Brrrrrrrrr!!!

I still cannot believe March has begun.  Have you heard the expression, "Out like a lion, in like a lamb?" Have you ever wondered what that meant?  I have a site with the answer.  According to good old Punxsutawney Phil we only have about three more weeks of winter.  Let's hope he is right!!

Quick Activator:
Please take the BIS Yearbook Club's Pop Culture Survey. Your input is important and results will appear in the 2017 BIS Yearbook. Thanks for your help with this.

This week you will add some widgets and gadgets to your blogs.  Before we get started with that project, you need to get your blog in tip top shape.  One of the widgets you will add is a ClustrMap.  You will use your URL to create this widget, so you must have your new one in place.  I can't wait for you to see where your blog audience lives!   Please be sure to use your resources and critical thinking skills when you come to "work."

  ~Mrs. White :)

image link

                

What a Week for America.....Past, Present and Future!

This week is power packed.....so much going on in our country; past, present and future!!!  What am I talking about?  We had Monday off from school to honor a leader from our past; Martin Luther King Jr.  Dr. King left an amazing legacy for our country.  If you would like more information about what you can do to carry on his legacy check out this site.   As for the future, Friday marks an important day in our country's history.  On Friday, January 20th President Obama will hand the reins of our country over to President Elect Trump.  This has always been a very special day in our country; jam packed with traditions.  You can learn more about past inaugurations at this U.S. Presidential Inagurations created for students.
As you know, you will have an assessment this week.  This test will take place during class two.  For some of you it will be your only class this week.  Be sure to look over your study guide before the exam.  Once you have completed your assessment, please use this resource to clean up and manage the work side of your digital life.
In addition to the assessment we will work on trying to tie up all the loose ends of your blogs. Please use the checklist I have left at each of your computers to work through this process.  I will model some of these steps for you.
  Have a super week and be sure to check out the history in the making!!!!
    ~Mrs. White  :)

image link

image link

Back from Break.....UGH or YEAH??

Happy 2016!!  Welcome back from a well deserved vacation.  I hope you all found some time to rest and relax.  I had an amazing time travelling down South to visit our daughter.  It was different to not be "home" for Christmas, but then again I was with my family so I was "home."  The likelihood of something happening in your life over these past days is very high.  So you should have no problem writing an amazing blog post. As I had mentioned before break, you will work on your second blog post this week.  The process will definitely be accelerated as you will create, edit, and publish the post all in one week.  Please follow the procedure outlined below (also found in Google Classroom):

1. Go to Google Drive and create a new doc
2. Name the new doc appropriately (ie-second blog post)
3. Begin writing your post.  
4. Find, save, and cite an image for your post.
5. Be sure to use the Blogging Check List on your work.
6. Have a classmate edit your work.

**If you are totally stumped for a topic, use the January Blog Topic resource.

Resources for this assignment

*January Blog Topics

Blogging Check List

Uploading and Citing Images on Blog

image link

Stuffed and Ready to Roll

Welcome back from your break!  I hope you didn't eat too much pumpkin pie!!!  You've had plenty of time to come back from your "turkey coma."   Did you watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?  It has been around for a very long time.  Check out this information about the famous parade.

This week you will finish editing your first blog post, add an image, and publish it.  Once you have completed this process, you will print a copy of it and attach it to the rubric.  I will take these and in the next couple of weeks get them back to you with a grade and feedback.  Once your blog is uploaded, you will probably want to make some changes to your blog design.  Please take the time I give you to make those adjustments.

The next part of the blog process is to complete your Blogger profile.  You have an assignment awaiting your in Google Classroom.  You will use the Blogger Profile Template and the resource, "Adding About Me to Blogger."  

  ~Mrs. White :)

image link

Getting Started

We will not be in school on Wednesday this week.  Do you know why?  This Wednesday we will honor our nation's veterans. When did this day of remembrance begin?  Check out this website for some answers and information.  Please take a look at the way Cape Town Prepare for Veteran's Day.

This week you will start creating your blogs!!  I will take you through the steps of how to set up your blog and you will use this partial blog design rubric to help you after the initial set up.  You will not finish your design in one or two classes.  In fact, you will most likely be making changes on your blog for quite a while.  I will let you know when you need to lock it in.  During our second class this week, you will begin writing your first blog post.  You will be on the steps of the shallow end of the pool wearing "swimmies."  Your first post will be "paper."  Please check out this resource to get you started.  You can also find more resources on the Blogging Resources page of my blog. This will give me the opportunity to give you some written feedback before you share your first post with the world.  We will be pulling all of the pieces together.  I hope you are as excited as I am!!!

Happy Blogging!!!!

