Corporate Headquarters of BISILT.com

It has been a great summer, not very long, but still great!   I have stepped away from some of my technological tools and tried to "unplug" just a bit.  Mid July I sat down and began reading the "feedback" letters from my students.  There was a very common theme; one which I have noticed in years past as well.  Students told me they "want to work together."  My usual reaction, if I am being totally honest, is a roll of my eyes as I imagine students talking and being non-productive.  This year, however, I had a very different reaction.  In fact it was close to an epiphany!  I realized what my students have been telling me is they want to collaborate.  This word is on the wall in my classroom, it's part of the ISTE standards I used to create my mastery objectives and student learning outcomes, and now it will be alive at the corporate headquarters of "BISILT.com." My lab has been totally rearranged; no more rows!!!!  I have created what I hope to be a "real-world" work environment and am calling this business BISILT.com.  Though most of our work will be done on line, we do have a "brick and mortar" location as well, in room 231.  There is even a sign on the door inviting students in to this office.  The year will begin with "orientation" to the company and then students will be given some real world problems to solve together in teams.  I cannot wait to see what happens! This is going to be an amazing year!!

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It's My Turn for Feedback

Believe it or not this is our final full week of school....your last full week of being a 7th grader. This has been an amazing year at BIS. I have learned so much from all of you. You have received a tremendous amount of feedback from me throughout the year. I hope I have helped you learn how to use it effectively. Now it is your turn to give some feedback to me. I started giving this assignment a couple of years ago and have found it to be so helpful. Many of the changes I make in my classroom set up or how I share information have come from my students. So today during class I would like you to write a letter to me. Please be sure to use "Friendly Letter Format" just as you would for an email. Check out this resource from a school in Carolina if you need to brush up on the format. You should use your Google docs to create this letter.  The letter needs to be two paragraphs long.

What exactly would I like you to say to me? In the first paragraph I want you to be honest and share what you liked about ILT and what you didn't particularly care for as well. Think about the topics we have covered this year. You may want to go back through my blog posts or Google Classroom to refresh your memories. Flipping through the papers in your Workstation Resource Folder (which by the way was a suggestion from a student two years ago) may jog your memory as well.
In the second paragraph in the body of your letter I would like you to address my teaching style. What are things you like and what are things your think I might want to reflect upon? Again, I would ask you to be honest, but also mature and respectful in the way you address this topic. I appreciate your thoughts and feedback.  You will then print this letter and turn it in to me (your ticket to leave.)

During class #2 this week you will do a little digital life clean up. I would like you to try to find an item from each of your content areas to save for a portfolio. You will be cleaning up not only your workstations, but your iPads as well. I have prepared a resource, "Clean Up Checklist," to guide you through this process. Once you have finished your cleaning, you will continue work on your digital stories.

Hang in there.....we can do this!!!

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Tellagami PSA's

The end of school is drawing near, but we still have so much to do!!  This week you will be finishing up your first attempts at a digital story.  This digital story "short" or PSA will be created using your iPads and the Tellagami app.  You will start by completing a storyboard.  I hope you enjoy this process.  I can't wait to see your creativity and innovation!
For the remainder of this school year you will have the choice of finishing up your GHP or creating a new digital story.  I will give you a checklist for either project to keep you on task.
      Digital Story Checklist
      Digital Story Storyboard Template (see Mrs. White)
      Genius Hour Project Checklist
Have a super week!!
 ~Mrs. White :0)

First Try at Digital Storytelling

This week you will take your first try at creating a digital story.  You will be using your iPads and your Tellagami app.  The link to this site will give you some tips for getting started. You will need to start by creating a storyboard.  Whenever you are working on a form of digital media, you need to pencil and paper your ideas first.  This pencil and paper is called a storyboard.  I will share a blank storyboard for you to use.  What will you write about?  I will give you a variety of options during class.
After this initial exploration of digital storytelling you will have the choice of making a cyberbullying digital story or complete your Genius Hour projects.

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Blogging...the Final Frontier

Welcome back from your long weekend.  I hope you found some time to relax and enjoy the great weather.  I also hope you remembered Mr.Gauthier's request, and took a minute on Monday to remember all those who have made our freedom possible.  Although our week is short, our daily routine is "normal."   HOORAY!!
This week during class one you will be creating and publishing the best possible post you can muster up.  This is your opportunity to show me how much you have learned about blogging this year.  I will be asking you to follow the same procedure you always follow with one extra step.  Once you have successfully published your post, I would like you to print a copy and staple it to the rubric you have been given.  Don't forget to go to Google Classroom and complete the accompanying assignment.(It's turning in your blog URL!!)
Once you have finished this assessment, you will be working on a Digital Storytelling Guide.  I hope you enjoy exploring this new type of media.

~Mrs. White :0)

One More PARCC Week and We're Done......Hooray!

I don't know who will be more excited when PARCC testing has come to an end; students or teachers?!!!  I can't wait to have our regular schedule back....oh wait!  Memorial Day Weekend is next week which means only a four day week.  UGH!!!  Are we ever going to have a "normal" school week?!!  Oh well, let's make the best of it and do some cool stuff in the time we do have.
This week you will be showing me what you know in regard to commenting.  You will be taking you Commenting Assessment (most of you) during our second tech class this week.  I hope you have been reviewing your study guide and the BPS Guidelines.  If you have been, this assessment will be a piece of cake!
Well, what about our first class this week?  What will we be doing you ask?  We will be taking a look at digital storytelling.  When I looked at the responses from the Genius Hour Project Survey I was surprised to see so many students sharing the desire to continue working on their projects.  I also respect the number of you, almost equal, who do not want to continue with this project.  Our crazy schedule and loss of so many days derailed many of you and caused a loss of enthusiasm.  So I have come up with a compromise of sorts.  I will be introducing the concept of digital storytelling to all students.  After our introductory lessons you will have the choice of creating your own digital story or continuing with your Genius Hour Project.  I would like all of my students to be familiar with this form of media, but respect those of you who want to complete what you've started.
So here we go....digital storytelling.  I have an example of a digital story for you to watch.  I'm afraid my projector bulb has still not been replaced, so you will have to watch this individually at your workstations.  Please check out this digital story.  We will talk about the elements or parts of this story once you have finished. Please check out a post from my archive in which I talk about this digital story: Caught in the Crowd.

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