Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Books I Read

Below, you will find a list of all the books I read between the 2008-2011. I link to those I recommend.



Adult Non-Fiction


Adult Fiction


Adult Religious


Young Adult [Note: These titles vary greatly in recommended grade levels. Review carefully before assigning to students.]
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, June 10, 2011

The Writing Process

Wonderful resources exist to assist students as they work through the writing process. Most of these focus on the first four parts of the process: pre-writing (particularly with regard to concept mapping), drafting, revising (with a growing body of interest focusing on use of technology for editing), and proof-reading. One area that seems to have received little attention is the final part—publishing.

One school, though, has identified and is successfully using methods for teaching and encouraging publishing as a key component of the writing process. Designed and operated by Mrs. Molly Millman, The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain (Las Vegas, Nevada) sports a model publishing center. Called the BEAR ("Bringing Exceptional Authors Recognition") program and situated in the school's library, the mission of the publishing center is "to support Dawson student authors, poets, and artists in their quest for independent and collaborative skills necessary to be successful in the next century."

Using a self-designed curriculum, Mrs. Millman teaches content including publishing form, process, resources, authorship, communication, and presentation based on the philosophy: "BEAR Publishing, through collaboration efforts in project design, small and large group instruction, and teacher support, extends and enriches the positive impact of writing and publishing activities."

Though she engages in group instruction in students' classrooms, most publishing occurs in small group settings in the publishing center. After typing their projects during regular class or computer time, students format and add graphics to their projects with Mrs. Millman.


This first graphic shows the method Mrs. Millman uses to organize student projects. Because students progress at different rates, she organizes each class by project and sub-requirement within the project. In this way, she is able to assist students individually.





This second graphic shows an example of a project students completed in their classrooms. In this case, the student wrote and typed a report on Thomas Jefferson. After typing the report, Mrs. Millman taught the student to place a transparent graphic in the background. When it came time to publish a student book, she introduced modifying the text, picture, and page layout to nicely align with the student's selected book size and type.



Students determine the ultimate format for their projects. In most cases, the projects appear in book format—often as anthologies. In some cases, students or classes complete their own books such as poetry anthologies or original stories. They scan their own artwork and add it to student-made content books. For instance, when visiting authors work with students on story development, students create both the text and pictures for an original story and organize their creations to ultimately publish a completed, professional-looking bound book. Other times, publishing accompanies content other than language arts. For example, during a unit on Colonial America, small groups of students design and create a book with sections on each of the different colonies.




One of the key components of each of the books is an author page. Younger students use a template to prepare the content for their author page. Upon publishing their book, all students receive copies to revisit throughout their lives and share with their families.









Before students begin computer work on their projects, they choose the paper color they wish to use on their book cover and for all body pages. The Dawson Publishing Center contains a wide variety of paper qualities and colors. Students also select their book size.







To assist in selecting papers, paper sizes, and fonts, Mrs. Millman provides students with sample options.









In addition, Mrs. Millman provides students with visual models demonstrating margins. This assists them in understanding what is meant by top, bottom, left, and right margins within the context of
their selected paper size.























When it is time for binding, students may use comb or hand binding methods. The Publishing Center has a comb binding machine and wide variety of comb sizes and colors.


If students choose to hand bind their books, Mrs. Millman assists through the process of punching holes (with the help of a self-designed guide showing where the holes should go) and selecting ribbon. She provides them with a sample of a completed book and walks them through the binding and tying process.






At the end of this process, students have mastered myriad computer and publishing skills and have a quality take-home product. She notes that after repeating the process approximately three times, elementary-aged children are able to complete most of these skills independently.


