Monday, September 30, 2013

Today, September 30:   Read-a-thon -- Bring something to read, a treat if you wish, and a pillow to sit on if you'd like to.  

Fluency Practice

Read -a- thon

Confer with teacher about PowerPoints, as needed.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Reminders: 

Today, September 26:  Today we will share our PowerPoints.   They must be finished and ready to show!

September 30:  Read-a-thon -- Bring something to read, a treat if you wish, and a pillow to sit on if you'd like to.  

If your reading logs were not in your folders to be checked, turn them in as soon as possible. 

If you have a pink make-up log in your folder, take it home to complete and return by September 30. 

All late or revised work must be turned in before or by October 4.  

If you were not ready with your PowerPoint today, or had not finished it, get it done and handed in by October 1.  That is the last day late work will be accepted. 

Today: 

1. Short Individual Reading and Log 
2. Receive PowerPoint Viewing Form to be filled out and turned in your class's top wire basket by the end of class.
3. Computer Lab to set up PowerPoints. 
4. Present and View PowerPoints. 
5. Turn in your Viewing Form.  Don't forget to vote for three favorites.  Do not vote for your own. 

Things we hope you learned: 

There are worse and better ways to do research on the Internet. 
There are more search engines than Google.  Each has its own strengths. 

You can often find useful, reliable information on databases. 

Plagiarism is bad!!!!!  You can avoid it. 

A site such as bibme.org can help you cite your sources. 
And hopefully you learned some interesting things about your hero and about those of the other students. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Reminders: 

 You need your Search and Select and ABC documents finished so you can create your PowerPoint. If you do not have your notes yet, skip the evaluating part on the ABC document and take your notes. 

September 24:  Finish PowerPoints -- They are due by the end of the period.

September 26:  On this day we will share our PowerPoints.   They must be finished and ready to show!

September 30:  Read-a-thon -- Bring something to read, a treat if you wish, and a pillow to sit on if you'd like to.  

Friday, September 20, 2013

1. Individual Reading  and fill out your reading log. 

2. Computer lab 211 
Work on PowerPoints 
Save it as a ppt, NOT a pptx. 
Your PowerPoint is due next time -- by the end of class. 

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

1. Individual Reading and Log

2. Demo.

3. Computer lab 201  -- If you haven't yet, finish your ABC Document: Evaluating your sources and taking notes on them. 

Only then should you work on your PowerPoint.

When you work on your PowerPoint, save it as a ppt, NOT a pptx.

Monday, September 16, 2013

1. Individual reading time and fill out reading log.
[San Diego Testing if still needed in your class]


2. Computer lab 201

Finish your ABC Document:  Evaluating your sources and taking notes on them. 

Important:
When you have finished taking notes on the ABC document, and are ready to work on your PowerPoint, save it as a ppt, NOT a pptx.

Reminders for the "Hero" Project

Here are directions for turning in files on Edmodo:   

1.   Find the assignment on your home page on Edmodo.

2.   Open the document template (the blank document).  It looks like a blue link with an icon by it right under the instructions.

3.   Fill it out.

4.   Save it somewhere easy to find again such as on your thumb drive or on the desktop. 

5.    For that assignment as you see it on your home page, click on "Turn In" (if you haven't tried to turn it in before), or "Turned in" (if you have). 

6.   Then, if you see the button to the right labeled "Turn in Assignment,"  type a brief response such as "Done," or "Still working on it" in the space that says "Type your responses here. . . "  Click on one of the faces.

7.   To attach your document, click on the page/file icon. 

8.   Select your document and click "Open."

9.    Click on the "Turn in Assignment" button.

. If the button to the right is labeled “Resubmit Assignment,”  click on it and follow the same steps, typing your response, attaching the file, and clicking on Turn in Assignment. 

You could also attach it to a comment below where you’ve turned it in before, and then click on “Add Comment.”

If you cannot get the assignment  to turn in on Edmodo, email it to your teacher. 

Due Dates: 

September 16   ABC Evaluating and Taking Notes Due -- 72 points!

September 24   PowerPoint Due  -- 90 points!

September 26   Present PowerPoints

September 30   Rotation 1 Ends

October 2         Rotation 2 Begins 

___________________________________

You do not have to create a citation for EBSO sources or for websites on the Internet, unless you select them to be one of your three major sources. 
If you do need to create a citation, go to Using Bibme.org

The citations for Biography Reference Center, World Book, and SIRS Discoverer are already made for you.  All you need to do is copy and paste. 

Find copies of the instruction packet and the templates for the assignments on the tab above labeled  "Famous Person Project: Instructions and Downloads"

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Announcements, Reminders:

• In case of fire alarm, go out the door, down the stairs, straight down the hall toward the shop area, turn left and go out the doors by the dumpsters.  Look for Ms. Dorsey at the east side of the playing fields. Line up alphabetically once you are there. If the alarm goes off between classes or during lunch, go to your second period teacher for that day.
• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held September 19.
• Scholastic book orders are due by September 25.
• Notice that the hall passes are now at the back of the room.
• Sign out before you go. Sign back in when you return. 

