Create a go animate video

Today you are going to use the storyboard you created last night to make a video.  Click the title above to go to the Go Animate web site.  You can view my first attempt at a video about Scrooge in A Christmas Carol below.  When your video is done, remember to embed it on your blog page in a new post so we can all view it.  Have fun!
GoAnimate.com: A Christmas Carol by scasassa

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Comment on a friend's Reader Response Blog

This week you will read and respond to a classmate’s blog post.  You will be graded on the quality of your response.  In your response, do the following

1.     Comment on at least one interesting thing you learned about their book through reading their letter.

2.     Make a connection—it can be text to self, text to text or text to world—about their book or letter.

3.     Ask them a question about their book.  Maybe something you want to know more about after reading their letter.

4.     Compliment them on something they did really well in their post—(explained their book choice, gave specific details to describe the conflict, made the book sound so interesting that you want to read it, etc.)

5.    Sign your name at the end of you comment.

To complete this assignment, you need to:

1.     Sign into your blog—you cannot post a comment without signing in!

2.     Find their Reader Response Letter blog

3.     Go to the end of their post and click word “0 comments”

4.     A box will appear on the screen that says “Post a Comment”

5.     Write your comment—it should be a long paragraph with at least two sentences on each required topic.

6.     Click your name on the comment as button

7.     Preview your comment—checking for G.U.M.S. and appropriate language and content

8.     Click “Publish”

Example of a comment:

POST A COMMENT

Dear Ms. Casassa,      I enjoyed reading your blog post on The Blackhope Enigma.  I thought it was really interesting that the story takes place inside a painting.  I have never read a book like that.  The Balckhope Enigma doesn’t really remind me of any chapter book I’ve read, but when my daughter was little we used to read a series called Katie and the Impressionist.  When Katie visited the museum with her grandmother she would step into the painting and have all sorts of adventures.  She would play in Monet’s fields and gardens.  So I guess I have a text-to-text connection with your book.  How did the kids finally get out of the painting?  What happened to the bad guy, Angus?  Did he get what he wanted from the kids?  I really enjoyed reading your letter.  You made the book sound very exciting.  Although I don’t usually read books like that I’d like to try it.  Happy Reading! Ms. Casassa

"The Most Dangerous Game"

We will begin reading Richard Connell's famous short story "The Most Dangerous Game" today.  Before we begin you will be familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary in the story.  Complete the vocabulary worksheet by going to "The Most Dangerous Game" vocabulary link.  After you have completed the worksheet, play some of the games on Quizlet.  Click on the Blog title to go to Quizlet to practice vocabulary.  You will have a quiz on these vocabulary words on Thursday.

"A Christmas Carol"

“No space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused”

“Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug.” 

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

 

Click here to watch a biography on Charles Dickens.
Biography of Charles Dickens
View a copy of the first edition of A Christmas Carol
Learn about A Christmas Carol

Create a magazine cover featuring your hobby

 

Click Magazine Cover to go to Big Huge Labs

to create your own magazine cover. 

Click here to get a copy of the instructions.

Blogging about your Independent Reading Book

Blogging your Reader Response Letter
For this next book you are going to try something new. You are going to blog about your book instead of writing a traditional Reader Response Letter. What does it mean to “blog about your book”? Well, you will be given a writing topic and you will post your response online on your student blog. Each week you will add more to the post. You will have a chance to read other students’ blogs and respond to their book and writing as well. This assignment will require access to a computer with Internet. You have a week to complete it so if using the computer at home is tricky, make time during flex, recess or after school to complete this assignment. You can not use the excuse that you don’t have internet at home. You have more than enough time to complete this assignment at school if you need to.
Remember when you blog you have broader audience than me. Be sure to reread your writing, correct spelling mistakes and typos. Think deeply and critically about your book. Impress your friends and teachers with your insight and observations. Most of all-- have fun!
How to write a post on your blog
1. Sign in to your blog
2. Click on “New Post.” You can find this on your dashboard or the right side of your blog.
3. Create a title for your post. Your title can be the title of the book you are reading, or Reader Response letter.
4. Write your post (comments) in the text box below the title. You can make text bigger or bolder with the controls above the box.
5. When you finish writing your post preview it, checking for spelling and typos, and appropriate content. You are being graded for this!
6. Once you’ve determined that it is wonderful, click “publish post.”
7. Congratulations! You have written a blog post.

