Research Papers!!!

I think broad topics are one of the reasons why students have a hard time with research papers. So many times in a rush to get it done, we leave our topics to broad. They become overwhelmed with the amount of information they are reading and can not decipher what needs to be in there and what is to be left out. This was very obvious to me when I produced my paper for the PACE program. I had way to much information. I could have narrowed it down to one simple topic. Just one simple idea. Hope it helps.

Hunting the Uncommon

Understanding vocabulary in a content area is important for the student to comprehend the ideas and concepts being taught. I found this exercise in a book I have recently read and thought that it was a great idea. The following is and example.

Hide and Hair

Hides were man's first clothes. Eventually he learned to weave the hair from hide into warm garments and coverings. Six products of hide or hair are defined below. Guess the words and the proper names that are their source.

1 & 2 Two curly or wavy furs, comparable in desirability,made from the skins of young lambs.

3. fine, downy wool growing beneath the outer hair of a Himalayan goat.

4. A soft, highly prized leather of goatskin tanned with sumac.

5. The skin of a sheep or goat, prepared for writing upon; paper made in imitation of this material.

6. Leather with a soft napped surface.

This is a fun way to introduce new vocabulary.

Dining Out with Computers

In my accounting class we read a short article about how computers help resturant employees and management teams create a better service experience for customers. After reading this article to the students, they were encouraged to find a different article about how technology helps in the field of their choice. Computers are used in almost all areas of business and play an integral part in most companies. After the completion of their research they were to write a short 50-75 word summary of their findings.

Meiosis Flip Card Book

My students were asked to read about crossing over during meiosis. They were then asked to take notes on a two column note sheet. On the left side of this sheet the phases of meiosis were listed, on the right side a description of each phase was written. Each student was given eight large index cards and asked to accurately draw and label each phases of meiosis. They were then given four different colors of yarn and asked to model crossing over on their prophase I stage of meiosis. The pieces of chromosome that crossed over during Prophase I had to be displayed at each stage of meiosis as they moved from meiosis I to meiosis II. When the flip books were finished each student used the cards to explain the process of meiosis to a classmate. The students then turned the two column note sheet over and wrote an analysis and conclusion to the activity. In this write up they were asked to discuss the results of the first and second meiotic division, how meiosis explains Mendel’s laws of segregation and independent assortment, and how this process increases genetic variation. The students liked this activity and their conclusions show a greater understanding of meiosis and genetic variation. I will use this activity again.

Literacy Day

PHS is planning a Literacy Day next December. One of the books chosen to read is A Thousand Splendid Suns. The author also wrote The Kite Runner. Erin gave me the book to read and, let me tell you, I started it and couldn't put it down. I read it in one weekend and still find myself thinking about the book. I thought of Afghanistan as being a "backward" third world country but this book opened my eyes to the reality that, before the Taliban, Afghanistan was a modern country with DVD players, Fanta orange, and movie theaters. I encourage all of you to read this book. It will open your eyes as well as the eyes of your students.

Cell Organelle Storyboard

I like the idea of using the storyboard format to make a study group cell organelle book.
Each group of four students will be given four organelles to give a description of, sketch and a write a script for the organelle’s function in the cell. Each person will pass their paper to the right and present one of their four member’s storyboard. Here is an example.

DESCRIPTION
1.MITOCHONDRIA-sites of chemical reactions that produce energy.
SKETCH

SCRIPT
I AM THE MIGHTY LITTLE POWER HOUSE OF THE CELL AND I PRODUCE ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) ENERGY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CELL RESPIRATION.

Wordsmithing

A wordsmith is a person who makes and experiments with new words. I tried a wordsmithing activity with my Honors Geometry class when introducing the unit on quadrilaterals. The students used a three column matrix and searched the text for new geometric terms, which they recorded in the first column of the matrix. Then, they guessed what each term meant and wrote their guess in the second column. Next, they looked in the text for the definition of the term and wrote it in the last column. Finally they chose at least one of the new terms and rewrote it in an interesting or unusual fashion, which revealed the underlying meaning of the word. For example, one student wrote the word parallelogram as pairs-o-parallel. The students seemed to enjoy the activity because it allowed them to learn what they didn't already know about the terms, while allowing them to be creative at the same time.

