What do you use for writing prompts?

Writing Prompts ...

What do you use for writing prompts?

Do you have a list of topics for you and/or your students?

Do you look around you for inspiration for your own writing?

When I taught a 4th grade Writing class, the first thing we did each day was write for 10 minutes in our journals .... notice I said OUR ... I did it too! I replaced the Writing Teacher who retired. She left me these small flip books full of writing prompts. I also had my own collection of books of writing prompts (I think those are still in the basement now). I would have a journal topic on the board for students to write about most days.  Most of my writing prompts either stated "write about ..." or asked a question for students to answer .... but they were basically just words.

At EdCamp NC this year, someone showed me a different option for writing prompts ... http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/

I just want to let you know that I could get totally distracted looking at all the ideas on this site, so be warned that might happen to you too!

At this site, you will find some of the daily writing prompts one teacher uses in his class. All the ones I have seen have an image element to them. Some have a variety of questions, some have choices for the writer, some provide topics for compare/contrast ... and there are even categories of writing prompts!

Options:

• writing prompts about reading
• writing prompts about personhood
• writing prompts about education
• 28 tried and true writing prompts
• all of the writing prompts
• random writing prompt selector

The topic of these prompts are for older students ... but they can serve as inspiration for adults and younger students too!

Think about the journal topics and blog post possibilities ...

Here are a few of the ones I found interesting:

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Thinkfinity in the Classroom

Last week I had the pleasure of presenting one of my favorite workshops - Thinkfinity in the Classroom. One of the reasons that I like this workshop so much is because there is something for everyone in Thinkfinity. Several of us have written blog posts on what you can find in Thinkfinity and what some of our favorite partner sites are. Below is my Symbaloo from the workshop.

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The “Look” of Technology in Teaching and Learning

Developing Education and Skills with Technology

http://destech101.blogspot.com

The "Look" of Technology in Teaching and Learning

The average adult typically identifies technology with checking their email, or looking up something on the internet. As educators this thought process often transfers over into our instructional practices. We are generally less knowledgeable and far more resistant to innovation and change, than the younger generation. This puts us at a disadvantage since technology has virtually changed every aspect of daily lives.  The way that the world travels, conducts business, exchanges information, and communicates is ever evolving for everyone.  Therefore the continual development for us as teachers must include integrating technology.

Often integrating technology is seen as an extra task added to the already overwhelming demands of classroom instructors. Nevertheless, most classroom and school management systems enable administrative, record keeping and reporting processes to be far more fluid and consume less time. This extra time can be devoted to advancing our craft. In fact, the word technology means the study of art, a skill or a craft as it comes from the Greek word technología.  It also encompasses utilizing information, tools, systems or methods to solve problems, achieve goals, or perform specific functions. So when you look at it, any process of creating, building, constructing and exchanging knowledge can be executed, enhanced, or transferred through or with technological means. With that being said, what does this integration of technology look like in a classroom or school?

Apart from the numerous professional learning and development opportunities that technology can enrich and support (also the topic of my next blog), instructional technology looks like many things. It's teachers using multimedia to enhance student learning experiences. It is also biology or mechanical engineering students collaboratively performing dissections or building 3-D models with interactive simulations. It’s the non -native speaker benefitting from individualized instruction aimed at advancing English language speaking and listening proficiency; and it’s the kids with learning differences using assistive software to improve their  comprehension capabilities.

A while back, I saw this documentary on HBO called “I can’t do this, but I CAN do that.” The focus  of the film was on children labeled as having learning disabilities and their families. In the broadcast, there were several occasions in which the students or different facilitators used different types of specialized software and devices, to complete assignments and clarify instruction.  During one of those instances, a 12 year old boy  was talking about some of his academic challenges.  He did not consider himself to be disabled, and actually didn't like when others identified him in that manner. In fact,at one point in the taping he stated “…if people think you have a disorder, their expectations drop tremendously… and I can do better than that” (see video/synopsis).