________________________
**This information is shared with Mrs. Millman's permission. Please cite her for this work, and do her the honor of letting her know if you choose to incorporate any of these ideas in your teaching. It is with great respect that I offer these resources in her name. What a pleasure to learn from such a talented educator!
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, March 19, 2011

CUE 2011, Continued

Wikis in the Wild by Scott Lewis
Vimeo and SchoolTube: Alternatives to YouTube.
Bender Converter: This site allows you to download videos and save them in alternative formats (i.e., allows you to use YouTube videos in schools).
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, March 18, 2011

CUE 2011 Conference Notes

  • National Park Service WebRanger Program: Games leading children through activities introducing them to the National Parks.
  • Motivate and Engage Student Using Games by Nancy Gibson: She presented on myriad game types available online. Some examples include:
  • Content Generator: Teachers add content and the app creates several games.
  • Word Duck: This ap allows you to enter content and games, like Hangman, are created.
  • Rice: this site includes pre-established quizzes. For each answer students get correct, they donate rice to a needy country.
  • Quizlet: Recommended by a session attendee, this site is a very powerful quizzing tool for vocabulary study and Flashcards.
DodgePodge 5.5:
  • SepiaTown: Allows users to upload historical photos in the exact location where they occurred. This allows a visual of change over time.
  • Evernote: It is available on all platforms and allows you to keep all your notes, including audio. It also includes OCR technology so you can scan business cards and keep track of the information.
  • Poll Code: allows you to create polls to build into a blog or course site.
  • StatPlanet: Shows graphs such as drugs and crime, employment, education, cell phones by location.
  • Mikogo: Creates a quick and easy desktop sharing resource. It's a great way to help others with tech support. It also allows for web conferencing.
  • Visuwords: this is an alternative to Visual Thesaurus that shows the parts of speech.
  • Aviary: This site includes myriad productivity tools including an image editor, music creator, screen capture, audio editor, etc. It can serve as an alternative to programs like Audacity or GarageBand.
  • Aniboom: This site allows advance children to create intense animations.
  • Public Profiler: This allows you to see the frequency of names around the world. For instance, you can look up names like Jesus and Mohammed.
  • Do Ink: allows you to create quick flash-based animations using pre-existing tools
  • Tripline: Enables to to plan a trip given specific plans. Students can illustrate planned travels with text, music, and pictures. Consider having students plan a trip through Asia stopping at main locations of the Silk Road.
  • Qwiki: Gives and overview of whatever you type using audio, text, and video focussing on general in for information. It's a great alternative to have children gain an introduction without Wikipedia.
  • Crowdmap: Enables you to see where people are clustering (focusing on dealing with natural disaster aftermath) and the issues of concern are occurring in that location.
DEN Stars and Other DEN
  • Animoto: A great way to create a quick videos with cool audio and video. All they have to do is add the photos.
  • Some great Discovery Resources
  • Head Rush
  • Teacher and the Rockbots and other songs
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, September 20, 2010

Recommended Reading

I compiled a list of books I've recently read and feel would appeal to middle and high school students. Each of the books includes themes conducive to classroom discussions.

Except when marked with an asterisk, all titles are available in audio format from the Las Vegas Clark County Public Library District (see LVCCLD link when applicable). To access these materials, you must have a current public library card and know your PIN. For more information about procuring a library card, click here. To use eAudio books from the public library, you will need to download OverDrive Media Console (a free software package) to your computer. Instructions and more information about accessing eMedia are available here.

Except for Candy Shop War and Leepike Ridge, all remaining books with asterisks are available at Audible. Note that there is a charge to purchase audiobooks from Audible. Different from the public library, however, the purchaser becomes the book's owner.


