My Live Binder

               

   

Poe

I found this really interesting live binder that is a unit plan about Edgar Allen Poe. It has some great sources and articles about Poe. It even has the Simpson's episode spoofing Poe! I think students will love this when they are learning about this iconic writer. I also think this could be a really helpful and organized place for them to go when they have to do research or are just interested to learn more about him and his work.

Cyanide & Happiness #2215 - Explosm.net

http://www.explosm.net/comics/221
Love Comics about Grammer! With the help of Diigo, I was able to put this link here for all of you!

SAS Curriculum Pathways

Launch # -1242

The SAS activity I chose is an interactive activity called The Writing Reviser Tool Box. It is a really amazing tool that is downloaded to any computer and it actually prompts students on how to revise their essays. I felt that this could be very useful for students because it lays everything out for them that they need in order to make sure that they are writing a successful essay. It gives them statistics on possible run on sentences, grammar issues, wordiness and so many other things. It also tells students different things they want to make sure that they are achieving in their paper that would deem it successful or not. I like this because it is much easier and more interesting then just staring at a set of rules in a text book. Through this interactive activity they are guided step by step what to do with their writing in order to make sure they truly grasp what is being explained to them. I would use this in the classroom by asking students to put their essays into this program and follow the prompts to see how they can improve their essays before they came to me, to se if they could work it out on their own. This could really help broaden students knowledge on what a good essay looks like and what they can do in order to write well. I think this tool could make a big difference in our students writing. 

MY PREZI!

Prezi in the classroom on Prezi

Homework

Things that I like about Zoho Writer that makes it unique:

1.I love that you can put in emoticons!

2.Word is stupidly expensive.

3.it has a really cool name.

Things that I think Zoho Writer lacks in comparison to other word processors:

1.Google Docs is clearley better. 

2.The program is a bit glitchy.

3.I hate the spell check. 

I could integrate this program into my classroom by...

using it as a suppliment for word. I would have the students write up their projects with this tool and share it with me so I can help them work with it while they are still at home. 

 

Book review grades

I believe that the book review should be a group grade. I feel this way because I believe that the way the group works together is a major aspect of the project. Yes we all have to do our own part, but it is the responsibility of the group to make sure that we all have a schedule and are doing what is needed. I do not think it would be right to grade individually because I do not know how that would really be done. We all are working together to achieve a goal, and we all deserve whatever grade we get together.

WOO THINKFINITY!

Thinkfinity completely blew my mind last week. The amount of resources on this one site was just phenomenal. I was so excited to explore it and find all different things that I could use in my classroom I actually went back home and played with it for a few hours. I bookmarked many things that night. I think that this site can help promote higher thinking skills in the classroom simply by using their materials. They have so many different resources to introduce students to, it could completely open their minds to a whole new world. Having them watch a ballet performance, or making them make a Fairy Tale on a silly virtual Fairy Tale maker will enhance the students learning. Anything that will make them think differently then they normally do will promote higher thinking. Once students start to think about new things, it is difficult to get them to stop, and I would never want them to. Thinkfinity can really introduce new things that students will ant to continue to think about, and it is very exciting.