Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Session 4 - Question 2

Select a “Sample Activity” from the Appendix and explain how you will modify it or use it with middle school gifted students. Be prepared to discuss during our face-to-face meeting.

27 comments:

  1. I was interested in the ethnographic activity when I read about it in Chapter Eight. I love sociology and am vey interested in culture and social traits. I also tend to take a lot of notes, mosty to stay foused. After observing others, the book says that the individual may become introspective, this is great.

    I looked at and read the Sample Student Ethnographic Log (252-254). One way I would modify this might be to explain what ethnogrophy was before I had the students write down observations. Either earlier in the day or the previous class session. I thought I might reduce the time of two hours and fifteen minutes to about an hour. I am not so sure, if the students were enjoying it, they might be interested in carrying their observations over to another setting. Since there aren't many other posts yet, any input on the amount of time?

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  2. I liked the "Group Activity for Manipulating Information: Quiz Show" on Page 251, as it integrates well with Math and can be used with any concept/any grade level. Its interseting to see the commonalities in this book and CCP.In CCP we discussed this activity for reviewing for a test.It is a great activity for the students. It provides visual,auditory and kinesthetic opportunities to students which results in efficient memory retrieval.

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  3. Valerie H... I liked the project of writing a book for younger students. At another school I taught at, the high school English class wrote their own stories and illustrated them, then took their books to the elementary grades and read to the elementary students. I always thought that was such a neat idea. Next year I would like for my World Area Studies class to write books for the 6th grade when we do our country study. I think that might go with their Social Studies class.

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  4. Valerie commenting on Shivani... I used to write out Jeopardy games and use them to review in classes. The students enjoyed it. After reading this book, I can see where it would be much better for students to write the questions and to assign the points/level of difficulty. It would help them with learning how to write good questions and also review the materials in several different ways. Good idea.

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  5. When we studied Fables, Fairytales, and Myths the students created their own myths. These were written and illustrated and then shared within the class, but not with younger students. I think it would have been incredible for them, if had we shared them with the younger students. That will be the plan for next year.

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  6. Commenting on Valerie's and Shivani's ...I also created the questions when I devised the quiz review. You're right...it would be a lot better to have the students create the questions. One of my son's favorite memories was creating a board game for his history class with Steve Moss.

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  7. On page 251, there is the sample activity for Manipulating Information: Quiz Show. By turning over this task to the students they are able to make questions that engage/challenge them based on what they feel is still difficult for them with higher point values and the easy concepts worth less. Jeopardy is an easy way especially if using the online Jeopardy Labs site. Students could create BINGO type games, board games, etc.

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  8. In regards to Shivani, Harelson's classes and Dock on the Bay- turning over the review or concept development to the students seems to provide much more challenge and also honors the richness of their knowledge. Whether students work in groups or individually they can create a more targeted concept development activity eliminating unnecessary questions. I hope to do more of this with my students.

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  9. Like Valerie mentioned, I also like the idea of writing a book for younger students. From the counselor perspecive I could see our middle school students writing books for our incoming elementary school students on how to be successful in middle school. This is not an original idea, but this topic reminded me of it. The book could cover things like learning to open your locker, to getting homework done on time, to dealing with bullies, making wise choices in regards to friends, etc. Hmmm...maybe I will work this up for an upcoming Advisory Lesson. In the same vein upper school students could write a guide book for the incoming freshman on what it takes to be successful in high school.

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  10. In response to Dock on the Bay...I was able to see some of the myths the students came up with and was quite impressed. I think it would be an excellent idea to arrange for these students to share them with elementary students. I recall that when I was in junior high, I had to go present a topic with another student at our elementary school. The topic was "Bike Safety", I am not sure why we chose that topic, but I remember the experience still today.

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  11. I loved the ideas of writing a mystery book and a book for younger students. I always struggle to get good, meaningful long writing assignments in. I think both ideas could apply in my Science class.

    Valerie and Shivani both mention having students create review questions. The new idea in education is to put the learning into the students hands. I agree it is definately more meaningful and more minds will make a great review!

