Week+of+April+27,+2009

toc =Interesting Web Sites= [|Power Point Games] : Power Point is still a favorite tool for teacher to review material with students in a game format. This site offers a variety of templates you can use. Here is a sample game,, and if you like it, you can download the template yourself.

Twitter: A lot has been [|made] about [|twitter]  lately, ever since [|Oprah], so what is it? Basically, it's a micro blog where you have 140 characters to say something (that includes the space bar). You can post once a month or every 5 minutes. You then follow people, businesses, teams, whatever of interest. For example, I follow the [|Boston Red Sox], the [|Denver Broncos], [|The Mars Rover] , [|The CDC] , and people around the world with the same job I have. I get information quickly (I knew the exact moment Arlen Specter became a Democrat for example), and can share information. Here are some good reasons for teachers to use Twitter: []. I wouldn't suggest yet using this with students, rather for yourself, but it never hurts to know what a [|tweet and twit] are.

For other uses of this, see the School Space section.

Use your override first, or the video won't show. This is just a reminder that most important things you may want to discuss from television with your class is on YouTube. media type="custom" key="3730973"
 * Barack Obama:**

[|Teachers First] : There's a lot here for teachers, but this specific site talks about using blogs in the classroom. I've seen a lot of teachers roll their eyes at the idea of a blog, and then when they use them, they cannot imagine teaching without one. So if you're interested in, let's see, engaging your students, being more organized, having discussions, sharing ideas, let me know, and we can set you up.

[|How To Say That Name] : I love websites addresses that tell you what they do. This one can be very useful for teachers in an IB atmosphere. Just type in the last name in the upper right hand search box and hopefully they'll have your last name available. You should test it with current students. The site is adding names daily. You can also upload new last names. That might be good to have our students do.

=Teaching Tips= Using an image in a class can be a powerful way to bring about conversation. For example, I sent this one to the math department, but it works well in any content area:



The best way to get a conversation going in class is to have your students write down responses first either on paper, a blog, or a discussion board. Students can also first share their thoughts with an elbow partner. Students can go to corners of the room in an agree/disagree format, or "Say It In One Word [remember the children in the elementary school class saying one word about Martin Luther King when we had a Quality Questioning session?], or a people graph.

Either way, bringing about discussion in the classroom is a great way for students to learn from themselves and be more engaged for the day.

Also, the statement in the picture is false which was the point of having a math class discuss this.

=Student Work= For the last few months, I've been working with an 11th grade student who needed to pass government early for early admissions to UVA. I didn't want to do the regular textbook thing, so instead, I created a blog for him and he's been learning about government by observing the news. He has a textbook, takes quizzes and tests, will do a project, and has live chat times with me. But the majority of his work is via the blog where he has a set number of categories as his goal, for example, he has to have 3 posts about the first Amendment. He has a minimum of 65 posts to complete and part of his requirements is to make his blog popular.

You can see his blog at: []

=General Notes= The new laptop is the **Dell Latitude E6400** (see below)which is a better machine than the current Inspiron. Once I get my hands on one, I'll be creating a summer checklist so that you can become familiar with your laptop before the school year starts. Word 2007 and Power Point 2007 are VERY, VERY different. Here is a [|tutorial for Word 2007], and [|here] , and [|here]. Here is some stuff on [|Power Point], [|here] , and [|here].

Staff Development for 2009-2010 This quotation that I heard the other day isn't earth shattering, but it does sum up what I think should be the goal for next year's staff development, and the mindset of every teacher. So I'll repeat last week's memo:
 * The Teacher of Today is a Master Learner**

The general idea behind next year's Staff Development is to increase the effective use of technology in our instruction. I'm still working out the exact plan, but basically the staff development will take place in study groups and on Staff Development days. The focus will be on 3 instructional outcomes in your classroom, and then investigate the technology tools to reach that goal. Some goal ideas currently: student created work, quality questioning, collaboration, published work, problem solving, sharing.

=School Space= Twitter in School Space. Well, not really. But, the point is micro-blogging and having a discussion. In [|this link], the author talks about his students using [|Today's Meet] (which is not blocked)in class so that while he lead a lecture/discussion, he allowed them to carry on a conversation in the chat room. He wasn't sure what to do with that conversation, and it may not be the tool to use at Henrico, but he did think the students got value out of it.

