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Making Topographic Maps Relevant in a High Tech World

1/22/2018

Middle school science TEKS 8.9C

While planning my lessons this month, I was faced with the dilemma of using the materials I have always used to teach my students how to interpret a topographic map or use something new. I decided on new. I wanted my students to really take ownership of their own learning, which meant exploration!

I used a foldable to help my students organize the basic information about topography. I included a practice map where we calculated the elevation of various points and learned how to determine the contour interval of a map.

After the background knowledge was in place, I set my room up into four stations.

Watch it - students watched a video explaining the ins and outs of a topographic map.
Read it - students read a passage about the value of topographic maps and who really utilizes this tool.
Explore it - students used various maps to complete a set of task cards.
Research it - THIS was the most favorite station of the four. Students used this website: http://www.mytopo.com/maps/

Students put in their address and then had to determine the elevation of their house and the nearest landmark. Relevant? Yes! All of my students easily determined the elevation of their home and then went on to explore the whole town. They discovered they could toggle from a topographic map view to a satellite image. Cool beans!
It was so fun to watch my 8th graders work collaboratively as they applied their knowledge of topographic maps in a real world application. So, my advice try something new and listen to your students talk the talk of your content area.

This blog post was written by Commerce Middle School 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Science teacher and iCoach, Cindy Pierce.

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ClassDojo Student Stories

1/16/2018

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We began using ClassDojo this school year as our campus-wide behavior management system. The ClassDojo app allows you to easily set up your classroom and immediately begin awarding points for targeted behavior. The app comes with a list of target behaviors, but you can easily edit those to match your classroom expectations. Parents can connect to your classroom through printed invitations or by email to join your class. Students can also create accounts to do a variety of activities in the classroom and THIS is where the magic really happens...with Student Stories.

Student Stories provide an instantly updated stream of pictures, videos, messages and more that connect parents to virtually everything happening in their child's classroom!

Students can upload pictures of projects created in other apps. This can be done directly from the app or by uploading a project from the camera roll.

Record and share videos or load those that have been saved from other apps. The videos can be up to 8 minutes long.

Draw on or add text to annotate photos to add more details and enhance the content.

Journal entries provide a quick and easy way for students to write a reflection of their learning or complete a quick writing assignment.

Drawings provide a blank canvas to draw pictures and illustrations.

The ClassDojo Student Story provides the perfect opportunity for parents to take a peek into their child’s classroom!

This blog post was originally published at: https://msgardnersgroup.blogspot.com/2017/12/classdojo-student-stories.html by Commerce Elementary School 2nd Grade teacher and iCoach, Misti Gardner.

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Whooo's Reading at A.C. Williams? Everyone!

1/8/2018

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This year, A.C. Williams decided to pilot a new program called Whooo's Reading to replace the Accelerated Reader program. We have had some mixed reviews, but I am a huge fan!

Most of my career in Commerce ISD has been spent teaching Reading and Writing. I love both subjects, and this program helps tie them together. In fourth grade, students are required to take their first writing STAAR test. This program helps them prepare by requiring students to write more, replace overused words, and use their text to prove their answers. Owlfonso is a great teaching assistant!

In the example above, you can see Owlfonso in action! He gives the students a chance to change their answer. Also, the yellow progress bar will turn green when the program recognized enough of the answer. I tell my students they must have a green bar before clicking Next Question.

Students are allowed to take a test on ANY book. It does not have to be in the system. All books can be added. This is amazing! I have my students add stories from our basal readers often. I take these quizzes as grades. Once the book has been added, students can also choose to write a journal, or do an activity. The activities are awesome! They are also printable! They serve as great graphic organizers that can be used in the classroom.

One of my favorite features, is the ability to differentiate. Our students do not come to us ready for one test fits all. Some need a little more scaffolding. This program allows you to set a grade level, and an Academic Level! That means, their test gets graded on their level. They can be graded easier, or harder! This program is designed to grow with them!

Whooo's Reading is much harder than Accelerated Reader. Students have to put in the effort to receive the grade. As their academic levels increase, they must begin to cite evidence from the text. We use the R.A.C.E. strategy when writing. This helps students to write a more complete answer. Sometimes they get in a hurry, and forget to follow this strategy, but that does not happen often in my class. My students have learned that I will delete tests that do not match my expectations. I love that I can print out the exact test they took and see exactly what they wrote. I can write feedback on the printout, or send it back to be retaken electronically with feedback. However, the next test, will not give the student the same questions. They have to take what feedback I give, and apply it to a whole new set of questions!

This image to the left is an example of the report. I print this report, write feedback, and decide if I need to change a grade. The quizzes are graded by a computer, so sometimes things slip by. I have caught students typing in random letters, copying and pasting random words in from the internet, and just trying to write jibberish. Usually the computer will catch it and give them a zero, but I love that I can print this report and send it home to parents. They need to see if their child is testing up to their expectations as well. I can customize the dates on the report to only get the tests for that month. Right now, our students only have to get 50 points in a month (an 80 is 24 points). Therefore, they must take at least two tests. I send copies of these tests home and document on the page if they counted for a grade in the gradebook.

Each month, if a student makes his/her goal, Mrs. Duckworth brings them a little prize. Last month they received a squirty owl. They loved it! In my classroom, I offer a popcorn party with a movie (at lunchtime) when they have taken and passed 100 tests. My homeroom just met that goal for the first time, and their excitement was obvious (sorry fourth grade teachers). We also have a race to win a bicycle. I have one little guy who has over 600 points! Being a part of his race to win is so exciting. The students who are not as close are steadily cheering him on. It is a great thing to witness. I love having these incentives, but the students have their own incentives within the program as well.

On the student version, they can earn coins to be spent at the Owl Shop. They each have their own Owlvatar to dress up and buy things for. They earn coins by passing tests, doing activities, correcting their own writing, or by doing anything I ask in the classroom. We recently took our middle of the year benchmark test. I am going to find out exactly WHO used their strategies on their test and give them 100 coins to spend in the owl shop! This is an incentive they did not know about, but I will be doing more often. They love making their owls unique! It doesn't hurt that it's Christmas time and the students are getting into the holiday spirit! Check out part my class! Aren't they Owl-dorable?

There are lots of things to love about Whooo's Reading, but with any program in it's beginning stages, there are always glitches. However, that can also be praised! The Whooo's Reading team is amazing at fixing problems. They truly want our business and do their absolute best to fix problems. They constantly add new features to make the system better. They listen to their teachers.

I know some schools will not want to change their system, but I really do like this system. I think it truly challenges our students and makes them think at a higher level. I really think this will make a difference in how our students think about their reading, and help encourage solid writing. I'm glad we made the switch to this program.

This blog post was written by A.C. Williams Elementary School 4th Grade Reading teacher and iCoach, Amy Scaff.

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Making Topographic Maps Relevant in a High Tech World

Middle school science TEKS 8.9C

ClassDojo Student Stories

Whooo's Reading at A.C. Williams? Everyone!

Heather Kilgore & CISD Tech Team

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