Voice Thread on the ipad

Click on the title above to see the original Voice Thread. Enjoy!Today we tried something new on the ipad--Voice Thread.  On Voice Thread, students can type, record or video tape their ideas for the class to listen to.  On this Voice Thread, students explored their views on some of the major themes in "The Lottery" which they are about to read.  This was our first try with Voice Thread and as the class can attest to, our first tries are often messy!  After we read "The Lottery" we'll post another Voice Thread revisiting these themes and our view of them.

Add your Shelfari Bookshelf to your blog

Today in tech class you are going to add your Shelfari Bookshelf to your blog page.  I've included step by step instructions below.  Follow them carefully and you should not have any trouble.  To see what the final product looks like, check out my page on your student blog page.  Have fun!

How to add your Shelfari Bookshelf to your blog

1.     Sign in to your blog on our classroom page.  The sign in button is on the top right hand side of the screen.

2.     Go to Shelfari—click the Shelfari icon on the blog page

3.     On the Shelfari page, sign in if you are not already.

4.     On the right side of the screen, under “Your Content” click Widgets .

5.     You will be at a “create a widget” page. 

6.     Select “all books” and click continue

7.     Choose the style of your shelf, etc., click continue

8.     Copy the widget code (highlight and command C),

9.    Click the Blogger icon.  It should take you to your blog page

10. From your blog's design page, select "Add a Gadget". Select "basiscs" and then select "HTML/JavaScript". Paste the widget code in the "Configure HTML/JavaScript" content section.   Click save.

11. View Blog to be sure the shelf is on the page and you like the way it looks.  You can check out my shelf on my blog page to see how to do it!

 

Where I'm From

Listen to my Where I'm From poem by clicking on the title.

Where I'm From

           by Ms. Casassa

I'm from the rambling old white house nestled in the thick woods.

From the grassy fields that spread out like a blanket from my back steps

and the bright yellow forsythia bush blooming outside the kitchen window.

I'm from the bountiful harvest of corn and juicy tomatoes in the garden out back.

I'm from homemade wheat bread cut in thick slices

slathered with peanut butter that sloshes out of the jar.

I'm from cold pizza for lunch Mondays

and warm gooey chocolate chips cooling on the counter.

I'm from the hallways and stairs lined with books,

the creaky step near the bathroom

and the strong smell of paint from my mother's studio.

I'm from the loud and rowdy discussions around the kitchen table

and the spilt milk, tears and yelling that always followed.

I'm from the charred ruins of our old house,

sifting through the ashes, trying to salvage something

from the fire.

I'm from off tune folk songs on long car rides

and my father's booming voice as he sings the hymns.

I'm from my grandparents, falling madly in love on a Florida beach

and their luncheonette in New York, with the long counter

and spinning chrome stools.

I'm from interrupters and drama, and comfortable chaos,

from "I love you," and "don't be disapointed if it doesn't happen."

I'm from the confusion and craziness as we grab our schoolbags,

dressed in matching uniforms and navy Mary Janes, marching

up the hill to school.

I'm from all those memories,

deeply rooted, fixing me to a place,

reminding me always of who I am.

Create a Glogster about your favorite hobby

Assignment:  You will create a Glogster that persuades your classmates to try your favorite hobby.

   1.  Choose a topic.  Possible topics could be Red Sox, Patriots, Dance, Skiing, Music, Surfing, Reading, Sports, Cooking, gaming, etc—it should be something you really love to do or are really interested in.

2.    Create a Glogster- a Glogster is a cool online poster.  7^th grade has user names and accounts that I created for you.  8^th grade will create their own accounts.

3.    Your Glogster should include:

a.    A well-written persuasive paragraph explaining your hobby, why you like it, and persuading other people to try your hobby.

b.    Images showing your hobby

c.     A video link that illustrates or explains something about your hobby

d.    Music that is catchy and would make me have positive feelings about your hobby.

e.    A visual pleasing background

4.  Remember the purpose of your Glogster is to persuade us to try your hobby.  Make it seem like a lot of fun—but be accurate in your presentation.