Recommended Book Options


Young Adult Science Fiction
  • Adoration of Jenna Fox (Pearson, Mary E.): Jenna Fox awakens after a coma having forgotten her life before her accident. She explores her past life through video, but is often met with reluctance to talk about her operation with others. This science fiction mystery explores issues related to bioethics. [LVCCLD CD]
  • Elsewhere (Zevin, Gabrielle): Elsewhere is the story of a girl who died. Upon doing so, she arrived at a place called “Elsewhere” where all the people had lived lives on Earth and were now dead. Most of the people were a lot older than her (she died in her teens). A unique feature of Elsewhere is that you grow older instead of younger while there. [LVCCLD CD]
  • Hunger Games (Collins, Suzanne): The Hunger Games is the first of a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The premise underlying the plot is that a corrupt “Capitol” controls 12 districts. To keep the districts under control, the Capitol sponsors The Hunger Games each year. Two children from each district are selected to participate, and only one participant from the 24 survives the Games. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • Little Brother (Doctorow, Cory): Cory Doctorow truly practices what he preaches! In a book about high-tech, high-action stunts in the midst of terrorist activity in the U.S., Doctorow discusses the importance of freedom of information. Likewise, he made his book available for free online using a Creative Commons license. [Warning: This book includes mature themes likely to be inappropriate for use in school environments.] [LVCCLD eAudio]
  • Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (Patterson, James): This is the first book of a series by the acclaimed James Patterson. The main character is Maximum Ride, a headstrong teenage girl who grew up in a science lab. She and her “flock of bird kids” were all genetically manipulated pre-birth, resulting in the presence of wings. As such, all the children are able to fly. The book follows Maximum Ride and her flock as they escape from the lab and learn to live on their own. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • Maze Runner (Dashner, James): This is an action-packed thriller! Every month for several years, one boy has been delivered into the “Glade.” All the boys remember their names, but none remember anything else about their past. In a strange turn of events, the day after Thomas (the main character) arrives, a girl arrives. Thomas tries to learn about the society the boys created before his arrival and learns of the maze, their possible escape route, that encompasses their community. [LVCCLD CD]
  • Neptune's Children (Dobkin, Bonnie): Dobkin’s book, Neptune’s Children, begins with a bioterrorist attack on all adults around the world. All individuals over age 13 die instantly, leaving all children behind to fend for themselves. Those children left behind in a theme park (similar to Disneyland), create a working society while facing potential and real threats. [LVCCLD CD]
  • Twilight (Meyer, Stephenie): This epic series takes place in Washington state. The main character, Bella, meets a young man, Edward, who intrigues her and ultimately becomes the object of her affection. Bella learns that Edward is a vampire and struggles with love and longevity. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • *Uglies (Westerfield, Scott): This series (including Pretties, Specials, and Extras) by Scott Westerfield begins with Uglies, a book about a utopian society that spawned from modern America. All children are called “uglies” until their 16th birthdays on which they receive an operation that makes them pretty. Once pretty, they move to a location where they can play and party all the time. Some uglies, though, question if being pretty is all there is to life. [Audible]
  • *Unwind (Shusterman, Neal): Imagine if parents could choose to have their teenagers “unwound,” have their body parts separated and given to save the lives of others. It’s the perfect solution for harvesting human organs… isn’t it? [Audible]
Young Adult Fantasy
  • *The Candy Shop War (Mull, Brandon):Imagine a world where eating candy could give you special powers. Mull masterfully juxtaposes good and evil amidst a fantasy of vivid characters. The book may sound like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Harry Potter, but it truly is a story of its own.
  • Eragon (Paolini, Christopher):16-year-old Christopher Paolini wrote this epic tale (Eragon is the first book in a series) just after graduating from high school. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • Fablehaven (Mull, Brandon): When a boy and girl go to spend time with their grandfather, they learn there is more to his mysterious life than originally imagined. The area surrounding his home is a haven for fabulous creatures of all kinds—some good, and some bad. [LVCCLD CD]
  • Inkheart (Funke, Cornelia): In this three-book tale, Funke creates a world where books are reality become intertwined. Some of her characters have the unique ability to “read” characters and items “out” of books. In one unfortunate time, the father in the story accidentally read his wife into a book; he’s also read some antagonistic characters out of the book. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
Young Adult Non-Fiction
