Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Just found this and I don't want to lose it!

Dear Excellent Educators on Eid Vacation,

I just found this bookmaking site and thought I would put it here for a future workshop.

http://www.vickiblackwell.com/makingbooks/

It has:
Step Books ...........................Flip Books ..............Fact Flipper Books .............Accordion Books
Fan Books Tall ....................Tale Books ..............Poof Books ...........................Clue Books
Stars Twinkle Book.............Circle Book .............Shape Books ........................Pop-up Books
Notepad Books.................... Clueboxes...............PowerPoint Books ...............Pattern Writing Books
House of ... Book .................Dynamic Dictionary !!!

Here's another site that has many ideas that could be used in English classes and IT:
http://www.cobbk12.org/sites/literacy/fetc/ppt/ppt_index.htm#abc

Enjoy!
Christy

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Summing Up the Best Practices for Summative Assessments

While researching Test Design, I came across a Canadian site:
http://www.edselect.com/index.htm

This site is rich with teacher resources. I am currently looking at their "On-Line Quizzes" page:
http://www.edselect.com/quizzes.htm
This page includes many test design and quiz making sites.

I will post the most impressive sites soon.

Happy Trails (sign off courtesy of Toni Chew and Roy Rogers & Dale Evans)
Christy B

Monday, November 24, 2008

Technology Related Primary Projects and Assessments

Dear Techie Teachers,

This website is the best I have found for simply worded rubrics:
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/rubrics/primaryteamworkrubric.pdf

Teamwork rubric
http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/rubrics/primaryteamworkrubric.pdf

I found this endorsement for simple rubrics:

One of the best sites for creating rubrics can be found here http://www.recipes4success.com/ it is really easy to use and modify for exactly what you need. check out this simple rubric. http://www.recipes4success.com/projectlearn/tools/rubrics/ru_export.php?format=html&type=rubric&ru_id=24692 i was able to make it in under 1 minute. hope this helps.

In the last entry, I mentioned the following website as a great resource for alternate assessments:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html#builders

This resource is huge. Here are highlights of the websites for primary tech projects:

Multimedia Project - Student Checklist
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/mm2002_rubric.kids.pdf

This is a very nice Multimedia Project Rubric:
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.mmproj.htm

Student Presentation Rubric
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html (sentences)

The Multimedia Rubric Maker starts here:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=NewRubric&section_id=3&PHPSESSID=eb813db9953dc78df95a8a136b5cb7f1#03

This may be too advanced for our primary school but it is a very nice tech rubric:
http://www.kidpedia.info/KidpediaRubric

This article gives you directions on gathering student feedback for elementary rubric design:
http://www.interactiveclassroom.com/article_06.html

This has been fun. Next mission: Test Design!
cdb

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Projects, Rubrics and Assessments

Primary Science Project Resources, Rubrics, Etc.

Check this blog for Project Idea Updates!

Acrostic Poems can be used in Science!
Check this out:
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/acrostic/
PLUS an acrostic rubric is here (there is one misspelled word and wording could be simpler:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&module=Rubistar&rubric_id=1210200& or here's another one
http://alex.state.al.us/uploads/15415/Rubric_%20Native%20American%20Acrostic%20Poem.htm
These rubrics were made with Rubistar - see in rubrics below

Dioramas

G3 Science Diorama Project:
http://www.gigglepotz.com/3-scienceproject1.htm
sample dioram picture at http://www.gigglepotz.com/s1.htm

Fancy dioramas:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/stable-diorama
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/ocean-diorama
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=baaac8d42b446110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&xsc=diy_network

The Habitat diorama rubric is on p. 10 of this science curriculum:
www.wbrschools.net/curriculum2/science/s2/02%20SCI_Grade_2_BLMs.pdf

This project is for a biome (habitat). I would simplify the words.
http://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?sp=true&code=F2594A&

Unusual Projects

Science Reader's Theaters! You have to see it to believe it!
Science WOW Factory!
http://gvc03c32.virtualclassroom.org/

