Journalism: Newspaper & Yearbook

My Newspaper & Yearbook staffs are currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. Each staff created a commercial to share with the school asking student to apply. I absolutely love how they turned out so differently!

Your Vote Counts!

I love making my classroom as "hands-on" and "real-world" as possible. Learning should never be limited to the classroom, and students must be taught early in their lives that every aspect of life is a learning opportunity.

With the 2016 Presidential Election season in high gear, it is a key real-world event to bring into the classroom. While many current students cannot vote in this elections, they will be eligible to vote in the next election (2020). I teach eighth graders, so all of my students will be able to vote in the 2020 election. Now is the time to teach their generation the importance of voting and how to understand the issues America is facing. 

With the end of the year approaching, I created a unit centered around the 2016 presidential election where students can hone their debate and communication skills and continue practicing researching and writing. My students sunk their teeth in on day one, and they haven't let go! I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of students who have gone home to continue class discussions with their families and brought back more information and influences. It has sparked heated discussions between thirteen to fourteen year olds! 

We are gearing up for fishbowl debates on Education, Energy & Oil, Foreign Policy, Gun Control, Health Care, Immigration, Social Security, War & Peace, and Welfare & Poverty this week. The unit is for sale on Teachers Pay Teachers (check it out!). 

Cool Tool: Zaption

Do you show videos in your class? If so, you should be using Zaption! This is an effective online site/tool that allows you to make videos interactive.

Zaption allows teachers to add text, images, and questions to videos. These videos can come from online sources (such as YouTube) or be uploaded from your device. This transforms the video from a one-way informative lecture to an interactive learning activity. It engages students, checks for understanding, and provides you with a way to check student progress. Teachers can share the lesson for students to complete on their own or show the video in class to complete together.

There are millions of videos available online to capture student interest and share information. The problem is ensuring students are actively watching the videos and gaining knowledge. Zaption gives teachers a way to have student interact with the video and lesson in real time. Students can answer questions or submit answers to discussion questions as they are discussed in the video. The video pauses to give students time to respond. Students do not need to feel rushed while answer questions on a worksheet, and teachers have more useful information to gauge student understanding and input.

It is a great way to increase student engagement! Technology standards and objects are prevalent in today’s classrooms. Videos are a positive way to bring technology into the classroom and tap into the plethora of resources available on the web. Zaption helps turn these videos into interactive lessons and check for student participation and understanding in real time rather than at the end of class or the following day.

It is imperative for students to take ownership of their learning and their future. They are not observers to learning. Zaption puts students into the video/lesson as it is happening. It ensures students are understanding the information being presented and assists teachers in remediating students as needed. It is a strong tool for implementation to any 21st century classroom.

Do you use Zaption? Share a video in the comments!

Here is my most recent Zaption video lesson: Introduction to Presidential Election 2016

I use this video to do many things:

• Introduce the presidential candidates before we begin our research and debates
• Review Theme
• Review Ethos, Pathos, Logos
• Discuss Marketing Techniques
• Discusses Sources/Truth in Information

Let me know what you think!

Disney Youth Education Series

We went back to Disney!

This was my second time taking the Disney Youth Education Series field trip. Every trip is different. There is always something to learn (and always something stressful), but I never regret going! Our group size almost doubled from last year! 

We take a whirlwind of a three day trip staying at a Disney hotel for two nights, sleeping on a charter bus for two nights, running the day away in Disney parks for three days, and enjoying two Disney YES programs.

Now that we are back - it is time to start planning next year's trip.

One of my newspaper staff students wrote an article on our recent Disney field trip:

On February the 3rd, Ms. Reeves took a group of eighth graders to Disney World to get a hands-on experience with the science that occurs at Disney. They visited Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Disney Springs, and Magic Kingdom. The students were taught about how motion, gravity, and acceleration help the roller coasters at Disney World work in a program at Magic Kingdom. This program walked students through real life examples of Newton’s Laws of Motion. They rode Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to see the laws in action!

They also learned how the people at Disney, and all over the world, work to create areas that people and animals can both live together. Disney’s Animal Kingdom provides habitats for a variety of animals from around the world. The Disney guides also instructed students on ways they can conserve resources at home in order to help keep habitats around the world from being destroyed. This program hit close to home for GSMS students as we also have many local efforts to keep our local habitat (the beach) safe, clean, and protected for our wildlife.

Kathleen Wilson, a student that went on the trip, exclaimed, “I enjoyed going to Disney World. It was fun to learn how the roller coasters work and get to ride them with friends.” Sara Coker, another student that went on the trip, explained, “I had a lots of fun in Disney World, but my favorite part was learning how science, math, and history are involved in the making of everything there, especially the roller coasters.” All students had a wonderful time!

Classroom Tools & AUPs

Blog post for CAT 531 - University of Alabama

The list of available technology tools for the classroom is growing daily. From classroom systems (I use Moodle) to interactive games (KaHoot! is the favorite among my students), we have a multitude of ways to reach our students both inside and outside the classroom. I teach in a 1:1 county. Each of my students is provided with a MacBook Air and a Google account. While the plethora of technology can definitely enhance our classroom experience, it is also important to keep the county's Acceptable Use Policy in mind as I select and use technology with my students.

If an instructor were to use TeacherTube in a classroom, they would need to consult the school's AUP because TeacherTube opens the door for students to access videos created by other people, students to comment and share information online, and students to create and post their own videos to share globally. Many safety concerns and irresponsible netiquette issues could arise from the use of TeacherTube if students are not monitored closely and taught the proper use of the technology.

Areas of our AUP that should be referenced when considering the use of TeacherTube include netiquette, personal safety, and cyber bullying. Students must follow proper netiquette and only post and/or comment on TeacherTube in a respectful manner. They must also verify their information before spreading false information. Cyber bullying must not be tolerated. This goes hand in hand with using the Internet in a respectful manner. It is okay to disagree, but it is not okay to be hateful. The teacher should instruct students on the importance of not sharing personal information online (birthday, address, full name, ETC). Teachers should review student videos before publishing to ensure student safety. 

While these areas of concern are serious and should be discussed directly with students, concerns are not a reason to avoid the use of technology in the classroom. Be aware. Prepare. It is vital in today’s society for students to understand the implications of improper use of the Internet. It is just as important for students to be taught the amazing opportunities available through technology.