Picture a Story: Twelfth Night

Picture a story is a website that allows students to make pictures and create recorded text to go along with the story. My sophomore students have been asked to create an example of the last scene from Twelfth Night (Spoiler Alert! IF you haven't read the 12th night, you may not want to view the sophomore's work.) Their job is to recreate the scene and explain how all three of the ironies fit into the final scene.

Hopefully they will post the URL (web address) for their story here.

What do want to know about Shakespeare's Twelfth Night?

Whenever I read Shakespeare, he brings to mind many questions. What questions do you have about the Twelfth Night? Under the comments of this blog right a question that you have concerning the controversy, themes, vocabulary, era or something else. Find the answer online and write it in such a manner as someone else looking at this response would consider you an expert in this area.

I am looking for vocabulary, style, and grammar. You start with 10 points and can possibly get 12 (ha, for the Twelfth Night.) or 1 depending on your professionalism.

Hey Everyone,

December first is here which means the Holidays are in full swing!! I would like give all the buildings in my district a little cyber holiday present.

I keep track of a blog called iLearn Technology, which has given me a wealth of tech innovation and information since I began following in July. Today's blog is all about digital advent calendars for the classroom. I invite you all to check them out, they are pretty cool! What I found for you guys, though is an advent calendar created on Wix, by the author of this blog. It is a Web 2.0 Advent Calendar. It is so adorable and December first already has a cool Web 2.0 tool that is becoming more and more popular.

Anyway, I hope you all find this entertaining and informative, and I wish you all the best during the close of the semester.

Happy Holidays and thank you iLearn Technology!!!

Ironies of Act III

Hey Softies,

Would you please explain two things from Twelfth Night, Act III in a comment on this blog:

• Describe either a verbal, situational, or dramatic irony that occurs in Twelfth Night, Act III and why is it that type of irony. (Include Act, Scene, and line from the play)
• Explain what you think is the most important action or statement in Act III, and how this action or statement may relate to the rest of the play.

Thank you.

The Ironies

Three types of ironies are prominent in Literature:

Dramatic Irony
Situational Irony
Verbal Irony

My skilled softies (sophomores) are charged with learning each irony by creating a slide/document that incorporates the definition, example, and explanation why it is different from the other two ironies. Let's see how well they do.

Fun, fun, fun!!!

The Importance of Shakespeare

On Monday, November 1, 2010 my students were given the task to research and complete some information over why William Shakespeare is important. I see some good work in what they are doing. Sadly, I keep telling them to use correct grammar in order to get full credit, but I am noticing even simple mistakes such as capitalization, end punctuation, fragments and run-ons. I know they have been taught these things previously - they are sophomores. A lot of research suggests texting is the problem. I really don't know. I would love to hear your thoughts. (If you are a student in my class this is the equivalent to a bonus point on your exam.)

Hour 1
Hour 2
Hour 6
Hour 8

Update: Unfortunately, I was trying to do this fast and without my own spelling/ grammar errors, yet one of my students found an error. :( I have since changed this error, but cudos to my student editor!

Twelfth Night Themes

Understanding the Themes of Twelfth Night

Objective: Comprehend the Themes of Twelfth Night, Create a google ppt page that explains the theme, compares it to the other website OR is illustrated by an occurance that could happen today.

Activities:

1. One person get on google docs, create a new ppt, and share with the rest of group. All group members need to sign into the ppt and decide on the theme and font of ppt slide.
2. Go to my blog and choose a theme and decide whether you will compare and contrast the theme to the other website OR create an example of the theme in today’s world.
3. Read the theme information
4. Create a ppt slide that:

a. Summarizes the theme

b. Compares and Contrasts the theme OR include an example from today’s time

c. Includes an image that exemplifies either the theme, compare/contrast, OR today’s example

d. Site the source(s) where you found your information.

e. Publish slide and group makes a comment on my blog concerning what was learned and include the url to the slide.

Twelfth Night Websites

“Twelfth Night: Themes.” LitCharts. LitCharts. 2010. Nov. 3, 2010.

http://www.litcharts.com/lit/twelfthnight/themes

1. Desire and Love
2. 2. Melancholy
3. 3. Madness
4. 4. Deception, Disguise, Performance
5. 5. Gender and Sexual Identity
6. 6. Class Masters and Servants

“Twelfth Night Themes.” Shmoop Beta. Shmoop University Inc. 2010. Nov. 3, 2010.

http://www.shmoop.com/twelfth-night/themes.html

1. 1. Art and Culture
2. 2. Love
3. 3. Gender
4. 4. Language and Communication
5. 5. Society and Class
6. 6. Rules and Order
7. 7. Lies and Deceit
8. 8. Foolishness and Folly

Mindomo Shakespeare

Mindomo is a website that creates extensive brainstorm mapping. My students objective today is to learn about William Shakespeare as a man, playwright, his era, or the controversy surrounding his genius. Each group will choose one of the above selections and find a website concerning the topic. They will then collect the information on Mindomo and comment the web address (URL) for the mind map on this post.