  • Fallen Angels (Meyers, Walter Dean): Fallen Angels is realistic historical fiction about serving in the Vietnam War. The main character is African-American, adding to the issues of race conflict occurring during the war. [Warning: Telling the story of men and women serving on the front lines, the book does not “candy-coat” the violence, language, and other everyday happenings of the U.S. soldiers.] [LVCCLD CD]
  • A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Beah, Ishmael): A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is the true autobiographical of Ishmael Beah, a boy who served as a soldier in Sierra Leone. After his hometown was attacked by rebels, he spent months searching for his family before being recruited into guerrilla warfare. He is later reformed when living in a UNICEF refugee camp. [Warning: This book contains graphic violence.] [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • *Three Cups of Tea: Young Reader’s Edition (Mortensen, Greg): Mortensen is described as a man who is single-handedly creating peaceful relationships between those in the Middle East and in the United States. This book tells his story—from mountain climbing failure to sacrificial living. After returning from a failed attempt to ascend K2, he commits to build a school for the girls in one of Pakistan’s outermost regions. He kept his promise, and continues to change the world with his relentless efforts. [Audible]
Young Adult Historical Fiction
  • Elijah of Buxton (Curtis, Christopher Paul): This book tells the story of a small town in Canada. Buxton is where escaped slaves from the United States find refuge. They welcome those former slaves who have made the long, painful journey from the South. The story takes a turn when Elijah, just a boy, heads back to the United States to complete a chore. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
Young Adult Realistic Fiction
  • Hatchet (Paulsen, Gary): This Newberry-award winner tells of a boy who becomes an inhabitant of the wilderness when the plane in which he is flying goes down and the pilot dies in the crash. The main character must learn to survive in the Canadian wild. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • *Leepike Ridge (Wilson, N.D.): This action-filled story of realistic fiction is a fun read. When the main character finds himself in a hidden cave under Leepike Ridge, he learns about life outside the mainstream.
  • Smiles to Go (Spinelli, Jerry): This is a coming-of-age story for boys who question who they are, where they fit in the universe, and their relationships with girls. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer (Grisham, John): This is John Grisham’s first children’s book. Theodore Boone lives with his parents, both of whom are lawyers. He loves the law and spends all his free time in the courthouse. As such, he is the resident expert on the law at his school, and he regularly advises his classmates on legal matters. He eve becomes entwined in a case of his own! This is a great book to learn about the U.S. legal system. [LVCCLD CD]
Adult Historical Fiction
  • Sarah's Key (de Rosnay, Tatiana): de Rosnay juxtaposes the past and present when her protagonist, a journalist, accepts the opportunity to write a story about French involvement in the Nazi round-up of Jewish families in Paris in 1942. While the journalist’s story unfolds, Sarah’s story unfolds. Sarah’s story is about cruelty and loss at the hand of the French police as they did the bidding of the Nazi’s. It is also about human compassion and remembrance. [LVCCLD eAudio]
Adult Realistic Fiction
  • The Life of Pi (Martel, Yann): Martel tells the tale of a boy from India. His family owns a zoo, but is selling their animals to a U.S. zoo due to financial hardships. During their sea voyage, there is an accident and the boy, Pi, ends up aboard a small rescue boat along with a tiger and several other animals. He tells of their mutual survival tactics and leaves the reader questioning reality. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
Adult Non-Fiction
  • *The Horse Boy (Isaacson, Rupert): Isaacson wrote this biography about his son, a boy afflicted with autism. In an attempt to help their son, Isaacson and his wife trekked through Mongolia with the intent to meet shamans who could assist their child. Their journey took them to the outer-most parts of Mongolia, even to the “Reindeer People.” This is a heartwarming tale the of the efforts parents will make to assist their children and ways that seeing the world differently can help us all see better. [Audible]
  • Strength in What Remains (Kidder, Tracy): A medical student in Africa finds himself constantly trying to escape war and war-torn environments as he traverses through his home country of Burundi and into and out of Rwanda. He eventually makes his way to the United States where he faces trials of a homeless immigrant in a foreign land. [LVCCLD eAudio]
  • Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman (Krakauer, Jon): Pat Tillman, former NFL player, lost his life during the U.S. Gulf War. Krakauer describes the events leading to his NFL and military careers and the circumstances surrounding his death in combat. [LVCCLD eAudio/CD]
  • *The Last American Man (Gilbert, Elizabeth): Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, writes the biography of Eustice Conway, a true man of the American Wilderness. Born in the 1960s, Eustice took his homemade teepee and left home as a teenager to live off the land. Gilbert tells of his trek along the Appalachian Trail, his record-setting horse-journey across America, and his lifelong passion to bring Americans to a greater appreciation and respect of nature. [Audible]
Posted by at 1 comment:

