LIBS602 BlogRoll

For the past eleven years, I have been teaching 6th grade English, and while I love my job and my students, my passions are changing.  My favorite part of the day is reading picture books to my two year old daughter at bed time. I am very interested in becoming an elementary school librarian, so I have enrolled in Old Dominion University to obtain my certification in Library Science.  I am very excited to take LIBS 602 Production of Instructional Materials! Here are links to my classmates blogs (for future reference)

http://lifelaughlove2teach.blogspot.com
http://literatureliaison.blogspot.com/ 
http://mrsbslibrary.wordpress.com
http://mrsdlibrary.blogspot.com/
http://sunnyside23.blogspot.com/
http://new-tricks-at-50.blogspot.com
http://thestoryofferdinand.blogspot.com
https://chill0062015.wordpress.com
http://pictures2encyclopedias.blogspot.com
http://fillyourlifewithstories.blogspot.com/
http://librarianwanttobe.blogspot.com/
http://talesofa6thgradeteacherstudent.blogspot.com/
http://runwithbooks.wordpress.com
http://backtoschoolfordino.blogspot.com
http://curlyqreader.blogspot.com
http://steppingstonesofimagination.blogspot.com/
http://mswolineatsbooks.blogspot.com/

http://mrsamyyoung.blogspot.com

SMART Notebook Express

Over the last few months, I have found several resources with the .notebook extension.  These files are used with Smart Boards.  However, if you don't have the Smart Board software, you can still view them using SMART Notebook Express.  This website enables most of the functionality of the software, such as interactive buttons, drag and drop, and pen/text/eraser annotations.  And did I mention SMART has an app in the app store for iPads? So, if you are like me and find yourself living in a Promeathean world, you may want to take trip on the SMART train to see what you're missing!

Check out these great resources for .notebook files!

• SMART Exchange
• ABC Teach
• Meacham's Classroom Snapshots

PhotoPeach is Peachy Keen!

PhotoPeach.com is a perfect Web 2.0 tool for my classroom! At first glance, I nearly skipped over it because it looked like the hundreds of other slideshow tools available to students.  However, PhotoPeach has the added advantage of integrating multiple choice style questions in the presentation. Yes, I know this can be done with other software, but I haven't found any of them as easy to use as PhotoPeach.  With a baby at home and the demands of an ever changing classroom, my time is limited, so anytime I can combine fun with an easy-to-use tool, I get excited.


Anne Frank on PhotoPeach


Ease of Use
From creating an account to publishing on my blog, the entire PhotoPeach process took about 15 minutes.

1. Create an account.  There are three different types of accounts- free, premium, and education class premium.  If you like PhotoPeach as much as me, at only $3 a month, the premium version is worth a closer look.  Although I had to supply an email address to create my account, I did not have to verify it making this a great tool to use with students without access to a real email address.  I also had no problems logging in to a single account at the same time using multiple computers.

2. Upload your photos and select your background music.

3. To add quiz questions, select Edit > Edit Caption and Photos > Quiz.  Three clicks and you're done!

Student Centered
Release the reigns and have students create their own slideshows and questions. This type of activity lends itself well to a KWL graphic organizer. Have students generate their own questions to direct their learning, research the answers, and then share & quiz each other on their results.  Students will enjoy the building and design process and gain new knowledge at the same time.

Tutorials
There are many videos available showing PhotoPeach in action.  I found this one documenting a science project that is easy to follow for novice users.

Wordtopia Utopia!

Finally! I have achieved Utopia! Wordtopia Utopia, that is!

I have been teaching English for 10 years, and I have used many different programs for teaching Latin and Greek roots.  All of them have elements that are great, but I needed something that would go a little farther.  Every year I always lamented, "If I had more time, I would do this..."  Finally, this summer, I moved roots to the top of my to do list and created Wordtopia- the practically perfect word study program for me.  Will it be practically perfect for you, too? I hope so, and if not, don't worry- my files are fully customizable.

Wordtopia is a word study program that combines the study of Latin and Greek roots with writing skills. Each unit consists of six lessons centered around a common theme. In each of the six lesson, students explore a word part by sorting a list of words with a common root, examining the individual parts of these words, completing a word map, editing a paragraph about one of the words, exploring a website that illustrates the use of the word in the real world, and completing a writing activity where they make personal connections with the root. Each lesson should take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Lessons align with the Common Core and feature 21st Century Skills.

Unit 1 Theme: Back-to-school
Word Parts: ology, bio, auto, graph, scrip, scrib, gen
21st Century Skills: Critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, research, information fluency, real-world exploration, technology

In the full version, you will receive the following files:

Presentation (42 Slides) of all 6 lessons in 3 different forms 
- Six lessons
- Daily Oral Language, Word Sorts, Word Families, Word Maps, Real World and Writing Connections
- Available in Google Presentation, ActivInspire, and Powerpoint

Teacher’s Guide (43 pages) that includes...
- Unit Overview
- Planning Guide and Checklists
- Lessons 1-6 Answer Keys
- Pretest/Posttest
- Twenty-five question multiple choice assessments on Lessons 1-3 and Lessons 4-6; test questions include matching, comprehension (with reading passages), analogies, and more! 
- Available in Google Drive and Word

Student Workbook (12 pages)
- Printer friendly worksheets to go along with the presentations
- Available in Google Drive and Word

ActivInspire Hollywood Squares Review Games (22 slides) for Lessons 1-3 and Lessons 4-6


Lesson Overview2. Word SortingFree Preview!

