Book builder

The book I created is about simple machines which are used in STEM classes in elementary and middle school. The book as examples of the simple machines and has text to explain what each of the six simple machines are. Students will use the book to help them write their paper during and 8th grade rube goldberg project. Student papers will include how simple machines work and how their rube goldberg machine uses all of the 6 simple machines. Students will go through the process from start to finish and explain how they function. I use the paper to connect learning to ELA standards. Other classes suchs as 6th grade science use simple machines can use this to inform students as well. The text in the book uses great detail to explain what each simple machine is and how it functions. The project is part of an engineering based curriculum and students will understand the importance of machines. The writing for old Rubegoldberg comics is very unique. In the past I've made students write out the process of what is happening during a rube goldberg machine. Something I plan on adding to the book later in the future is sound or voice recording so students who learn best through audio or need audio in order to learn

&book=39666&page=1http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=view &book=39666&page=1

Week 6

Assignment 1: I really enjoyed using gamestarmechanic.com and I can imagine students would really like using the interactive games on this website. It was really cool seeing the short graphic novels that are used on the quest tab. It seems like these books are becoming very popular. As our language seems to be shifting students now need to remember less words ad phrases. Using quest mode allows students to read a story line as well as problem solving skills. Though basic the games which are part of the allow students to experience different yet still important skills. I do get sucked into games and have currently taken an interest in app building. I downloaded an app builder recently but haven’t had time to use it yet. Apps are the next step in the way we will teach our children.

Assignment 2: I think it is important to use games in the classroom when found effective. If students are playing a game in the classroom they are more likely to be interested because they have a bigger role in their own education. Although if at home I ask my students to play an educational game for homework, they are probably going to play the game Call of Duty “Black ops” instead. I have used a game to help students learn how to read rulers. http://www.rsinnovative.com/rulergame/

Games are very helpful when students are supervised. It seems to be the new hands on experience. Students are likely to become even more dependent on electronic devices where they will gather information and write about it even more frequently then we are now doing.

Assignment 4: Edmodo is an excellent tool for education. It allows students to check on homework assignments online rather then wasting class time writing down the information. I like how the site uses the same layout as Thefacebook. ELA teachers can use the site as a post for blogs or even links to information students need to read for homework. Students can post writing assignments and while teachers can post grade for assignments rather then receiving them in class. Instead of having students use search engines information can be narrowed down by posting a list of links. I like that teachers can even quiz students while they aren’t even in class.. Because they have used a similar design and layout as facebook has students may really like posting their information onto the blog area. It also allows students to ask questions they may have been to shy to aks in class.

Article

utThis article is about Gender, Identity, and language teenagers use in blogs. The articles an overveiw of the importance of blog and what happens to language wen students use blogs

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Technical%20Article#:::72616961

Assignment 4

·         Assignment#1 Answer the following questions:

Text Twist is a game that allows users to think of words they may already know and learn about words that they may have not known. http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/texttwist.jsp. During the game you have two minutes to spell as many words as possible with different letters during each two minute section. After getting words correct or advancing to the next round a few sounds right but other than that all aids are visual and graphic. On the left hand side of the screen a list appears with the amount of letters in all words that are left. During the game if you don’t get a certain amount of words spelled correctly then you cannot advance to the next level. The goal of the game is to spell all of the possible words with the letters provided. The game could be easily linked to New York State curriculum.

Assignment#2 Create a simple ELA lesson plan addressing the following components:           

Grade level 8^th grade

Common core standards and learning outcomes:

W.8.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

Craft and Structure

RI.8.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

RI.8.5. Analyze in detail the structure of a specific paragraph in a text, including the role of particular sentences in developing and refining a key concept.

RI.8.6. Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

RI.8.7. Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.

Knowledge of Language

L.8.3. Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing the actor or the action; expressing uncertainty or describing a state contrary to fact).

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use

·         L.8.4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word’s position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).

Consult general and specialized reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech.

Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary).

Instructional activities:

During this activity students can test their knowledge and ability to spell words. After every two minute round students will write down words they didn’t find. If they know the meaning of the words but just didn’t find them they can fill in the definitions. As for the words they didn’t know students can use www.dictionary.com to research the meaning of the words. After they have 12 words that they didn’t previously know the meanings for they can use their list as a vocabulary list which they can later be tested in.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed using a quiz that they have developed. Students will learn about new words that they personally didn’t know of by using the game Text Twist.

Debriefing

In order to debrief students is to first show them how the game text twist functions then have students write down words that they don’t know. Students will later find out that those words will become a vocabulary test in one week.

What cognitive skills do this game help to cultivate?

The will learn skills that will increase speed of recall and memory. They may also recognize the words that they didn’t know if they play using the same letters again.

What new literacies skills do this game help to cultivate?  

The game helps students learn new vocabulary words and at the same time test their spelling skills and words they may already know.