Koolteecha's Virtual Classroom

It’s true!  Jack over at Brainyflix.com is actually passing the torch to me this week, and I’ll be judging the weekly Brainypics contest.  I’m so excited, because as you all know, vocab is kind of my “thing”.    It’s totally fun, because not only will entering the contest give you a chance to expand your vocabulary (already bursting, I’m sure, from our weekly vocabulary rituals) and stretch your creative muscles as well – don’t pass up this chance to be all ZANY and smart at the same time!

It’s easy – just pick a “P” word from their list (those are SAT words, y’all), find (or take) a great picture that teaches/explains/represents your “P” word, and then create your Brainypic directly from their website! 

Only FIVE (count ‘em – FIVE) lucky winners will be selected to win a free iTunes, so get going!  Be funny!  Teach vocab!   I can’t wait to see what you (and all the other vocabulary beasts lurking out there in cyberspace) come up with!

And in celebration of this event, I just had to…you know…bring vocab back:

I’m Bringing Vocab Back

 Mrs. S

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Is it just me, or is SPRING BREAK in the air?  Ah – don’t quit on me now.  Things are just starting to pick up pace.  The test-that-shall-not-be-named is behind us, and wonderful challenges lay before us! 

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is by far one of my favorite novels to teach, primarily because students LOVE it and can’t put it down.  THAT is cool – true excitement about reading a book!

My wonderful Pre-AP students have just finished a Vocabulary Video Project.  Look for the links to their videos at Brainyflix.com.  Soon you can vote for your favorite video and help them win $200! 

An entirely NEW challenge also streches before them – POETRY ANALYSIS.  This is typically met with moans and groans, and that’s understandable, because they will actually have to – GASP! – think and write and analyze.  I hope that you’ll reach the end of the unit feeling like you’ve stretched your analytical muscles!  Be strong!  At the end of the six weeks, we’ll be completing a really cool multimedia project.  I can’t wait!

If you need another copy of this six week’s calendar, click the appropriate links below:

5th Six Weeks Calendar – Pre-AP

5th Six Weeks Calendar – Regulators

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To get you started on your mad review skills, here are a couple of links to the online vocabulary review(s):

Fall Semester Review – Definitions

Fall Semester Review – Parts of Speech

Have fun, and may the vocab be with you.

Mrs. S

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Greetings & Salutations, my fellow Middle Earthlings!  Doesn’t it feel great to know that this is only a two day week?

While your fellow classmates are slaving away in their other classes, you will be embarking on an incredible adventure – a Hobbit adventure, that is.

Over the next two days, your quest will be to fulfill four Hobbit tasks.  I’ve even set up a special place at which to begin your journey:

There and Back Again…A Hobbit Adventure Edublog

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Welcome to your first day of video production!  Since we’re still in the early stages, we won’t officially begin filming until tomorrow.  Today, your goal will be to produce an outline for me of exactly what to expect from your group’s production company.    Remember that everything needs to be approved by your master producer (that would be me) before any filming can begin.  In other words, there will be no aimless filming.  Everything must move according to a plan, and I’ll need to know what that plan is.

Once there’s a plan in place, I encourage your group members to begin searching for images and sound to accompany your video.   However, it is VERY important that you first set up a place to SAVE YOUR WORK.   DO THIS NOW:  From your desktop, right-click your work area and choose “New” from the drop-down menu.  Then select “Folder”.  Once your folder shows up, click it ONCE to rename it with your group’s name.  This will be a place for you to save any images/audio that you want to use on your finished project. 

Feel free to use Google images to find images for your video.  Here’s how to save an image to your new group folder on your desktop:

Right-click the image and choose “Save As”.  Navigate to the desktop and choose your folder from its location on the desktop.  Name your image something that you’ll recognize, like “raven”, for example.  Click “Save”.

Please remember to refer to your handout for links to site for links to music/audio content.  Saving audio content is similar to saving an image.  Once you’ve found an audio clip that you like, right-click it and choose “Save Target As”.  Again, navigate to the desktop and choose your group folder from its location on the desktop.  Name you audio clip something that you’ll recognize, and then click “Save”.

You can also refer to the link below for direct links to the sites in your handout.  It will save you from having to type everything in:

Edgar Allan Poe Video Project Resources and Links

I expect to begin filming tomorrow, but please remember that we only have TWO video cameras to use at a time.  Those groups NOT filming will need to be busy in the lab on OTHER tasks.  Your group’s directors should be ready to direct group members to what needs to be completed in a timely manner.

As of today, I expect your projects to be ready for submission on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 

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