Art of Presentation with 6th Graders

     So we have been through one round of S.O.L.E. with my 6th graders and have discussed the need for research to support opinions and the art of presentation.  After my students all shared their first S.O.L.E. the students took time to reflect on what makes a great presentation.  In the beginning students want to stand up and read slides to us.  They want to use font colors that are hard to read on distracting backgrounds.  We take time to talk about why these decisions do NOT work.  Things will get better with the second S.O.L.E., not perfect, but better.

Tips students mentioned that make a better presentation:

1.)  Talk to us don't read slides

2.)  Eye contact

3.)  Voice tone

4.)  Enthusiasm in your voice

5.)  Use images and animations with caution...don't want them to be distracting

6.)  Choose backgrounds that don't overtake the words

7.)  Be sure to include a Citation page

8.)  Support your opinions with RESEARCH

Examples of our 2nd S.O.L.E. 

   Questions:  Should America help other countries?

Book Trailers, Sell Me on Dewey Commercials, and Typing Club...Oh My so much fun happening in the Media Center!

Since I have been a bit busy and haven't been the best about posting lately I am combining all of my recent lessons into one post.  

Third graders have just finished up their 6 weeks of Typing Club.  I am excited to move on to something new with them after the book fair.  They have learned lots about typing and most of all have had lots of fun exploring the TYPING world with Typing Club.

My fourth graders have been learning information and media skills by creating commercials on a specific Dewey Decimal section in the Media Center.  They were able to choose whichever Dewey section they wanted and then they had to spend some time there studying what types of books were there.  They had to take notes on a Sell Me on Dewey Google Doc while they were planning.  Their commercials have to be approved before they can start creating them.  Here is an example of finished proposals. 

Students were able to express their CHOICE in what type of project they wish to create to show their learning.  They can use the iPads to film a video, they can make a Google Slideshow, or they can make a VOKI.  Next week they will start creating their commercials.  

Here are some finished commercials.

Monday's Class

Brendan, Beck, and Carter VOKI on 200 section

Josiah, Caleb, Ian Google Slideshow on 700 section

Kathryn, Bella, and Emma teach us about the 600s

Jacob, Victor, and Sam explore the 000-100 section

Tuesday's Class

Josie, Jewlia, and Eliana

Matthew, Mikey, and Nicholas explore the 500 section

Mea, Gabby, and Kayla show us the 600 section

Katie, Noah, Falastin help us understand the 800 section

Samantha, Lyla, Brooke, and Leah explore the 700 section

Friday's Class

http://bit.ly/1MH8jGH

http://bit.ly/1QyTex3

Ty's group explores the 300 section

Nick, Kayla, and Mya share the 400 section

My fifth graders are learning about BOOK TRAILERS.  This is a foundational lesson for many book reviews and projects to come. We spend time as a class watching other book trailers and talking about copyright.  I have many 6th graders who came back this year and asked me things about making videos.  Students have to work in groups to come up with a book they have all read.  They then have to create a script of what they want their book trailer to look like.  The scripts have to be approved before they can begin looking for images for their trailers.   

Here are the forms we use while planning out our trailers.  All of these are completed through Google Docs.
The first scriptSo I would show them this book trailer and then I would show how my script matches the finished trailer.
Example of first script....

1. __Imagine yourself alone in the wild________________________________
2. That’s Me.  My name is Squirrel.  I am not a Squirrel but I am a stray.  A stray dog.___________________________________________
3. My brother Bone an dI know how it feels.  We’re strays trying to survive._______________________________________________
4. We know how to hunt and find food.  Our mother taught us before she disappeared._______________________________________________________
5. _We try to hide from humans.  They could be mean and leave us on the side of the road.__________
6. But we always had each other.
7. Until Bone got adopted and I was left all alone._
8. Scare and hunger I wondered through the woods.  Looking for a place to stay.
9. _________I tried to track Bone like my mama taught me.
10. I miss him.  I want a home too and I’m really hungry.
11. Wait, I hear something.
12. Oh, no they look hunger too.
13. Will Squirrel ever find Bone?  Will she ever find a good home?  Find out by reading Ann M. Martin’s A Dog’s Life: The autobiography of a Stray.__________________________________________

After the students have their 1st script approved they then move towards gathering their digital pictures. We spend a lot of time discussing copyright and citing sources. We also learn how to use the Advanced Search Features of Google to find copyright free pictures. Here is an example of a digital storyboard.

Stay tuned for some upcoming 5th grade book trailers.

Monday Book Trailers
Quiroz

Grace 

Thursday

Kindergarten Orientation

So many years ago I created a NO NO NEVER NEVER box, which contains many items that help my kindergarteners learn how to take care of their library books.  Even in today's world where there are so many concepts to cover in school book care remains on my important list.  Students of all kinds still need reinforcement in this area.  Here is a picture of my NO NO NEVER NEVER box and all the items that are inside it.

