ISATS with no rest for the weary

With ISATs, this week, students will already have their hands full and their plates filled with expectations layered upon demands. With this in mind, I seek only to slightly add to their burden:
7th Grade
* All students will be receiving updated Progress Reports on Tuesday which detail their performance for the trimester. Students are strongly encouraged to reflect on how they fared second trimester and establish goals for the third trimester. Some of these goals could be to rectify the challenges that were there in the second trimester, identify particular areas of needed improvement, and strongly ruminate upon the good that happened which needs to continue while minimizing the potential habits that do not necessarily equate with academic success.
* We will be reading chapter 8 in class and focused on completing the activities offered in class. If students utilize in class time well, there should be little need to complete homework. For an advance look at what will be addressed, click here!
* Once ISATs are over, students will have to wrestle with the Chapter 9 Teaching Assignments.

8th Grade
* In class time will be spent introducing students to the 1920s through the online learning environment of Moodle. Students can choose to engage in this exploration through class or if they wish to use the time to work on their Day II of the WWI Exam, they may do this as well. All Day II Exam Products must be emailed to me by Friday, 3/12 at 9:00 PM. Students will have to monitor their own work habits in the successful creation of these tasks, as it is worth quite a bit of points towards Third Trimester Grades.
* Permission slips for the Tommy Guns Field Trip will be sent out this week. Admission to this event is based on a "First Come, First Serve" basis as well as team approval.

I wish all of our students all the best on the successful completion of the ISATs and as this benchmark is created, more await in the third trimester- the final phase of our academic journey towards scholarship.

All best.
Mr. Kannan

Technology Tasks for 8th Grade: Week of 2/22- Finalizing the Digital Portfolio

This is it, as this week we are finalizing our digital portfolios. Each of you will have to choose one of the options to submit for your digital portfolio. Once you have selected your option, you will be instructed as to how this is going to be submitted. All finalized digital portfolios have to be emailed to me by Friday night, 9:00 on 2/26. Each Digital Portfolio is worth 500 points. Students who do not submit a digital portfolio by this time stamp will receive a 70%, or 350/500.

1. Blog- If your digital portfolio is your blog, you will write a small paragraph describing your blog. Your paragraph should include the title of the blog, what was the primary focus of your blog, and some of the digital design elements or customization on your blog. Finally, please identify one area that you think needs more attention in the future for your blog. This paragraph can be in the email text, and should also include the blog address in the email.

2. Glogs- If your digital portfolio is going to be a sampling of your glogs, you can select no more than three to submit for your grade. The text of your email should include what each glog is about, how they reflect your own personal style and view on the content. Identify what statement each glog is attempting to make. Finally, I think that you can include some detail about what you think is an area where improvement is needed in your grasp of glogging. This paragraph can be in the email test, and should also include the glog addresses in the email.

3. Moodle Posts- You will be composing a powerpoint presentation for this one. Select six of your best posts on Moodle. Your first slide should give an overview with your name in the title frame, or broad explanation, of what posts you have selected from which topics. This can be in the form of a table of contents or a paragraph/ bulleted narrative. Then, each post will receive a slide. I would suggest you choose the layout of the two columned slide from the slide layout. For each slide, take a snapshot of the comment and insert that into one column. In the next column, explain why you selected this comment, what about it reflects "quality posting," what about it reflects "you," and why you think this comment enhances the dialogue. Complete thoughts through bullets are fine. Please make sure you select appropriate background and font design. You will also need to develop an innovative title for each slide's quote and an icon for each slide will be needed. Anything over six posts will be deemed as extra credit. The minimum amount of slides for this ppt would be seven. You will be emailing me the Powerpoint when you are done. Here is a link on how to make a snapshot on a Mac!

4. Wallwisher Posts- You will be composing a powerpoint presentation for this one. Select six of your best posts on Wallwishers. Your first slide should give an overview with your name in the title frame, or broad explanation, of what posts you have selected from which topics. This can be in the form of a table of contents or a paragraph/ bulleted narrative. Then, each post will receive a slide. I would suggest you choose the layout of the two columned slide from the slide layout. For each slide, take a snapshot of the comment and insert that into one column. In the next column, explain why you selected this comment, what about it reflects "quality posting," what about it reflects "you," and why you think this comment enhances the dialogue. Complete thoughts through bullets are fine. Please make sure you select appropriate background and font design. You will also need to develop an innovative title for each slide's quote and an icon for each slide will be needed. Anything over six posts will be deemed as extra credit. The minimum amount of slides for this ppt would be seven. You will be emailing me the Powerpoint when you are done. Here is a link on how to make a snapshot on a Mac!

