5th Grade Blog Post

It's going to be a great year in room 201... here's your first assignment:

1. Blogs:  Make sure you can get into your blog, and write your first post!  If you don't have a blog, we'll get one set up for you first thing.  Call your first post "New School Year: 2019-2020." Your first post for the year should include the following:

• What do you love about school?
• What do you not like about school?
• What are you looking forward to this new school year?
• What skills do you have that will make you successful this school year?
• What challenges or obstacles might hinder your success this school year?
• What are your goals for this school year?  Be specific!  How do you want to improve yourself and grow as a student and as a person?  Make an academic goal, and make a personal goal as well.

2.  Publish your post.  Then go to "view blog."  Please e-mail the url (web address) of your blog to Mrs. Edlin at tena.edlin@fairfieldsfuture.org (go to g-mail and compose an e-mail, copy and paste that web address inside your e-mail and then send).

3.  When you're done with everything, you may go to any of the sites on my blog along the left hand margin under the category: Idleness Prevention Society.

Welcome Back!

It's going to be a great year in room 201... here's your first assignment:

1. Reading Survey:  Please complete the reading survey found at this link.

2.  Blogs:  Make sure you can get into your blog, and write your first post!  If you don't have a blog, we'll get one set up for you first thing.  Call your first post "New School Year: 2018-2019." Your first post for the year should include the following:

• What you're looking forward to this school year
• What skills you have that will make you successful this school year
• What challenges you have that might hinder your success this school year
• What your goals are for this school year... How do you want to improve yourself and change for the better?

3.  Check the right-hand margin of Mrs. Edlin's blog.  If you don't see yours there, please e-mail the url (web address) of your blog to her at tena.edlin@fairfieldsfuture.org.

4.  Goodreads Accounts:

If you DO NOT have a Goodreads account yet, we'll get you set up with one.

If you DO have a Goodreads account, you need to edit your bookshelves.

• You will need the following shelves to keep track of your books for this year:
• Science Fiction
• Realistic Fiction
• Poetry/Novels in Verse
• Mystery
• Historical Fiction
• Graphic Novels
• Fantasy
• Classics
• Action/Adventure
• Biography/Autobiography/Memoir
• Informational Nonfiction
• Add a shelf for "2018-2019 School Year."
• Make sure you're a part of the FMS GOAL group, and if you're not, request to join.
• Add friends from the FMS GOAL group, if you'd like to (the more friends you have, the more informative/helpful/interesting your news feed will be).
• Accept all friend requests from GOAL students in any grade.
• Adjust your notification preferences to whatever works best for you.
• Read through your updates, looking for books you might want to add to your "Want to read" shelf.

5.  UNIT INTRODUCTION

When your Goodreads account is ready to go and you've finished your blog post watch the following film to give you an introduction to our new unit to start the year.  This unit will be on Differences in Learning.  This unit is to give you an awareness of all the ways people learn.  You will develop understanding for people who learn differently from you, and you will better understand your own ways of learning.  When you know how you learn best, you can begin to advocate for yourself and take charge of your own learning and academic success.

Start by watching this video: Temple Grandin TED Talk: The World Needs All Kinds of Minds

Then, write a blog post describing what you saw, what you learned, and what it made you think about and/or wonder about.

6.  TIME TO COMMENT!

Read and respond to the blog posts of others.  But first, you need to know HOW to write good comments.  Yes, this seems obvious.  But with student blogging, it's the area which always disappoints me the most.  Even first graders seem to know how to do this better than middle school students.  Case in point: Watch the first grade video on commenting, and PAY ATTENTION to what these kids are talking about.  I know this is geared for elementary kids, but have fun with the Panda and learn from the younger generation about how to write a good blog post.

YES, I KNOW THIS MOVIE IS LAME, BUT THERE ARE NO BETTER ONES.  REALLY!  Let's MAKE a better one.  Comment to this post with at least one suggestion about how we can update this in a way that's useful and more relevant to middle schoolers than a 2-dimensional panda!

7.  Now actually read and respond to other blog posts.  Look at the righthand margin of this blog to find all the GOAL student blogs.  Read and respond to at least 3 posts about goals for the new year and at least 3 posts about the Temple Grandin video.  Try to find blogs that don't have any comments yet.  Read and edit before you post to avoid silly errors.  You may comment on GOAL blogs from any grade.

8.  Go back to your blog and see what others have said.  Respond to their comments if/when necessary.

9.  Think you're done with everything?  Make sure by submitting the checklist found here.

10.  If there are any design modifications you'd like to make to your blog (background colors, margin widths, etc.), you may do it now.

