Week Two of Our Crazy Schedule

What a crazy weather weekend.  I felt like Mother Nature couldn't make up her mind.  One minute it was raining and the next it was sunny.  I was on my walk Saturday afternoon and about half way through it started pouring.  All I could do was laugh.  Not sure if I ever remember a Spring as wet as this one. Check out the Weather Channel's report. Did you get rained on this weekend?
During our first class this week, which will only be 25 minutes long, you will create your accounts for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge.  I will give each of you a teeny tiny strip of paper with your username and password.  Both of these are crazy.  I will give you instructions to change your passwords.  Unfortunately you cannot change your username.  I will share a document with you via a Google Classroom assignment.  This document will be a place to record your final Scholastic log in information so you will be able to access it this summer; just in case you forget.  After we have updated your log ins, you will have some time to explore the site and try to come to up with some books to read over the summer.  Have some fun!!
Stay tuned for what's up for class two this week!

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Tips and Tricks

Happy Day After May Day!!  Sunday was the official "May Day."  What exactly is May Day?  How is it celebrated?  Is it still really celebrated?  Check out TheHolidaySpot for answers to these questions.  I saw a lot of virtual May Day wishes being shared on Face Book yesterday.  I have never seen anyone dancing around a Maypole, but think it is probably a pretty cool thing to see.  Did you do anything special to celebrate May Day this year?  By the way, April showers seems to be bringing more May showers, not flowers as promised!!
Before starting classes this week, the Broadcasting Club has asked me to share this Social Media Survey with you.  Please take a moment to independently complete and submit it.
This week our schedule will be impacted by PARCC testing.  Class one will remain in tact, but class two will be shorter for most of you.  We will work on some stand alone lessons during our PARCC testing time in the next couple of weeks.  During class one you will complete an assignment in Copyright and Fair Use.  Please start off by completing this form.  During class two you will learn some keyboard shortcuts and other "tricks" by completing your "Tips and Tricks" assignment in Google Classroom.

**If you were absent last week and did not complete the 21st Century Skills Post Assessment, you will need to complete it this week.

Another Web Evaluation Assignment.....WordFoto!

Week two of PARCC testing is under way.  Once again I know our students will be putting forth a tremendous amount of effort and doing their personal best.  It is hard to have our schedule disrupted, but you are all troopers and I know you will get back on track next week.  With that said, I have altered my lesson plans again this week, as our schedule has been tweaked.  I feel as though I haven't seen some of you for weeks!!  If you are with me this week three out of our five days will be scheduled with shortened classes.  You will need to get right to work to complete this lesson in only 30 minutes, but I'd like to start you off with this quick video.  Check out CAPOW!
Your new assignment is "living" in Google Classroom.  I have also placed a link to this assignment on my blog:  Web Evaluation Assignment Using WordFoto.  This week you will use another iPad app to share strategies for evaluating websites.  Please take a look at the resources below to help your develop this short paragraph summary.

Web Evaluation Resources

5 W's of Website Evaluation

The ABS's of Website Evaluation

C.R.A.P.P. Method of Evaluating a Website

How to Read a Web Address
Get REAL:  How to Evaluate a Website

You will be creating a short paragraph explaining how to quickly evaluate a website.  You will create this paragraph using Google Docs.  You will then be exploring another new App, "aTypo Picture."  You will turn your explanation in to a "work of art!"   The "turning in" process is the same as last week.  You have resources to help you so use them and have fun!!!

Memes......Heck Ya!

This week you will begin your first PARCC testing sessions.  Listen to this message from Kid President.  I know you will all come in and do your best, using your Effective Effort strategies.  Although we are in the middle of doing research for our Genius Hour Projects, I am having you take a pause this week, and next week.  I have created a lesson for you which is not quite as taxing on your brains, I hope.  This week you will be working on your iPads creating "MEMES."  I have put this assignment in your Google Classroom which means you should have received an email (hope you're checking!!!!!)

This Meme lesson is intended to be "fun," but also a way for me to see what you are learning and remembering about website evaluation.  We will start off class with this short video activator, "Evaluating Websites."

So have some fun and see if you can create a "winning" meme.  The best memes will be copied and put up in the lab and perhaps elsewhere!!!

Have a great week!   ~Mrs. White :)

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