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tech-Based PBL for the Young Learner? Yes!

Tech-Based PBL for the Young Learner? Yes!
Presented by Christy Keeler and Heather Rampton

Presentation Slides
Downloadable Presentation Slides

Recommended Links
Posted by at No comments:

Elementary-Level PBL

There are incredible project-based learning examples online, but few are from elementary level and even fewer are from primary grades. To make a very small impact on this lack of examples, I am sharing a collection of projects my sons, Ryan and Spencer, have completed for their classes during their elementary years. For information on more PBL options appealing to elementary-level students, please visit Tech-Based PBL for the Young Learner? Yes!
  • Scorpion Movie: When in first grade, Spencer made this video by using iTunes to record his narration and iPhoto to make a slideshow with Internet-selected pictures. He combined the two within iPhoto.
  • Spencer Toy's Commercial: Spencer and his friend, Spencer, created this commercial for their fourth grade entrepreneurship project. They wrote the script, practiced, and were recorded using a camera with video capabilities.
  • Mixed-Up Book Report and Safety Notebook: Ryan created a book report on the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and a safety brochure for his Cub Scout project while in fourth grade. He used Microsoft Word tri-fold brochure templates for each.
  • Hatchet Report: Using ComicLife, Ryan prepared this fourth grade book report on the book Hatchet.
  • Caravel Mini-Book: In fifth grade, Ryan prepared a mini-book report on caravel ships (those used by Columbus). He used "Make a Booklet" software to enable proper folding, and he created a cover using tea-stained paper sent through a Laserjet printer.
  • Audio Interviews: When in fourth grade, Ryan had to do a book report for a fantasy/science fiction book. He chose The Riddle of the Gnome: A Further Tales Adventure by P.W. Catanese. For the project, he had to write and answer ten interview questions for the main character. Ryan chose to deliver his project in audio format (Listen here). He used Audacity and its voice modification feature to make it sound like there were two individuals in the interview room. Spencer had to replicate this activity when he was in fourth grade. He used the book Flyte by Angie Sage (Listen here).
  • Iroquois Virtual Museum: For his fifth grade project on Native Americans, Ryan chose to study the Iroquois by reading ...If You Lived With The Iroquois. He used PowerPoint templates and techniques from Educational Virtual Museums.
  • Spencers' Toys Marketing Display: Spencer Keeler and Spencer Coombs created this poster during an entrepreneur project in fourth grade. They manufactured and sold cars, trucks, and planes. The display board included a section where they projected a commercial they made using a digital camera.

Posted by at No comments:

ISTE 2010: Fisher, "Gadgets! Gadgets! Gadgets!"

Return of the Gadgets!
Presented by Leslie Fisher

Eventbrite.com: Allows you to invite people to attend events and will allow you to set an event attendee maximum. It will keep track of the attendees, put others on a waiting list, and move them up as seats come available. You can also use it for pay events and it will take $1 for each attendee. It will automatically create certificates, sign-in sheets, nametags, etc. for your attendees.

Tripit.com: You forward your confirmation emails to create a virtual itinerary for you. T provides driving directions for your. It’s even available for the Droid.

You can create a Twitter feed on your website. Twitter.com/Goodies, Choose “Widgits,” “Profile Widgit,” and choose your preferences and username, and then “Finish and Grab Code.” This is a great way to post messages to several websites (e.g., 4th period, cheerleading, Boy Scouts).

Type With Me: Allows multiple people (15) to type at the same time in the same place (like with Google Docs). You can by-pass the 15 person limit through Google.