11.  When you're done with everything, you may check out books from my library and read and/or go to any of the sites on my blog along the lefthand margin under the category: Idleness Prevention Society.

How to Make a Good Comment

2016-2017 1st Blog Post

Complete the following steps.

1.  Go to your blog (or create a blog if you don't have one yet).  Check to make sure your links work.  You may change the title, but you MAY NOT CHANGE THE ADDRESS!  My own blog has an old address but a new title, so I feel your pain.

2.  Create a new blog post.  Give it the title "2016-2017 1st Blog Post."  Set some goals for yourself for this new year.  Set an academic goal, set a personal behavior goal, and set an improvement goal.  Explain why they are all 3 important areas for you to work on this year.

3.  Watch this video on how to leave good comments... I know it's cheesy for you middle school students, but these kids know what they're talking about.  Even if you've watched it before, watch it again!

4.  Go to the lefthand side of my blog in the section called Idleness Prevention Society.  Check out some of the links.  If you see any that don't work, include them in the comment you're going to write to this post.  Note the links that are blocked by the school filter instead of not working at all.  You can check these out at home.  Know any good sites for me to include?  Include them in the comment to this post!

5.  Go to the righthand side of my blog.  Is your blog listed in the correct grade level?  If not, tell me in the comment you're going to leave in step 6.

6.  When you're done with numbers 1-4, comment on this blog post.  Your comment should use the tips given in the video and also a link to your own blog's url.  Show me you learned something, or ask some questions... leave a good comment.  Then you may tweak the settings/backgrounds/fonts on your own blog and/or check out Idleness Prevention Society in detail for the rest of the period.  Get blogging!

Invent Iowa Reflection

On your blog, reflect on the Invent Iowa process.  Use elaborated communication in your answers.

• Post a picture of your board and your prototype, if you have one.  Attach links, if needed.
• Describe the problem you tried to solve.
• Explain how your invention is a solution to the problem.
• Reflect on your process.  What went well?  What were your challenges?
• If you could modify or change your invention at this point, what would you do, and why?
• Give any advice to future inventors on how to make this project go smoothly.

When your reflection is done, comment on the posts of others.  Remember what it takes to make good comments on others' blogs.

After your Comics Project Posting & Posttest...

Watch the following video... these kids are little, but their information about commenting is SPOT ON!



Now it's your turn.  Look at all the comics projects from all the other classes in all the other grades, and leave productive, positive comments.  Follow all the guidelines in the video.

5th Grade GOAL: Blogs & Fibonacci Numbers

Complete the following items:

1. Finish your blog post reflecting on Independent Projects.
2. Comment on at least 3 other students' Independent Project blog posts.
3. Set up your Goodreads account.
4. Using widgets, attach your Goodreads account to your blog.
5. Add books you're currently reading to Goodreads, and/or update your progress on those books (MAKE SURE TO LOG OUT WHEN YOU'RE DONE).
6. Watch the following videos:

Finally, start a blog post (you don't need to publish it yet) on what you think about Fibonacci numbers at this point.  For some of you, this is the first time you've ever heard of such a thing.  What are your thoughts?  What are your questions?  What are your observations?  What did you learn so far?

WELCOME BACK, PART III

For today, please complete the following:

1.  Fill out this quick survey regarding your blog: GOAL Blogs Survey.

2.  Make sure the reading survey from September 4 is complete.

3.  Make sure your first blog post is published (about the goals for the new school year).  Check it and fix for errors and incomplete sentences.

4.  Finish working on your Goodreads account.  Update your reading, accept/request friends, rate and label more books.

5.  If you haven't done so, view the video at the bottom of the post from September 5 which is the introduction for our first unit.

6.  Complete the blog entry on the video (instructions found on September 5 below the video link).

7.  Read and respond to the blog posts of others.  First you need to know HOW to write good comments.  Yes, this seems obvious.  But with student blogging, it's the area which always disappoints me the most.  Even first graders seem to know how to do this better than middle school students.  Case in point: Watch the first grade video on commenting, and PAY ATTENTION to what these kids are talking about.  I know this is geared for elementary kids, but have fun with the Panda and learn from the younger generation about how to write a good blog post.

 

8.  Now actually read and respond to other blog posts.  Look at the righthand margin of this blog to find all the GOAL student blogs.  Read and respond to at least 3 posts about goals for the new year and at least 3 posts about the Temple Grandin video.  Try to find blogs that don't have any comments yet.  Read and edit before you post to avoid silly errors.  You may comment on GOAL blogs from any grade.

