Study Jams!

Wow! Study Jams is a collection of songs, slideshows and other resources for learning math and science. Thre are over 200 resources. A great place to go brush up on some math and science skills or get a visual and auditory lesson in a topic you struggle with in class! Check it out!

Study Jams!

Voki! Voki! Voki!

Did you know you can create an avatar and then tell it what to say? Or you can record your own voice.  A great addition to a blog or wiki! Go give it a try.

Voki.com

2010 - 2011 School Year Has Begun!

Well, we are underway in 8th grade social studies.  Classes started by looking into the Multiple Intelligences, or the different ways we learn.  We took a  survey to show us our strengths and weaknesses in learning. 

We have also taken a look at the different levels of critical thinking.  Taking after B. Bloom's taxonomy on thinking we created lighthouses with the different levels with the understanding that the higher up on the lighthouse the better you can see, just like at the higher levels of thinking the better you can understand. Ask to see your student's lighthouse and ask him/her to explain it. 

Next we will be moving into Economics!

Create a Story

What I wish I'd known when I was twelve... by ecca on Storybird">

World News Report
This is just a test for Mrs. Williams. There is no information here.

Hello, this is Google, how may I help you?

There are approximately 91 million searches a day on Google. How many of those are yours??  Do you know all the tools Google offers to help you with your searching of the World Wide Web?  For example, did you know the Google search bar can be used as a calculator?

Have you heard of Wonder Wheel? Timeline? Pages Preview?  These are just a few of tools Google offers for searching.  Visit my "Google Search Handouts" folder at Google Docs to check out some of these tools!

Globalization Wordles

Students are using wordle.net to make word clouds that show their opinion on whether or not globalization is good for the world.  During the Olympics, students used wordles to show different winter sports. Building on that, students now have to think critically about our topic of globalization.  They have to develop an opinion and then again think critically to decide how best to visually show with words the support for their opinion.  This assessment looks at their knowledge of globalization, their ability to form and support an opinion and their ability to use technology. The students enjoy using wordle, and I look forward to seeing all their creations! See an example of a wordle below and click on it to visit the wordle site.

Chapter 2 Economic Systems and the American Economy Test

Students are finishing up their work for the online course in Moodle for Chapter 2.  They have worked through many tasks to acquire the knowledge in the chapter and now will be working at preparing for the Chapter 2 Test. Three groups will be taking the test Friday, and the fourth group Monday.

When we are done with Moodle, we will take a survey to see how kids felt about the online experience. I'll be sure to share the results when we are done.

Ask your student what he/she has learned about the American Economy to help him/her prepare for the test!

Moodle

Online learning  is becoming more and more apart of the American education system. Some of our students have had the experience with online learning through WCATY, Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth, courses.  I wanted to give all our students the ability to see what online learning communities are like, because at some point in their future, they will either take one or be faced with deciding whether or not to take one.

So, for Chapter 2 of our Economics book students are completing tasks found on our virtual classroom, called Moodle.  To ease the transition of online learning we have other techniques to help. Students are tracking their progress on a class spreadsheet showing tasks that are in progress and those completed.  We also have mini lessons or activities to help us better make text to self connections.

Check out our virtual classroom and see what an online classroom can look like. Scroll down to the Parkside list and select Mrs. Williams, then select Social Studies.   If you have any questions feel free to contact me.