Using google docs to peer conference

Today you have three jobs.
1.  Shelfari--Put the book you've just finished on the "I've read" book shelf.  You should have written a review of the book last week.  Finish that up if you aren't done. 
2.  "Where I'm From" poem--you will peer edit on google docs.  Use the peer editing form that I gave you.  After you have edited a classmates poem, work on revising your poem.  Be sure you have all the requirements from the peer editing sheet.  Work today on adding description and sensory details to your poem so the reader can really "see" where you are from.
3.  Share your poem with Ms. Casassa on google docs (scasassa@barnardschool.org).

Shelfari- Write a review of your book

Shelfari- Book Review 
You’ve finished your book so now you need to review it. 

Follow these easy steps to add your review:

1.  Go to your bookshelf and find your book on the shelf.

2.  Click on the green edit button

3.  Revise your earlier review-

·    Include: brief summary that includes main characters and major conflict.

·    What type of reader would like this book?  Do you recommend it?

·    What did you like about it?  Dislike about it?

·    Fill in the stars to rate it.

4.  Then place it on your “I’ve Read” shelf.

Shelfari Update 9/27/11

Today in tech class you will work on your shelf in Shelfari again.  You need to add all the 7th and 8th grade students as your friends so you can see what they are reading and comment on the books on their shelf.  I have invited all of you to join the Barnard School 7/8 Language Arts group.  Accept my invitation today and you will then be able to add those people to your list of friends.  If you go to the profile tab you will find a invite friends button--that is another way to invite friends. Right now please keep your friends to people at Barnard School and family members.

After you have worked on your friends list, be sure that you are up to date on your shelf.  You should have:
     1.  One book on your "Reading Now" shelf
     2.  A brief summary which includes the genre of the book you are reading
     3.  Two books on your "I plan to read shelf"
If you finish all this in less than five minutes, add books to your books "I've read" shelf or "I plan to read shelf."

Design your own blog

     Your blogs are ready to go!  Be sure to thank Miss Gagne and Ms. Casassa for their hard work and effort to get them all set up after last week's tech class.  Visit the Student Blog page and click on your name to see your blog.  Today in tech class we are going to choose a blog design, write our first post and add your wordle collage to your page.  If you stay focused you can get all of that done! 

     I will help you get started with your blog design in class.  You can refer to these directions (Blog Basics) at anytime if you need help.

     Don't forget to write your first post that explains why you chose your template and design.   You can read mine to see why I chose my blog template. I can't wait to see what your blogs look like and watch them grow throughout the year.

Shelfari-Week #2

This is the second week of Shelfari.  You have a couple jobs today.  Click on the Shelfari instruction to see what you need to do.  Have fun!

We're starting our blogs!

     Today you are going to create your own blog!  How exciting.  The purpose of this blog is to represent who you are right now--as a student primarily, but also as a person.  You will be posting your work on this blog, writing your thoughts and responses to what we are studying in class, and responding to each other.  The first step, however, is to create your blog.  We'll walk through it together in class, but I've posted the instructions here as well.  Click here for a copy of the "Creating your Blog" Instructions.


   

Welcome to our Language Arts blog

Welcome back to school!  I hope you all had a wonderful summer break and are ready to begin reading and writing again.  Take some time today to think about your hopes and dreams for the year.  What are some things you hope will happen this year for you in school?  At home?  I hope to read at least five Isinglass Books and present Book Talks on them to the 7th and 8th grade.  I also hope to learn more ways to use the ipad in the classroom and share them with you.  I hope each one of you creates a learning blog.  On a personal note, I hope to train my new puppy, Lily, so she will not bite me and will walk calmly on her leash.  I also hope to help my son as he decides on colleges and completes his application.  I hope that my daughter has a wonderful year in 8th grade.  I hope it is a fulfilling and exciting year of learning for all of us.

In your Reader's/Writer's Notebook, title your first entry "MY HOPES AND DREAMS FOR 2011-2012" and write about some of your hopes and dreams for this upcoming year.

What exactly is a Blog anyway?

Not sure what a blog really is?  Watch this brief video to learn more about blogs.  After you have watched the video, write a post listing at least three things you might do with a blog.