Teaching Through Biographies

Hello dear students,

            In today's class, unit 1: Famous Egyptians, lesson 5: Communication, you were wonderful giving talks about the persons you like the most.

As biographies raise your interest, please go to the link below, explore the example biography framework given at:

http://712educators.about.com/cs/biographies/l/blbioframework.htm


and the rubric given at:

 http://712educators.about.com/cs/biographies/l/blrubricbio.htm

and choose a person who is famous or who you know well and fill in the framework. He / She can be alive or from history. Then write a paragraph in 80 - 100 words. You can find more about famous people at:

http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/l/?p=1&instId=5dead9b2-e4e4-4ac2-8d4c-d5d293913ce5&token=f0f1410e80a105463c305ba30d701d89bd060be60000013b31cbaf8d&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.famouspeoplelessons.com

Thanks,

Safaa


        

Week 8: Teacher Resources Online

Hello everyone,

          I owe much to the Web Skills team and to every participant in the course. I learn a lot from you all.

In week 8, I made full use of Google Docs. and created a Traffic Survey for class:


 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dC1GRDh6RGo0UFJxbW85MWxIdl9oTXc6MQ

The survey helps students to make notes and give suggestions for improving road safety in their area. I shared the link with students through email.

I also put into effect my Inspiration software, the powerful visual learning tool to create a book discussion guide to help students summarize the main points in a book. The need makes you find every possible way to finish your work. I wanted to share the file with you, especially those who are teaching literature. So I saved it as a GIF file and was able to upload it here.

I'm a subscriber to SlideShop Website and I receive free slide templates every now and then. This is how I make use of the resource for week 8. I used one of the animated slides to create the timeline for my project and I used another one before to consolidate a teamWork unit for 2 nd year secondary together with a YouTube video. I shared all that in the blog posts down.

After creating my blog in week 1, I shared many links with students to make them improve their pronunciation through the pronunciation Poem with OUGH. You know the English Sound System is the most difficult for EFL learners. The links are found in the blog post entitled: Have fun learning English.

Every week I hone my web skills, but in week 8 I've the best of practice.

Thanks for all the useful sharings in the resources of week 8.

Safaa

 

TEAMWORK: The Benefits of International Cooperation Assignment

Hello dear students,

Today's class about TEAMWORK carries a lot of meanings:

Please follow the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9mdHMtxOjY&feature=relmfu and do an internet research about the benefits of international cooperation.

Thanks

Safaa




 

Guinness World Records - superlatives (regular and irregular)

Hello friends,

        Today we revised adverbs of degree, and adjectives: comparatives and superlatives.

Please visit Guinness World Records:

                        http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/

and explore records (Hall of Fame) to write 5 sentences of your choice under the heading:

That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard!

You'll turn in the assignment sheet to me after tomorrow.

Thanks

Safaa 

Term Project: A Book Discussion Guide Sample

Hello dear students,

           Please study closely the mind map below and find about the  points you're going to include in your term project to produce a book discussion guide:















You can work individually, in pairs or groups to produce the project.

The final product can be an oral presentation (use Popplet, PPT slides), a term paper, or a poster.

I'll discuss and show you the rubrics in class time. Your project is due 15th, December, 2012.

For any questions, I'll be available during class / break time or through emails as usual.

I expect to display your products in the Harvest Day Festival at the end of the year.

Thanks,

Safaa



 

Popplet, technology tool - Samples of students' products

Greetings to all E-Teachers,

                As I promised in my blog post for week 7, here's how Popplet personalizes learning and engages students with the content.

Please find out yourself how brainstorming and mind mapping can unlock your & your students' creative geniuses. 

My students have fun doing that technology activity.

Hope you've fun too.

Safaa



































 

Week 7: Learner Autonomy and the One-computer Classroom

Hello E-Teachers,

Are you autonomous teachers or you just want learners to be autonomous?

Week 7 brings the issue of learner autonomy and CALL into my focus.

I've read a lot about that and found that they're inter-related. But I can say that with and without technology, I can help my students become autonomous learners: debates, role plays, writings, simulations, problem-solving tasks, games, puzzles, reflections, researches, and collaborative projects.

For me,  "A good teacher doesn't teach all that he knows. He teaches all that the learner needs to know at the time, and all that the learner can accountably learn at the time given."

In my context, there's evidence that students learn deeply when they're engaged with the content. They recall their prior knowledge, develop learning skills and promote self awareness of learning.


