Middle School / Jr. High Group

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Members: 402
Latest Activity: Jun 1, 2019

Started by Ryan Goble Jun 1, 2019.

Started by Ryan Goble Apr 22, 2019.

Started by Ryan Goble Apr 1, 2019.

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Comment by William Zimmerman on September 19, 2011 at 9:40am: Dear Ms. Ganias,

Another way of making learning relevant would be to ask students to create a comic strip about something they are learning or that is very relevant to their personal experiences. The act of creating graphics filled with text becomes a very creative experience for students that also helps make learning a joy. We've just set up a new page at MakeBeliefsComix.com, a free educational resource, to encourage students to create daily comix strips about what they learn and experience which you can view at: http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Daily-Comix-Diary/

Enjoy!

Bill Zimmerman

Comment by BarbGanias on September 19, 2011 at 8:45am: I just posted to my blog www.homeworkbuddies.wordpress.com about an activity I call Out of the Box. It's designed to get kids to think about subject matter throughout their daily lives. Please check it out and let me know what you think! And if you have other ideas about how to make learning relevant, I'd love to hear them.

Comment by Meg Krause on August 22, 2011 at 5:31am: I just set up a class website using Google Sites and it was fun and easy to do.

Comment by Melissa Motes on August 21, 2011 at 8:09pm: Tracey,

I use edublogs.org as a website/blog for my classroom. I know some teachers use Google. If you sign up to use Google Docs, etc., there is an option to create your own website.

I hope this helps.

Melissa

Comment by Ryan Goble on August 21, 2011 at 8:04pm: Hi Tracey - this is a great crowd source question - I think you'll get more responses if you post in the New Media and Tech Group's discussion forum - also see this page about CS questions - http://mcpopmb.ning.com/page/post-a-crowdsource

Comment by Tracey Holland on August 21, 2011 at 7:01pm: Was thinking about creating a website/ page for class this year. Has anyone ever done this, with success? I have no idea which one to choose. Have been looking at others created by teachers. They all look easy to create....but probably are not. Suggestions?? Please!! :)

Comment by Elena Meredith on June 1, 2011 at 11:22am: Hey MC Poppers,

Any middle school teachers using iPads in the classroom? We just released an iPad app, Be Confident in Who You Are: A Middle School Confidential Graphic Novel, based on our MSC book series by Annie Fox. It is a fictional story of six kids in middle school and covers social-emotional topics such as self-esteem and bullying. Good discussion points.

I'm looking for a teacher who would be willing to try it out with their students and give us feedback. I have a free promo code for the first teacher who is interested.

Thanks!

Elena Meredith

Free Spirit Publishing
meredith@freespirit.com

Comment by Deborah Sebree on May 19, 2011 at 4:33pm: Watered down Shakespeare?

My 8th grade classes read Hamlet every year. The whole thing. Then we pick a genre/style and adapt it, to perform. This year Hamlet went Hip-Hop and they did an awesome job. They "got it" and were excited to make backdrops, simple props and think about how the plot would unfold now.

We also study the Odyssesy, although we don't read the whole thing, in preparation for reading Watership Down. I read them Chapter 31 - "The Story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle", in class, today. They were on the edge of their seats and jumped when the bell rang.

Of course we read YA lit as well. I have a very diverse room, on the border, in southwestern Arizona. It ranges from very well-off students, to kids crossing the border who may be having their first experience in an English speaking classroom. I find it's my attitude and presentation of the material that determines how they view it. Well, there are always a few who don' t care, no matter what.

My point? Don't be afraid to try the "hard stuff" if you love it and can relay that in a way they can relate to, they'll give you a chance.

Comment by Pam Goble on March 7, 2011 at 11:24am: Thanks, Elena.

I use her text for my classes.

Pam