Reader's Theater evaluation:
http://www.humboldt.edu/~jmf2/floss/rt-eval.html
Other scripts and hints:
http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm

Shadows & Light, Science & Puppetry! Complete with lesson plan and rubric!
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/3895/


Performance Tasks (Labs Plus)
Assessment Ideas for the Elementary Science Classroom -
This is wonderful! Used two examples for Professional Development:
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/ideass.html

PALS Performance Tasks (K-4)
Many, many simple experiments and projects
http://pals.sri.com/tasks/tasksk-4.html


All about Rubrics for Science

Rubric Maker:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Rubrics (EVERY kind you will ever need):
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html#builders

Rubric Tutorials:
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=Tutorial&module=Rubistar&PHPSESSID=dc9f6225c6645dded3d2f5448ce51d89

Check out sample rubrics by putting in key words
http://landmark-project.com/rubric_builder/

Test Design Ideas

Great Test Questions: many questions about current lessons!
http://orderline.qca.org.uk/gempdf/1847211097/9999063128.pdf

$ These sites have some free samples but they will eventually want to be paid.

http://edhelper.com/ I use this site all of the time

http://www.easytestmaker.com/default.aspx I have not used this one

OKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. I think this is everything I promised.

Enjoy!
Christy B

Friday, October 24, 2008

Internet Resources for Math Lessons

Dear Marvelous, Meticulous Math Teachers,

This week we will be emailing informational posts to the new Math AT Cristi Mattias who has a website at http://www.eduxcell.com/.

We will also look at the following internet math resources:

Qatar University PEPP diploma Teacher Toolkit: http://tamu.qu.edu.qa/Resources/TeacherTools/math.HTM

King's List of On-line Math Activities
http://www.k111.k12.il.us/King/math.htm

We will also be sampling some wonderful links from the following the following blog:
OpenWideLookInside
Math Tour: http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/archives/157
Children's Literature and Math: http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/archives/20
Data Handling: http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/archives/160

Enjoy!
Christy B

Saturday, October 18, 2008

In Search of Gems: Science Activities for Grades 1-3

Dear Creative Classroom Teachers
of Grades 1-3,

Please click on one of the book search website below, then type in keywords for an upcoming science lesson or unit. Email me the title of a book that looks interesting for an upcoming book list.

Children’s Picture Book Database
http://www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks/

Database of Award Winning Children’s Literature
http://www.dawcl.com/search.asp

Enter a keyword and see what comes up. (Be careful entering keywords in the first database, as you are limited to 10 characters!) Please remember to email me at least one book title from your search .

SCIENCE

Grade 1

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
Nature Spies
http://www.eduplace.com/activity/1_3_act1.html
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling
http://www.ghbooks.com/activity/activity.cfm?bookid=10005&page=53
Why is the Sea Salty?
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/sci/cecsci/cecsci166.html
Making Observations and Generating Hypotheses and Expectations Using Our Senses
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_makingobs.html
LIFE SCIENCE:
Animals
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science//Animals/ANM0005.html
Animals Unit Plan
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr1uaesc.html
Everybody Needs a Home
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Interdisciplinary/INT0111.htm
On the Farm or At the Zoo?
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/barn/zoo.html
What Are You Doing Here?
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/guests/whatdo.html
Who Lives Here?
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/play/lives.html
How Do Seeds Grow?
http://www.kidzone.ws/science/seeds.htm
Inside a Seed
http://atozteacherstuff.com/lessons/InsideSeed.shtml
Plant Growth Unit Plan
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr2ucesc.html
Plant Systems Unit Plan
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/sci/cecsci/cecsci114.html
From Seed to Plant
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Agriculture/AGR0010.html
Sprouting Scientist
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=14398
Going on a Living and Non-living Hunt
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=10989
Plants and Light
http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/samples/S_493265.pdf
MATERIALS:
Sorting and using materials
http://www.hep.phys.soton.ac.uk/hycs/materials.pdf
See page 12 of the following website for common material lesson
http://www.creative-partnerships.com/projects/17537/51605/51611
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/samples/S_493265.pdf