The brainstorm needs to have:

1. a major topic (William Shakespeare)

2. three main topics

3. at least one subtopic off of each main topic

4. a hyperlink to the website where they found their information.

Let's see how they do. Oh, here is an example of my mindomo map.

Job and Adversity Presentations

My students worked very hard this nine weeks learning about how to obtain their ideal job in the face of adversity. They researched, created an essay and a presentation concerning the requirements of achieving their ideal profession as well as how they can still get to their profession if something was to happen to them such as peer pressure or possibly a death in the family.

The presentations could be anything from an Xtranormal movie, Glogster, or iMovie. The students got to choose their medium.

Here are the pages to the presentations:

First Hour

Second Hour

Sixth Hour

Eighth Hour

The comments made consist of these four questions:

1. After reviewing the presentation rubric on my website which presentation(s) do you feel really give good information and why?

2. Which presentation is the most creative and why?

3. Throughout this entire project what learning will you remember the most when you think back to these nine weeks activities and why?

4. What could have been done differently during this project, that could have given you better understanding?

To Tweet or not to tweet?

My students have all said that Twitter is for the birds, and since I initially began my technology education because of them, I didn't look too closely at the Tweeting initiative. I have had my Twitter account for some time now. I began, became concerned and left. It wasn't until recently a fellow educator/ innovator brought tweeting back to my attention. She piqued my interest by stating about 90% of professional reading and growth could be obtained from following tweets. Being a naturally curious person, I decided to check it out again with a different set of eyes and oh how my eyes opened! In the past 24 hours I have changed my profile, design, started following about 50 people, gained a follower and made my first tweet concerning education. Hmmmm, there is something to be said about the ease of information that Twitter provides.

So to answer the question, "To tweet or not to tweet?" --Heck YES!!

Oh, and if you want to follow my tweets look for hbhbottoms2, I'll be there.

Bonus Points: Fun Video

So, check out this video that asks Brits to be aware of cyclists on the road. We have recently had a week of texting and driving awareness, which I believe runs along a similar vein. I would love to offer a bonus to my Sophmore students. Please comment concerning these two questions for two points on your exam from 10/8/10. (I will allow points until the end of the nine weeks: 10/15/10.)

1. What were your reactions to this video?
2. What statement would you write at the end to make it into a catchy texting and driving awareness notification?

Here is the link that will enable you download the video to your computer if you can't see the video on this blog.


Awareness Test: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0cAVzXMR7pBZDljM2NmMWMtNmUwYS00NzIzLTliYzItYmZiYWI3ZTQwMzJk&hl=en&authkey=CNH-pLUM

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

Answer Garden Demo

Check out Answer Garden: (http://answergarden.ch/create/)!

It creates a space for people to answer your questions. It can easily be embedded or linked to your site. If the actual program is as simple as it's application, I could teach my grandmother how use this tool. I am already thinking up classroom starters. Please, try making your own for your page.

Type directly below or follow this link: http://answergarden.ch/view/4114.

If you had to choose, what is your favorite part of a autumn?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Your Personality and The Group

So today I want the class of 2013 to learn about their personalities and how they may interact in a group. My objective for this lesson is for students to comprehend different personality types and write a paragraph concerning how their personality may tie into to other's personalities. I believe it is important to get a feel for who you are and how you interact with others. The test we will take is the short Jung test. It is approximately 50 questions and shows us insights into our personality. We will then study what it means to be the four letters and write a short paragraph explaining what our letters mean and how we will relate to our groups. No full names should be used in this exercise. We will talk about how I will identify you. This is a 10 point project. 4 points for explaining your letters. 5 points explaining how you will work in a group (includes what jobs you will want, problems that might arise, and how others will see you) 2 points for actually posting the comment to this blog entry. Sounds like fun? I think so; let's make it happen!! (For the lesson and SLEs go to my website.)

P. S.

If you want to know what I am. . .ENFJ (I have been an ENFP, those letters fluctuate.) I have leadership qualities and only 2.5% of the population is an ENFP.

A Teacher's Wish Wordle

At the Arkansas Leadership Academy's Teacher Institute, Forum 19 (a group of selected educators) was asked to give a one word response to the question, "What is one quality or value you would give to all teachers?" Many teacher leaders created good words to send out to other educators. I went to Wordle, which is a site that creates artistic layouts from word choices, in order to illustrate the words used. The larger the word in the Wordle equals the more times a word was used. Enjoy!!

