Cool Science Stuff...

We've been spending some time studying the moon, craters on the moon, the origin of the moon and planets and so on and so forth. So, it was super cool when I started to read 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was fascinating to read the book and continue to read material that related directly to what we had just been learning. It was also very exciting to read so many things in a book that were scientifically minded and scientifically accurate. If you are a science teacher, and have not read the book, I highly recommend it. The author is Arthur C. Clarke

Testing anyone?

Testing season is once again upon us. As such, I am working on gearing up my middle school students (8th in particular) to get ready to take the Science MCAII Test. The Science MVA is a very interesting test. I need to give credit to the makers of the test for making use of technology and providing a more authentic approach to testing. On the other hand, the test has shown to be horrendous for ELL students. As a matter of fact, only 4% of the state's ELL students met the standards on this MCA test. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions beyond going to the computer lab to help students be successful on this test. So far, all I have planned is to practice taking different scenario tests using the following test taking strategies:
1. PREVIEW
a. Top section
b. Visuals- what type? Animation? Graphs?
c. Question(s)- what type of question is it? Multiple choice? Long answer? Short answer? Graphing? Click and move?
d. Answers- Are answer options given to you? Where are they? What format are they in?
2. LISTEN AND OBSERVE
a. Click on the Play button. Listen carefully and watch the video if one is provided. This part will help you to understand the setting of the question(s).
3. READ CAREFULLY
a. Top section- highlight important phrases/words
b. Question- Highlight important phrases or words
- What is the question really asking?
- What are the directions?
c. Additional information- graphs? Pictures? Tables? What are their titles, what are the labels? What is it telling you?
4. ANSWER QUESTION
a. Multiple choice- read all answers, eliminate wrong answers, avoid always and never answers
b. Click and move- make sure all spots get filled.
c. Constructed Response- Use full sentences. Be as complete, specific and clear as possible.
5. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.
a. You are allowed to move forward and backwards through each scenario.
b. Reread each question and your answers for any mistakes. If you do not notice any obvious mistakes, stick with your first answer.

I'm back...

Its been awhile since I've blogged. I was trying really hard for a few weeks to keep blogging every week. But then... I played drums at a show at the Uptown Bar and then went in for a minor surgery (to fix a deviated septum) and I haven't gotten back into blogging until today. But well, the good news is... the show went very well and my nose no longer hurts from the surgery and I can breathe out of my left nostril. Yay!!!

Science Posters?

My kids are finishing up a science investigation right now and they are making a poster to communicate their findings? I was wondering if anyone knew of a program so that the students could type up real science research posters the next time we do an investigation?

Agenda and Passwords

So, feeling a little bit lost, I decided to look closer at some of the 23 things and explore on my own a bit. In the process, I ran into some of the online teacher calendars. I am presently playing around with Assign-a-Day. Currently, our principal is asking us to send him our lesson plans for the week. I thought that this might be a good way to plan for myself and also allow my principal to see my plas so that I am not doubling my work.

However, while looking to continue with this endeavor I was reminded of one of the struggles that I have with all of these online tools- remembering my usernames and passwords. After three tries with delicious, I was able to login to my bookmarks so that I could find the website on our MILI page. After finding the Assign-A-Day website, it took me two tries to log in. I was wondering what others are doing to keep track of their passwords. When I'm not feeling lazy I try to put them on my blackberry, but I usually don't feel like looking up passwords on my cell phone. Plus, apparently looking at a cell phone while teaching is unprofessional.

Alright, that's all. Peace out...

IT Frustrations and Saintly Teachers

Well, it's been a quite awhile since we've begun this and I have fairly little to show for it. Its not that I don't find some of things things interesting but... well, I not always able to see a vision on how to use this given the technology situation at my school and, quite frankly, playing on the computer can be very time consuming. I wish that we could spend more time in class working through some of these projects. Its nice that while we are in class, we can ask for help if we get stuck. Once I get home, I know I don't want to spend the time to work through problems with making things work when I know that someone else can help me in a couple of minutes.

I also have to admit, that although I use the internet and play on my computer a lot, I have some issues with all of this technology stuff in general. Its amazing how much the internet has opened up our world, but then its amazing how in some regards the internet has closed off our world. I am quite certain that the time I spend on the internet could be used more productively no matter what I'm doing online. The truth of the internet is that it is a virtual world. All the Facebook and MySpace and YouTube and Podcasts in the world can never replace face to face contact. I believe that we have sacrificed a great deal of real-world experiences in exchange for virtual experiences. Or, maybe more accurately, we are not provided nearly enough time to plan and once I get home (which I always make sure is at a reasonable time) working a long time to lay out things for my students to do on the internet when I still need to figure what I will have them do the next day.

On a fairly different note I just wanted to vent a little on what it means to take on the identity of a teacher. Talk of Facebook and MySpace has reminded me of how frustrating it can be sometimes that teachers are expected to take on identities of saints. We still carry around this aura of not been real people. We work hard to protect our students and their parents from our personal lives. We made to be ashamed of ever going to a bar or a bowling or even dinner and partaking in alcohol. We are not supposed to admit to having real life friends that we may spend time at a party with. We are far too mature to waste our time on social networks or even to play video games. We never, ever swear or listen any music or movies with swearing. We are denied the right to do anything besides be married, work on perfecting our homes and raise our children. Or who knows, maybe I really am just immature... either way, right now my secret life is making me weary...

Looks do matter...

So... I'm a little disappointed with this new blog site. Turns out, this is the same program that I had written some blog stuff through before. Which means that this isn't really as new to me as the other site was. Well, and to be honest, I had really liked the look and feel of the edublogs. They did a good job with their model templates. I know that if I want I can customize mine here, but quite frankly I don't feel like spending the time. As a result, I will probably reserve this blog just for the purpose of communicating with MILI grant folks and continue to work with the other blog for possible work with my students.

In the meantime, I working on trying to put together my wiki. I sometimes find it hard for me to focus on this technology stuff sometimes. Right now, our school's primary focus is trying to teach in a building that has cubicle dividers to separate classrooms instead of walls. Plus, with the CALT test coming upon us, getting my kids into a computer lab will be near impossible.

So, anyway, back to the wiki...