Bi-Weekly or Monthly Debate Idea

In chatting with Tiffany we discussed giving the kids regular opportunities for discussion (weekly, every other week, or maybe just monthly).

Here is a site Hazel shared with me that could really help us with topic ideas for the discussion.

http://stosselintheclassroom.org/

Good ol' John Stossel!



*I don't have the ability to add links to the blog except through writing a post.

Classroom Notebook

http://www.powtoon.com/p/ft41awtHpHn/#.Ua4oarVkkck.gmail

 

 

I made this to present/ sell our classroom notebooks that Abby and I discussed yesterday. 

Link

This is a cool site that we could access the videos and lessons for classroom flipping or background/review. :)


http://education-portal.com/academy/course/index.html

Links

I updated links and resources that will be used for next year. 

Have a good summer!

Teachers' Domain: Abraham Lincoln: A Good Man? or A Good Man!

Teachers' Domain: Abraham Lincoln: A Good Man? or A Good Man!
Oh wow - this is such a cool lesson (from what I've read so far). It really requires them to research, compare sources and then report their argument.

Be prepared - I am on a mission to get next year locked in! :)

RL 8.2 Question Stems

RL 8.2 Reminders with questions stems: 

-This standard is more than just having students id thematic statement. To build on 7th grade, they are now explaining HOW the characters, setting, and plot relate to the theme. (See standard for exact wording). 

-While you establish how to make a theme statement, start thinking about how characters change through the story. Think about the significance or any changes to the setting. Have students look at the key plot points. I personally think that by focusing on character you can naturally embed and discuss the other two concepts. 

-*Don't forget docs uploaded to dropbox pertaining to theme. 

Here are the question stems I am seeing that we can use as we formatively and summatively assess. This does not include what is in our Clinic books.  

• Which character in the passage learns a lesson?
• What is the theme of the passage?
• How does the author demonstrate the theme?
  (Answer choices include: by stating it directly in passage/by showing how characters A & B get along/through a description of character A' thoughts/ through repeated examples of character B's lack of action)
• Which element in the passage MOST helps develop the theme? 
• How does the ending (resolution) of the passage support the theme?
• Which word fromt eh passage gives the best clue about the theme? 

On Demand Resources

1. The Literacy Link has been released for January. It includes a the link to the released annotated ON DEMAND WRITING items. Perfect! Exactly what we need as we grade our narrative pieces and move into this argument writing unit. :) 

http://education.ky.gov/AA/items/Pages/K-PREPItems.aspx

You have to scroll over halfway down to get to the 8th grade materials.


2. Argument writing materials: I have a lot of summative materials for the writing unit on argument. I have two passage based activities: "Is Facebook Making You Mean?" and "Addicted to Screen Time." The second we used as our benchmark assessment last year. The first was a a practice formative assessment. 

3. INTERDISCIPLINARY SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT: 
I have spoke with Ms. Chamberlain about reusing our former summative assessment for argument writing. Science will spend the next four weeks learning about alternate forms of energy, while we study argument reading & writing. At the end of their unit to demonstrate their knowledge for both subjects we will both assign them a speech that requires them to respond to a prompt where they evaluate & choose an alternate form of energy as the best. This speech will be to a school or state official (I forget the exact nature of our prompts). We will then allow time in our class for them to write the speeches as will science. Then they can perform the speeches for a dual grade - I have the writing rubrics (already differentiated for different levels of students). Science will have another rubric based upon just the students display of energy knowledge. Talk to your science people. My team will definitely be doing this - based upon my past experience it was quite successful. The students really grasped this writing because of the dual responsibility. 
We will meet with the science folks to work out the logistics of presentations, points, rubrics, etc. 


I will be uploading a ton to dropbox. - These were my intentions for today, but I had to stay home with my sick girl. 

See you tomorrow!