When I heard that young man's words, I couldn't help but think about how powerful and  true  his statement was. I also reflected on how just a few decades ago, his story  would probably have been quite different. However because of continual technological advances, the learning process and opportunities to achieve has opened up for so many like never before. 

One of my most favorite quotes of all time is by Nelson Mandela. It reads: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Having worked with learning institutions in other countries, I truly appreciate this notion and find that knowledge truly has a unique capacity to transform lives. When wisdom is lacking or deficient, repressive and unjust practices are more easily sustained. While those who cultivate a more advanced understanding exercise critical thinking and act with courage, compassion, respect and integrity. 


No doubt most of us chose to become educators because we wanted to make a difference. This task continues to be difficult as new challenges arise daily. Nonetheless, as much as Mr. Mandela attests to the power of education, I equally believe that technology shall continue to be a catalyst in the process.

How will you change the world today?

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Because It's Fluffy!

This morning I was scanning my Twitter feed and came across this tweet from @eol (Encyclopedia of Life):

I checked out the website http://www.flickr.com/groups/encyclopedia_of_life/discuss/72157630109103478/ in order to find out what it was about. The Encyclopedia of Life has a contest for people to send in pictures of fluffy things. This got me to thinking about how this would be a fun activity to do in the classroom!

Here are some ideas that I thought of:

• The idea above for something fluffy, something furry, something smooth, something sharp would reinforce those words with images.  
• Have students take pictures of things that look like the alphabet, shapes, numbers, specific colors, etc.
   
• Take several images to reinforce the concept of beginning, middle, end; for example, taking a picture of a piece of wrapped candy as the beginning, starting to unwrap the candy as the middle, the unwrapped candy as the end.


• Taking pictures and then showing to the class and have students write what they think happened right before the image was taken or what happened next.


• Take pictures of angles or other math concepts.

What are some ideas that you come up with?

I must admit the first thing that came to my mind about a fluffy contest was a line from one of my favorite movies, "Despicable Me". Do you remember it?

http://youtu.be/SNLJDR-XbVY 
From Despicable Me: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/

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Technology Integration

Photo by superkimbo

Technology integration means more than just having computers or interactive white boards in a classroom, it is how those pieces of technology are utilized. Technology can be a powerful tool to enhance and bring curriculum to life. It can be used to empower student’s creativity and allow them to demonstrate learning through a medium other than testing.

Ideally students should be given as many opportunities as possible to use technology to create, collaborate, and communicate. It can be a means to guide students to access higher order thinking. Students can create, analyze, and evaluate with any number of various programs and web 2.0 tools that are available.  By placing technology into our student’s hands, we are preparing them for the technology-driven world they will enter and teaching them to use technology as a tool for endless learning.

Technology integration can look different for different classrooms, lessons, or students. It can be as simple as using a flip chart to help students visualize a concept or can be as complex and involved as students using it to create in order to show their learning. Classroom teachers who understand how to best utilize technology will understand how to seamlessly integrate the technology in such a way that it will compliment the curriculum to maximize learning. With much trial and error, and lots of support and learning, all teachers can find numerous ways to integrate technology effectively.

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Trekking Along with netTrekker!

Did you know that the resources in netTrekker are aligned with the Common Core Standards?

Here is something else I bet you did not know about netTrekker:

The netTrekker Search is getting a new look in July which will make things easier for you!!!

The new netTrekker Search interface will help you empower learning with more than 330,000 engaging, relevant digital resources aligned with State and Common Core standards!

