Chapter One, Setting Objectives
This chapter covers the instructional strategy of setting objectives to focus on establishing a direction for learning. Pitler's recommendations:
- Set learning objectives that are specific but flexible.
- Allow students flexibility in personalizing the learning objectives or goals.
- Communicate the learning objectives or goals to students and parents.
- Contract with students to attain specific learning objectives or goals.
The following technologies are mentioned in chapter one as far as setting objectives:
- word processing applications
- organizing and brainstorming software
- data collection tools
- Web resources
- communications software
I'm interested if any of you have used any of the online rubric creators mentioned, and if so, what you thought about them? If you haven't ever used these, please play around with one of them to see how you like it, and let the group know.
p. 36 lists 5 blogs. I've included links to the ones that seemed to still be up and running. Please choose one (or both) to visit and let us know what your thoughts are. Is this something you already currently use with your classes? Do you think it would be beneficial for you?
Room 613 Talk: Mr. Hetherington's 6th Grade Social Studies Class
Mr.. Wright's 3rd grade Class
Do you utilize email for parent communication (or for those of you teaching older students, with your students themselves)? Have you found it to be effective?
Please remember your comments are due by midnight Sunday night!
Sonja
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ReplyDeleteI use an app on my iPad & iTouch called iBrainstorm. There are virtual post it notes that we can from our brainstorming ideas on then flick the post it notes between devices (that's my student's favorite part!).
ReplyDeleteI looked at both blogs. I liked that Mr. Hetherington's had a lot of student produced "stuff". I like the videos on Mr. Wright's. I see the benefits of a blog. I use eyejot.com to video myself signing (I'm a Deaf Ed teacher) my vocabulary for the week and the Gen Ed's math teacher for the week. I have to email the video to my parents. Posting it on a blog might be easier.
I don't email my parent much with the exception of the video. I text my parents. One of my moms said my daily text have made a huge difference this year. I've been pleasantly surprised that no one has abused having my cell phone number. So I plan to continue texting.
testing gmail acct of old.
ReplyDeleteI tested RubiStar and I liked it very much. I intend to do some more testing and perhaps put it into use. I'm a big believer in rubrics. It allows the students a clearer understanding of my objectives.
ReplyDeleteIn this classroom we blog every week, and I've been doing it for years. We will have a technology theme that might carry over for a few weeks at a time. Sometimes I ask for an opinion. Sometimes I ask the kids to find a link. I run the blog because almost EVERY college class that these kids will take will have some online component (blackboard, etc.) in which they will have to complete discussions to receive credit. I believe the highschoolers need to get into that groove now. Here's the link to my blog: http://mrslanhamtechnologydiscussion.blogspot.com/
Please feel free to poke around.
I email with parents constantly. Sometimes I'll email with students as well, but that's much rarer than with the parents. I do find it to be effective as I can take a second to double-check my answers and make sure I'm not coming across in an unprofessional manner. I can also return the emails at a convenient time as opposed to a phone call that interrupts my class / train of thought.
Linsey-that app sounds cool--totally planning on checking that out this weekend! I love that you have found something that really works for your parents with the texting---parent communication is so important, isn't it? And...I think you might really find blogging those videos to be a great way to go! If you decide to try it, I'd love to see it.
ReplyDeleteLanham-glad you liked RubiStar--I thought it was cool, too. I'm a huge believer in using rubrics---not only does it help the students, but honestly, it forces me to really think about my objectives in assignments, as well. LOVED your blog---and I agree---to really prepare kids for what they will find in college, we must begin to prepare them for some type of online learning.
I have used RubiStar also. I use it occassionally for various projects in my math classroom. I have not created one, I used a pre-made one for grading students how they use their strategies in problem solving.
ReplyDeleteI have used Edmodo and Kidblog to post assignments or have students ask their peers if they have questions on their homework. I found out that many of my students do not have access to the internet at home and are unable to participate. Thus I am not having alot of success with them. So I try to have them log on at school when we have time. I don't make enough time for something like this in class. I need to make it more accessible if possible.
I do email and text parents. Many times I will try to contact them by phone and realize it would be easier for me to email as most people have email at the touch of their finger tips. I would like to try the iBrainstrom that Linsey mentioned. Extrememly beneficial for everyone.
I liked both Mr. Hetherington's and Mr. Wright's blog. I know I used our school's website alot last year and had links for my students to check out for tutorials and games. I also used it for math lab to link easily to their assignments. I have changed the grade I teach this year and have not utilized our site like I should and hope to work on that this summer.
Rubrics are a great tool for me. I also looked at RubiStar and will utilize it in the future. Students can know exactly what is expected of them. This is especially important to me in coaching teams of 4 or 5 students on a project. A rubric allows for individual and team performance scores.