All Digital Portfolios have to be emailed to me by Friday night at 9:00.
All best and happy hunting. Don't be afraid to do more for extra credit. Each extra credit digital portfolio can earn you up to 400 points! If you finish early, start working on your Day II of the World War I Exam.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

The closing bend or the really big truck that lies ahead

I am reminded of a great scene in the "Matrix Reloaded" which might summarize the events of this next week. After saving the Keymaker, Morpheus finds himself standing on a moving truck on the freeway and another truck ahead is heading directly into his. He looks at this oncoming collision and mutters, "Neo, if you're out there right now, I could really use your help."
I guess such a sentiment could apply to many of our 7th and 8th graders this week. The former will be immersed in a five day exam on the Constitution. I think that this will be tough. There is little doubt about it. Not only have we been preparing for this assessment for some time, but our study in Core Extension has been focused on test taking tips, such as mentally calming down, taking deep breaths, preventing anxiety, and ensuring that incremental steps are taken in order to ensure a greater chance of success. These will all be helpful this week. Students are encouraged to engage in review this weekend and then during the week, studying concepts seen on the exam will also help in achieving a greater chance of success. Outcome Sentence Logs will be checked during the exam on Tuesday and Wednesday.
For the 8th graders, the oncoming truck that might necessitate them to call out to Neo, or to essentially become their own miracle that they seek, would be to engage in nightly studying for their exam on World War I and to complete their Digital Portfolio. The first part of the exam is on Thursday, and will be a standard textbook exam on chapter 21, the First World War. The second part of the exam will be on Friday, and will involve the use of computers in producing a product that reflects an individualized approach to the Primary Sources that we have studied. At the same time, students will be finalizing their Digital Portfolios which are due on Friday. This week, a more detailed blog entry will be present outlining the exact manner in which these must be submitted and the manner in which it is to be assembled.
As the big truck seems to be oncoming, our own emerging students of Morpheus are able to call out and become the miracles that they seek. Just as Morpheus and Holden called out to forces within and outside of themselves to transform what is into what should be, our emerging scholars must try to do the same.
It will be fun and it will be real.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

Technology Tasks for 8th Grade: 2/18 and W.B. Yeats

Today's technology inquiry will be centered on W.B. Yeats' work, "The Second Coming." Last night, you were asked to "envision" the poem. If you were to visualize the poem, how would it work? This is the playground in which you will be able to make your visions come to life.
1) Powerpoint- Create a Powerpoint Slide Show on the poem. The meaning, interpretation, thematic connections, and personal analysis. You can design it in any manner you wish. Your powerpoint should be at least ten slides emphasizing essential lines or verses.
2) Glog- Create a glog about how Yeats' work impacts you. Take it in as many directions as you want, but make sure your glog is centered on one thing: "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SETTING UP YOUR GLOG AT GLOGSTER.EDU!
3) Wordle- Go to some sites which have featured commentary about the poem. For example, check this site out. Another interesting site with thoughts on the poem would be here. Another site with excellent references would be here. For another personalized view of the poem, click here. After reading some of the different commentaries about the poem, feed the information into the wordle engine at www.wordle.net Design a wordle on it and discuss what you find interesting about what you have created. Do this with about three sites. Then, wordle the original poem, itself. Take a snapsot and include it and your thoughts on the wordles' interpretations of the poem in any form you wish.

4) Blog- If you have an existing blog, you could compose several entries. Different topics for blog entries could be centered on the the essential lines in the poem, the vision offered in the poem, how the poem fits into the development of American History so far, whether or not Yeats is right in not being able to fully embrace a vision of a redemptive future, or what the poem means to you on a personal level. If you don't have a blog yet, this could be a wonderful starting point for your first blog entry.
5) Wallwishers- Check out this link! Each sticky is a link to a video on Youtube that centers on the poem and an interpretation of it. After each, post your thoughts about the clip in a thoughtful, respectful, and manner that seeks to enhance the dialogue about Yeats' work. There are 12 altogether, so a sticky on each could get you closer to your digital portfolio completion.

This brings up a great closing point. With digital portfolios approaching and worth 500 points, let us consider using Yeats' poem as a way to continue our work on these assessments so that our understanding of this intense poem can be furthered through technology.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

Studying Tips for 7th Grade Core Extension

We have already identified how we spend our time, how our day looks, and how things progress with our areas of study. Now, let's go to the next step which is what constitute successful study habits.
In order for this to work, we will have to work through the world of Wallwishers. Essentially, we will be generating a list or compilation of successful habits towards the process of studying. When we post responses on Wallwishers, remember a couple of things:
1) Do not use full names- If you want to use an initial or some other type of appropriate alias, that is fine. When you post anything on the web, be mindful of the fact that EVERYONE AND ANYONE IS OUT THERE!
2) Feel free to discuss your views and comment on others- However, remember that we must comment and express our opinions in a respectful manner. This is an online conversation, but we have to make sure we understand that we are typing thoughts and expressing ourselves so that everyone can read what we write. Our comments must reflect that.
3) If you want to, feel free to create an account on Wallwishers at Wallwishers.com

STEP ONE: The first thing we need to do is go to our first wall. Click on the link below:
* Study Tips for 7th Grade

STEP TWO: Feel free to watch the videos. Word of advice: It might help to open up a Word document to take notes while the video is playing. Afterwards, think about what you saw and post your comment anywhere near the original stickie. Double click gives you a stickie. FOR EACH VIDEO, POST AT LEAST TWO STICKIES. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE NOTES ON EACH VIDEO FOR TIPS, GUIDELINES, AND ADVICE ON HOW TO STUDY.

