Challenges/Advantages re: "Flipped Classroom"

The word "flipped" refers to the fact that 5th & 6th graders are using homework time to view lesson tutorials and take short assessment quizzes online; and working out practice problems each day during our class time.

As you practice, learn and teach in our "Flipped Classroom", please comment on your experiences. What are some challenges to learning this way? What about this approach do you see as an advantage?

5th/6th Independent Research Projects

Please use the three prompts below to provide feedback after each of your peers present their research. Cut & paste the prompts and make adjustments as needed to create grammatically correct, meaningful sentences. Be sure to preview your comments before you publish.

(Topic Here)

One thing I learned____________.

I was surprised to discover_____.

I think it is important to know something about this topic because ______.

Themes in "The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963

This novel, written by Christopher Paul Curtis in 1995, touches on a number of themes. Please include specifics from our classroom discussions, the film we viewed about MLK and what you learned about the tumultous 1960's to write a brief paragraph discussing one of those themes. Include at least two instances from Curtis's novel that support the theme you have chosen to explore.

The Great Debate

In preparation for our own political debate, SAGE students began learning about the election process a few months ago. We have spent many hours weighing the facts- watching television reports, reading the newspaper, listening to podcasts & searching the major news Websites. I feel confident that you have discovered many of the skills and tools that will help you to become responsible, empowered voters in the future.
Please respond to these prompts as a way of bringing closure to our campaign trail experience.

I (liked, didn't like) learning about the candidates and election process because ___________.
I was surprised to learn that ____________________.
I think it is important to vote because ______________.

Schools Out for Summer!!!

Yes, it's that time again! Students, I hope you have a few fun, relaxing plans in motion for the next two months. I will be working a little-teaching technology at a camp for teachers called Camp Plug & Play 3.0, traveling to Tucson, AZ; San Antonio, Texas; maybe San Francisco, CA and Niagara Falls, New York.
If you want to share some your summer travel plans, you can post them here. Please remember to take lots of pictures and maybe even note your experiences in a journal so you will have plenty to write about next year in our classroom!
TTYS-
Ms. C

DVUSD Superintendent's Summit 2008

Responding to Literature-5th & 6th SAGE Writing

Authors usually write with a purpose in mind. Why do you think Spinelli wrote a book about this "loser?" What's the point? What are we supposed to learn from this book?

Responding to Literature-5th & 6th SAGE Writing

In Jerry Spinelli's book, Loser, Donald Zinkoff's classmates often say things to him that seem cruel. Has anyone ever called you a name you didn't deserve to be called? How did this make you feel? How do you think Zinkoff would respond to being called this name?