Why is it important for students to use graphic organizers for school projects??
Students should use graphic organizers for every type of project they do in school and for
homework. They help to organize a student's thoughts before they begin to even think about writing a paragraph or paper. The two work hand and hand to assure that the student has included all of the elements in their writing. More times than not, when a student sits down to begin to write a paragraph or summary, they are overwhelmed with details that do not pertain to the writing prompt and begin their writing in a sloppy manner. A graphic organizer provides a visual of the main topic in question and points that add details to the main topic. The student is able to return to the story or context to find more details to support their main idea and apply it to the graphic organizer. I have seen students who were so overwhelmed by the task given to write a summary, that they shut down and do not write a word. We use graphic organizers with whole groups on the smart board. Graphic organizers provide structure to the piece for a student to begin the writing prompt. With this in mind, graphic organizers can be used to summarize details about a story within whole group discussion, create a list of characteristics about a main character, or even be used to compare/contrast details about characters in two stories. Graphic organizers are almost like the tabs for social bookmarking; organizing one's thoughts about a subject to come back to use for another purpose.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Microsoft Word & Excel vs. Google Docs for Word processing/Spreadsheets
I would present the argument to stay with Microsoft Word & Excel because both programs are user friendly, are dependable programs, and are continually being updated with new features all the time. The newer programs of Excel are easy to navigate through and have so many features to use for different data needs. I found using Excel 2007 so much more user friendly than the Excel 2000 program (my program on my home computer). Although Google Docs for word processing may be an alternative program, it is not as advanced as Microsoft Word and not as compatible with some of the other programs. After hearing many opinions from others regarding their experiences using Google Docs Spreadsheets, I would stress how this program is difficult to use & understand and often loses information while one is working on the program. So, to conclude the argument in favor of Microsoft Word and Excel, I would state how it would be cost effective for the district to to stay with Excel Spreadsheets and Microsoft Word.
Excel in the Classroom
Five ideas to incorporate Excel into the classroom includes: 1. Using Excel Spreadsheet to record the data for the science project in the classroom for the Egg Project. The students would record the data of the eggs as they grow and hatch; recording their growth progress, temps, and % of unhatched chicks, and graphing into pie charts and line marker graphs.
2. The classroom could keep track of the "Boxtops for Education" that are collected from the students in their own classroom for the school year. They could create a marker line graph to view when their highest/lowest months were for the year. The class could then compare the previous year to their own progress.
3. The 5th graders could conduct a poll of favorite lunch foods among their entire fifth grade class students. This could extend throughout the year to include the other grade levels. Fifth graders would be responsible to collect and record this data using Excel Spreadsheets. The results could be used to have students then draft a written document to the Food Director to petition for more of their favorite foods for lunches.
4. Students could keep track and graph their own progress of DIBELS scoring/Progress Monitoring (month to month) scores to encourage them to improve their scores and to view their progress from test to test.
5. For Grades 1,2, &3- Students could record data of absences in their classroom, similar to the temp. of the day project. This activity introduces them to this program and familiarizes them with the steps for the many different features of Excel.
Excel could be used by Administration in the building to record and compare many things: Reading & Math scores from beginning of year to end, monies collected from different fundraisers, amount of parent participation for activities throughout the year, etc.
2. The classroom could keep track of the "Boxtops for Education" that are collected from the students in their own classroom for the school year. They could create a marker line graph to view when their highest/lowest months were for the year. The class could then compare the previous year to their own progress.
3. The 5th graders could conduct a poll of favorite lunch foods among their entire fifth grade class students. This could extend throughout the year to include the other grade levels. Fifth graders would be responsible to collect and record this data using Excel Spreadsheets. The results could be used to have students then draft a written document to the Food Director to petition for more of their favorite foods for lunches.
4. Students could keep track and graph their own progress of DIBELS scoring/Progress Monitoring (month to month) scores to encourage them to improve their scores and to view their progress from test to test.
5. For Grades 1,2, &3- Students could record data of absences in their classroom, similar to the temp. of the day project. This activity introduces them to this program and familiarizes them with the steps for the many different features of Excel.
Excel could be used by Administration in the building to record and compare many things: Reading & Math scores from beginning of year to end, monies collected from different fundraisers, amount of parent participation for activities throughout the year, etc.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
"Language" Week 2 Discussion
After reading chapters 5-7 in Educause and from my own experience with students, it is the technology that has become better for our current and future learning styles. I feel that I have the same perspective as the students, whereas I cannot be without technology in my day. I wake up to check my email messages and facebook before going to work in the morning. I find myself "having" to do this, even if I am running a few minutes late. I live my days, just as the Net Geners do with my cell phone with me at all times, checking and texting over the use of home phones. (In fact, I removed our phone from our house because it wasn't being used at all.) And, if I could afford the cost of more technology and/or a better cell, I'm sure I'd have that as well. I agree with a statement from Chapter 6, " A blended learning provides a unique opportunity to bridge generations, providing the face-to-face contact requested by Baby Boomers, the independence preferred by Gen-Xers, and the interaction & sense of community desired by NetGeners". Although I "look" like I am a Baby Boomer, I feel like I live in the "practical, matter-of-fact" world of technology. (and learning more uses of technology all the time.)
...Just a note, I asked an older customer (at my other job) whether she's like to add her email address to our list, and she responded that she didn't have any/or a computer. I responded politely, but found myself wondering,...Wow, how could that be? How could you function in your day?
...Just a note, I asked an older customer (at my other job) whether she's like to add her email address to our list, and she responded that she didn't have any/or a computer. I responded politely, but found myself wondering,...Wow, how could that be? How could you function in your day?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Lesson Plans Project
Hi Michele,
I found this project to be very helpful. The websites were very informative and great resources for plans to incoporate technology into the classroom. The plans that I picked for my project included a variety of different sources of technology for my students to learn and use in the classroom. I really loved how many of the plans could be tailored to accompany any story or topic. I felt that thet Creating a Classroom Newspaper lesson plan & the Multimedia Responses to Fact/Fiction introduced the students to creating PowerPoint programs and graphic design for the paper. I liked how the plans included step by step instruction to introduce the students to the technology used for that lesson. These plans were interesting and fun for the students. I will keep this site bookmarked as favorites for my future use in my classroom.
I found this project to be very helpful. The websites were very informative and great resources for plans to incoporate technology into the classroom. The plans that I picked for my project included a variety of different sources of technology for my students to learn and use in the classroom. I really loved how many of the plans could be tailored to accompany any story or topic. I felt that thet Creating a Classroom Newspaper lesson plan & the Multimedia Responses to Fact/Fiction introduced the students to creating PowerPoint programs and graphic design for the paper. I liked how the plans included step by step instruction to introduce the students to the technology used for that lesson. These plans were interesting and fun for the students. I will keep this site bookmarked as favorites for my future use in my classroom.
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