9.  Go back to your blog and see what others have said.  Respond to their comments if/when necessary.

10.  If there are any design modifications you'd like to make to your blog (background colors, margin widths, etc.), you may do it now.

11.  When you're done with everything, you may go to any of the sites on my blog along the lefthand margin under the category: Idleness Prevention Society.

WELCOME BACK, PART II

Here's what we'll work on today:

1.  GOODREADS

If you DO NOT have a Goodreads account yet, we'll get you set up with one.

If you DO have a Goodreads account, you need to edit your bookshelves.

• Instead of "Poetry," rename the shelf "Poetry & Novels Written in Verse."
• Add a shelf for "Action/Adventure."
• Add a shelf for "Graphic Novels."
• Add a shelf for "2014-2015 School Year."
• Add any books you read over the summer, and tag them with the appropriate shelves (NOT your new school year shelf).
• Add any books you started since school began, and tag them with the appropriate shelves, making sure to include your new "2014-2015 School Year" shelf.  You'll need to include this label for every book you read for this year's contract.
• Add friends from the FMS GOAL group, if you'd like to.
• Read through your updates, looking for books you might want to add to your "Want to read" shelf.

2.  UNIT INTRODUCTION

When your Goodreads account is ready to go and you've finished your blog post from yesterday, watch the following film to give you an introduction to our new unit to start the year.  This unit will be on Differences in Learning.  This unit is to give you an awareness of all the ways people learn.  You will develop understanding for people who learn differently from you, and you will better understand your own ways of learning.  When you know how you learn best, you can begin to advocate for yourself and take charge of your own learning and academic success.

Start by watching this video: Temple Grandin TED Talk: The World Needs All Kinds of Minds

Then, write a blog post describing what you saw, what you learned, and what it made you think about and/or wonder about.

Welcome Back!

It's the first day back to school!  I'm so excited with how things are changed up in room 101 this year.  First of all, I'll be having 5th graders in GOAL this year for the first time.  I think we're all going to have a blast together.  Additionally, I'm co-teaching English 8 with Mrs. Kaska for one period, and I think we're going to be a total dynamic duo.  I've missed teaching reading and language arts so much... I'm glad to be back in the game!

Here's the scoop for the opening week in room 101:

5th GOAL:  I actually won't start seeing these kids until next Monday.  Just an FYI:  Mrs. Lyon's & Mrs. Eeling's classes will come on Mondays and Thursdays.  Mrs. Copeland's, Ms. DeMoss's, & Mr. Philips's classes will come on Tuesdays and Fridays.  We might add Wednesdays with everyone together later on in the year.

6th GOAL, 7th GOAL, & 8th GOAL:  We're starting with a project called Words of Wisdom based off a book called Live and Learn and Pass It On by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.  Students will be interviewing relatives, friends, teachers, and community members to develop their own compilation of words of wisdom.  Next week, we'll be making sure everyone has a Goodreads account to document their independent reading, and we'll be blogging for the first time this year.  Words of Wisdom projects will be uploaded to their blogs.

English 8:  We'll be starting with a short story unit... stay tuned for details.  Hope everyone had a great first day... I know I did!

7th Grade GOAL Blog Assignment 4/23/13

1.  Update your reading log on Goodreads.  Review and rate books as necessary and document your progress in the book you're currently reading.

2.  Write a journal letter on your blog about the book you're currently reading.

3.  Choose one of the following questions to answer on your blog after your journal letter:

*  Discuss your progress, excitement, frustrations, questions, etc. about the stop-motion animated movies.

*  Discuss your personal goals for the rest of the school year.  How are you going to make the last 6 weeks really count?

*  Discuss a recent news event.  Give your thoughts, opinions, comments, and/or questions.

DUE: 4/26/13

The Purpose

I maintain 2 blogs: one for myself and one for school. As I'm sure you figured out, this is my school blog. I probably need 3 different blogs for school. I know that this blog is probably trying to do too much. My school blog is for: 1. my students... with important information for them to know, 2. professional reflection... where I like to think about what I've done in class and what's ahead, and 3. my colleagues... where I like to post resources for them to use and where I keep track of some digital and building colleagues who blog and post resources of their own. Whew! It's a lot. For now, I'm keeping it all here in the Nelson Universe. We'll see if this format continues to suit my needs.

Why do I blog? I blog to write. I work hard to be a writing teacher who is also a writer. I communicate with others, I reflect on my life, and I get my ideas down and out of my ever-spinning brain.

Do you blog? If so, I'd love to read your blogs. Comment here, & leave me your blog's address. I'll check it out!