STEP THREE: After you have watched the videos on the first wall, posted comments on each and taken notes on each clip, go to the next wall:
* How do you study for an exam?
Here, we will start the process of collecting hints that work for studying, and habits that need to be avoided. MAKE SURE YOU ADD TO YOUR LIST OF NOTES ON THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. ON THIS WALL, YOU SHOULD HAVE POSTED AT LEAST FIVE STICKIES!

By the end of this exercise, we will have developed some action steps that can be used, right now, in real time for preparing for your exams.

YOU WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMPLETED AT THE END OF THIS ACTIVITY:
* At least 8 stickies on the first wall
* At least 5 stickies on the second wall
* At least one page of notes on how to study
Make sure you save your notes to your folders at the end of each in class working session.

Enjoy and remember to buy into this as it could positively change how you approach your learning and success in school (No pressure, though!)
All best.
Ms. Gora and Mr. Kannan

The End of All Things... or at least Second Trimester

The Second Trimester reaches its natural conclusion with the next week. We will be spending this week preparing for the final climb up the steep summit. Certainly, what awaits both groups of 7.8/3 emerging scholars will test their internal mettle and go far in defining who we are and who we seek to be.
For the seventh grade, it comes down to next week's Constitutional Exam. There is little else to say. The exam will encompass five days, starting on Monday and ending on Friday. It covers the concepts related to our study of the Constitution. Students are encouraged to examine exams from previous years and see how they fare. Click here for direct link. Nightly study will be critical for this one. The exam will cover the following topics:
* Goals
* Principles
* Structure of the Constitution
* Branches of Government
* Thinkers of the Constitution
* The Supreme Court
* The First Ten Amendments and Voting Rights Amendments
The 145 questions are broken into these topics and nightly study is the only way out of this one. Students are encouraged to speak with me privately if any other help is needed.
For the eighth grade, the World War I Exam is on the 25th and the 26th. This two day exam is going to cover facts about the war and then examine Primary Source Documents on the second day. The other pressing issue on our brave and mature academic warriors is that their Digital Portfolios will be due by the 26th. Those who are investigating glogs or blogging are strongly encouraged to incorporate the topics on World War I in the process of their digital work. Grades for Social Studies will be finalized on the 26th for both groups. Time is running out, and points are becoming scarce. Students are encouraged to investigate as many means as possible in picking up points to assist them in the process of trying to close out in a strong manner.
If I can be of any further help or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or at my home.
Happy Hunting!
Mr. Kannan

The Road Ahead

With Conferences now a thing of the past, our attention must turn to what lies in front of us in February. It is a challenging road, one that can prove treacherous if our students do not take the proper steps and heed all warnings. For seventh grade students, the focus is the Constitution and the upcoming five day exam which will start on the 22nd and go until the 26th. Students should be reviewing their notes on a nightly basis. Here is what will be on the exam:
* Thinkers behind the Constitution
* Goals of the Constitution
* Principles of the Constitution
* Branches of the Government
* Structure to the Constitution
* Checks and Balances
* Amendments to the Constitution
Students will be given a study guide and I will also have sample questions posted on the blog next week. Yet, the best defense is a good offense and proactivity in studying for this assessment will be quite beneficial.

The 8th graders will be embarking on a Primary Source study of Chapter 21, the First World War. They will have a two day exam on Chapter 21 on February 25 and February 26. Day I will be strictly from the book, relating to fact recall of the conflict while Day II will be a multiple choice analysis of the Primary Sources. Students should be reading on a nightly basis, as this will be the last assessment of the trimester. Students' digital portfolios will also be due by the 26th and students will be given in class time to work on them, but should also be working on them outside of class (Adding/ Starting a Social Studies class blog, creating glogs on Social Studies topics, or posting on Moodle or Wallwishers.)

As always, please know that if I can be of any help or assistance, I will be happy to assist. The Lord Buddha was quite accurate in articulating that there are only two mistakes on the road towards truth: Not starting and not finishing. Indeed, while this might be very true of cosmic reality, it has some relevancy to where our emerging 7/8.3 Social Studies scholars are at this time.

Happy hunting and all best.
Mr. Kannan