I think during the past two weeks we've had two of the most productive Genius Hour days so far - we're really buckling down on our goals. With reflections / updates due every Friday, students have their goals more organized in their minds and know what they want or need to do next...
Last week, instead of writing a prompt on Tuesday, we represented the change in "The Gettysburg Address" visually in a poster. Paragraphs 1 & 2 have a different message from paragraph 3, and students were asked to find what he meant, and then represent that on a poster. (Insert the field trip to see "Joseph" on Wednesday.) Thursday and Friday we finished analyzing this great speech, and ended with a final writing prompt about the impact of one of Lincoln's revisions to the speech.
This past week, we read and analyzed two poems about family, and were able to have a fish bowl discussion about them, as well, with one discussion evaluating them today. You might want to stop by and recite an original poem for your child's class this month... Check out our "Poet Tree" and let me know if you'd like to stop by - I'll alert the office of your visit. Other teachers have been invited, as well, but only Mr. Green has shown their courage... SO FAR (per block 8/9). If your child is thinking of writing poetry for some type of reward, please direct him or her to the poetry scholarships site I've found.
One day this week, we analyzed TED talks. (Students had another substitute this day while I was at Dunton with the 7th grade ELA teachers from TMS and SMS.) We analyzed at least three speeches for gestures, movement, confidence, and graphics or pictures will hopefully help us analyze our presentations for the end of the year.
Last week, instead of writing a prompt on Tuesday, we represented the change in "The Gettysburg Address" visually in a poster. Paragraphs 1 & 2 have a different message from paragraph 3, and students were asked to find what he meant, and then represent that on a poster. (Insert the field trip to see "Joseph" on Wednesday.) Thursday and Friday we finished analyzing this great speech, and ended with a final writing prompt about the impact of one of Lincoln's revisions to the speech.
This past week, we read and analyzed two poems about family, and were able to have a fish bowl discussion about them, as well, with one discussion evaluating them today. You might want to stop by and recite an original poem for your child's class this month... Check out our "Poet Tree" and let me know if you'd like to stop by - I'll alert the office of your visit. Other teachers have been invited, as well, but only Mr. Green has shown their courage... SO FAR (per block 8/9). If your child is thinking of writing poetry for some type of reward, please direct him or her to the poetry scholarships site I've found.
One day this week, we analyzed TED talks. (Students had another substitute this day while I was at Dunton with the 7th grade ELA teachers from TMS and SMS.) We analyzed at least three speeches for gestures, movement, confidence, and graphics or pictures will hopefully help us analyze our presentations for the end of the year.