ReplyDeleteI checked out both blogs that were linked. I like them both. Blogs allow students to express themselves and are a great help with their written communication skills. Blogs are an excellent way to showcase student work, lesson objectives and they give students a great pathway to becoming technology literate. I have not used blogs in their pure sense in teaching Principles of Manufacturing (AKA Shop), but can certainly see how it would be a must in English, Technology Design and BCIS classes.
I like being able to e-mail a parent about their child's progress during the school year. I wish every parent had access to e-mail. As R. Lanham states it is effective and convenient. I use e-mail frequently with students that become homebound and have access.
I must admit that this made me think of how I need to update my class webpage. I did like both pages. I especially enjoyed Mr. Hetherington's student who shared her journal about her travel to California and Nevada. Looking at both these teacher's sites also made me think that this is something we need to show our parents at open house and meet the teacher visits. Some parents may feel a bit overwhelmed navigating the sites.
ReplyDeleteI email and text my parents as needed but mainly text. Texting seems to work easier for my parents since most have their phones on them at all times.
I really like RubiStar, but it is mostly for my own use. I teach 2nd grade and have not had much success with students using it. They do better if I specifically tell them ways to improve their work. I have generally been able to find a rubric that fit my assignments, although the time I made one, found it easy to do.
ReplyDeleteThe blogs are neat, but I struggle getting the planning and grading I need to do finished. Posting to a blog would just be one more thing I'm behind on. Right now, I believe less than half of my class has internet at home.
I have only received one email from a parent this year so I have to say that I don't use email as a communication method.
I looked at the RubiStar as well. It looked very easy to use and I plan on trying to incorporate it into future projects for my classes.
ReplyDeleteI have had a personal blog off and on for years, and have always wanted to try using it in some way in the classroom. My hesitation has always come back to the lack of internet access for some (many) of my students, so I have always put it on the back burner. I would agree with Lanham about students needing to be prepared for using similar technology in college. Perhaps I will end up being inspired to get one started.
Email is my preferred method of communicating with parents. I will occasionally get emails from parents, and it is much easier just to reply to the email than to pick up the phone. I do NOT communicate with students via email. Perhaps if I taught high school this might seem more acceptable to me, but not for middle school students.
Everyone has had great comments, and made great points. I think technology can be an invaluable tool----but clearly there are strides to be made yet as far as all our students having home access. In some ways I think it is easier as the kiddos get older because I'd venture to say that most of them by middle school at least have access to a smart phone (many of them have newer versions than I do them themselves!)if not a desktop/laptop at home.
ReplyDeleteI love blogs. In theory I keep a librarian's blog and a Girl Scout troop blog for the parents---but with all that we struggle to accomplish each day it is a struggle to stay caught up and on track with them, so I get the whole "one more thing to do" aspect. I'm holding out hope that it will get better---or maybe I'll just be able to figure out how to manage my time in a smarter way. Between all the meetings, staying afloat with grading, planning for and following through with differentiation for a ton of students, etc. ---not to mention attempting to have a life outside of work (imagine that!)---well, it is a daunting task for everyone, no doubt about it.
With that said, I am especially thankful that you guys are in this class and I hope there will be something of benefit to you as we go along!
s
I have loved reading everyone's posts. I too have used Rubistar in the past and liked it. I haven't used it as much these past couple of years, but I don't know why. I guess I just forgot about it. Rubrics are a great way to show students that they do have control over how their grades. Rubrics also let them know what exactly is expected.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever blogged before. I have used a class website through teacherweb.com to communicate with parents and to keep students informed. I haven't figured out how to really make our district class websites very useful. I would like to learn more about how to use it the way I need for it to work.
I prefer communicating with parents through email. I have trouble making the time during the day to make a phone call. It is much easier for me to drop a quick email. I haven't ever texted a parent. I did call a parent from my cell phone once and regreted it very much when she took advantage of having my phone number.
I communicate with many parents through e-mail and text messaging. I call many others. I haven't ever had a parent take advantage of having my number.
ReplyDeleteI've never used a blog before but can see the benefits it could provide.
I love rubrics because they show the students exactly what is expected. A rubric helps a student be responsible for his own learning and grade.
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ReplyDeleteI use Word to create graphic organizers quite often, especially when making modifications to assignments in content mastery. I also use Word to create rubrics for my Resource English class, and at times can be very time consuming. I have never used Rubistar before, but after looking over the website and walking through the process of creating one, I will definitely be using Rubistar in the future. I am in my last semester of grad school, so I am all about anything that will save me time.
ReplyDeleteI do not currently blog, and until I am finished with grad school I do not see that happening. Personally I do not think I would enjoy blogging, but for work I would consider it if it was beneficial to the students.
