What fun I had in class tonight!  I genuinely enjoy our time together.  Graphic organizers is such a fun topic and one of my favorites.  Remember, I want you to "pinky swear" that you will use them when you have a classroom of your own.  Graphic organizers allow students to visualize abstract concepts and then define them in a concrete way.  Not only that, but they give kids purpose while learning, are interactive and engaging.  Remember my motto, "Kids who are engaged in learning ARE learning!"


Check out the research on graphic organizers; you will be amazed!


I hope you have fun creating your graphic organizer.  My suggestion is that you create one that will go with your content area lesson plan.  Your lesson plan has to include technology components, and this would be one component.  I also suggest that you save a link to graphic organizers as one to include in your annotated website assignment.  I LOVE getting two activities out of one item, don't you?


Stay in touch with me via the blog, the phone, text messages, or emails.  I love hearing from you and always have time for my students.

Have a perfect week!  Fondly, Dr. W.

CHAPTER 12

My friend teaches 5th grade social studies.  Her next unit is on the Civil War / War Between the States.  Put yourself in her shoes and leave some suggestions on how she could use technology to bring this important (but long ago) topic to life for her students.

What types of technology and/or applications could she use with her students?  Can the technology of today really be used with something that happened so long ago?

Share your thoughts...Leave a comment below.

PowerPoint Presentation

Here is a sample of the PowerPoint presentation for your content area.  Share some ideas you have discovered for how a classroom teacher could use technology to bring learning to life.  Remember, technology will get kids actively engaged in their own learning.

Sample presentation

View more presentations from jwalts.

WEEK 8!

Wow!  How time flies when you are having fun!  I just can't believe we are in Week 8 and at the halfway mark in our semester.  I am so proud of all the great technology tools you have already mastered and so excited for all the exciting projects yet to come.

This week's PowerPoint presentation is posted here on the PowerPoint page of the blog if you want to revisit it.  If you click on "Examples of Projects" you will find the Table/Rubric we worked on and also the sample of the Newsletter we worked with in class this evening.

The Table/Rubric project is due this Saturday and your Newsletter is due next Saturday (Week 9).  As always, check in with me if you need assistance with anything.  I will try to get step-by-step Podcasts posted this week for the Table and the Newsletter.  Keep checking in with the blog.

I was looking at the Hit Counter for the blog and we have logged in over 2000 hits; that tells me that you are using the blog and that it is an effective way for us to communicate.  I can't wait to teach you how to set up your own blog!

I posted my Smilebox on the Digital Slideshow page here on the blog.  I have enjoyed your slideshows tremendously; I feel as though I know each of you so much better.  So cruise around my house with me here at Fox Hollow as I welcome my favorite season, Autumn!

Keep up the good work.  You make me proud; I see real 21st Century teachers emerging!

As always, I enjoyed our time together this evening.  I hope that the discussion about the lesson plan template was helpful.  I have emailed you a copy of the annotated lesson plan and I have posted it in the HOW TO section of this blog.

Our powerpoint presentation was posted on this blog as well.

You may access a copy of the Peanut WebQuest in the EXAMPLES section of the blog or in Course Documents.

Send me the code for your digital slideshows so that I can post them here on the blog to share.

As always, let me know if you need help with anything.  I am so very proud of all your hard work.