Searching....I Never Knew That!

It's hard to believe October is almost over.  There are two big events happening this weekend.  The first is Halloween which will be celebrated on a Saturday (HOORAY!)  The second is Daylight Savings Time; yes we gain an hour of sleep on Sunday morning (HipHip HOORAY!)  Have you ever wondered why we mess around with the time?  This article should answer all of your questions.

We are going to be all over the place during class one this week, trying to catch everyone up.  Before we get started with any lessons, I would like to ask you to please take this one question survey created by one of your classmates.  Thanks for your help with this.  Some of you will be working on blogging vocabulary during class one while others will take a look at some advanced search techniques offered by Google.  No matter which topic, you will start off with a video.  Blogging exploration will begin by taking a look at Blogging In Plain English.   Searches will launch their lessons with How Search Works.  Both of these videos do a great job of explaining these two topics.  You will then be doing some work "old school" and "new school" combined.  The resources you need are below.

• Google Landing Slide Presentation
• Google Landing Presentation Recording Sheet ** Please make a copy of this doc and put it in your Google Drive before you start answering questions.

During class two you will complete a Blogging Activity.  This assignment can be found in Google Classroom.

image link

It's Not That I Don't Love iPads.....

This week will officially be five days long!  We can do it if we work together, haha.  Last week was amazing and so many incredible things happened on Friday!  Students and teachers were in my room buzzing with excitement about iPads.  I know a few of you are still struggling to get in and get going.  I worked all weekend and will continue to work this week on getting everyone up and running.  Please be patient and do your part by communicating with your families when I ask you to do so. We will spend our first class getting to know your iPads and getting organized.  Let's start by watching this video together.  Before leaving class today please take a look in Google Classroom.  I have left a short Blogging Pre-assessment for you to take.
I am sooooo excited for our second class this week!   We will finally begin taking a look at blogging!  This will be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ideas with the world!!  We will start by taking a look at a great explanation of blogging; Blogging In Plain English.    You will be working with a partner to complete a blog diagram using a word list.  Both of these documents can be found in your most recent assignment in Google Classroom.

Commenting Lesson

Commenting is an important part of the blogging cycle.  We have discussed this topic and practiced commenting. This is still an area of improvement for most of you.  Please be sure to review the BPS Blogging and Commenting Guidelines as a part of this lesson.  I found another method of commenting.  I have left a copy of the "A + 1" Commenting Method beside you workstations.  Please take a look at this method.  It is a great set up for commenting.  Use this blog post to complete the Commenting Activity which is also beside your workstations.

Commenting Post:
The students of today are a very unique generation; a generation of "firsts."  The Internet has been in existence since before you were born.  Therefore, you have never lived without the Internet.  Can you imagine not having Google around?  Think of how many times a day you use Google.  Now think about the technology you have available at your fingertips.  Do you remember a time in your life when someone in your family didn't have a cell phone?  All of this technology is amazing and yes, life changing.  But is it all for the better?  This is a question asked by so many.  Many worry your generation has lost the ability to communicate with others face to face (F2F) and many other skills considered necessary for life.  Others express concerns young people have become desensitized to crimes and bad behaviors due to their involvement with on line gaming; not being able to tell the difference between what's real and what's fantasy.  What are your thoughts and feelings about your generation and technology?  Do you think you will be lacking in important social and communication skills?  Do you think you have become desensitized to crime and violence?  How do you envision our world in your hands one day?

image link

Review and New

We have a shortened week of school due to our extra day off or long weekend.  This extra day was given to us so we could honor an American hero, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  What did you do to remember this great man?  ABC News shared 5 Ways to Honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  You may want to check them out.

As for the rest of this short week, it will be jam packed!  We will start off where we ended last week.  For some of you that will mean finishing up your second part of the Genius Hour Brainstorming Guide.  For most of you it will mean setting up your book for this project.  I have given created the first assignment in Google Classroom to share the details for the Book Creator set up of this resource for your projects.  Please go to my class in Google Classroom and find this assignment.  If you were have not yet "joined" our ILT classes, you will have the chance to do so today.

You will also be creating a second page on your blogs this week.  This "Genius Hour" page of your blog will be the space for your to record your progress.  I will ask you to create your first "post" on this page; sharing your initial thoughts about Genius Hour.

And of course, you will be taking your Blogging and Commenting Assessment this week.  Have not worries, you will have an opportunity to review with Kahoot It before taking the assessment.
                  ~Mrs. White :)

Last Stretch of 2014

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a restful few days off.  Did you see any snow?!  Some parts of New England had a "White Thanksgiving."  I don't know about you, but I definitely had my fill of turkey.  Do you have a favorite leftover turkey recipe?  The Food Network has some ideas in their "Best Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes" post.  Maybe one day I will see one of your recipes featured on this blog.  Let's wake up from the turkey coma and get going with our blogs.