Grade 2

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
I am a Scientist
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=21443
Scroll down to Pop! Pop! Pop! Seeds
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Science.html
Pretzel Predictions
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm46.asp
LIFE SCIENCE:
Animal Family Album
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/unitplan.jsp?id=39
Animal Diversity/Where can Animals Live
http://www.sciencenetlinks.org/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=5&DocID=395
A Plant Begins (click on title)
http://www.aimsedu.org/Activities/primary.html
Sprouting Scientist
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=14398
MATERIALS:
Grouping and Changing Materials
http://www.hep.phys.soton.ac.uk/hycs/materials.pdf
Common Materials and Their Properties - Making Puppets see page 12
http://www.creative-partnerships.com/projects/17537/51605/51611
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
Effects of Forces/To Squash or Not to Squash
http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/samples/S_493265.pdf

Grade 3

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
Scroll down to Pop! Pop! Pop! Seeds
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Science.html
The Egg Activity
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_egg.html
LIFE SCIENCE:
Animal Family Album
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/unitplan.jsp?id=39
Magic School Bus: Habitat
http://scholastic.com/magicsc
hoolbus/games/teacher/frogs/index.htm
Healthy Eating
http://www.sciencenetlinks.org/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=6&DocID=486
Micro-organisms
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/mold.html
MATERIALS:
Hammer Time
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=18904
It's a Weighty Matter
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=11031
Materials and Their Properties p.6
http://www.creative-partnerships.com/projects/17537/51605/51611
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
It’s All Done with Mirrors:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/periscope.html
Focussing Light with a Lens
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/pringles_pinhole.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/pictures_from_light.html
Mirror Mania
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2005_04.pdf
Strength of the Push or Pull?
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm22.asp

Science Web Treasures for Grades 4-6

Dear Incredible Instructors of Science
for Grades 4, 5, and 6,

Please click on one of the book search website below, then type in keywords for an upcoming science lesson or unit. Please email me a title of a book that looks interesting.

Children’s Picture Book Database
http://www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks/

Database of Award Winning Children’s Literature
http://www.dawcl.com/search.asp

Enter a keyword and see what comes up. (Be careful entering keywords in the first database, as you are limited to 10 characters!) Don't forget to email me at least one book title .


The following website lists are just a beginning. Please let me know of other science education sites that correspond to the Qatar National Standards:

SCIENCE

Grade 4

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
Many ideas for enquiry here:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Science.html
Collecting Data and Making Observations
http://msnucleus.org/membership/
The Egg Activity
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_egg.html
Measurement
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/measurement/
LIFE SCIENCE:
Plants and Reproduction
http://www.pearsonpublishing.co.uk/education/samples/S_493265.pdf
Fish Life Processes
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_12.pdf
Habitats are sensitive
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_07.pdf
Classifying Conundrum
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=15086
MATERIALS:
It’s a Gas!
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/bubblebomb.html
Solid or Liquid?
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/ooze.html
Evaporation
http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/Science/core/4th/sciber4/water/HTML/its_hot.htm
Mummy Magic (click on What’s Going On)
http://www.tryscience.org/experiments/experiments_mummy_athome.html
EARTH AND SPACE:
Shadows: Making a Sun Clock
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/sunclock.html
Causes of Day and Night
http://tamu.qu.edu.qa/Resources/TeacherTools/science.HTM
Day and Night http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/cycles/day.html
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
Make a Thermometer
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/thermometer.html
Dancing Penny (Heat transfer)
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm03.asp
Hot and Cold
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/watertrick.html
School Science Clips - Circuits and Conductors
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/8_9/circuits_conductors.shtml
Bells in Your Ears
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm67.asp
Sound: Ear Guitar
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/ear_guitar.html
Sound: Secret Bells
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/secret_bells.html
Sound: CANdemonium
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/can.html
Sound, Vibrations and Music
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2005_05.pdf

