Reader's/Writer's Rearch Blog

I have been doing my reader's/writers project on note-taking. I know it's not the most glamorous topic, but I am a big fan of practical things. I take and use a lot notes to help me study in my classes. I usually have two note books going for each class, notebook for my reading notes, and a note book for my class notes, some of which I will condense down into another set of notes if I am studying for something big. No one ever taught me any note taking strategies so I thought this information might be use full.

Another reason I choose this topic came from my student teaching experiences, Granted the group I had were a tough crowd, but they would take use their notes, and as a big note-taker/user, I wanted my students to see the importance of note-taking. I also wanted to find out what I could do to help students have better study skills.

My research consisted of surveying local students to find how they took and used their notes. This survey asked students what they found works for them, if they were using notes in the classroom, and what advice they had for their fellow students and their teachers. I have Linked a Pod cast that lets you know what I found out. Click here to listen.

I also did E-mail Interviews with a small group of teachers to find out what they were doing in the classroom, what they found to be successful in their classrooms. These interview gave some good insight into what is going on in our classes and what is working in their classes. I have posted The interview responses for you to read in the comments section of this blog, It is accidentally repeated, so when you come to the second one it is the same as the first.

My traditional research consisted of books and articles from the web. I was kind of disappointed in what little I found, basically I got a lot of different note taking strategies and different methods on note-taking, and I was looking for something more research based. These were useful in give me information on techniques, tips, lessons on how to teach note-taking strategies, and in giving many different organizers and maps. I condense this information, with my student surveys into a little brochure that I will have in class tomorrow I hope this information will be useful to you.

Technology Tools Blog

I found yesterdays class very informative. I have to admit all of those tech tool seemed very useful, and accessible, which is awesome. I am one of the least tech savvy people, and these seemed very easy to use. I was glad to see that we could all come up with some thing in a pinch, think of how use will that be in a classroom, and they all seemed to be fun activities. I especially liked the image finders, student in the art room always need picture to work from, go figure. And of course I like the Kartoo sight, that can be useful in so many ways. All good stuff.

Writin' reading Blog

Wow, I can't make this blog too long, I've got that whole readers/writers thing to get done. I found chapter 2-6 in Daniels, Zelelman, and Steineke, very informative. I need to go back through it and digest it a little more, it gave out a lot of writing strategies, and a lot of them were new to me, which can add another trick up the sleeve. I was really interested the quick writes in chapter three. I found these strategies very useful for my content area. I also liked the message of chapter six, about supporting our student writers. I believe we should support all our student's talents. We should always try to provide a supportive environment that allows are students to express themselves.

Believen' blog

I believe writing is very important in the class room, and I have put my beliefs into practice, unfortunately it has only been in a limited capacity. In my student teaching I always put ORQ's in my assessments, and tried to go beyond having students define and summarize. I n these ORQ's I tried to get students to reflect on their experiences, discuss challenges they have faced while working on the projects, and how they resolved issues.

I find using writing in all content areas very important, I feel I left High school very unprepared for real life application. I later realized it's importance while working my way through my undergrad. I was using writing not only in my academic career but in all other aspects of my life, whether it was a statement about an insurance claim or a cover for a job application.

In my classroom I plan on using writing on different levels, to day to day things notes and assessments, and on larger projects such as artist statements, and projects that incorporate text and media. Back in October I attended a P.D session at the Speed Art Museum about using art as writing prompts that could be used in cross content areas. I was even given a lesson plans for a interesting writing and art based project.

As for literacy I always encourage students read, I believe any form of literature a step in the right direction, You can always recommend different literature and hope your students grow as reader. With the on set of graphic novels you can be used as support material, and help scaffold your students to improve their literacy. As for any adopted text, I am now a fan of "Hugo Cabret". In the book Hugo's sketch book plays an important part in building the story. Currently their are art educators that are trying to get students use sketchbooks not to practice drawing skills, but also as notebooks where they can keep their notes. I have in the past decade kept sketch books, journals, and idea note books; and will encourage my students to do the same. I also find students fascination with manga and anime useful tool that I can use for examples to help demonstrate elements of art and principals of design. I will always recommend my students to read, whether it's for pleasure, or their education.

Book trailer bloggin'

I was reading some the blogs about the book trailers. It seems like everyone is enjoying it. I know my group had a good time making ours, and it didn't take us a super long time. We had a lot of fun and got it done. We all really enjoyed our book, and it is something we can use in are content area, which I think made the project more enjoyable. I hope the have good time making your trailer. You Should check out ours . I have attached it to my blog, check it out and check out the book. "The invention of Hugo Cabret", they have a copy at the U of L library.

dreambloggin' about blogspot

I found the blogspot stories interesting. I try to be an avid reader, and usually have something on a burner. It was interesting hearing the degree in these people started their libraries, or the age I when they became avid readers. I always feel like the polar opposite of the people at blogspot, or any person who calms to be well read. I am always reluctant to make that statement.

I didn't read at all until I discovered Vonnegut My freshman year of college. I was like "wow" some actually writes books that are interesting. I even remember reading a Vonnegut story in my high lit class and thinking it was awful. I think I only pick reading as a social thing all my friends were always reading this or that and were telling me I should check it out. It's funny we have the book circle, and I have had a informal book thing with all my friends for such a longtime, we will recommend something, loan, or borrow. I buy my best friend books a lot as presents, because every time he loans out to me. I ended up doing something to defile it( that's really the best term). We have a running joke about " yes ", "I will take this, run over it with my car and give back to you". "Is that cool". I am lucky though I have diverse taste in reading material, and I am always getting recommended something new and interesting.

I read a far amount of books. Some I should have, some I wish I hadn't, I don't buy a lot of books. I go to the library, or borrow books from friends. I use to buy some books, and donate them to the library when I finished them, if the library didn't have them.
That my story, "Books Checkem' out"

Podcast blog

I found the pod casting interesting, and they seem like a good way to get students active in the classroom. I didn't mention in me last blog, but in my jigsaw group discussion my article discussed cross content vocabulary strategies. One of which was a list of academic vocabulary, that all content areas would try to work into their material. These podcast seem like a useful way to go about it. Having one of these podcast as a part of the morning announcements, a daily word, or something.

These podcast also seemed like a good length, I believe they would be an easy way the get even the shy student involved. They can work with an partner, they aren't an excess length. I also like how they gave a little context along with the definition. I feel that more important than having just the definition. It helps students build their schema and can connect with their prior knowledge.