This week you will be creating your first blog post!!  I have compiled a packet of resources for you.  You will find it next to your workstation.  It includes the following:

• Packet Cover Sheet and Overview
• First Post Tips
• Helpful Hints for Your First Blog Post
• First Blog Post Rubric

I hope you find them useful.  Remember this first post is your introduction to the world.  Take your time and do a super job!  Later this week we will take a look at commenting and practice by doing some "paper" comments on your "paper" posts.  Next week you will use your feedback from peers and me to polish and then publish your first post!!  Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging!!

Pinning With a Purpose

Today in class you will start off by working on the last two agenda items.  To accomplish this task you will need to open your Pinterest accounts.  Your log in is your school gmail address (including @mybps.me; don't forget the 19).  Once you are logged in you will need to create a new board and title it, "Copyright and Citations." You will find a resource in your workstation folder to help you with this process; just in case you are confused.  Give this board a description and then "create" the board.  Next you will need to use the Pinterest search and find, evaluate, and pin at least 4 resources to your new board.  Remember to evaluate your pins.  Open up each one and decide if it will help you understand copyright laws or how to create a correct citation.  If it will not; then don't pin it!!

Once you have finished pinning, please do some work on your blog.  You should have at least 5 good posts by the end of this week.  Next week you will be creating a "reader" and getting your blog design rubrics.

Happy Pinning!!

What is Blogging?

We will finally get started with our blogging unit this week.  Before we learn the parts of the blog, you will take a Blogging Pre-Assessment. This will give me a better idea of what my students know and don't know about blogs and blogging.
Now let's get started.  I created a special blog for us to use as a "teaching blog" or a resource.  You will all be given a copy of this blog and a word list.  You will try to label the blog.  Remember to use what you know to figure out what your don't know.  We will talk about these parts of a blog.  You will also be given a copy of the BPS Blogging and Commenting Guidelines.  Once you have reviewed these, you will be asked to evaluate a blog of your choice.
The best way for you to blog well is to read a lot of other blogs.  So lets get started!!  Check out some of the blogs on "Interesting Blogs and Resources."
By the way, you will be given an assessment next week.  This assessment will cover our acceptable use policy, parts of the computer, the Internet and intranet, and emails.  You have many resources to use to help you prepare.  We will take a little bit of class time to review.  You will get a copy of the "Study Guide" for this assessment during class.  Be sure to use your other resource to complete the guide.  If you have any questions be sure to check with me by the end of the week.  You will do well, so don't be nervous!!

Show Me What You Know!!!

I have finished sharing the last of my "official blogging lessons."  Please don't think this means you are all done blogging!!!!  It is quite the opposite.  You have just begun to blog!!!  I will not be spending class time showing you how to blog, however, you will be expected to continue blogging.  Some of you have asked if you need to wait for my permission to blog or wait to be assigned a topic about which to blog.  My answer would be different for different students.  My biggest concern is that you are representing yourself in a positive light; creating a good digital footprint.  If you are someone who struggles with editing, you may want to have me double check your posts before you upload them.  I still create my posts in Google docs and then copy and paste them in to Blogger.  This gives me that extra time to double check for errors.  So check with me if you are ready to blog again!
Don't forget about your "Blogging Checklist."  You will need to make some time to complete the items on it before we leave for our Holiday Break.  If you need my help with anything, you know where to find me!
This week you will begin working on a presentation.  This topic of this presentation is "Blogging Basics."  You will receive an outline in class explaining the project.  This outline will also contain the rubric which I will use to assess your presentation.  You will only have 3 classes to create your presentation so you will not want to waste any time.  During our last class meeting before vacation you will share your presentations with the class.  I will be assessing them during the presentation.  I think you will have fun and thought it was a more 21st century assessment tool.  So whether you select Google Presentations, Prezi, or another presentation tool; it's time to get the creative juices flowing!!  You will want to create an outline or storyboard for your presentation before you jump in.  This can be a simple piece of paper or you may want to use the storyboard template I have available.  You should have plenty of time to complete this presentation during class if you are focused and using your effective effort strategies.  If you should feel you are not getting enough done in class, you always have the option to continue working at home.  You can find the resources your need on our class MOODLE page.
I cannot wait to see your masterpieces!!

Another Crazy Week

It is another crazy week at BIS.  We did not have school on Monday in honor of our nation’s veterans.  I hope you all took some time to reflect on how lucky we are to live in the United States with all of our freedoms and realize many men and women have made huge sacrifices so we can enjoy these freedoms.  There were many events honoring these men and women on Cape Cod over the long weekend:  Veterans Events on Cape Cod.

