FINAL ASSIGNMENT

Writer’s Workshop Lesson Plan

Content Standard: Writing

Writing a narrative to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well- structured event sequence.

1.     Prewriting activity: Students view selected photographs.

2.     Provide students with the following prompt: If you had to leave your home in a hurry and never to return, what 3-5 things would you make sure to take?

3.     Create a DD (discovery draft) using a web, outline, bullets, or other form of graphic organizer.

4.     Students share prompt and type of graphic organizer used to create DD.

Students would then begin the first stage of their narrative piece. An informal evaluation would be based on student sharing of prompt and DD.

 

 

http://lcosu.blogspot.com

I really liked this blog because it is about the literacy framework our school system has adopted. The blog is up to date, interesting, and relevant to me personally and professionally. I also like the option to follow the blog. This will allow me to network with other teachers and literacy coaches throughout the school year. The style is simple and easy to read.


http://blbooks.blogspot.com

The blog is very organized and updated daily, if not several times a day. It is obvious she spends a great deal of time on her blog. I love how she organizes her book reviews by age group and genre. It makes it very easy to access what you are looking for and to review quickly. If that doesn't help, she has a search engine for all the books she has reviewed.There is an option to follow OR subscribe by email. There is a wealth of information in her blog and I think it I still easy to read. I didn't feel overwhelmed by all she had because of the color, design, and font. I also think this is a blog that students could benefit from too.


http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com

The colors used on this website/blog are soft pastels and inviting. The blog is easy to read with photographs to enhance and illustrate her blog topic. The categories on the right cover a variety of topics and direct you to your specific area of interest. This blog also has how-to videos you can watch. She also includes a featured post as well as BLOG FAVES. Very interesting!


http://teacherblogspot.com

This blog is way too busy for me! The colors and polka dots put me into sensory overload. I didn't even want to fuss around with it. I just wanted to GET OUT OF IT! I think there is a lot of good information in the blog and if it was presented a little differently, I may have enjoyed it more. This blog definitely let me know what NOT to do.


 http://www.ladybugsteacherfiles.com

This blog was also one with the option to subscribe to or follow. I like the way it is organized so that I can easily go to the subject area I am interested in. The breakdown within the Language Arts content mirrors the framework we use in our school system so I am interested in going back to study the blog a little more. One thing I wasn't crazy about was the choice of font color. I like a little darker color and bolder print because I think it is easier to read. There is a contrast between category and sub category but not enough to my liking.


http://allthingsupperelementary.blogspot.com

This blog is different because it has guest posts. The blog is updated frequently with a variety of topics. Instead of one person posting, sharing knowledge, and owning the blog, it allows someone with more expertise on a certain topic guest post. The topics are relevant to upper elementary and that is the group of students and teachers I am working with and coaching.

I have many personal interests. Unfortunately, I don't have as much time as I would like to be actively involved, so I try to make the most of my free time. I love looking at antiques. I get caught up in family heirlooms, family traditions, and memorabilia from the past. The cohosts of American Pickers, Mike and Frank, travel across the country in their white Mercedes van meeting collectors and exploring their various establishments trying to negotiate a sale http://www.antiquearchaeology.com. It is interesting to see what people collect, what others are willing to pay and what people do with what they "pick". Another show that is on The History Channel is Pawn Stars and it too, involves buying and selling of antiques and nostalgic memorabilia. It is interesting to see what comes through the doors 24/7 to be sold. I love seeing the items, hearing the history behind the items, and what price is negotiated between the buyer and seller http://gspawn.com. I have a hard time getting rid of things and it is probably because in the back of my head I am thinking...it might be worth something someday......

I enjoy shopping in my spare time and looking for bargains. No matter what I am in the market for, one of the first places I go is http://www.amazon.com . I like to compare the prices of new items as well as gently-used items. I read the reviews on the items I am looking for and notice the ratings of the seller. I watch for free shipping but am cautious because if not satisfied, the return shipping can be very expensive. I buy 99% of the books I use in my classroom from Amazon. I also peruse http://www.zappos.com because of free shipping AND returns. I like getting a good bargain on new or used merchandise.

I love to read, go to concerts and shows, and travel. As an educator, I use PBS http://www.pbs.org as a resource in my classroom. Personally, I enjoy the concerts and programs they offer throughout the year. I have purchased tickets for concerts as a result of seeing first on PBS. I mentioned that I enjoy reading. Recently I signed up on http://www.goodreads.com. You can see what new books are being released and what books your friends are reading. You can write book recommendations or read reviews and recommendations. There are also many giveaways from various authors to get feedback on their books. I also love to travel. Prior to going on a vacations, I researched cities and countries I was planning to visit through http://www.ricksteves.com. It is a great idea to hear about places to see and/or restaurants and foods to try. I have been to Europe four times over the last several years and prior to each trip I watched several videos/DVDs to prepare for the trips. It is nice to have a little familiarity before touring a well-known city.

Family Capitol Fourth

Heading to the Capitol for a Family Fourth......