             This is what I show them to tell them why we must take care of the spine of our books.  

                                                    This is my No No Never Never box.

These are the items in my No No Never Never box.  The items include:

- a pop can (no drinking around your books)

-hole puncher (no punching holes in your books)

-honey (don't look at your book with sticky dirty hands

-scissors (don't cut your book)

-glue (don't glue your book)

-doughnut (don't eat around your book)

-tape (don't tape your book...save that for my magical tape)

-markers/crayons/pencils (don't write in your book)

-cat (don't let pets get your books)

-doll (don't let little siblings get your book)

-bottle of water (don't let your book get wet)

-kleenex (don't sneeze in your book)

-bookmark (don't dog ear your book)

You can also take a look at YouTube and find lots of fun videos that will help teach book care.  

Love this visual ....going to use this for my GENIUS HOUR!

Finding our S.O.L.E......the 1st one of the year! Does the Curse of Bodie really exists?

So I introduced our first S.O.L.E. (Self Organized Learning Environment) to our 6th graders this past week.  The only expectations for these quick research projects are the following:

1.)  No more than 4 in a group
2.)  If someone asks to join your group and you don't already have 4 members then you must let them join
3.)  You can't work alone
4.)  WORK HARD
5.)  Listen to everyone
6.)  Support your opinion with RESEARCH
7.)  You must CITE your pictures

I wanted to tie our first S.O.L.E. our upcoming Fall Parade or in a former time called Halloween celebration.  I recently read a great nonfiction book called BODIE:  The Town that Belongs to Ghosts by Kevin Blake.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61aXK0of07L._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

So I introduced this book to the kids by reading the first chapter.  We then viewed some images from the deserted town of Bodie.  I then shared the Google Slideshow below with them that presents the question to them.  

I was blown away by some of the presentations.  REMEMBER I don't give any guidance on to what type of project they have to share other than it can't be longer than 5 minutes and they must cite pictures if they use them.  Here are some of the early projects.

Finding our S.O.L.E. (Self Organized Learning Environment) with 6th graders

So my 6th graders spend several week exploring Copyright rules.  We did many blending learning activities where we watched videos and read articles on copyright and then reflected on our learning.  Students seem to be understanding more and more each year why copyright is important but that still doesn't mean they are following all the rules.  Here is an article I share with my 6th graders and then they must reflect on Schoology (their online course) if they agreed or disagreed with the court decision.  We will then take these lessons and apply them to our S.O.L.E. unit.  

PSA:  Don't let Salami and Google Images Get You Into Hot Water

                                               

By reading this they get to see how things that seem simple to us can be a big deal to others so we must always CITE our sources.  I then move on to teach them how to do a search within  Google Drive where they can use the Research Tool limit their search to free images.  

Here is the video I posted on Schoology on how to do an Advanced Google Search in order to limit their images to free for public use.

Week #3 of the Global Read Aloud in the Media Center.... It's Not Fair!

Last week we read It's Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and my 2nd graders had a choice to reach out through Padlet or Twitter.  We are collaborating with another school through both these tools.  Here are my students responses to something that they feel isn't fair.

Before Tweeting we discuss the expectations of tweeting.  Students must use my Media Center account and I tell them they should not have their own Twitter account.  The expectations we discuss are as follows:

borrowed from @mrswideen

Students must use this form and then get their Tweet approved by me before being allowed to Tweet!

Here are some of the Tweets we sent out:  

tswissy @SUMMediaCenter

@mrsgarnersclass It's not fair that my brother has a pumpkin patch at his school #graamy

DetailsOpen

6d

tswissy @SUMMediaCenter

@mrsgarnersclass life isn't fair. tyler#GRAAmy

DetailsOpen

6d

tswissy @SUMMediaCenter

@mrsgarnersclass it is not fair that my brother always plays games. #GRAAmy Owen

DetailsOpen

6d

tswissy @SUMMediaCenter

@mrsgarnersclass its not fair that I get a smaller room then my sister Abigail #GRAAmy

DetailsOpen

6d

tswissy @SUMMediaCenter

@mrsgarnersclass It's not fair that my brother gets to stay up later.Maureen #GRAAmy

I am still "muddling" through guiding my classes to watch for Tweets in response to their Tweets. This is where I still need practice! The LEARNING IS MESSY!

Next week we will be moving on to our next GRA book, Exclamation Mark!  This book is so much fun to read out loud.  Hoping we can find someone in our time zone to Skype with to discuss this book.  

Our Global Read Aloud Adventure made the local newspaper.  Take a look.