Zamzar: It allows you to convert files into other file types. So, for instance, you can get a YouTube video as a Quicktime file. It takes about 20 minutes, but allows you to access video even when sites are blocked.

UStream.tv: Creates an immediate videoconference. It can work like a nanny-cam.

Orbicule: This sends out your iSight video and starts taking videos of the person who is using it.

Hulu: Watch television shows for free online.

Boxee: Allows you to watch the Internet on your TV.

Swype: It will type for you as you swipe your figures around the Droid keyboard.
Posted by at No comments:

ISTE 2010: Davidson, "Mash Media: New Web, Old Media, and Your Own Stuff"


Wall Wishers: A creative way to share information on a single virtual wall.

Tagul: Like Wordle, but it allows you to make links to individual words in the resulting image.

Jing: Creates websites from screen captures created online. CamStudio is a good free alternative for regional screen captures on the PC.

Gizmoz: Allows you to create avatars.

Email GEEC@google.com to get a full license code for Google Pro for educators.

Web 2.0 owners almost universally allow educators to take and use screenshots from their sites. Just email the site manager to make sure it's okay to post your screen captures.


Permission to use Discovery videos in Google Lit Trips.
Posted by at No comments:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

ISTE 2010: Other Good Sites

EasyBib: An easy-to-use online alternative for EndNote. Useful for young writers learning to cite their sources.

Kerpoof: This is an online drawing and movie-making program.

Kids.gov: This is a one-stop-fits-all website connecting children to a multitude of children's games.

Games about Money
  • Meet Us at the Mall: Helps students learn about business competition and smart consumerism.
  • Stagecoach Island: Compliments of Wells Fargo, this game offers a virtual world where students can learn to manage their money.
  • H.I.P. Pocket Change: This site is maintained from the U.S. Mint.
Posted by at No comments:

ISTE 2010: November, "Digital Learning Farm: Students as Contributors"

Digital Learning Farm: Students as Contributors
Presented by Alan November

We need to trust children to teach teachers.

Tutorial Design Team:
Mathtrain.tv: Includes videos of math concepts. Some teachers allow their students to either do homework, or they can create screenshot tutorials. An important element is to NOT give students grades for their creative works; otherwise, motivation will decrease over time.

WolframAlpha: An online tool that will solve algebraic and other similar math problems. If you type "Solution" along with the problem, you can find the steps to the solution.

Dan Pink, Drive: In Pink's book, he states that if you do not have purpose, your motivation will decline. November, then, states that we need to focus on giving children purpose. One such purpose is to have them create products that can benefit others.

Screencasting is a critically important tool that teachers seldom use.

Production Designer:
A key to enhanced educational opportunities is to release control to the students. An example of this is Bob Sprankle's student vodcast. In his elementary-level classroom, they do a weekly podcast on what the class learned throughout the week. A student designs the production for the week. After creating these podcasts, students individually came to Mr. Sprankle and asked him if they could create their own shows. One student created a writing show and another created a math show.

Scribe:
Using Google Docs, have three different students keep notes during a single teaching period. Have each of the three students focus on a different aspect of the presentation. Also, inform each of these scribes that they should add additional information as they feel it would be helpful, and they can add information to their notes at any later time.

Researcher:
School culture has conditioned children to create a dependency on the teacher to answer their questions. They are not encouraged to explore on their own; they are rewarded when interacting with the teacher and asking questions of the teacher. A job students may have in the class is to to be the researcher. When a student asks a question, one student is required to find the answer online.

Global Communicator:
One student's job should be to find email addresses of people that could act as experts when the class has questions they are unable to answer.

Kiva: A website designed to facilitate loans to small businesses around the world. For $25, students can choose a business to support and follow the success of the business. When the money is returned, you can re-invest it.

"Don't forget the kids." In fact, perhaps we should spend more time empowering kids to improve learning and less time on professional development. Perhaps a school could put together a team of students who will identify a list of ways they can use cell phones for learning within the school environment.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)