Modern Day Meets Texas History

Ms. Forbes' students selected a topic on the Texas Revolution and researched their topic.  The goal of the assignment was to be able to explain the significance their topic had on Texas History.  They found pictures and provided text to explain the events and the outcome of their topic before making a presentation in animoto.  Here are a few examples of what some of the students came up with! 



Book Trailers in Animoto

Ms. Smith's 7th grade language arts classes are working on creating book trailers using Animoto, an online program. They are reading the children's book, summarizing it, making a storyboard, and they are inserting their pictures and text into animoto. They will pick out music and we will create a DVD to put with the children's book. Once complete, the kids will be donating their book trailers to the Baptist Children's Home with the book trailers enclosed. Here's an example of what a book trailer might look like.

What is Moodle?

Moodle is a wonderful way that you can teach your students using a virutal classroom. Students can log on to Moodle using their log on for the district computers and can complete assignments in the library, at home, or even on vacation. Teachers can put quizzes, have students respond to an article posted, or even just have forum discussion.

Teachers can remain in communication with students even when not in the classroom by providing feedback on each assignment, that is private only to that particular student.

Here is a great Moodle Resource which shows you how to get your Moodle up and running!
RRISD Moodle Wiki

Glogster-A new way to make a poster!

Glogster is a new tool that our teachers are starting to use to have students make posters. Mr. Kenney will be piloting glogster in his Language Arts Classes this Friday (pictures are to come soon). The edu version of glogster will allow students to put information and pictures on a virtual poster, just like they would with posterboard and markers, however they can also add, links to outside sites and videos to enhance their poster. Here is a preview of Mrs. Lott's Library Glog.

Video on how to make a Glog

STaR Chart for Teachers

The Texas STaR Chart is a tool used to evaluate where we are as school regarding technology. It is designed like a rubric and you have to be honest about how you are doing as a teacher and how we are doing as a school. The reason you have to fill this out each year is because of the No Child Left Behind Act. My intention is not to give you more work! If you need help filling this out, let me know when your team time is and I would be happy to help the whole team fill it out! Thanks in advance for your help!

Video on deadlines and prizes for STaR Chart

Video Instructions on how to log

on and fill out your STaR Chart

Remember, if you fill it out by February 26th, you get a free jeans day, and if you complete it by March 5th you will be entered into a drawing to win a free Sonic Drink!

Ms. Black's Blog

Check out Ms. Black's Class blog! What an amazing job our 6th graders at Deerpark are doing!

Mr. Quezada's Video Wordwall

Technology and Language Arts

Here are all of the things we are doing in technology with our Language Arts Classes

Mr. Quezada: Wiki wordwall for Tuck Everlasting
Mrs. Holditch: Wiki Wordwall for Science Terms
Mrs. Holdtich: Flip Videos of Persuasive Commercials
Ms. T. Smith: Podcasts on environmental issues

Blogger in Science Oh My!

Mrs. Black's class will start working on an interactive assignment using blogger on Thursday. Students will be given a choice of three articles and they will have to make opinionated comments on one of the articles and respond to classmates anonymously. Students will be given a code name so Mrs. Black will know who is responding, but the students will not know who they are responding to or who is responding to them.

Environmental Podcasts in Language Arts

I wanted to celebrate all of the great things that are happening at Deerpark Middle School with technology. Before the holiday break, Ms. Smith's 8th grade language arts classes researched an environmental issue and created podcasts about their findings. The kids did an excellent job! Check them out at the link below.

8th Grade Language Arts Podcasts