The+Weekly+Reader

@What's everybody doing?

12/12 5:38 p.m. I can hardly believe I am sending this to you--my last correspondence with a unique, talented, and much respected group of students!

Your final assignment can be found here: http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/RM-RSS

A few things to share: 1. I'm still grading wikis!!!! 2. This assignment is due no later than THURSDAY! 3. I WILL post your COURSE GRADE in the online gradebook. REMEMBER--no "A" is earned without EVERY single assignment being completed in addition to it being an exemplary product. 4. If you are looking for your peers' wikis, all three classes can be found at: http://cooltoolz.wikispaces.com/Peer+work (I'm still updating content areas)

This assignment should not be overly cumbersome. But finish strong and finish well.

And here's a final Christmas story about teaching that can't be missed. With greatest fondness, respect, and appreciation for all you have taught this ol' professor...

12/5/10 4:15 p.m. Geez, can you believe we are down to two weeks? I know things must feel a bit on edge. So I'm providing a reflection assignment. This is the one most important to me. Reflection and self analysis are the keys to life long learning and improvement.

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/Final+Assignment

And (as stated again):

1. In order to earn an "A" as a course grade, you must submit EVERY SINGLE assignment and each assignment must be exemplary.

2. Wiki due date. As stated in the Course Information page, your final wiki is due DECEMBER 9th at 5:00 p.m. ** This is a THURSDAY! **

3. Inclusions in the wiki. I am including the link (with embedded rubric) for your final wiki. My suggestion to you is that take a few hours and look over your wiki and GRADE your wiki using the embedded spreadsheet. If you fill in your scores in the appropriate column, the spreadsheet will add your score and calculate it so that your grade will be calculated.

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/Final+Wiki

(Teacher story is included in assignment)

11/28/10 3:00 p.m.

Hoping this email finds everyone with clean dishes and a full tummy! Wonderful break and now we are most thankful that we are quickly approaching the end.

This week's assignment is large (warning). I will also share with you that the VERY HARDEST PART is in coming up with the idea for the assignment. If you try to do the assignment before you have a fabulous idea on what you want the students to do, this assignment will take you forever and you will struggle with it. This is not my intent. So please take heed of my advise.

Also, PLEASE check the gradebook to ensure that I have not made a mistake (or you have overlooked something).

You are also STRONGLY advised to begin serious finalization on your wiki.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I also want to make sure you are clear on dates. YES, you have an assignment that will be assigned the week of FINALS. This is because I MUST give a final (or final assignment) and since I do not believe that teaching can be assessed in a paper-pencil format, I am giving you an assignment.

And finally,

1. In order to earn an "A" as a course grade, you must submit EVERY SINGLE assignment and each assignment must be exemplary.

2. Late work. PLEASE BE ADVISED that I will NOT accept any late (or resubmitted) work beyond next Sunday (11/28) at 5:00 p.m.

3. Wiki due date. As stated in the Course Information page, your final wiki is due DECEMBER 9th at 5:00 p.m. ** This is a THURSDAY! **

4. Inclusions in the wiki. I am including the link (and embedded rubric) for your final wiki. My suggestion to you is that take a few hours and look over your wiki and GRADE your wiki using the embedded spreadsheet. If you fill in your scores in the appropriate column, the spreadsheet will add your score and calculate it so that your grade will be calculated.

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/Final+Wiki


 * Assignment || Date Assigned || Date Due ||
 * Google Tools || 11/28 || 12/5 ||
 * Final Wiki ||  || 12/9 (Thursday) ||
 * Final reflection || 12/5 || 12/12 ||
 * RSS || 12/12 || 12/16 (Thursday) ||

And for your reading enjoyment, a teacher story-of-the-week:

11/21/10 3:21 p.m. (sent in email)

Happy Sunday!

No, I didn't change my mind and send you an assignment! I truly do want you to have a fantastic break. This is a reward you have earned IF you have done all your work.

So, here are a few things to think about:

1. In order to earn an "A" as a course grade, you must submit EVERY SINGLE assignment and each assignment must be exemplary.

2. Late work. PLEASE BE ADVISED that I will NOT accept any late (or resubmitted) work beyond next Sunday (11/28) at 5:00 p.m.

3. Wiki due date. As stated in the Course Information page, your final wiki is due DECEMBER 9th at 5:00 p.m. ** This is a THURSDAY! **

4. Inclusions in the wiki. I am including the link (and embedded rubric) for your final wiki. My suggestion to you is that take a few hours and look over your wiki and GRADE your wiki using the embedded spreadsheet. If you fill in your scores in the appropriate column, the spreadsheet will add your score and calculate it so that your grade will be calculated.