It is hard to believe next week will only be a two day week due to our Thanksgiving Break.  WOW!!!  November is flying by so quickly.  Have no worries; if you have missed any classes due to school not being in session you will get caught up soon.  Everyone will look at BPS Commenting Guidelines this week.  Last year I found a great resource for commenting.  Please check it out on my “virtual” twin, Virtual 231’s post, “Beginning Blogging.”  There are some great “comment starters” in this post.  You will create some “paper comments” using post it notes to place on your classmates’ “paper posts.”  I will be assessing your paper posts and looking carefully at your comments.  Please be sure to check the BPS Commenting Guidelines as you are creating your comments.  You will have an opportunity to read your classmate’s comments before turning in your “paper posts.”    

Please remember I am making sure you are ready to go in to the “deep end of the pool.”  I am going to be sending you there with your “swimmies” on, but you are getting ready to swim that way soon!! 

New Blog

You spoke and we listened!  We decided to have all students create a second blog for school work.  You will be encouraged to continue blogging about your passions on your original blog.  Please remember this is connected to a school account, you BPS Blogging and Commenting Guidelines should be followed.  You should also be sure the content is school appropriate!  

You will need to go to your Blogger Dashboard and “create a new blog”.  The new interface looks a little bit different, but if you look around you will be able to find this gray tab.  Please name your school blog in the following manner:

         This example would be if I were a student creating a blog:

                  Name of Blog:   Kim’s School Blog

                      URL:   kimsschoolblog(.blogspot.com)

**You may need to add the first initial of your last name or a symbol if you have a common first name.  You will know as the new interface will tell you automatically if that URL is not available.*

You will need to choose a template which allows you to make multiple pages easily.

You can now work on the design of your blog.  Please be sure to create the following pages:

1. Home (this will be automatically created and the only page on which you can create a “real post”  I would like you to create a post telling your new teachers a little bit about you. You may want to include your strengths and weaknesses in school, likes and dislikes, etc...
2. English
3. Math
4. Science
5. Social Studies
6. Technology

**You may delete the Technology page from your other blog.  You could put your podcast post on your new blog if you’d like.

You may play around with design, colors, widgets, etc....

Be sure to “Apply” and “Save” as you go!!

What do I do when I'm done editing my podcast?

When you have finished editing your podcast be sure save it to your p-drive. I would recommend you rename it, "Finished Podcast." After you and your partner have saved your podcast you will return to your own workstation. You will have this time to work on the following:

1. You may create a new blog post
(Make sure you edit your post!!!)
2. You may work on the design of your blog.
3. You may read other classmates' blogs
(You can find them using this link,
Mrs. White's Students' Blogs.-http://preview.tinyurl.com/7h2wbnx)
4. You may read any blogs in your Google Reader
5. You may work on a Google Doodle-http://tinyurl.com/4pkhqqz.

Final Script Writing, Rehearsing, and More

This week you will finish writing your scripts which should include 10 questions and answers, an introduction, and a closing for your interview. Many of you are close to being finished. You should do a “dry run” of your interview and time it. If your questions and answers are shorter than 1 minute long; you will need to “beef up” your answers. You may want to check out some of the resources on my blog to help you find more information for your answers. After you have finished your scripts and are satisfied with the length and information provided, please print our 2 copies-one for you and one for your partner. I will have highlighters available and I would suggest you highlight your “lines.” You will then need to find a space with your partner to rehearse your interview for your podcast. Remember-you don’t want it so sound like you are reading from a piece of paper when you are doing your recordings.

During class 2, you will have the chance to make a “practice” recording using Audacity or Adobe Soundbooth and then mess around with editing. You will view the following tutorials in Atomic Learning to help you with this exploration.

Audacity

Soundbooth

The Next Step

I know we are all "on vacation," but thought if some of you had some spare time you may want to work on your blogs.  Please remember not to post any new text or posts, or upload your "About Me" until I have had one last check.  If you are happy with your design and layout, you may want to start adding some widgets or gadgets to your page.  You may use the resources toward the bottom of the Blogger Resources and Guides, or check out some of the ones below.

Wigipedia is a very large gallery of widgets and gadgets
Cluster Maps is a great widget which allows you to see where your readers are located.  This Edublogger post does a great job of sharing how to create one on your blog.
Voki is a super site for creating an avatar to put on your blog.  This video which was created by a student, will show you how to get your Voki on your blog once you have created it.  You don't need an account to do this!
Google Gadgets are another great resource for you to use on your blogs.