Reading Education 534
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Media Presentation
I did a presentation to use in my Kindergarten Writer's Workshop class. The first lesson is on Small Moments and kids sometimes have trouble understanding what a 'small moment' is. I provided an explanation and since I had a bunch of kids at my house, I videoed them giving an example of their small moment. (I would probably take out the TP Rollers!:-) I hope the videos work...they are hilarious!
Monday, June 30, 2014
Personal Glossary
RED 534
Summer, 2014 Botzakis
Personal Glossary
The source of most of my
definitions came from A New Literacies Sampler by Lankshear and Knobel.
1. Anime-
a style of animation originating
in Japan that is characterized by stark colorful graphics depicting vibrant
characters in action-filled plots often with fantastic or futuristic themes
2. Affinity Space-
According to Gee (2004), "An
affinity space is a place or set of places where people affiliate with others
based primarily on shared activities, interests, and goals, not shared race,
class culture, ethnicity, or gender" (p. 67).
3. Blogging-
a Web site on which someone
writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences.
4. Emote-
Expression of emotion, action, or
gesture (p.127)
5.“Etho Stuff”
Lankshear and Knobel refer to new
digital environments as “techno stuff” and the way in which we use and engage
with them, “ethos stuff.” Source: Teaching
Writing in a Digital Age at
http://twinada.wordpress.com/
6. e-readers-
a handheld device on which
electronic versions of books, newspapers, magazines, etc., can be read.
7. Fan Fiction-
fiction written by a fan of, and
featuring characters from, a particular TV series, movie, etc.
8. Fecundity-
The rate at which an idea or
pattern is copied or spread. One
of Dawkin’s characteristics of a successful meme. The more quickly a meme spreads, the more likely it is to
capture robust and sustained attention and be replicated and distributed. (Pg. 202 Ch. 9)
9. Glocalized-
Blends local and global
communication and interaction such as social networks (p. 190)
10. Hybrid Texts-
Texts that are comprised of
combinations of various media and narrative genres (p.188)
11. Intertextuality-
Texts made from other texts (p.153)
12. Memes-
an element of a culture or system
of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another
by nongenetic means, especially imitation.
a humorous image, video, piece of
text, etc. that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by
Internet users. (p. 199)
13. New literacies-
refers to new forms of literacy
made possible by digital technology developments, although new literacies do
not necessarily have to involve use of digital technologies to be recognized as
such.
14. Manga Producing-
Manga is a Japanese word
referring both to comics and cartooning. "Manga" as a term used
outside Japan refers specifically to comics originally published in Japan.
15. Online Writing-
A text created with (and usually
intended for viewing on) a computer, smartphone, or similar digital device
16. Podcasting-
a digital audio or video file or
recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a
website to a media player or computer.
17. Primary Discourses-
Our primary Discourse is how we
learn to do and be (including speaking and expressing) within our family (or
face to face intimate) group during our early life.
18. Secondary Discourses-
Our secondary Discourses (and we
each have many of these, although they differ from person to person) are those
we arerecruited to through participation in outside groups and institutions,
such as schools, clubs, workplaces, churches, political organizations, and so
on.
19. Vodcasting-
the creation and provision of video files for download to a
computer, MP3 player, etc.
20. Zine-
a small magazine that is written by people who are not
professional writers and that usually has stories about a particular subject. a
noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to
specialized and often unconventional subject matter. (Source:
merriam-webster.com)
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Text Set- Weather
Weather Text Set
I chose a weather text set because it's interesting to kids and and fun to learn about. Most of the books are for 4th or 5th grade but I have done some of the hands-on experiments with a kindergarten class before. Hope you enjoy!
I chose a weather text set because it's interesting to kids and and fun to learn about. Most of the books are for 4th or 5th grade but I have done some of the hands-on experiments with a kindergarten class before. Hope you enjoy!
Books
The
Best Book of Weather
by
Simon Adams
Where do clouds come from? Why does the
wind blow? Why is snow cold? Walk outside with a child and it will be clear
right away that kids want to know all about weather. With an unbeatable
combination of age-appropriate writing, solid information, and an affordable
and portable format, The Best Book of Weather makes even the biggest weather
mystery understandable. Covering subjects from the power of the sun to the
changing seasons, climate, and even dramatic events like hurricanes, this is
the perfect companion for strolling and observing with young weather bugs.
Weather:
Whipping Up a Storm!
By
Simon Basher
Welcome
to the wild world of weather, Basher style! Meet Hurricane, a violent
blusterer; Atmosphere, a many-layered character who keeps the planet cozy;
hard-nut Hail and sneezy Sleet; Drought, the dusty fellow who makes life hard
for animals, plants and people; and mischievous El NiƱo, who messes around with
ocean currents to chaotic effect. With plenty of detail on the forces that make
weather work, this approach is so effective that readers will forever think
about these characters every time they hear a weather report or step outside.