My students and I are satisfied with one period a week in the one computer media lab. Though the social interaction is missing, students have autonomous moves and afterwards interact with the authentic, meaningful materials that are relevant to their needs, interests and expectations. To mention but a few:

* review major grammatical structures.
* develop conversational fluency.
* watch videos and listen to podcasts and do assigned tasks.

I see myself as a guide & a facilitator in the process. I find myself establishing classroom climates that build learner's autonomy and responsibility: personalization, involvement, clear and organized tasks, differentiation, and innovative teaching methods.

Text messaging and emails worked well during the phase 2 implementation of my project. The technology tool, Popplet has personalized learning. I'll display samples of students' final products in a separate post, but here's one to keep you curious:

Enjoy and let the learner-centered approach to teaching your "voice & choice"!

All the best for all with their projects,

Safaa

















 

Week 6: Creating Student-centered Classes and Interactive PowerPoint

Safaa's greetings to all enthusiastic teachers,

           Enthusiastic teachers ignite enthusiasm in their students. This week I raised the slogan "TEAMWORK": Together Everyone Achieves More. 

 

 



 

Improving my web teaching skills makes a big difference in my own life and in my students' own lives. The final project together with the plan for change allows me to integrate the new methods and technology tools learnt and have the following roadmap for execution:

* students: 1 st year secondary, girls' class.

* process: improving writing skill with a special focus on note taking and conveying messages.

* content: students interact with the course content to create mind maps related to:
1. facts about something
2.  summaries:  biographies / autobiographies, articles.
3. book reports / book discussion guides.
4. advice on how to stay healthy.
5. ways of learning vocabulay.
6. holiday experience.
7. fears and phobias.
8. thoughts and opinions about the environment.
9. favourite animals.
10. public transport.

* technology: Popplet, a mind map & a brainstorming tool.

* measurement: evidence of students' products.

Personalization in education through the use of Popplet

The start was easy as my students and I are in the habit of using  graphic organizers which scaffold the 4 language skills. Popplet is similar to the graphic organizer, Spider Web (main idea and supporting details). The differences are that Popplet  allows subscribers to share their work, add images to the written notes, change color, save the mind map as PDF or as a JPEG image and show their names on each popplet created. 

For the last 4 days there was a lot of give and take. Some students were excited. Others were confused. Some others forgot to save their work. Some needed help to choose the topic or to install Adobe flash player. Students who don't have Internet access at home will work with others who have to get the work done. I myself failed to show them a real experience with Popplet while using my Internet USB. But when problems come up, I'm ready with plan B. The next day, I showed them an example of a mind map I created to simplify the process. Anticipating problems, suggesting solutions, learning from mistakes and collaborating with others pave the way for future success.  

                        

 Up till now I don't have any concrete products, but all achievements require time, don't they? I'm waiting eagerly to feel the effects of variety, activity, collaboration, technology, success, challenge and support on making the practice more engaging.

Videos, games, projects, PPPs, clip arts, podcasts, role plays, simulations and service learning are all engaging formula for students. This variety lends interest and allows students to promote and incorporate their mulptiple intelligences and enhance retention.

When we keep our students engaged in meaningful language use, we ensure that their participation increases and learning improves and that classroom problems won't happen.





Happy students' engagement formula!

Safaa

 

Week 5: Project-based Learning, WebQuests, and rubrics

Hello dear colleagues,





Week 5 brings a lot of dynamic approaches to my attention. PBL, WebQuests, and rubrics are all alternative assessment tools about which we, teachers, must strategize as they contribute to collaborative classroom learning.



 

 

 

 I get armed not only with ICT competencies, but also with the teaching skills I need to help my students be collaborative, problem-solving and creative learners. Using the technology tools, students will prepare themselves to the real world.

 

 

What gets measured gets done. Rubrics is a recipe for success. It's an authentic tool that links objectives and performance. It communicates to students what is expected of them and provides feedback to them. I create rubrics for students' oral presentations (debates, role plays), exam essays (content, organization and mechanics). I use checklists to assess student- teachers and also students use them to assess me.

 

 

 

In my book, teacher should be Fair, Firm, Frank, friendly and funny. The different roles of the teacher can set a good example for students to follow. Students' group and collaborative work can resolve conflicts, build self-esteem, maximize cooperative work and engage the disengaged. Students can assess themselves and their peers and develop autonomy.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to all those who could start creating their webquests. I'll create one next term God's willing. Thanks Robert, Janine and classmates for sharing your projects and delicious links.

 

 

 

All the best for all with their projects and WebQuests,

Safaa