So I thought this could be done in School Space. There is a chat room that students can use while you lecture. It can be saved so you can read their conversation afterward which will prevent them from being off task. The chat room allows for more than 140 characters, so I would at least tell students to be brief. It would be an interesting experiment at least.

Repeat from last week: With SOLs looming, there are plenty of opportunities to tutor students to help them pass this test. However, this doesn't have to be at school. In School Space, you can create Live Office Hours or just a regular Chat Room to discuss or review SOL material. The best part is that you can save the chat so others can read it later. Under the Communicate Tab, you should have a nugget called, Live Chat. From there, you can set up your chat room time and set it up for recording http://www.wikispaces.com/_/2009041501/i/c.gifthe chat. See me if you need help setting it up.

=Staff Appreciation= Staff Appreciation Survey media type="custom" key="3735917"

Here is an image of the umbrella:

Here is the tote bag

=Reminders= Laptop Collection: Senior Early Collection: May 7-11th ALL SENIOR COMPUTERS MUST BE IN BY MAY 27TH - NO EXCEPTIONS!!! 9th grade  	May 28/29 10th grade  	June 1-2 11th grade 	June 3-4

=LAPTOP INFO: MUST READ= Please take the time to read the information below as it will prove invaluable when the time comes to receive your laptop. As always more detailed information will follow as the actual dates get closer.

First of all the specifications:

Make: Dell Model: [|Latitude e6400] Processor: Intel 2.26 gigahertz Duo Core Memory: 2 gigabytes Display: 14.1 inch high definition TFT LCD Weight: Lift your current laptop...the new one weighs one pound less =) Battery: 6 cell, 65 wph, Lithium Ion Bottom line is that these laptops are fast and light-weight, but also very, very durable.

In preparation for the data change over you will need to back-up all of your documents from your current Dell to migrate to the new Dell. Teachers and staff will be responsible for the data back-up. Please note that space on the server to back-up your data is limited. If you have over nine gigabytes of data on the share, when you proceed with the back-up you may find that you are not able. Please take the time to go to your personal folder and delete anything you do not need or use any longer to ensure that you have all the space necessary to perform the back-up. Items such as personal music, personal photos, personal movies etc., etc. are good targets for removal. Any previous back-ups such as 2005, 2006, 2007 or 2008 are also likely candidates for deletion. With the new laptops will come new storage servers and the nine gigabyte space restriction will be enforced by Technology when the new servers are implemented. There is an automated process available to you for the purposes of data back-up. The program is located at Server Shortcuts\Tucker Staff Server\Share\Software Depot\BackUpScripts. Teachers will need to run the application named Back-up. Located in the same folder as the application is a Word document with complete instructions for the back-up process. Once that is done please access your personal folder and make 100% sure that all the data did actually complete the back-up process. This is very important because once you hand over your old Dell there will be no way to get it back in case you forgot to remove/back-up anything. The reason for this finality is due to the lease agreement with Dell. In a nutshell: The lease is over, Dell needs the laptops. There will be another paper to sign very similar to the paper that was signed when the reimaging occurred. This paper will need to be signed and accompany your laptop when it is turned in for your new one. New laptops will be issued between June 15, 2009 and June 30, 2009. I will be assigning new laptops in the following priority order: Administration, guidance, faculty by alpha order of your last name. I will be responsible for migrating the data back-up from the old Dell to the new Dell. I will not be installing printers on the laptops. The new image allows a teacher and student free ability to install printer drivers. Teachers/administrators will only be allowed to keep the old Dell beyond June 13, 2009 for one of two reasons. The teacher/administrator is teaching summer school, or the teacher/administrator is writing curriculum. If one or both conditions exist those teachers/administrators will not be issued a new Dell until August. If a teacher/administrator is not teaching summer school or writing curriculum the old Dell must be turned in by June 13, 2009 by the end of the working day. Laptops will be available for pick-up beginning after 1pm on June 15, 2009. Again the priority order will be administrators, guidance and then faculty by alpha order of your last name. This process will continue until my last contract day on June 30, 2009 and resume on my first contract day August 4, 2009. Preference will not be given for vacations, trips, or out-of-town excursions. Personal software installations will not be given a priority at this time. It is highly recommended that you call to check the availability of your laptop as the days progress after June 15, 2009. If you are planning on transferring to another school in Henrico County it is recommended that you back-up all of your data to CD or DVD media so that the TST in your new school will be able to migrate your data for you to your new Dell at your new school.