GLE:
5
Weather
By
Seymore Simon
GLE:
5.8
This
book explores many aspects of weather, its natural changes, and the effects of
people on the weather.
Weather
By
Brian Cosgrove
GLE:
7.1
Including
an array of color photographs, this book explains how people study and predict
the weather and discusses the appearance and causes of different types of
weather.
Experiments
with Weather
(A
True Book)
By
Salvatore Tocci
Through
experiments, readers learn about air pressure, humidity, and the effect of heat
and cold on air through experiments in this series book.
GLE:
4.5
Videos
A Look at the Water Cycle
Storms
– Tornadoes: http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=112&detID=2647
This
collection contains a selection of content from National Geographic Education
about weather.
Ever
wonder why weather changes? Check out this video and find out why!
Dan Satterfield, a meteorologist, really LOVES
weather and this page is his way of sharing the wonders of weather and all of
it with you! A wonderful resource.
Science Experiments You Can
Do at Home:
Make Lightening
It’s all about static electricity. Lightning happens
when the negative charges, which are called electrons, in the bottom of the
cloud or in this experiment your finger are attracted to the positive charges,
which are called protons, in the ground or in this experiment the aluminum pie
pan. The resulting spark is like a mini lightning bolt.
How
To Grow a Borax Crystal Snowflake
The
blue and cold water sinks while the red and warm water rises. This happens
because of convection. The blue water represents the cold air mass and the red
water represents the warm, unstable air mass. A thunderstorm is caused by
unstable air and convection plays an important part. A body of warm air is
forced to rise by an approaching cold front therefore thunderstorm’s form.
Other Websites
This is not a Drill! Take Tornadoes Serious! Learn
about safety and disaster plans!
Scijinks
http://scijinks.nasa.gov/
This interactive site from NASA and NOAA teaches
middle school kids about the weather. Includes classroom activities that can be
adapted for grades 4-8, some of which may also be of interest to grades 9-12.
Check it Out!!! Awesome Weather Photos
Here are some cool weather pictures from people
all across the country who love weather. You can submit your own weather photos
here!
Fun Facts about Wild and Wacky Weather
Interactive Weather Maker
What would it be like to be a real weather person
- not just someone who reports the weather, but someone who can actually
control it? Well here's your chance. Using our Interactive Weather Maker,
you'll be able to turn a sunny day into a windy day. Or create a rainy day. And
if you create the correct conditions, you can make a blizzard - complete with a
whiteout!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Reflection #10 Memes
A meme for teachers
A meme is used to explain the way cultural information
spreads, could be a symbol or social idea. Most are for humor and shock-value and grabs people’s
attention. It is often in the form of image, video, or piece of text and is
copied, usually with slight variations. The first one I think of is the Dancing
Babies video years ago and then you saw it on the Ally McBeal show, commercials, and later with the dancing hamsters.
What I took away from this chapter is we need to rethink how we approach
critical literacy in the classroom.
We operate on a level of analyzing the text only. This is not enough. We need to take into account the social
practices and ideas. We need to
give our students important strategies for identifying memes and evaluate the
effects they can have on our decision-making and interactions.
I wish this chapter dealt more with how to use memes effectively in your
classroom. That interests me
more. I looked at how one teacher
used memes to add humor in her classroom by using them for her class
rules. I can see how using the ‘right’
memes in middle school could grab students’ attention and put a smile on their
face.
Reflection #9 e-Readers
I chose this picture because this lady is not about to let go of her love for traditional books. She doesn't want the identity of the 'book club' to change with these new literacies. She is set in her ways and she's going to "dig her heels in," as we say in the south.
I wanted to read about the pros and cons of using e-reader verses using traditional books. I read a several different articles and they pretty much all said the same. The article I will discuss came from:
www.nbcnews.com/.../pros-cons-e-readers-vs-textbooks/
Basically, the cost and the
usability compared to textbooks may not be the best choice. In 2011, a study done by Alex Thayer
gave students at the University of Washington a Kindle DX loaded with
books. Because of the usability
issues, fewer than 40% had stopped using them in the fall. He says the
e-readers didn’t allow for “cognitive mapping” which helps you remember where
you saw the information in the first place. Many students switched to a tablet or iPad because it’s more
like a computer.
Another concern was textbook
availability. Sometimes certain books can’t be downloaded and many of the
‘free’ books are lower quality.
