Articles on Computers/Teaching + Asimov + Mentoring

How does each of these pictures make you feel about Asimov? How might that have affected your feelings as you read "The Fun They Had"?

Student(s) today:

***As a followup to Asimov's "The Fun They Had," students chose from articles found in a Google Search under "will computers replace teachers?" Instructions included:

1. Read your article.
2. Do a quick blog post telling:

• Summary of the main points
• Pros & Cons of Using Computers for Education
• Anything in the article that relates to the Asimov story, "The Fun They Had"

***Began analyzing one of three (their choice) PowerPoints on Asimov and his short story, "The Fun They Had." Instructions were found in each ppt.

1. Asimov the Man
2. 6 Pics of "The Fun They Had"
3. Chronology Game of Asimov Pics

***Helped the 6th/7th graders personalize their blogs.

Assignment: Nothing due on Tuesday. We'll continue to work on the ppts on Asimov as well as learning activities giving us an Overview of U. S. History from 1900-The Present.

Review to 1914 + SMERFCAPS Review + Class Discussion of Asimov's "The Fun They Had"

Today our eighthies:

• Analyzed a Timeline of American History
• Placed Post-Its of their 5 most important people in American History onto a wall-mounted Timeline of American History
• Reviewed the SMERFCAPS, 9 major categories of historical study
• Discussed  with the sixth and seventh graders the Isaac Asimov story, "The Fun They Had" - Notes typed by two students during the discussion can be read by clicking here.

Assignments: None

Thank you, guys, for an excellent beginning to the school year. I appreciate the way you've participated in class learning activities while also helping the sixth and seventh graders get oriented to using the computers on a regular basis. Have a great first weekend of 2015-16!

Review of U. S. History to 1914 + Pre-Reading Activity for Asimov Short Story

Today, the Grade 8ers:

• Responded to a series of questions on a Google Doc reviewing American history up to the year 1914
• Wrote individual answers to a question prefiguring our reading and discussion of the Isaac Asimov short story, "The Fun They Had."
• Were asked to read and come prepared to discuss the Asimov story by tomorrow

Assignments - for Friday, 8/21
1. Finish your primary source Travelogue of your Summer 2015 Travels. Post it at your blog.
2. Finish copying and pasting your Review of U. S. History to 1914 into the Google Doc.

• Most important events by 1914
• Time Periods you can remember
• 5 Most Important People

3. Finish the Pre-Reading activity for the Asimov short story.
4. Read and come prepared to discuss the Asimov short story, "The Fun They Had."

Welcome to Day 1 of 2015-2016!

  

Welcome to the first Eighth Grade class in the history of CCS on the first day of our study of the history and literature of the United States from 1914 to the present. I'm very much looking forward to learning together the development of our great country during this important span of years. We will continue to improve our abilities to make well-reasoned, logical arguments supported by convincing evidence, use computers and other technologies to do so, and throughout the year create evidence of informed, collaborative, creative learning.

We will kick things off by creating primary sources about your recent summer travels, review important people and events from your study of  American history in Grades 5 and 6, and preview what lies ahead for the coming year. We will also begin reading a short short story by Isaac Asimov called "The Fun They Had" and apply your technological expertise by helping the sixth and seventh graders set up their blogs and begin using technology in the learning process.

Post-Class Update

Thank you all for your cooperation and help today. Your summer travels narratives are developing well, and I really appreciate your help in getting the 6th/7th graders set up with their computers.

Assignments 

1. Continue writing your summer travels narratives, which will be due Friday. 
2. We will do the short study pre-reading activity in class tomorrow and read the story for Friday. 

I hope the rest of your first day of 2015-16 went very well.