Expected delays with heightened security.



"...Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
Its the climb..."
 

We have staked our spot on the upper lawn of the Capitol.

 Passing the time taking a siesta before the concert begins.

A view from the steps of the Capitol.

A beautiful, Humid, Hot, Hazy day in DC.......

waiting.....

Waiting.......

WAITING!!!

 

The upper lawn is now full!

The WAIT is over and the fireworks begin with the traditional Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture"

As we head back to our car, one last look as a reminder of Independence Day and the freedoms we have that make our country so GREAT!

Several years ago when I was in college, it was a family tradition to travel from Northern Virginia into Washington, DC for A Capitol Fourth. After graduating from college, getting married, moving away, and starting my own family, the tradition faded and new traditions were created. This past winter at a family get-together after reminiscing, it was decided to meet once again in Northern Virginia and travel to Washington, DC for a Capitol Fourth.

 

We packed coolers with bottled waters to keep us hydrated in the Hazy, Hot, and Humid Nation’s Capitol. Our extended family now represents different nationalities and cultures. Our sandwiches were an americanized version of a Cuban sandwich. Homemade cookies were a variety of family favorites, along with fresh fruits/vegetables. Food was plentiful and enjoyed by all as we waited for the festivities to begin on the main stage.

 

Music by Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Candice Glover, and Scotty McCreary united the generations among the crowd in the upper lawn of the Capitol. There was a little entertainment for all leading up to the fantastic, firework display over the Washington Monument. The light show coupled with the patriotic and uplifting sounds of the National Orchestra made the evening a tradition to be remembered.

Assignment # 3

Taking this blogging course over the summer has been a good idea. It is getting a bit easier and I anticipate it getting better with the remaining assignments. I think you need the time to explore and create through trial and error. As a teacher, it is sometimes difficult to do during the school year. I appreciated when you made such as: don’t stop creating…..make changes…..you are not done. I agree that once you have a completed product you think you should be done, but, with blogging and the creation of a blogspot, it makes sense to keep it interesting and updated. My daughter is an awesome photography student at Youngstown State University. I think I’ll appeal to her to see what she thinks of my blogspot. She has just posted her photo assignments on her blogspot so maybe I’ll give HER ideas too. I also liked you comments about keeping the focus on your content and not get caught up in drawing attention to background, font, color, or anything that will take the focus off what you are wanting to communicate through your posts. Now that III think about it and have viewed other teacher’s websites, it makes sense. Sometimes visiting other websites is sensory overload. Thanks for your helpful comments.

Assignment # 2

One of the activities I did this past school year was have my students write book recommendations and book reviews.  After completing a book, the students had to rate their book from 1-5 and then tell why they liked or disliked their book. They would also tell what kind of reader their book would appeal to. In addition to completing the book recommendation, they would have to do an oral book talk in front of the class using the information they wrote. If another student had a question about their book, they would answer the question to the best of their ability without giving away the ending or retelling the entire plot of the book.

 

I would like to do more of that this year possibly incorporating a blog. Independent reading is a HUGE part of our literacy framework. The students read independently everyday and write about their reading. I communicate biweekly with my students through letter writing about the books they are reading. The students are exposed to and read a variety of genre throughout the year. The students are all reading different books, so after I have introduced a literary idea or element, the students provide support through details and examples with the book they are reading. Blogging about their book would allow them to interact with others in the classroom 24/7 and help reinforce concepts and ideas they may not be clear on through conversations with other students about the books they are reading.

 

As I think about this course and the many uses of blogging I am wondering what ways I will use blogging to enhance the literacy framework we are currently using. The use of images relevant to the book they are reading might be interesting. I am also thinking of ways to communicate with and involve the parents. I think it would be a great way to show the parents what the students are doing in the classroom.

 

Assignment #1

There are several ways I would like to use blogging this fall in my teaching position. I am a Literacy Coach trained in Literacy Collaborative at The Ohio State University. I work half day in the class with the classroom teacher teaching the literacy block. I also coach the rest of the teachers in my building. I provide professional development for teachers in my district and also network with other literacy coaches in the district. There are several areas where I will utilize what I learn and create blogs that will be productive and benefit the people/students I work with.

I would like to have my students blog about the books they are reading and their thinking about their reading with others. This will be an effective way of using technology to communicate and learn from others. As a coach, I would like to post blogs for the teachers in my building where they can communicate. They can share ideas or respond to what works or doesn't work in their classroom. As a presenter of professional development, blogging will be a way to communicate between meetings and to get feedback on what is happening in their classrooms that will reinforce what I have asked in PD. It will also give them the opportunity to share with others. It will also be a valuable tool for networking with the other literacy coaches in my district.

I am excited to learn more about blogging and ideas for using blogs with the different groups of people/students. As the use of technology increases in our schools, we have to keep up and stay competitive. Our students need to learn new, more efficient ways to communicate with their peers and teachers both inside and outside of the classroom. I have 27 years of experience in the classroom and I am eager to learn more about the use of technology and innovative ideas and practices to use in the classroom.