Graphic Organizer for Mean, Medium, and Mode

Our last small group meeting inspired me to use one of the methods introduced by one of our teachers. It was a graphic organizer used to clarify the difference between mean, medium and mode. In Biology I Part II, I am in the middle of teaching population genetics. We are discussing stabilizing, directional, and disruptive selection. This will be a good activity to help student remember the difference between these terms as they study the different graphs of natural selection.

When Knowledge and Ethics Collide

I had my students silently read an internet article about biology and ethics. Then asked them if they thought it was ethical for scientists to use science technology just because they can. Here is one journal response.
From this article I learned about ethics and how they pertain to biotechnology and to biology. People argue that even though we can alter through gene therapy and other technology that does not mean we should. We are not gods, so should we play like we are? Personally I think that if we discover the information and it can help humankind, why not? I do not want to be the person that tells a mother we can not save your child because someone thinks the means to get the cure is unethical. Some things must be sacrificed for the good of man and animals.
The students seemed to find the article interesting and there were many different opinions about the ethics of biotechnology. The journal writes were good and the class discussion was excellent. I will do this activity again.

Four Perfect Pebbles Comments

I thought reading the book in class was great and very worthwhile, but I was in the middle of reading books of my own to my classes and had to stop doing that for a week, which was a not-so-good thing. If we are going to do this in the future, it would be good to know well in advance (if possible) about it so we can schedule other reading stuff accordingly. I think having all your teachers read the same book to you is a very good thing. It may be weird for some students, but hearing the different ways adults read gives students a sense of what good aloud-reading is and what it is not, what to emulate and what to avoid.

Recognizing Reading Strategies

A fellow teacher is working on an assignment with her class in which students respond to othere poeple's responses and asked me to read a short story and respond to it. I found myself reflecting on the comprehension strategies I use while reading. I realize that I do stop often and ask myself questions. I also connect the text to my other experiences.
My point in telling this is that I need to work with my students on recognizing what strategies they use while reading and teach them more of these new strategies.

Update on Blog http://theposterboard.blogspot.com

I want to thank all of you who have commented on Class Blog at http://theposterboard.blogspot.com and for your support. For several days the class has not blogged. Why... because I haven't given them a topic. With the start of a new semester and wanting to "get off on the right foot," I have neglected posting a daily question for them to blog. They have missed it. Each day they come in and ask, "Do we have a blog today?" and now they've added "Why, not?" Why is it that when we find something that students enjoy and can learn from, we often miss the opportunity and stay in our comfort zones? I'm resolving today to blog everyday in my classroom. Thank you RAISSE for guiding me to this point.

Class Blog at http://theposterboard.blogspot.com

My classes are now blogging. The process has been very rewarding. It has taken three days to get everyone "invited" to participate. After much trial and error, I have discovered that the smoothest way to "invite" is to have the students:
1. Create a Google Account
2. Create a Gmail Account
3. Invite to Blog via their Gmail

Everything seems to go smoother when you stay in "Google World".
I had problems with the "invitation to join the blog" that I sent to emails other than Gmail. It was difficult to accept and to respond to the invitation.
When Usernames and Password are "Googlized", the process is friendlier.

Please go and view the blog at http://theposterboard.blogspot.com
We are in our infancy, but I believe that I am bringing them along as I grow and become more at ease with the process.
They started out responding by "texting", but each day as we review and comment on their work, they seem to be improving.
the important thing at this point is that they seem to like the activity.
I am open to all suggestions.
Yesterday I created a different post for each class and they expressed their dislike for not being able to read all their fellow students comments on one post. Hopefully they are learning from each other.

I'll "Keep You Posted".

Math Books

I ordered some books today on Amazon.com to use in my classroom. I am really excited about receiving these books. I ordered the following books: A Gebra Named Al and its sequal, Hannah Divided, and Equal Sequal. These books are mostly related to Algebra. I really liked using Amazon to order the books. When you find a book that you like, Amazon gives you a list of related books. There are more math books out there than I thought!