Eric Kursman posted a great set of Game Show PPT templates in the forum that folks might want to download/ check out/ use:

PowerPoint Meets Game Shows - Template Time!

If you like them be sure to thank the Kurs

Just started a new group on fashion and education - kicked off with a review of Where Am I Wearing?
A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories and People that Make Our Clothes - If you like the idea of teaching with Project Runway you'll want to check the link, and join the new group!

http://mcpopmb.ning.com/group/fashioneducation/forum/topics/book-where-am-i-wearing-a

Put a post up in Graphic Novels & Comics about a great Middle School graphic novel that tells 7 stories of historical females - title: No Girls Allowed Tales of Daring Women Dressed as Men for Love, Freedom and Adventure written by Susan Hughes and illustrated by Willow Dawson

Full post here.


If you HEART graphic novels consider joining the graphic novel group for more resources and updates.


RRG:)

If any of you teach Math, you might consider checking out/joining the Math Teacher Group - today I made an interesting post in there "Mos Def, Mathamatics, Poetry & Music" you might check out!

If you're not a member of the "Teach with Moving Images Group" consider joining - today I put a great set of Amnesty International Film Curriculum Guides in that group found here.

Come on down - the price is right!

RRG:)

Lauren posted a My Space template page to follow up on the Civil War facebook discussion. If anyone is interested in using it it is a great resource - find it here.

If you do math, a. consider joining the math group and b. check out this posting - Numb3rs, NCTM, + 7th Grade Algebra

If you're not a member of the Graphic Novels and Comics group consider joining as you'll be hipped to postings like this one loaded with Graphic Novel resources and lists: COMIC/ARTICLE: NEA on Graphic Novels & Resources

Middle school media projects are finished, posted PSA videos created by public affairs students too...

2009 Student Media Projects

If you're also into poetry and you're not a member of Poetry People, you should
a. Consider joining the poetry group and
b. Check out this post: VIDEO: Sarah Palin, William Shatner, Conan & Poetry?

Enjoy,

RRG:)

Did folks see Marek Bennett's comment on the Comic Science discussion at the very bottom of the discussion thread? He put up a URL for his Jr. High Solar System Comics Unit (poor Pluto!).

It is very cool stuff with information for teachers interested in doing a comic science unit.

Check it out:

http://mcpopmb.ning.com/forum/topics/comic-science

Check out the Best Buy grant opp. Helen added to the bottom of this post - it is targeted at the middle school set!

If you're not in the poetry people group but teach poetry be sure to join and check out Patsy Smith's Ninja poetry video post.

Virginia asked for first week ideas - one of the things I plan to do with my 7th graders next week (our first week) is to challenge them to write about their whole summer in one "tweet" - limit them to 140 characters. Then, throughout the school year, I may use it as an activity when we come back from a long weekend or after a break - a way to acknowledge their tech savvy and get them to be concise.

I also have done a Post-It Potpourri - each student gets one Post-it (not the tiny ones) and writes down a song they most associate with this summer. The Post-its can be used in many ways - instant bar charts (stack them by artist or genre - a good way to introduce/reinforce genre in LA), icebreakers for small groups, etc.

Like the "tweet" and Post-it ideas!

I just posted on my page a music video "Swim" that I will be using the first week of school to introduce a writing activity.

Thank you both for the great ideas. I visited both of your home pages and am so impressed with your creativity.

Both ideas are terrific. This will be so helpful this year to integrate new ideas. The tweet idea is good for the whole year.

JC and DV - thank you so much for sharing such cool ideas!

There are some funny posts that use twitter to teach history and literature during the year - see this blog and this post.

I'll throw my simple idea in the ring. I like to do surveys that ask kids about their favorite movies, films etc... This gives me something I can read right away and helps me quickly understand how well kids can communicate their ideas and interests. After they fill out the surveys I have them pair share (with a partner) then do peer introductions (share the most interesting detail about the person you pair shared with). Not as exciting as the other ideas but helpful to get a sense of the group fast AND find out what kind of stuff engages them.

1. Do you think it's important to study literature or debate? Y N
Why or why not (you know, explain your opinion)?

2. What are your 5 favorite movies?

3. If you read (magazines and shampoo bottles count), what are the last five things you read?

4. Think of the last cool class you had, why did you enjoy it?

5. Think of the last class you disliked, why did you dislike it?

6. What kind of stories do you like to read?

7. If you don't read, what would help you enjoy it more?

8. What things do you do outside of school? What are your extra-curricular activities?

9. What topics or things would you be interested in learning more about? Is there a book that you would like to read?

10. Who are your 5 favorite musicians?

11. What do you hope to get out of this class?

12. Do you like to write? If so, what? If not, why?

13. What is your favorite food? Your favorite color?

14. Where have you traveled? Where would you like to travel?

15. Who is your favorite actor or actress? Why?

16. Describe yourself in three words.

17. Do you have any questions for me? I will try to answer all of them!

Feel free to remix for your class/subject!

Good Luck on the first day!!!

These are very good questions. I have done some of the same things but used oral interview with students who have a more limited skill base.

Going back to this discussion - I know you might be a bit beyond this point BUT a great post today about using BitStrips with kids....

Back-to-School Fun: Students Creating Biographical Comic Strips

Great article on non-fiction graphic novels including one about Katrina titled, "Journalists, Artists Tell Stories with Nonfiction Graphic Novels" can be found in the Graphic Novels group here.

NCTE's National Day on Writing is coming up! http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting

FROM THE WEB SITE:
Writing is a daily practice for millions of Americans. But few notice how integral writing has become to daily life in the 21st century.

To draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in and help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft, NCTE has established October 20, 2009, as the National Day on Writing.

To celebrate composition in all its forms, we are inviting diverse participants --students, teachers, parents, grandparents, service and industrial workers, managers, business owners, legislators, retirees, and many more -- to submit a piece of writing to the National Gallery of Writing.

Thanks, Kelly!!!

Check out this middle school learning activity that was inspired by President Obama's back-to-school speech ...

"My Education, My Future"

Thanks Kelly & JC!

Hey everyone - great new PDF from Edutopia- "Top Ten Tips for Teaching with New Media" - posted today in the New Media & Technology Group discussion forum. If you're into using new media and tech, consider joining that group!

Follow up on yesterday's Mr. Duey post - Mr. Duey is now in the MC POP mix! If you like his stuff or want to know more about this work send him a shout out via the Ning! Great to have you here Mr. D!

You might be interested in reading about UNESCO's call for an international Media Literacy Curriculum in the Media Education Discussion Forum - there's also an interesting blurb there about a French proposal to put warning labels on photoshopped models in magazines. Both articles were forwarded to me via Media Literacy Clearinghouse guru and MC Popper Frank Baker.

Enjoy! RRG:)

Hey Everyone!

I am currently a student at Aurora University and a middle school math teacher in training. I would really appreciate any comments or ideas you have for the unit I am designing. Just follow the link below....

http://mcpopmb.ning.com/group/matheducators/forum/topics/making-word-problems-pop

Thanks for your time!
Cory Heyob

just wanted to say hello - new guy to the MC POP world...look forward to great work in the future!

Thomas, hope you enjoy it here! There are lots of Super impressive folks in the MS group. Great to have you here! Ryan:)