Ruth’s Ruckus2

I went to this session on using literacy and reference skills to develop vocabulary.  Some of the ideas were good, but there really was nothing that I could use.  When one of the speakers began to make disparaging remarks about technology, I knew why.  I have the notes and the speakers’ PowerPoint on my flash drive if either of my librarians are interested…there are some ideas for ready made lessons using certain books as well as ideas for lessons with whatever one might have on hand…

I first became aware of Dr. Don Leu’s work at the VSRA conference about 4 years ago.  Someone dragged me to the General Session and said they thought that I would enjoy the speaker.  I was skeptical, but pleasantly surprised.  So when I saw that he was featured for this conference, I was determined to go to one of his sessions.  During this session, Dr. Leu gave 15 ideas on how to work on online reading comprehension.  This was a great reminder, as some of the ideas were too forward thinking for many of us the last time that he came.  I certainly wasn’t ready to go back and help teachers integrate some of them the last time…too many of the teachers weren’t ready.  Many still are not ready, but some of the ideas are part of our everyday practice at this point. You can find his handout herein electronic format so that you can use the links… LeuKeynoteHandout

Some ideas that I would like to try: 

• Using Internet workshop as an instructional model – I think 6th grade social studies would be perfect for this – Ms. Hamill,  Mrs. Mitchell, and Ms. Underwood – I would be happy to help you try this out.  I think given a structured problem and a simple worksheet would make the idea appealing to the kids and it wouldn’t take too long.
• Using search engine results to teach students to read to locate information – this would be great in both all of the intermediate grades.  Mrs. Hunter-Lowe, Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Wesley – I would specifically like to work on this lesson with you.
• Internet Project – Send/Receive and international morning message of the day – I think fr 2nd and 3rd grade, this would be great if we set it up in the begining of the year and worked with schools that represented the countries that you study.  Mrs. Heil, Mrs. Bass, Ms. K. Brown; Mrs. Rowson, Ms. Bailey, Ms. Sheppard, Mr. T…we should all work get together and plan on doing this for next year.  I’m going to tag Luann Smith while I’m at it – this would be perfect for foreign language as well.

The second session I went to was on vocabulary strategies.  This trio of specialists from Waynesboro had a full room 30 minutes before the session was to start!  Proof that vocabulary is an issue everywhere…people were quite litterally sitting on the floor inorder to particiapte in the session.  I had skipped the general session, choosing instead to traipse through the exhibit hall to see if the vendors had anything interesting.  I was able to arrive early for the session and was lucky enough to get a seat. 

The ladies had a plethora of games that they wanted to share.  These would be useful for step #6 in Marzano’s process for building academic vocabulary.  Some of the games  would actually make good flipcharts. I’m thinking that I might have to try to make them and then get a teacher to use them for a center time activity.  Carving out the time to do it would be the most difficult part…

I’m testing

Isn’t this great?  It’s a sample of the work that Mrs. Mitchell and Ms. Hammil’s students were working on.  It also happens to include Wordle which is on my list of 21things…

I am forever getting great stuff from folks in my PLN.  Two websites that I was introduced to recently are interesting:  This first one – Kidblog looks promising and will need to be sanctioned by OITMS before anyone uses it.  The premise is the same as classblogmeister – simple safe blogging for students. Instructional blogging – like writing prompts, journal entries and literature circles.  The interface of the Kidblog platform is clean, slick and updated.  I haven’t played with it at all to see if it has the same features as the blogmeister.  We’ll have to see…

The other site is  Carrotsticks.com – it’s a math game.  It’s very cute and just for practice in basic math facts.  The only part that is free is the addition part, but I played and had fun.  “competed with two other kids” and even had a progress report and achievement certificate sent to “my parents” email address.  I think there may be some real use for this in a classroom setting.

I was on Plurk in the wee hours of the morning and ran into a post by  Caren Kimbarovsky a Technology Coach in Illinois.  She posted a link to a video about social networking.  Thought I would share…

Just a short post here about the Pinnacle Gradebook now that we’ve finished the initial training.  Remember that if you have questions about how to do something in the gradebook, let mme know so that I can help.  If your question is about student who are in/not in or class rosters that are not correct, please see the records clerk at your building.

Here’s a SHOUT OUT to some teachers who are off and running right away:

• Ms. Bass (Victory)
• Mrs. Bell (Brighton)
• Mrs. Campbell (Victory)
• Ms. Gibson (Brighton)
• Mrs. Goodman (Victory)
• Mrs. Wilson (Victory)

Good Job you guys!!

Graduated yesterday…I am now Dr. Ruth…