help them have a goal. Every year I received a letter from at least half the parents and often more. In almost every letter they would thank me for allowing them to tell about their precious child, and then would share valuable information. Those letters were always completely confidential and I would often read back through them throughout the year. Here is an example of the letter:
The second idea is deserving of it's own post I think, and a little lengthy to explain.
IDEA 1
The first idea I got from my mother several years ago, and she passed it along from someone she knew. On the first day of school I gave the parents homework instead of the students. This in itself was a huge hit with 5th graders! I sent home a letter asking the parents to write to me, In a Million Words or Less, about their child. I explained that I did not care about spelling or grammar, but about what they had to share. They could email me, etc. and I always gave a deadline just to help them have a goal. Every year I received a letter from at least half the parents and often more. In almost every letter they would thank me for allowing them to tell about their precious child, and then would share valuable information. Those letters were always completely confidential and I would often read back through them throughout the year. Here is an example of the letter:
Dear Fifth Grade Families,
Welcome to the new school year! As we begin the year, I look forward to getting to know your child. I am writing to ask for your help. As a parent, I think you are truly your child’s first teacher. I want to become a partner with you in your child’s education. Would you help me to get to know your child, as you do, by taking a moment to write to me? What is your fifth grader like at home? What things do you know about your child as a learner and a person? What are your child’s interests? Please take the next few days to respond, and return your letter by Monday, August 11th. You can return your response with your child or by e-mail (bbbbb@bbb). I am not at all concerned with spelling, etc., but with the information you have to share. Thank you in advance for your help!
Respectfully yours,
Sallye Swafford
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