Jude Cover Shoot

This image is from a Book Cover Shoot that we did with an English class.  I found some really cool images on Pinterest and wanted to create our own with the book we just read.  The Book was Jude, by Kate Morgenroth.  Pretty good book, great High School lesson.  The students really got into it!  

When I met with the students, I showed them some sample images of what we wanted to create and then I asked what could be in the background, midground and foreground depending on what the character went through and some things from his life.  It was a great discussion and the students came up with some really cool ideas.  We decided on the above, after about 8 pictures and some cropping.  

Great way to summarize the book and digitally express their ideas and summaries.

PTSA Award!

I had the privilege of attending the FCPS PTSA Luncheon yesterday and our school's PTSA won an award!  Back in the fall, our school partnered up with the Northside YMCA and we collaborated on a "haunted house" with the theme of Mysteries of Ancient Egypt.  All classes and disciplines were involved with students creating projects, outfits, activities, displays... everything!  Our students even worked the event, and they LOVED it!  Both the students and the YMCA are begging for a 2013-2014 repeat!  I can't wait to lead another event!

Bring it on!  It was SO much fun, busy and stressful, but SO much fun!!

Bodies Exhibit @ TLC Museum

TLC Bodies Exhibit

Our classes have been collaborating on a TLC Bodies Exhibit that displays projects and activities from our Biology and Health Standards.  

So, what will you see?  Well, we have sculpted and created a Respiratory System with organs and learned about the functions of each organ.  We have sculpted a Human Circulatory System with organs and learned about the functions of these organs.  We did some vitamins and minerals research to see what is most beneficial to these bodily systems  and then created an Eat This Not That poster complete with pictures, calorie and fat gram info AND what exercise you would need to do to burn off the eaten calories.  We collaborated with KY Nurses from the University of Kentucky.  (Thanks Rachel!)

We also took a field trip to the Kentucky Science Center to visit the official Bodies Exhibit.  To check it out click here.

Biology class dissected some animals and we are currently testing out some methods to preserve the organs.  

More pictures to come, but here are a few to see what we have so far.

Social Media in the Classroom

So, here is my proposal for using Social Media in the classroom.  My school would like me to lead a PD regarding utilizing some internet resources.  I love using Instagram for pictures and sending them out via twitter and then obviously this Blog.  I am currently testing out Kidblog and Edmodo to determine which is more "user-friendly" and also which ones the students prefer. 

Any thoughts/comments/suggestion?
If you have used these in your classroom, do you like them?  What would you recommend?

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Go Paperless!!

Goal: 

Improving Classroom Management and Communication through incorporating 21^st Century Skills that will improve teacher, student, parent communication; improve school-wide Customer Service for students, parents, staff/faculty; increasing Global communication opportunities and upholding school-wide initiative for Sustainability.

Objectives:

(1)   Identify and experience 21^st Century Skills in the classroom.

a.      See handout and activity - TBD

(2)  Identify and experience how Digital/Social Media can improve communication and customer service in the classroom as well as for teacher, student, parent and staff/faculty collaboration.

a.      Pinterest – (Instagram) – photos of really well done products to advertise to others

b.      Twitter – (Instagram) – snapshots of daily life, goings-on in the classroom, etc.

c.       Blogs – finished piece to display nice images, videos along with written reflections/descriptions, etc.

d.      Kidblog – teacher creates master blog, students have blogs (does not inter-face well after graduation); testing in progress

e.      Edmodo – Teacher/student/classroom “facebook”, post assignments, planners, grades, conduct quizzes, post comments; testing in progress.

(3)  Global Communication Opportunities

a.      Quadblogging – associated with Kidblog, link up with Global communities and collaborate on projects.

b.      Skype

c.       Facetime

(4)  Sustainability, Why go Paperless?

a.      HIPPA – The federal government established the timetable with Congress’ passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included the so-called HITECH Act. (Education is next, let’s get ahead of the game)

b.      Money saved from printer paper

                                                              i.      School Year 2012-2013:  estimated printer paper cost:  $1,000

                                                           ii.      GOAL:  School Year 2013-2014: estimated printer paper cost: $500

                                                         iii.      School Savings:  $500.00

Ashley Baker

May 5, 2013