Week 15-Moving On- Life Beyond the Research Paper

It seems as though the research paper has taken on a life of its own. It doesn't ever end I thought it was going to end when we finish the papers but they're so much more work do we have to do then we ever had to do before on it's because now we have to grade them in house. Here it is almost February,  and we're still looking at the papers the didn't past first time. It's not really where I wanted to be but I'm hoping that we can get this finished off in the next month.

It's been really nice working on something other than the research paper. Getting back into the literature has really been a lot of fun. I never realized that I actually do like teaching American Revolution it's been so much better this year than years past.  I think probably Because it seems like the kids are more interested for some reason and also I found a new way to teach it's like trying to make the documents come alive.

Improving Sentences

ENG 1001: Style Exercise

Sound Recorders

Free Technology for Teachers: 6 Apps Students Can Use to Create Quick Audio Recordings

Bookemon

Looking to use this site to publush books. Make a book Online about your family, kids, school and friends | Bookemon.com

Tripping along the Path-Week 10

Things have been things have been going so well lately that I haven't had this need or the urge to post. The kids no considerable more about how to research paper than I ever imagined, and the bibliography to come out looking almost official from the start.

In English we do. It in tomorrow I hope that the students are prepared very important that they go to this process together in class.

In creative writing to students are starting out webfolios. This is the first year that I've been able to give them instructions if they can actually understand from the beginning. It really makes a difference when you can get your act together and tell the students exactly what to do before they get involved in doing the creation webfolio the wrong way. Don't get me wrong it was really hard today running around helping each student individually. I'm beat. The payoff, however, is tremendous. I'm hoping if they can really work on these and make something of them because they could be invaluable to them later on.

We use Google Sites to make our webfolios. It works well it's a little clunky when you're using Internet Explorer, and I'm afraid soon Internet Explorer won't work with it all.

Not very many students turned into character sketches for I guess I should say a lot of students didn't tournament I need to figure out another way to make them get the papers turned in on time. I just don't know what that might be. I text the students today before I email the parents I just don't know that I can do anything more.

Week Eight-Chasing Allusions

1 thing about this time of year is it seems to take forever to get to a holiday.

The research paper is coming along nicely the students have posted their thesis statements and started on the introductory paragraphs.  We are going to try out lining next week with a new program. Using sirs.com outlining program to create graphic organizer.

I was really thrilled at the way I was able to talk 1 on 1 with you to the creative writing students about your personal narratives.

I don't think I'll have to use the essay tagger program. I like the personal experience of writing on the papers.

Seeing Clearly-Week 7

The week was running a little slow at first. Research paper has been going at a good clip but students and 6 class don't seem to get the notion that they didn't need to work and not talk. I have to really coming down hard on them to get them to understand how serious they need to be about this.

Socrative is giving me some great resources that I can use to help them understand and do better on the research paper.

We're going to try using an outline graphic organizer form on SIRS  search database to see if that works well for the students.

In creative writing 2 the murder mystery dinner theater was a great success. Who knew that Nate would be such a great conductor the kids stayed in a character and they were costumes and we had a wonderful time learning about murder mystery.

In creative writing 1 book bingo still seems to be problematic it's hard to get the kids to continually work and get things taken care off on time. Still I don't want to get up because I think it reading is very important activity.

Today on Friday there was a big field trip in a lot of my students were absent on a day today really needed to be in class.

I feel for the first time in weeks I've actually gotten a lot of work done probably because of the PSAT on Wednesday and I've not so far behind my grading anymore. Does it really take 7 weeks in order to get your act together with teaching?

Finally I think finally I figured out a way to do a lesson planning and everything to the admin want and still keep my sanity. It's all on 1 page now and it's easy to keep up with and I can make note to say go along, and that's all I have to keep in a notebook.

Well that's it for this week off to waiting on the weekend hopefully get some papers graded on Sunday and next weekend we are definitely deep into research and we are deep into reading character sketches and we are deep into writing murder mysteries.

Want to Use Google Docs

50 Little-Known Ways Google Docs Can Help In Education | Edudemic

Finding Hope-Week Six

This week felt like a turning point week. I should have known that it would happen, but I was just so hopeless last week. Thank goodness there is always hope. I think I have finally figured out a way to write my lesson plans in a way that is effective for me and not extra work but also meets the requirements of the administration.

One thing that I'm beginning to notice is the fact that my creative writing students are above the level in which I'm usually accustomed to. they seem to want to write more They seem to be more interested in the writing and editing, and that's really a breath of fresh air.

Socrative is really working with my English 11 students. They have become very responsive to posting their thoughts into the Socratic venue. I like having all of the information come to me is in a spreadsheet.

I'm still not sure whether I will be using Essaytagger or not or if it's just more work then it's absolutely worth.

In English 11 we have officially started using the electronic note cards that we started using last year. They seem to be working very well.

Losing My Way-Week Five

This week was extremely difficult and incredibly long not only did we have homecoming week, I also had a field trip with the beginning week which kind of threw me off a little bit.

It seem like the week was just characterized by lots and lots of paperwork and lots of meetings and not enough time to do things I really needed to do. IF that's the way it seems to be going this year. it is very frustrating.

I had a great characterization class this week, and I hope to use it again next year.

Characterization

Characterization 101: How to Create Memorable Characters

Support Writing in the Classroom

"55 Interesting Ways to Support Writing in the Classroom" http://t.co/hpRWurdH My fav. is the Inspiration Board Original Tweet: http://twitter.com/finleyt/status/253213319090024448 Sent via TweetDeck (www.tweetdeck.com)

Research Paper

How do I cite a tweet?

Finding a Clear Path-Week 4

English 11-This week went fairly well. The students did have issues sticking to working on the study pack for the unit test. I am thinking that it might be better to play some sort of interactive game. They did,  however do quite well on the test. We will be moving on to Puritans next week. I will miss interesting literature for awhile.  It won't be until we get in to Thoreau that the interest returns
Atleast it isn't so hard to teach and read. I mean, I love all the documents and history, but I miss the challenge of a good story.

First period did not do well in the lab on Friday. They didn't seem to take the discussion seriously. Had to help them along a little more than I would have liked.I was prepared for sixth period. They got it.

Using paperrater was great.  I learned that the students really need to work on their vocab. Will need to focus on that.

Socrative initiation this week.  I want to start exit tickets...or daily vocab to the slate where they can do it on the fly. Hope that works.

The text to speech program on Novell is worthless unless it can work on all computers in the school. Try something else.

Creative Writing-Wow! I am in love with these classes this year. Everyone seems to want to write..which is refreshing. I am so excited for the field trip on Monday. We worked through the personal narrative and memoir this week.

We had s great week. They really got the paperrater and were most eager to fix their problems. The worked diligently on the narratives and will turn them in on Sunday.

I think that I am finally getting them to understand the excitement of a community of writers. It feels great.

The convention is Monday. I have learned that I need to start the field trip process BEFORE school starts. It takes forever to run it by everyone.  I can also hold onto the $$ until the convention. No panic next year.