Developed in partnership with current customers, netTrekker Search will unveil a new streamlined interface in late July 2012 focused on making each search:

• More Effective – consolidated details to quickly differentiate search results
• More Intuitive – new engaging interface to inspire learning experiences
• More Productive – streamlined search tools to save time
• Easier to Learn – embedded tutorial videos will provide just-in-time instruction and support

Here is some other information provided by netTrekker: that I wanted to share with our Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools teachers:

• netTrekker Search brings standards-aligned, teacher-approved digital resources and a unique set of learning tools into the classroom to create an engaging 21st century learning environment

• netTrekker Search contains over 330,000 educator-selected digital resources that are organized around the K-12 curricula and by grade level so searching is logical and easy

• netTrekker Search provides resources that work for all members of our school community including general education students, English language learners, gifted students, students working below or above grade level, those having reading challenges, special needs, and more

• netTrekker Search is web-based so students can use it at school and home

• All netTrekker Search web sites and images have been selected and evaluated by educators so students receive safe, relevant results and school-friendly images every time they use the internet

• netTrekker Search also includes an entire section devoted to English language learners and to teaching English as a second language

• netTrekker Search is an easy to use technology tool with searching options for beginner and advanced users so all our students and teachers can benefit from the educational resources available on the internet every day.

• netTrekker Search can help our teachers find safe, educator-selected digital resources for each child’s learning needs and style.

Here are some blog posts about the many helpful things you can find in  netTrekker:

• E-books from netTrekker
• This month from netTrekker
• Monthly Resources for March
• Current Events in netTrekker
• More help using netTrekker in the classroom

When you are looking at  netTrekker, you may want to look at the netTrekker blog to find some other great resources!

Look at some posts I found on the netTrekker Blog:

• Minnesota Zoo: Education: Four Stomachs: How a Cow Turns Grass to Food
• Philadelphia Museum of Art: Cezanne and Beyond
• Smithsonian Education: IdeaLabs: Prehistoric Climate Change
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Beatles

 

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Technology-Infused Classroom…3 Ring Circus?

Haven’t most of us been to a circus? Elephants performing, trapeze artists flying, lions roaring, clowns clowning…our senses on overload trying to keep up! It seems completely chaotic initially, but then you slowly begin to realize the choreography, the precision and the planning that makes the “chaos” actually a finely tuned, and superbly organized performance. It’s quite amazing! And it is the technology-integrated classroom that often reminds me of such an event. A circus? To the inexperienced observer it may seem as such at first. But every activity within this classroom has a purpose, a goal.  There is the ringmaster, also known as the teacher, who is orchestrating the entire show and whose job is to ensure all circus performers, or students, are achieving their goals by providing them with a safe environment and the “tools” needed to successfully meet their objectives.  Just as in the circus, not every performer has the same talent nor requires the same tools to succeed, so the teacher’s job in the technology-enhanced classroom is to make sure the right tools are being used at the right time to support the curricular goals of each student.  And what works for one student may not be the best fit for the learning style of another, which is why you may have many different “acts” occurring simultaneously but all working toward the same, overall goals….like a circus!

What technology does that traditional methods do not is that it provides a variety of tools that increase engagement, deepens understanding, and fosters collaboration and communication both within and outside of the classroom.  To see a well organized, technology-integrated classroom in action means that you may very well see many activities playing out synchronously as the students move seamlessly from one activity to another as real learning taking place. During these activities, students encounter new, sometimes unexpected, problems, and know how to use the technology available to locate information, apply knowledge, and find solutions. The technology also provides the students with opportunities to reflect on their learning and express themselves and their understanding in ways that are meaningful and relevant to them. At the center of all this is the teacher, the “ringmaster”, moving from “act to act” coaching, guiding, advising, assessing, and modifying to ensure a stellar performance! The days of row after row of students all moving at the same pace and completing the same activities are fading away. They are being replaced by classrooms that, like the circus, have no walls nor events being played out in isolation. Each circus act is interrelated to the other, building the tempo, setting the stage for the next event…these types of classrooms are active, alive, engaging places where students can explore the world and discover how they can contribute and make a difference in it.

So the next time you step into a technology-infused classroom, look for the different “acts.” You’ll see students using technology to create, collaborate and communicate...and each student “performer” will know his role intimately. And the ringmaster? Well he will be doing what he does best…ensuring that every performer has the tools and the training needed to give the best performance he can! Then just sit back and enjoy the show!

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