Week+of+May+4,+2009

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**Teacher Appreciation Week**

=Interesting Web Sites=

These sites are alternative sites to Google. Each have specific differences and uses. It's not that you should use each one now, but see how they retrieve data differently.

[|Cuil] : Made by people who used to work at Google. It organizes information much differently than Google. For example, it provides video links, timelines, and information that may be more relevant for students. For example, here is the [|Google Search] on Barack Obama, and here is [|Cuil's result page]. I'd suggest that students would find Cuil's results better.

[|Clusty] : Clusty is a search engine that brings you its results in a more organized manner than just a list of websites. For example, here is their [|Barack Obama result page]. You'll notice that it also features a list of sites students can go to, but on the left are categories for students to search under to further narrow their search; categories such as: Presidential Campaign, Photos, Presidential Candidate, Government, Issues, Profile, and more. It also categorizes results by clusters (as I just listed), sources, and sites). Sources means which search engine was used to find the link. **Sites** is more interesting for students. When students click **sites**, they'll get links by: .com., .gov, or .edu which will help them find more reliable sources.

[|Grokker] : Grokker is another search engine that catagorizes its search results. For example, [|Barack Obama] again. Some of the catagories are: News, Law, President, Political and more. Grokker though has another helpful feature though for visual learners. Click this Obama link to see the [|Map View]. The larger the circle, the more information found in the category. You can also seach by domains also (.edu, .gov) as in Clusty.

[|ChaCha] : ChaCha is a search engine you can use on your cell phone (standard text charges do apply). Just send a text message to 242-242 with your question, and in a few minutes, they'll text back your answer. You can also ask a question from the web site, but the results aren't as good.

[|Viewzi] : Viewzi is a visual search engine in the sense that it allows you to enter a keyword like Google and the results appear, for example, [|Barack Obama]. If you hover over each "tile" that appears, you'll see the opening web page which may help you make a better decision. You can also get your search results in a timeline view.

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The video above explains web search strategery (you'll need to activate your override to watch the video)

=Teaching Tips=

[|Pop Quizzes that students like]. Huh? We all know that students hate pop quizzes, but this strategy saw these improvements:
 * Class attendance was better;
 * Students were generally better prepared for class;
 * Students got feedback about what they didn't understand;
 * Students got practice on concepts covered on exams;
 * I had records of which students missed some classes;
 * Students got instant negative feedback when they missed a previous class;
 * I got feedback about what I hadn't explained well enough;
 * Exam scores were higher than in previous semesters.

The key is, the pop quiz only **//helps//** student grades. You don't count the pop quiz against the student's grade, it only adds to their grade. This can also be done quickly in Quia or Exam View, giving more reason for the studnets to bring their laptops.


 * Another tip** is called the **1-Minute Paper**. The procedure is simple: give students the last few minutes of class to write the answer(s) to one or two specific questions you choose to ask them; collect the answers and synthesize them in any way you like; respond in some way during the following class period.

If you wish to focus on student understanding, your question may be general ("What was the most important point in the lecture?") or rather specific ("Summarize two conflicting points of view about global warming."). Colleagues at UVa who have tried this feedback device have been surprised sometimes to learn that what they believed they had driven home as the central issue was not what a number of their students had perceived to be the essential point. Students know you are paying attention to them and to their needs if you then begin the next class by clarifying where necessary. You can also give the students a certain say in their own education by asking them what they would like to learn more about. If a consensus results and if you can work from it, you know you are addressing student interests. The one-minute paper is a quick assessment tool that, with little time and little effort, can keep you in touch with your students.

=Student Work=

Alana Quash used Voicethread to help prepare her students for SOLs. Here's a sample:

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Here's the link if you want to see the larger version: []

Alana posted some SOL questions as pictures into Voicethread and then had her students leave comments and even circle the correct answer. Not only did they give the answer, but they also explained it. Students can create their own accounts and also create their own study guides.