I think there should be a balance
of using the e-readers in your class or at home. I think there is something to be said about the need for
back and forth communication as kids are reading or listening to you read. We have all read about how read alouds
help with fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. I read somewhere that there was a study that showed too much
exposure to e-readers can delay language, it tends to be a more solitaire
experience and comprehension skills are lower.
Personally, if it were a
textbook, I would rather have it in my hand so I can highlight, underline, and
take notes. I like going back to
my notes. It’s a reading
strategy. Many kids I tutored this
year told me that they didn’t like taking the ThinkLink reading part on the
computer because they couldn’t use the strategy of underlining, taking notes,
etc. Something to think about.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Reflection #8 KLCh 7 Blogging
Just a funny cartoon that made me laugh.
This chapter discussed blogging
as one of ICTs and how it identities can be “produced” and “blurred” when blogging. Blogging is an online journal that you
can regularly update brief postings without having to feel “constrained by the
writing games you have to play as academics,” as Guy stated. Guy and Mortensen say that blogging is
appealing because they can write ‘outside of the boundaries’ and not worry
about all the editorial changes, spelling, and grammar. I think that’s what holds many of us
back in writing…worrying about grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling,
etc.
The chapter discussed how blogging could
produce identity. Julia states
that, “In writing about myself, I am somehow writing myself. I am the subject and the object of the work.” She will sometimes do stuff so she can
blog about it. It influences her
life, not just a recording of it. She becomes DrJoolz and it made me
think how many people do the same thing, as they are blogging.
Identities can also become blurred as
texts intertwine and merge.
Boundaries between bloggers can blur from affinity space to real space,
as in the case with Julia. She
posted her cake photographs and linked to other academic bloggers. They met and allowed the boundaries
between bloggers to blur with personal life.
Blogging has been a big part of many of
our college classes. I don’t know
how I could integrate blogging into my kindergarten classroom. I can see how it
can, and has, helped me professionally by collaborating, sharing, discussing,
debating like topics on teaching.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Text Set #3 Food Chain
Food Chain
I chose food chains as a text set and focused mainly on owls. I have always had a fascination with owls and I enjoy teaching about owls and the food chain to kids. They love the Owl Puke book and will definitely not forget what a food chain is after dissecting an owl pellet! This text set is geared for lower grades but could be used in middle school as well. Middle schoolers still like a good read aloud with a picture book, even if they act like they don't! I plan on using this text set with my kindergarten kids in summer school. Hope you enjoy!
Books
by Jane Hammerslough
Ages 8-12
Kids love science-especially when it's hands-on-and kids love yucky stuff. The Owl Puke Book tells of the food chain, animal anatomy, life in the forest; of a bird that could read the bottom line of an eye chart from one mile away; and of a fierce hunter that swallows its prey headfirst and digests everything but the bones, which it spits back up in a pellet. As for the story the pellet tells, kids need only a toothpick to find out.
WHAT'S FOR DINNER?
Quirky, Squirmy Poems from the Animal World
by Katherine B. Hauth, illustrated by David Clark
Age Range: 8 & up
"Finding food / is not a joke. / Living things must eat / or croak." This clever collection of 29 poems presents 'who eats what' in a graphic, irreverant, but ultimately educational tone that kids love! Each poem is paired with comical ink and watercolor illustrations. This is amust-have book for teaching food chains for kids!
Pond Circle
by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Stefano Vitale On a summer night by a small pond, all seems still. But a closer look reveals a world of activity—mayflies dart, beetles dive, frogs spring, skunks shuffle, and owls swoop. As a young girl watches, the circle of life unfolds. Young readers will be inspired to journey into their own backyards and discover the wonder of the living, breathing world around them.
Videos
I used this site when we did a study on food chains. This is a wonderful site that explains the owl food chain, owl pellets, how they form, and a virtual owl pellet dissection.
http://www.kidwings.com/owlpellets/flash/v4/index.htm
Here's a terrific video explaining barn owl pellets.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/231583605812166546/
This is a great site for teachers. It gives interesting owl facts for kids including their diet, their behaviors, and what makes them unique animals. It also has a cool, short video to watch.
http://animalstime.com/owl-facts-for-kids-owl-habitat-diet/
Writing
pinterest.com/pin/430304939369639268/
I thought this was a great graphic organizer for writing about owls.
A great way to organize your thoughts.
pinterest.com/pin/430304939369639260/Other Activities
What better way to help kids remember the food chain than dissecting actual owl pellets! I did this when I taught 5th grade and the students talked about it for weeks. After they glued the bones on cardboard and they figured out what animal it was, I had them name it and write a story about it.
A very cool place to visit on a field trip or schools can pay to have them come to you. (Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee) Students will explore food chains, learn about habitats and adaptations, and even have an encounter with a living invertebrate.
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