Building Brainpower Through Blogging

Class activity — Summarize your summer break in just six words.  You may choose ONE event or try to sum up the whole summer.   Use nouns, adjectives and verbs that create an image for the reader.

Here’s mine:  Beach, Space Center, grand-daughters’ summer adventure.

Homework:  Bring an object (picture, drawing)  to class that symbolizes something about you.  Read 30 minutes, respond on the home reading log. 

Blog response — What has surprised you most (so far) about 7th grade?

The year, so far, has been extremely busy.  I am finding it difficult to stay on top of things and get the things I want done.  It seems there is always something else that demands time and energy.

My goal is to start incorporating elements of the blog into my class activities so that it becomes a natural part of what we do — for me and for my students.

After attending the Texas Future Problem Solving 3-day workshop a couple of weeks ago I am even more excited about incorporating these activities into my 7th grade ELA classes.  I met with the state directors this week, and Cyd and Chris could not be any more helpful… what a wonderful feeling to know that I have their support and can call on them anytime I need help!  

I think the most important thing that students will get from this program is the opportunity to learn and practice critical thinking skills… being able to look at an issue from multiple perspectives and think outside the box.  Being able to project challenges as well as solutions.  Plus being able to use their imaginations.  I am definitely excited about the possibilities for my classes and am looking forward to their participation in the state competitions.

Wow!  The last three weeks have sped by.  The first week of June I interviewed for the Assistant Principal internship position and made it to the ‘final four’ and the second interview, but wasn’t selected.  I was disappointed, but have other options that I’ll explore now.  One is the Future Problem Solving Program. I’ve registered for the 3-day workshop July 20-22.   It’s here in Austin, which is nice. 

I spent the next two weeks on the road, driving up to KC to get Fiona (my 9yo grand-daughter) and then down to Alabama for a Heath family reunion.  We meandered our way down and back to KC, then I spent a couple of days there before driving back to Austin. 

This week I am  home, trying to organize and clean, and then it’s off to Anchorage, AK for a few days to visit with grand-kids, explore, and then bring the 5 yo grand-daughter back to Austin with me.  We’ll drive up to KC together so I can take her to her Daddy. 

Fiona and Elaina and I are planning to go camping at Watkins Mill while I am in MO and then it’s back to Austin for the workshop… I’ll have another week off before it’s workshop time again… August is one workshop after another and then it’s time for school to start.  Yikes!  Already the summer has flown by…

I’m both excited and nervous about teaching 7th grade ELA this year.  It’ll all be brand new since I’ve never taught it before.  I’m hoping that’s a good thing!

Memory maps; six word memoirs; acrostic poems ….  these are all prewriting activities to help students focus and generate ideas for their first piece of reflective writing — a memoir.

A memoir is a piece of writing that is generally focused on one event and the lessons or impact of that experience. 

Activity #1
Think of one event that is special in your life.  Where did it take place?  Who was part of this event?

Activity#2
With as much detail as possible, draw the setting of this occasion.  Include everything you can remember.

Activity #3
In exactly six words, summarize this event… paint a word picture … connect emotionally with your reader.

Activity #4
An adjective is  a word that modifies, or changes, a noun.  Adjectives help the reader know exactly what that house looked like, how scary (or friendly) the dog was.  A good writer uses the best vocabulary he (or she) can to paint a word picture.

Create an acrostic name poem using adjectives that describe your personality.

Example:
R esponsible
E nthusiastic
B old
E ffusive
C ontemplative
C courageous
A daptive

1.  We often hear of the First Amendment.  During today’s discussion we will examine it.  Here’s a powerpoint that presents each of the five rights that are guaranteed by this amendment to the United States Constitution. 

http://www.taje.org/fortaje/ppt/1stAmend.ppt

2.  Interviewing starts with coming up with good questions BEFORE you actually start asking them.  Using the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where and why), come up with questions to ask a member of the class.  You will use those questions and answers to write your first feature.  This must be typed and placed in your folder on the shared drive by the end of class Friday.

You can only save work into your folder at school.  You may work on assignments at home, save them to a flash drive, and bring them to school to also work on.  To save at school — in the Word document, go to Save As,  click on the down arrow where it says “Save in:” and scroll to your student number.  Click on this, then save the document with the title of the document — (student name) interview.

Take a moment and read “Who is Mrs. Mullan?”  (Click on the link in the left menu bar.)  Comment by writing a brief introduction telling the world about you.  How are you unique from everyone else in this class?  What makes you special?  What are your special interests and hobbies? What do we have in common? 

In particular, tell me about what you enjoy reading.  What book would you recommend to other students in our class?  Why?

The more we know about each other, the easier it is to share ideas and feel that we are valued members of this learning community. Go for it!

Do you know what businesses, scientists, reporters, researchers, doctors, and students have in common?

Using technology to share ideas and create solutions to problems.

This year we will also use technology to share and communicate. You are part of the 21st Century Learning Community! Your ideas will be open to the world.

I thought you  might be interested in these online middle school publications.

http://www.itasca.com/school/charger/2006/Issue_5/05-10.pdf

http://my.schooljournalism.org/az/phoenix/cholla/

By now you should know the topic of your first article for the Bobcat Bulletin.  You should have arranged any interviews you need.  Be sure to research any background information about the topic.

If you do not have a story you are working on, let me know immediately, since I think you all have assignments!

Remember to conduct yourself professionally:

• be on time for the scheduled interview
• be prepared with your interview questions
• take careful notes
• thank your interviewee and shake hands

Let me know if you have problems or questions.