Henrico Staff Development

Ms. Landis works with her 8th grade creative writing class to create an online newspaper.  Students decided the layout of the paper as well as the content that was included.  The students conducted interviews, created original editorials, along with other staples that you would see in your local newspaper.  The class in continuing to improve the online paper and wants to include blogging so that students can respond to editorials and create a discussion on important topics relevant to our students.

Online Newspaper for Rolfe MS

Ms. Alcazar used literature circles in her 6th grade reading classroom to allow students to openly discuss topics within the assigned book Surviving the Applewhites.  After students read and discussed the book in class they were given the task of creating a digital project.  Students were allowed to choose the media in which they would present the project but were asked to include the following criteria:  book title and author, main character(s), conflict (and what type of conflict it is), important vocabulary words from the book, a one paragraph summary of the plot, using the words exposition, climax and resolution, a one paragraph review of the book – what was good or bad and why.  The 1st picture is from an iMovie and the 2nd is from a keynote presentation.

8^th grade English students, in Ms. Saunders and Ms. Duckenfield’s classes,  created websites using iWeb to illustrate, summarize and critique Historical Ficeion Novels  Each site  includes a short summary, character analysis, research into the historical time period, and a personal critique of the novel they chose.

An Acquaintance with Darkness

The Letter Writer

Anne Frank and Me

Crispin

A Break With Charity

Witch Child

The Devil’s Arithmetic

[flashvideo file=http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/wilder/saunders_d/movies/art.flv /]

Ms. Waldren and Ms. Fisher, who are art teachers at Wilder Middle School, created a video showcasing some outstanding student work. The video was uploaded to the internet in order to effectively communicate with rising sixth graders and others at the elementary level who are not familiar with the middle school art program. Hopefully, this will get students interested in signing up for art when they enter Wilder next school year.

Students in Mrs. Clements’ 6th grade Gifted and Talented class worked together to create ad campaigns centered around a product of their choice.  Students were organized into groups (“agencies”) that were responsible for creating an ad designed to sell their product. Students had to work together and effectively communicate key components of their product with a larger audience. In their groups, students created TV commercials, radio commercials, and billboards that highlighted their product. Once the products were created they had to share them in a professional and informative presentation.

This lesson allowed a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in a lesson that they could easily transfer into a “real world” context. Before creating their own campaigns, students used the internet to research PR firms, listen to adds, and generate ideas based on their findings. Technology enabled students to create multimedia products that were very professional. Students were engaged and excited about the unit.

Because students starred in their television commercials we will not be able to post them here, but can share some of their radio ad’s. We hope you enjoy!

“The Ultima Show” (Radio Ad)
[audio:http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/byrd/bostain_k/ultima.mp3]

“Groovy Gum” Bubblegum (Radio Ad)
[audio:http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/byrd/bostain_k/groovygum.mp3]

Mr. River’s Math Magic is a blog site he uses to present a Standard of Learning concept math problem each day. Students demonstrate their knowledge of the math concepts by  showing their work when solving the problem. They often realize that there is more than one way to solve a problem, as long as they can show how they arrived at the answer. This is how Mr. River describes his site.

[flv]http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/mt_vernon/mayo_s/MrR.flv[/flv]

The 7th grade students in Mrs. Greene’s science class did research dealing with a specific element from the periodic table.  After finding the information, the students created websites using the iWeb program.  Through their websites, they communicated the information they discovered using first person narratives, as if they were the element.  The students used critical thinking skills to determine what information they would like to share and how they would share it.

This project also allowed the students to tap into their creativity skills as they worked with the layout of the webpage and finding ways that they could personify their researched element.  Students found and added music segments that were related to their element and wrote original poems about their element.

The finished websites were collected on one webpage where all the students would have  access, creating a “social network” type site for elements.

Click here to visit ElementSpace.

The 8th grade students in Ms. Cosby’s World History class became news anchors for WRMN Channel XII news for a day.  Students formed small groups from the students in their class and collaborated on ideas of ways they could present the information they researched about a topic from Roman history. They were challenged to use their creativity and problem solving skills to communicate what they had learned about their topic and present the information in a way that was not only informative, but also entertaining.  The groups then wrote scripts based on their ideas and video taped their presentations as if they were broadcasting the news live.  The footage was then imported into iMovie where the groups worked together to edit and fine tune their final product.

Through this project, the students became more connected with the information they researched and learned how to work with others in an highly productive way.

Students in Mrs. Tierney’s 7th grade Social Studies class researched and studied FDR’s New Deal programs ([tippy title="SOL USII.5d"] The student will demonstrate knowledge of the social, economic, and technological changes of the early twentieth century by identifying causes of the Great Depression, its impact on Americans, and the major features of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.[/tippy])). To teach this unit Mrs. Tierney had students research FDR’s programs using a variety of resources and tools ([tippy title="research & information fluency"] In the 21st Century classroom, students find, navigate through, and evaluate large amounts of information. Teachers provide guided and independent research opportunities for students to make informed decisions and create products. More information @ http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ [/tippy]), write their own “fireside chat” ([tippy title="creativity & communication"] In the 21st Century classroom, students communicate and collaborate effectively to reach a common goal or to create a product. Students also develop original ideas and create products by applying critical thinking, research methods, communication tools, and collaborative processes. Teachers provide experiences that allow students to create unique ideas and products. More information @ http://www.21stcenturyskills.org [/tippy]), and record their scripts in [tippy title="Garage Band."]GarageBand is a software application that allows users to create music or podcasts. (wikipedia)[/tippy]

In this lesson students not only learned about key features of the New Deal, but also how to use research and communication tools to clearly articulate information. Each vodcast (podcast with pictures) was unique and supported students’ understanding of the New Deal programs.

A pre/post test on this SOL demonstrated major gains in student mastery with 98% pass rate on the unit assessment for this specific SOL.

For more information about this lesson please contact Mrs. Tierney

[flv]http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/byrd/bostain_k/FDR_1.flv[/flv]

Through our Library Information Center, students in grades 6-8 create book reviews to share with their peers. The format of the website not only allows students to post their review, but rate other books listed on the site.

More to come

http://byrdmiddle.org/books/