A Teacher's Wish


ALA Teacher Institute First Impressions

Technology Tools for the Classroom

I discussed different technology tools that can be used in the classroom at Corning, Arkansas. Some of the tools reviewed included: Prezi, Glogster, Voicethread, and Wikispaces. If anyone is interested in the presentation you may find it on prezi.com. Look for the title "Practical Technology Tools to Drive Instruction".

If you were in the professional development at Corning, Arkansas, it would be great if you could fill out this survey.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGpITFg1d2pfOFI2aHhodDQ4ZU1FUmc6MQ

Grammar and an iPod Touch: Take 5!

I have created a lesson using two iPod Touch or iPhone applications: Grammar Up and William Shakespeare Quotes. The lesson has three objectives: 1. comprehend a segment of grammar, 2. analyze the incorrect responses and 3. evaluate the grammar structure in a Shakespeare quote. My full instructions to this lesson should be available as a podcast in iTunes-U Arkansas around August. However, you can also view the written lesson plan at iPod Lesson Plan. It is a bit different from the podcast, but still effective.

Ordinary People doing Extraordinary Things

My students have learned about wordle (wordle.net) in the past, which is a website where you can make art using different words. We are also going to try acapela.tv (www.acapela.tv), which is a message creator.

Today, my students will be watching the video "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things" from You Tube (Shout out: you can watch any you tube video you want if, at home, you use keepvid.com to download it to your computer or flashdrive. Then you can take it with you wherever you want.) After watching this video, my adorable little softies, whom I enjoy so much, are going to create either a wordle or acapela.tv message about one of the people on this video. I will strongly invite them to post their work on this site, so anyone interested can see what they learned about one of the people named from the "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things".

If you are interested, please check out the posts!! If you want to use this idea in your own classroom (If any teachers indeed check this blog out), I have all the links right here necessary for this lesson.

Lesson Plan:

Obj: SWBT identify a person who has done an extraordinary thing, research more information on that person, and create either a wordle or acapela message about that person.

SLE: R.12.10.2 Establish a focus for research, IR.12.10.3 Utilize a variety of research tools to access, multiple sources, R.12.10.12 Create research products

Plan:

1. watch video

2. choose a name for the group

3. 1 partner research more information

4. 1 partner create wordle/ acapela

5. Post to this blog

Animoto

Toronto Summer 2009

So, I have been meaning to try out a new website that I have known about for awhile.

It is called animoto (animoto.com). It is a site that uploads your videos, pictures, and music and turns it into a ready made collected video. Animoto is really easy to use! I made Toronto Summer 2009 concerning my trip to Toronto in, literally, 15 minutes. I didn't even have to worry about music. Animoto already has a large collection, albeit a little random. The site speaks for itself. My professional development on this site was to: a) go to the site, b) watch the 60 second demo, c) look at a sample video, d) register, e) go through the dummy proof instructions on making the video. Yay!

Drawback: You can only make a 30 second video with a free account.

Bonus: Your pictures and videos can come from anywhere! I used the pictures I had on Facebook. I chose that venue option and Animoto did everything else.

Try it out!!!

Glogster

Alright, anyone interested in a bit of new technology? Well, I am always game for any new, fun way for students to present information. Thanks to my friend Melody, I have been introduced to something new! It is called Glogster. I'm not sure how I want to use it, yet, but I am toying with the idea of it becoming my next nine weeks independent reading project. Educators and students check it out!

I think this is the link to my Glog. Yes, I know it is very primitive, I would like to do much more. However, I have "miles to go before I sleep" (Frost); I've got many things to do. If any student takes an interest, I would love to give them an account in order to let them really become the expert. It would be totally awesome if someone in each of my classes decided to become the expert, and then one day next nine weeks he or she could teach a lesson on how to use the new, cool form of blogging. If the expertise was good, I would be willing to use this work as a quiz trade. (In place of taking the grade of an in-class quiz, I would consider this as a replacement, provided the student would be willing to create a lesson for the class as well.) Right now, this is a first come, first serve bonus for each of my classes. If you are interested in a new activity and willing to create a lesson for the rest of your classmates, let me know.

Please post to let me know what you think.

Check What the Lincoln Sophomores are Reading!!

I want to see what kind of book reviews we can get from the Sophomore's independent reading. My regular English is in charge of reading 1 play and 1 fun book, my Pre A. P. are reading 2 plays and 1 fun book. I would like regular English to post a review about their fun book, and Pre A. P. to review a fun book and a play. The following is a list of what I need in order for credit:

1. Why would someone like your book/play?

2. Include at least 2 quotes from different sections of your book adequately integrated into your paragraph proving you have actually read the book.

3. Make sure your title of the post includes book/play title, author, your first name only:

ex. Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman - Heather

This should be done by March 5, 2010 and is worth 20 points.