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  12. I liked the idea of writing a book for younger students. I have had my students in the past write comic strips or comic books as reviews for material. I like that students would have to be very clear in their language to get their point across to younger students. They could even turn their story into a digital storybook, to enhance the storyline.

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  13. In response to Shivani Agrawal, I also liked the Quiz Show idea. Anytime we can turn learning into a game the students come alive. I also like how the Quiz Show reaches the 3 learning styles that you mentioned.

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  14. In response to Amy, I remember seeing some great examples of digital storybook and other videos used for building academic vocabulary. These activites are great for students learning and are fun too.

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  15. I hate to be a copy cat, but I too like the Quiz show idea on pg. 251. I am always trying to find ways to make math fun and especially at review time this is needed so it is not so boring, but rather student driven, fun, and allows my students to be creative and develop a deeper meaning of the material. I think I am even going to try this on my next review day.

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  16. In response to Amy and Shelly, I like the idea of writing a book for younger children, too. And I would love to find a way to do this in the math class on a topic that could be explained to younger students in a very clear, concise and creative way. And like Shelly Horne said, I need more writing activities also for my students in the math class and this would be a great way to get my students writing more and writing in such a way that is concise and clear.
    I like the ideas Steve has with the books as an advisory activity in that the upper school students could write a guide for high school and use it as a mentoring tool to help the middle school students navigate high school!

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  17. I loved seeing the sample project "Writing a Book for Younger Students" because I did a project very similar to this last year.

    It was one of my favorite projects. It involved creating a storybook. The students had to write the story using certain grammar concepts, but the topic was completely up to them. They had to story board the entire project and then discuss which medium they would use.

    They spent a few days creating the book using supplies of their own choosing. The best part, however, was when they actually presented the books to another teacher's Spanish class. Both classes were delighted: those who presented, and those who enjoyed the story time.

    It was a very successful project, and it showed me a very creative artistic side to many of my students.

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  18. In response to Shivani Agrawal's comments on April 9th, 10:38pm-

    I too enjoyed the idea of the quiz show. It would be a fun concept to adapt to foreign language. However, I always come across the same problems when allowing the students to assist in planning their own quizzes: they go for the easy out.

    They tend to pick the simplest questions, knowing that they won't have to try as hard.

    This is an obstacle for which I've yet to find a practical, non-controling solution.

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  19. I like the idea of having the students make a quiz show but I really like the idea of a cross curricular lesson. Maybe focus on the Houston Rodeo since this is a big thing for us here.

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  20. I like several of the activities listed in the book...
    1. Activity for Offering Choice and Variety: Mystery Books. As an English teacher there are several interesting activities to have the students write that I think they would enjoy while also putting to good use skills they have learned.
    2. Sample Extension Project: Writing a Book for Younger Students. This is a fun idea. "The Odyssey" came to mind and I thought the students would like to re-count Odyssey's travels back home to Penelope.

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  21. I like the Quiz Show idea for our students to use as a way to review for a test. I also like the idea that the group has to rate the point value of the questions. This will make them consider the level of difficulty. Some of the questions could then be put in the actual test.

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  22. In response to Mr. Maddock's concern that the students tend to pick the simple questions, I think that it could be very useful to use a Consume Critique and Produce approach in learning how to make/write good questions.

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  23. I really like the idea Val shared about the students writing a children's book, illustrating it and then sharing with elementary students. This idea spans several different learning levels...writing, art/illustration, self-discovery as a writer, ownership, mentoring with younger students, etc...I really like this idea!!

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  24. One activity that I use in my classroom that is also stated on p. 250, is that I give students "choice activities" each 6 weeks, which are assessed and included in their portfolios. One of the activities is to make a crossword or word puzzle. They then have to have a friend work the puzzle and find the solution. This is always a popular choice for my students.

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  25. The choice activities on p 250 is much like using menus in the classroom.

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  26. In response to Srta. Kirklin, I think I would try next year and have kids keep portfolios to show their progress in my classes.

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  27. In response to Valerie's comment about student books, I like the idea that the students not only create but share the books with elementary students. I gives them an extra level of ownership!

    (sorry- tried to post this last pm but my internet was not cooperating!)

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