1. Daily Oral Language Editing Paragraph
Students begin each lesson by proofreading a paragraph that features the lesson’s word part- a perfect warm-up/bellringer activity. They should correct ten mistakes in spelling, capitalization, usage, and punctuation. In ActivInspire, they can use the highlighter tool to find the mistakes. Then double click on the text box to make the change. I usually have my students bold and change the color of the mistake.

Students sort a list of eight words into existing categories or categories of their choice. Some students may group words by root location; others may group by meaning. In ActivInspire, students can easily drag the words and labels around the screen. Then they can use a textbook or the pen tool to write on the label.

3. Word Parts
Analyzing word parts helps students break apart larger words. In ActivInspire, slide the word part across the screen. The first column shows the word minus the root, the second shows the root only, and the third shows the entire word.

4. Word Map
This graphic organizer can be used in many ways. Students analyze the selected the word for its word origin, word families, definition, and other word forms. They create a list of examples of this word as well as non examples (teachers may wish to substitute synonyms and antonyms when appropriate). Students can read the word in an example sentence, and then they write one of their own. Finally, students should find a picture to help them remember the root’s meaning. Clicking on the candle button will take students to the Online Etymology Dictionary (http://www.etymonline.com). Clicking on camera button will allow students to take a photo of this slide when they are finished. 

5. Web Exploration and Writing Activities
Clicking on the globe will take students to a website that shows a real world example of the lesson’s word part. Clicking on the four envelopes will reveal writing activities that go along with this website. Rather than assign all four, teachers should allow students to select a prompt of their choice. These activities are designed to be quick writes rather than lengthy assignments and may be used as a homework assignment. Students can then share their writing in small groups, large groups, or in an online environment.

Assessments
Track your students’ growth by having them complete a pretest and posttest before and after the unit.  Two additional assessments have been included in this guide (Lessons 1-3 and Lessons 4-6). These multiple choice assessments challenge students to think about the word’s parts and meanings rather than memorize a list of words. 

Fully Customizable!
I understand there really is no one-size-fits-all approach to word study. That’s why I am giving you EDITABLE files. If you wish to change or add on to my plan, you can easily do so. I only ask that you please do not repost my files on other websites.

More coming soon!
Since this is my word study plan for the year, I will naturally add more as the school year progresses. 

You can download a free preview of Wordtopia from my TeachersPayTeachers store.

Write a Novel in a Month

Have you ever wanted to write a novel in a month? I know, I know... such a rhetorical question.  After all, doesn't everyone? :) Last year, I stumbled across NaNanWriMo. With a name like that, you might think this website has something to do with Mork from Ork, a reference that would be completely lost on today's middle schooler.  At the time, I was 8 months pregnant, and I knew I would miss NaNanWriMo 2012 when the baby was born.  So, I did what every well-intentioned English teacher would have done.  I bookmarked the website and promptly forgot about it.  Now the new school year is only a few short weeks away, and I am rediscovering this writing treasure!

Project Overview

As the name suggests, this website will help students write a novel in a month.  Teachers can launch the program in October by guiding students through a prewriting workbook. The workbook is available for free in pdf form, but if your students need paper copies, they can be purchased for $10 a piece.  Different workbooks are available for elementary, middle, and high school students.  Students select their own writing goal (total number of words), and if they meet their goal by the end of November, they are declared a winner.  All winners are eligible for 5 free paperback copies of their novel through Create a Space.

Classroom Management

I love websites such as this that have ready-to-use classroom management tools.  Yes, setting up a Virtual Classroom may take a little bit of extra work in the beginning, but it's a tool that will help easily track students' progress.  Once the Virtual Classroom has been set-up, students can create their own account and associate it with your classroom.  Or if you feel inclined, you can create student accounts inside your virtual classroom on your own.

Write with Your Students

NaNanWriMo isn't just for students; there is also a website for adults who are interested in writing a 50,000 word novel.  Remember- be the inspiration for your students, and they will in turn inspire you!

Just Kick It!

Sssh! The baby is sleeping! And Kitty, you better behave this time and not wake BabyP like you did this morning! Yes, I know you received some sort of personal satisfaction from doing it, but I would appreciate it if you would use your indoor voice when you want my attention.

Today my vocabulary improvement quest continues, and I am excited about a few goodies in the game department.  Online games? No! I have links to plenty of those! What I am in need of is some good, old-fashioned, let's-get-these-kids-out-of-their-chairs games.  And I hit the jackpot on a really neat site, The Teaching Channel.  I guess I have been living under a rock because this website has been around since 2011. 

The video below is the one that brought me to the website.  

But I really like this idea, too!
Really? Vocabulary paint chips? Why haven't I thought of that? Hmmm... trips to Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart will probably be in my future.

Here are a few other websites where I have found Vocabulary inspired games and activities:

• Flipit Word Parts (This activity screams for ActivInspire.)
• Expansions: An Online Book of Vocabulary Games (My students stare at a computer screen a lot.  I need ideas like these to mix it up sometimes.)
• Visualizing Vocabulary (Some of these methods have been around for awhile but could easily be updated using technology, such as Google Sites.

ActivInspire Me, Please!

One of my goals this summer has been improving my prefixes/roots/suffixes lesson plans, and although I have pages of ideas, my follow-through leaves a lot to be desired.  With August approaching,  I need motivation.  I need inspiration.  I need ActivInspire!

Over the last few years, ActivInspire has been my go-to resource whenever I feel the urge to be creative.  When I am in a rut, I google new and creative ways to use this software in the classroom. Here are a few ideas I may use this year, and you might like them, too!