Individual reading time and fill out reading log. 

[San Diego Testing]

Computer Lab 201

• Finish the Practice Turning in an Assignment, if you haven't
• Complete Search and Select and turn it in.
• Start working on your ABC Evaluating and Taking Notes assignment. 

Due Dates: 

September 16   ABC Evaluating and Taking Notes Due

September 24   PowerPoint Due

September 26   Present PowerPoints

September 30   Rotation 1 Ends

October 2         Rotation 2 Begins 

___________________________________

You do not have to create a citation for EBSO sources or for websites on the Internet, unless you select them to be one of your three major sources. 

Using Bibme.org

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Individual reading time and fill out reading log. 
[San Diego Testing]

Computer Lab 201
Practice Turning in an Assignment
Search and Select

If you are done with both of the above, start working on your ABC Evaluating and Taking Notes assignment. 
___________________________________
You do not have to create a citation for EBSO sources or for websites on the Internet, unless you select them to be one of your three major sources. 

Using Bibme.org

Accomplishment -- A Swimming Hero?

This is such an interesting accomplishment, I just had to share:

http://math.scholastic.com/news/2013/09/Just-Keep-Swimming

http://www.diananyad.com/

Read and/or listen:
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/03/218555869/diana-nyad-dream-accomplished

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/03/218455205/nyad-accomplishes-swimming-goal-35-years-after-she-first-tried

Friday, September 6, 2013

No computer lab today.
1.  Individual Reading -- Don't forget to record your reading on your reading log.
Student manila folders -- 
Bring your whole manila folder to your desk, please. 

2. Fluency Practice

3.  Finding reliable information for your hero project.
RELIABLE? 

  Look on edmodo for your 
Practice Search and Select
and
 ABC Evaluation and Taking Notes Document  

3. Practice Notetaking 

4.  If time, Internet crossword

See this link for a comment on Credibility.

_________________________________________

 Reading Strategy:  Asking Questions  

a. specific questions about the subject
b. critical questions
   Who is the author or sponsor?
    How does the author know about this subject?
   What is the author's purpose?
    Can I depend on this author or sponsor for the truth?

Is this site reliable?
Is this site  useful?

Lesson on Finding/Evaluating  Reliable Sites --  The ABCs of Finding Reliable URLs*
Check on each of these items: 

A  Author  (Who wrote or sponsored this?)
B  Bias   (What is their purpose?)
C  Coverage  (Does this have the information you need, and does the information agree with what you have already learned about the subject?)
D  Dates  (Is the information timely?  For instance, information about Abraham Lincoln posted on the Internet in 2000 could most likely still be very helpful information.  Information posted on the Internet about Justin Bieber in 2000 isn't going to provide all you need to know. 
Also, has a website been updated recently?  The most reliable websites are regularly updated and improved by their authors and sponsors.) 
E   Editor  (Does the site look professional?  Is it easy to use? Has it been carefully edited for conventions such as spelling and punctuation?)





* Uniform Resource Locator or Universal Resource Locator
According to The American Heritage Dictionary,  The term URL is a noun and it is 
"an Internet address (for example, http://www.hmco.com/trade/), usually consisting of the access protocol (http), the domain name (www.hmco.com), and optionally the path to a file or resource residing on that server (trade)."

Find the URL in the address bar on your browser.

Address Bar

What If Books Belonged to Clubs?

Heroes: Kid Caregivers

http://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=C_Siskowski_2012

Can you read this?

Books!

Some to consider:
http://www.reading.org/general/Publications/blog/engage/engage-single-post/engage/2013/09/05/characters-with-big-dreams-inspire-student-readers

About Middle Grade Books:  http://harpercollinschildrens.tumblr.com/post/61042528844/7-awesome-things-about-middle-grade-books

Books every boy should read (according to Boys' Life)
http://bookzone.boyslife.org/100-books-for-boys/

Quotes from Children's Books
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/368098969515531882/

Camazotz from . . . . 

Book Trailer for "Fortunately the Milk"

I am rather fond of Neil Gaiman.  Here he is introducing "Fortunately the Milk."

Have you read Coraline?

How about The Graveyard Book?

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

1.  Individual Reading -- Don't forget to record your reading on your reading log.
Student manila folders

2.  Finding reliable information for your hero project.

3.  Computer lab 201
Activity 2.  Prepare to go to the computer lab.
This may help: Working on the Search and Select Document

Sources:
Search Engines: Google, Sweetsearch, Boolify, Redz, Search Cube,  . . . 

Databases: Biography Reference Center, SIRS Discoverer, Searchasaurus, Student Research Center, . . . 


Citations:
Learn about the Golden Ticket on BRC.
World Book -- It's at the bottom of the page.
SIRS -- It's usually at the bottom of the page.
EBSCO sources -- You have to make your own at bibme.org 
http://www.bibme.org/