=General Notes=

I'd love to talk more about using cell phones and iPods in the classroom. The reason I'm asking is because many of these cell phones have as much computing power as our laptops and nearly every student has one. I've shown how cell phones can be used for student voting and even as a microphone, but there are a lot of other uses. The best I can think of is having students use their calendars as their planner. Why not have kids text in their homework assignments? They can set up reminders and they'll always have them.

iPod Touches and other cell phones with applications also have 100s of educational applications ([|here], [|here] , [|here] , [|here] )Students can learn foreign languages, practice math, use scientific calculators, and 100s, maybe 1000s, of other tools that are usually free or cheap at their disposal.

The key I think is setting up a class culture where cell phones are used for educational purposes, and not tolerated for other uses. I think if students know they can use their cell phone for school purposes only, they'll be willing to put them away when asked.

Click [|here] for a good post about using cell phones in the classroom, [|and here].

=School Space=

As the year winds down, if you have work in SchoolSpace that you want to use again next year, please make sure that work is located in the LOR, not the student side. Anything left on the student side will be erased. If you have any questions, see me.

If you want to chat to fellow co-workers during SOL tests, let me know and I'll create a chat room for you to use during the exam. This worked out very well last year.

=Reminders= ==
 * 1) Please ensure that your students are not on the Internet while SOL tests are going on.
 * 2) All grades should be exported for the 4th Marking period Interims by WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH by the end of the day. Interims will be distributed during an AM homeroom on 5/18
 * 3) **Senior Laptops**: As a result of a recommendation from central office, we established an early volunteer computer collection for seniors this year. This recommendation was made because previously all high schools collected senior computers prior to SOL testing, so that we could accommodate students who did not have a computer for testing. This, of course, left senior students without a computer and resulted in a massive effort to print or transfer needed information from their computer. Yesterday, I learned that some of our teachers have assigned a project to seniors that require the use of their computer. If you have done so, I need for you to reconsider the structure of the assignment because the consequence for not doing so will likely yield few computers during the voluntary window. Failure to make this adjustment will likely result in us having to revert back to a mandatory early collection for senior computers.

Please see Mr. Rodriguez should you have any questions.

=Summer Institute= == ERO and signing up for Summer Institute classes starts Monday, May 11 at 5pm. You can now look at the classes that will be offered at: [].

The new ERO is [] which means you'll just use your username (no @henrico.k12.va.us) and password you use for logging into your laptop.

Please remember, the classes you take are for training you plan on using in your classroom. There will be follow up dates to see how you've implemented what you learned. You will not be allowed to just sign up for 20 classes so you can have a part-time job during the summer by just taking classes.

Here is a document for the new ERO:

Below is a comment from Linda Thompson, Assistant Director of Staff Development:

The Summer Institute website which lists courses by content, grade and alphabetical is now open. We have a new look this year and have included a brief video to help everyone understand how to browse the Summer Institute courses. Courses will be added as needed throughout the summer.

The courses are designed to provide an opportunity for teachers to learn new content and/or teaching strategies that will assist them in impacting the learning of all HCPS students. Content specialists used the Instructional Framework to guide the development of the courses offered. Specialists will also monitor course registrations to assure the validity of each registrant.

A **"STUDY TEAM"** approach, consisting of at least two or more teachers taking classes together, continues to be the focus for class attendance. This focus of two or more teachers attending classes together will help facilitate discussion, promote sharing, and assist with the implementation of new learning.

As was the case last year, a mandatory reflection will allow teachers to reflect on their summer learning. Following the implementation of the newly acquired skill/content, the reflection time will allow teachers to share their use of the new concept and provide evidence of its impact on their instruction and the students' learning.

Pay for attendance will begin in October 2009. All participants must attend or participate in the required reflection session in order to receive pay. Pay will not be processed until the reflection session has been completed and the institute instructor has submitted the paperwork.

Prior to the opening of Registration on Monday, May 11th at 5 pm you may want to spend some time browsing the courses offered in Summer Institute by going to: []


 * Things of NOTE in the new website:**
 * Video directions in first line of text
 * Keyword search is available
 * Search by Subject and/or grade
 * SRN course numbers are included - highlight and copy SRN to paste in ERO for ease of registering
 * Link to NEW ERO site http://ero.henrico.k12.va.us
 * Link to driving directions from Google Maps