Grade 5

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
Many ideas for enquiry here:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Science.html
The Egg Activity
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_egg.html
LIFE SCIENCE:
Learning about Classification
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_aboutclassif.html
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_12.pdf
Classifying Critters
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/critters/index.html
Fish Life Processes
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_12.pdf
Plant Parts
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/vegquiz/plantparts.html
MATERIALS:
The Wonders of Water
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_02.pdf
Water Cycle and Evaporation
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1638
Chemical Changes: Copper
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/copper_caper.html
It’s a Gas!
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/bubblebomb.html
Evaporation and Crystal Formation
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/crystal.html
EARTH AND SPACE:
All Sorts of Rocks
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=21493
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
Properties of Light and Shadow (this is great)
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/150.pdf
The Wonders of Water
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2007_05.pdf
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2007_03.pdf
Magnetic Lines of Force
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/magnetic_lines/index.html
Static Electricity: Super Sparker
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/sparker.html
Static
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2004_07.pdf
Friction
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2004_06.pdf

Grade 6

SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY:
Many ideas for enquiry here:
http://www.pacificnet.net/~mandel/Science.html
Measuring Bones
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_measurement.html
Making Models: Make a Thermometer
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/thermometer.html
LIFE SCIENCE:
Cells
http://msnucleus.org/membership/
http://msnucleus.org/membership/
Characteristics of Living Things
http://www.exploratorium.edu/imaging_station/activities/classroom/characteristics/ca_characteristics.php
Classify That
http://www.sciencenetlinks.org/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=5&DocID=231
Classifying Critters
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/critters/index.html
Learning about Classification
http://gk12calbio.berkeley.edu/lessons/less_aboutclassif.html
Life Cycle – Organisms
http://msnucleus.org/membership/
Air Junk (Micro-organisms)
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/forkids/airjunk/index.html
MATERIALS:
It’s a Gas!
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/bubblebomb.html
Chemical Changes – Crystals
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/crystal.html
EARTH AND SPACE:
Orbits
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2005_10.pdf
PHYSICAL PROCESSES:
Magnet
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2004_09.pdf
Static Electricity – Remote Control Roller
http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/roller.html
Static
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2004_07.pdf
Static Charged 2x4s
http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm31.asp
Gravity
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2004_05.pdf
Gravity in Action
http://www.tryscience.org/experiments/experiments_gravity_athome.html
Light Spectrum
http://www.saasta.ac.za/easyscience/pdfs/es_2006_01.pdf

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Wonders of Technology - When it Works

Dear Brilliant Stars of the Education Universe,

I am going to try to build upcoming tech recommendations based on the foundations begun by Dr. Patricia Stohr-Hunt of the University of Richmond. She has compiled many website lists and education e-tours and she also has two exemplary blogs that link children's literature to science, math and social studies.

Dr. Stohr-Hunt's blogs are as follows:

OpenWideLookInside http://blog.richmond.edu/openwidelookinside/

MissRumphiusEffect http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/

Both blogs are listed in the blog column.

Dear Earnest Educators in Pursuit of Excellence

I have created this blog for the dedicated teachers of Wajbah School for Girls in Doha, Qatar. I named it MaryJonesStartedIt in honor of the wonderful teacher and friend who inspired me to become a teacher.

Mary Jones taught first grade at College Hills Elementary in Texas. Many years ago (18!) she taught our son Ben. She is also the mother of the favorite playmates of our daughters Bree and Jessa.

Mary's love for teaching inspired me to return to college to become a teacher. I always loved education and Mary encouraged me through college and then later when I became a teacher. We would meet for Saturday breakfast and talk about our classes, our students, and our children.

I hope to find a picture of Mary and one of her classes to put here.