PAG's Teacher Blog

Wow-eeeeee! Testing these last 3 weeks has me discombobulated & we still have make-ups April 30th- May 2nd followed by MAP testing May 14th - 16th. All good, however, as I have an amazingly resilient group of 7th graders who seem to have handled the choppy schedule well! The end-of-year work includes a research project and final exam that has already been mapped out, so I created a lesson for a previous unit on Journalism & Broadcasting careers within the Arts, Audio-Visual Technology cluster.  Journalism & Broadcasting Lesson The way Magic School effortlessly created a variety of choices for activities is amazing! This lesson offers ideas that would appeal to most students. Students could share which career is most appealing & why: • News Reporter/Journalist • News Anchor • Radio Host/DJ • Podcast Producer • Video Editor • Camera Operator • Producer • Digital Content Creator Students could research which establishment they would want work with and why: • TV Statio...

 Which guidelines are the most relevant for students in my classes? Ramp-Up Objectives seem to be the most useful tool I can implement. Students need to know why we are covering a specific topic. I also want to be able to justify what we're doing so students can feel like their learning is meaningful rather than busywork or something to keep them occupied for 45 minutes to log attendance.  Extend oral language practice opportunities is also a tool I can utilize in activities for students. CTE students explore many new concepts in 7th grade; I can create small group activities and assignments where students practice using keywords like CTSO (Career Technical Student Organization).

What are some of the strengths and challenges of our platform regarding collaborative discussions?  How much discussion do you currently have in your classes? How might you increase it? One strength regarding collaborative discussions is the ability for student to use readily available chat. If a student doesn't want to verbalize his/her thoughts, he/she can actively reply using chat. I appreciate the options students have when it comes to online discussions (chat, discussion threads, QA, table/breakout room chats).  One major challenge with online teaching regarding collaborative discussions in class, Newrow breakout rooms, or Engageli tables is whether or not students are actually present, especially if cameras are not in use. Are students logging in and walking away just to log attendance? Collaborative discussion can be challenging if 4 students are at a table/in a breakout room and only 1 student is engaged/present.  I try to include at least one discussion exercise ...

Speaking Assignments with the Record Button! Dun-dun-duuuuuuuuun 😨. Sounds intimidating, but it's really not! I am thankful our LMS has a built-in record function for students to use for audio or video clips. If a student says they don't have video or audio recording functions on their laptop, nope! It's right there in the assignment next to the upload button. Also, the LMS record function holds a substantial amount of time/info, which was a surprise. As with anything new, there can be a bit of resistance from some students. However, demonstrating how to use the record button and reassuring students that I was the only person who'd see/listen to their submissions helped alleviate hesitancy. When I was a kid, I didn't get choices in my schoolwork, so I enjoy giving students a chance to pick how they show what they know; adding the record option has been a great addition, especially for students who may be shy in class participation. The record function has given stu...

 Thinking about how I select key words for instructional purpose & would Kalamity be useful for middle schoolers? During our listing of vocabulary words, I realized that I organized terms based on how they connect to other words (i.e., cluster - pathway, internship - apprenticeship) in order to help students understand their meanings. I also introduce key words based on their continuation in units; most key words introduced in semester 1 will be used throughout the year. I would need to use Kalamity more in order to feel confident recommending it for students. I tried adding "pathway"& couldn't save the word (?). I would have to ensure students had a cell phone and were able to download an app for school. It can be a challenge getting students onto Classkick, but maybe a phone app would be easier?

Contemplating the results of the activities today, consider what these objectives mean for your instruction. How will you start incorporating them into your CCs and assignments? Language Objective and what does it mean instructionally?      I try to be intentional with new vocabulary. Students may have heard these terms before, but they are "new" in the sense that we are connecting the terms with associated careers. The objective is for students to recognize 2 terms, so I need to devise a way for students to grasp what these terms mean so we define, simplify, and engage. I include examples and demonstrate how to complete and submit assignments. For example, in Journalism & Broadcasting, we learn what journalism and broadcasting mean by reading the Oxford dictionary definition. Then, a student or I simplify. Once students grasp both terms, they "become" journalists and/or broadcasters using any topic that interests them . When possible,  I try to give studen...