Communicating with parents through email is actually my preferred communication method. The first week of school I send home a form with students that includes a place for parents to list their contact information, and to indicate their preferred method of communication. Unfortunately, there are only a few of my students' parents who gave me an email address, and selected it as their preferred method of communication. Email has been a very effective form of communication for me with those parents who do utilize it.
I love the idea of using ibrainstorm. I have post it notes everywhere and this one be one sure way of keeping up with them. I also use word to create graphic organizers. I have found Pyrmethean Planet has a lot of graphic organizers already made. I have never blogged but is something I am willing to learn and use as a source of communication for my parents and students.
ReplyDeleteI communicate with my parents through email, text, and phone. I have found phone to be more successful because alot of my parents do not have computers. Some of them do not have phones as well so parent communication can be a challenge for me. I do 2 home visits a year with my kids also. THis allows me to fully understand and relate to my kids and their parents.
I apologize for my posting being late. The time just got away from me. In my current classroom we use rubrics for major projects and extra credit assignments. I have always made my own rubrics so I found it fun playing around with the makers.
ReplyDeleteI currently am using a classroom blog to document our garden project. We are not very far into the project to have much of a blog. However, the students have had fun helping mw write the posts. Here is the link if you care to take a look. http://teachinginthegarden3.blogspot.com/
I communicate with parents though phone, email, and a program called Remind 101. Remind 101 will send the parent a text through a website. This way parents never see my personal cell phone number unless I give it to them. It also keeps their cell phone number private from the other people reciving the message. Parents must sign up on the website to recieve the text/email with a special code that you get when you make a new class. This year has been the first year my parents have really started using this feature and they seem to enjoy it. FYI it was also a quick and easy way to contact them when we had a delay in school due to weather conditions.
Bethany, how do I find Remind 101? I have a hearing-impaired parent this year and I think this could help us since I'm not comfortable giving out my cell phone number.
DeleteI have played around with RubiStar in the past, but have typically chosen to utilize rubrics I have found online through websites like Teachers Pay Teachers. I will be creating one in the next couple of weeks, however, as I have not found an applicable one online.
ReplyDeleteI have used several different blogs as a student and have always prefered Blogger for its ease of use. As a teacher, I have not used a blog directly with my students. I think that a blog could be a wonderful tool, although I do have concerns about the time it would take me to set up and maintain a blog for my classroom.
I do email parents regularily who indicate at the beginning of the year that they have regular access to email and are willing to provide their email address.
-R.Espinosa
Although I have gotten plenty of rubrics offline that others have used, I must admit that I have never created my own rubric online. I guess I am pretty naïve that I could find such thing. Instead of searching and searching for the perfect one I could have created my own. After looking at several rubrics online RubiStar happens to be one of my favorites. I think its website was very user friendly and I liked I could create a rubric for my writing samples. I see this being a very beneficial tool to me and my students.
ReplyDeleteI do use emails to communicate with my parents and find it very effective. Most parents even have their email set up on their cell phones so they get it instantly. I also like to use emails to communicate with my parents for documentation purposes. It is easier to keep a folder in my inbox then to write down every phone call or make copies of every letter I send home.
I am very late to the game; trying to get caught up. My apologies!
ReplyDeleteI have not used the rubric sites listed, but I have played around with RubiStar in the past. I liked it, but ran into a time crunch. I use the rubric maker on Turnitin all the time.
As far as blogs are concerned, I haven't used one. I am interested to know more about them, particularly what the difference is between a blog post and a podcast. I am using schoology to communicate with my students/post assignments while on leave.
I do use email for parent and student communication. It is so much easier to communicate electronically as that is usually a surer way to actually get in touch with the parent/student.
I think a rubric is a great idea and would use one of the websites but not sure they would work in pre k. I think students and parents would take full advantage of this. It will let them know what they are going to learn and where it is coming from.
ReplyDeleteI have a blog set up on my web page for school but I'm not good at keeping up with it. I think it will be a great tool to use for parents, students, and to pass information on without it getting lost.
I have not used email for communication. I find it hard to keep up with parent information and it would be time consuming to keep track of their email. I do text message important information.
As a 4th grade teacher facing the Writing STAAR, I use a rubric for grading quite often! Other than that, I've used rubrics provided by teaching partners or curriculum for different classroom projects.
ReplyDeleteI have not personally used any of the rubric sites listed in the book. I did look at each of them and would probably use either RubiStar or TeAchnology based solely on the fact that they have a variety of ready-to-use rubrics. With four children of my own, I try to avoid reinventing the wheel as much as possible!
As far as blogs go, I'm not a blogger. However, I have several friends that are so I'm comfortable with that particular form of communication. I also follow several teacher blogs that I discovered through Pinterest.
I try to accommodate the parent when possible when it comes to communication. However I don't give out my personal number. I am going to look into the Remind 101 that Bethany mentioned in her response. I have a parent that is hearing-impaired and I think a program like that could be beneficial.