Technology Coach

Next year will be an exciting year for you!  You will enter a new school, have new teachers, make new friends, and learn many new, exciting things! 

As you think about middle school, you probably have a lot of questions!  Here is a link to your new middle school: http://bms.wcboe.org/ (Bennett), http://sms.wcboe.org/ (Salisbury Middle), or http://wms.wcboe.org/ (Wicomico Middle), http://mmhs.wcboe.org/ (Mardela), or http://pems.wcboe.org/ (Pittsville).  Check it out!

After visiting your new school’s website, share a comment telling about one thing that makes you excited about middle school and/or one thing that concerns you about middle school.   Read other student responses and use the following sentence starters to respond to them:

• I agree…..
• I think…..
• I also…
• I believe….

Remember, you are responsible for what you type.  Be thoughtful in what you write.

We used Google Earth to visit many places in Italy.  Good writers use order words to sequence events. Think about the order that we went to places.  Write about our trip’s events using order words.

Order Words

• First,
• Second,
• Third,
• Next,
• Then,
• Last,
• Finally,

 http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listthelastka.html

 Peter is asked if he will return to visit his Great Aunt again next summer.  After completing The Last Dragon Treasure Hunt  and experiencing similiar activities, if you were Peter would you return next summer? Why or why not?

Image from: http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/

In the story, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?, we learn the following generalization (a general statement based on fact):
Paul Revere was always a hard worker.

Your Task: Prove that this generalization is based on facts.  Record your answers on your paper.  You must find supporting details from a video clip, the story, and websites.

1. Watch the  video clip from DEstreaming.   What facts prove the generalization?

2. Revisit your text.  Find two facts from the story that support the generalization.

3. Click on the following websites The Historic Paul Revere and Revere Silversmith/ Craftsman. Read the information about Paul Revere.  What information helps prove the generalization?

Now, it is your turn to create your own generalization.  Think about what you have learned about Paul Revere.  Remember that most, always, few, often, and usually often signal generalizations.  What information did you find to support this generalization?  Post your generalization and it’s supporting facts as a comment on this blog.

My Paul Revere Generalization

Extension Activity: Go to the interactive website: The Patriot Spy .  Complete the mission.  As you are working on the mission, think about generalizations you can make about being a spy during this time period.    Remember that most, always, few, often, and usually often signal generalizations.  What facts and details support this generalization?

Authors don’t always tell us everything about a character.  Good readers make inferences to understand a story’s character.  To make an inference good readers first think about what they already know and then make inferences using pictures and word clues.

On anthology pages 354 and 355 you see and read about Jamaica.  Think about what you already know.  Think about the picture and word clues.  What inferences can you now make about Jamaica Louise James?  What makes you think this?

1.  Click on the ship to read about the author.
2. Robert Ballard has always been fascinated with the ocean.  Think about what facinates you.
3. Add a comment sharing what fascinates you and why.

1. Click on the thumbnail web.
2. Think about what words could be added to the web.
3. Add a comment to share 1 cow describing word for each sense.

1. Look at this picture.
2. Discuss facts and opinions about this picture. 
3. Add a comment that is a sentence. 
4. Identify if it is a fact or opinion.

  Welcome to my blog! Download

 Hi!  This blog allows students the opportunity to write for a real world audience.  When posting your comments, please remember that what you type is there for everyone to read.  Think carefully about what you want to post.  Be sure to post your best appropriate thoughts.  You are responsible for what you type.

When responding to another person’s comment you are to begin with one of the sentence starters from below. 

Blog Sentence Starters:

• I like the way you….
• I agree with you…..
• I wonder why…..
• Do you think….
• Why did you….
• I appreciate how you…
• I thought…
• It is interesting the way you . . .
• What made you think . . .