Projects
The other projects and places (both inside and outside of the classroom) where you might find me…
Digital Is
The Digital Is website is a product of the National Writing Project. As a 2010 Area 3 Writing Project Summer Institute Teacher Consultant I joined the National Writing Project community and have yet to look back. Take a moment to check out the Digital Is website and you can even stop by my page. Throughout the Digital Is site, you will find tons of resources for incorporating writing into your content area.
Goodreads
As you might have guessed from my Book of the Week and other posts, I’m a bit of a reader. If you’re curious in finding out what I am currently reading, take a moment to pop by my Goodreads page. If you have an account, friend me…and if not consider making one. Its a great way to discover future good reads.
EdTech Classroom Podcast
A few summers ago, one my favorite CTAP friends, Burt invited me to start a podcast with him all about using technology in the classroom. A year later one of our regular listeners, Karen joined us. So, far we’ve had a great time and exchanged some pretty fantastic ideas with each other and our listeners! I know I always learn something to use with my students every time we record. Have a listen and let us know what you think.
San Juan & Sylvan Moodle
Moodle? What’s that!?! Does it come with marinara? A few years ago that was my initial reaction when learned about this fantastic online course management system. Now, I can’t imagine not using Moodle and I hope I never have to go back to a Moodle-less existence. If you’d like to check out my Moodle courses send me a note from the Contact Me page and I will send you the guest enrollment key.
Salk’s Periodic Table
How can you make the periodic table unit a little more interesting, while also teaching some writing and information literacy skills? Consider having your students construct an interactive periodic table. A few years ago my 8th grade class constructed this site as an on-going project to demonstrate their knowledge of elements, atoms, and atomic structure. Feel free to take a look!
Room 34 Wiki Textbook
After borrowing stealing a great idea from an innovative teacher with whom we should all have the pleasure of working, my students and I started creating a online textbook in the form of a wiki. Students are broken into groups and each group is responsible for a “chapter” based on one of the California 8th Grade Science Standards. Now students seem to prefer “wiki work days” over anything else. Our wiki has spawned conversations not only about science, but Creative Commons and basic HTML as well. By April we should have a great review project for statewide testing. Take a look at our work in progress.
Room 34 Wiki Glossary
While one class is creating a textbook my other class is creating an online glossary.
Review Podcasts
Every 12 weeks my students have the pleasure completing a benchmark exam (aka Trimester Final). I am always looking for interesting ways to get them to review. A few years ago we created Trimester Review Podcasts and it was quite a hit.