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/Final+Wiki

Have a fabulous turkey day!

11/14/10 5:22 p.m.

Greetings to all! Wow, we are getting dangerously close to the end of the semester. That has to be exciting and, at the same time, a bit stressful.

This week's assignment is ready:

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/Web2.0+Tools+Again

Remember that on NEXT SUNDAY (11/21):

1. Your digital story is due (please send me a link to it's location. If it is a part of your unit, it must have a supporting lesson plan).

2. Your second set of Web2.0 tools are due (that's this week's assignment). Please send me a link to each of the tools.

3. I will NOT be sending an assignment, as it is Thanksgiving week. I think you deserve a break but I think you don't deserve a break if you are BEHIND in your assignments. So, everyone should check the gradebook and then breathe a sigh of accomplishment.

For your reading enjoyment, this week's teacher-story-of-the-week:

11/6 8:42 p.m. Hi everyone!

Knowing this time of year tends to be stressful. Remember that ending an elephant for dinner is done one bite at a time. Plan your days and your time carefully.

This assignment is often my student's favorite. Everybody's doing it--digital storytelling.

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/RM-DS

A few words of advise:

1. You do have two weeks to complete the assignment. However, on the 21st, TWO assignments will be due. So do not procrastinate, as this assignment is worth 250 points!

2. Plan the project well. It makes the creation stage go much quicker and easier.

And for your reading enjoyment, this week's teacher story of the week.

Greetings to all!
 * 10/30 8:16 p.m.**

In eager anticipation of Halloween, I am sending this week's assignment a bit early.

PLEASE read it carefully. The assignment is to utilize a MAP in your unit. Now, a map can be many things. If you look at the examples students have done, you will see a wide variety of what can be interpreted as a map. Simply find something in you unit that needs to be mapped, choose the tool you wish to use (Google Earth or MapWing) and create the project.

I am restating the warning here: ==== Let me state that again--if you use the cheezy Google Tour that is built into Google Earth (found under "Add", then "Tour" in the Google Earth toolbar), I will NOT ACCEPT IT FOR ANY AMOUNT OF CREDIT. ====

And for your reading enjoyment, this week's teacher story of the week. I had such a similiar experience my second year of teaching.

Greetings to all!
 * 10/24 2:55 p.m.**

I have a few things to share with you.

1. I have ensured that the Course Information page is current and accurate!!!!

2. This week's assignment is ready:

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/RM-YT

Don't forget to send me an email when you have finished your Embedr playlist and written a lesson plan describing how you will use these in your unit.

You should enjoy the video teacher-story-of-the-week (although it really is a life-story).

I'm a bit behind on grading--I'm sorry. My grandson was quite ill this week and it was a struggle to keep all the ball's in the air. Keep working, please!!!

Hi everyone!
 * 10/16/10** (9:36 p.m.)

You should have a fantastic time with this week's assignment. Most students share with me that this is among their top three favorite assignments of the semester.

So, here we go:

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/RM-Media

Don't forget to send me an email when you have finished your TWO Animoto videos and written a lesson plan describing how you will use these in your unit.

Along with a great tool to work with, I am also including a fabulous video! Remember Ken Robinson? Well, this is a second speech he did--you should enjoy the video teacher-story-of-the-week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I Bring on the revolution

And, if you missed his first one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY&feature=channel Are schools killing creativey?

Greeting to all!
 * 10/10/10** (too bad it isn't 10:00!)

I have switched the assignment order (reason below).

This week's assignment is ready!

http://drmcgregor.wikispaces.com/RM-Research

I need to ask you to do something even BEFORE you start the lesson. Would you go to NEXT week's tool site and request an educator's account. It sometimes takes them some time to grant the education account, so we want to give it sufficient time.

And for your reading enjoyment, this week's Teacher-Story-of-the-Week. Don't miss this one--it's moral lessons is one that needs to be engrained in your heart. I see this often in new teachers and in the veterans, have lived it myself.



Sorry I've dropped a bit behind in grading! Will be caught up tomorrow, but first I have to go run the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure! If you see it covered on TV, look for me, I'll be the one in pink!
 * 10/1/9:30 p.m**.

This week's assignment, podcasting, is definately my favorite! To use podcasting is to be with your students all the time--providing support, inspiration and content. But to have your student podcast...that is to empower them beyond belief.

Check these out: http://msfrachetti.wikispaces.com/Booktalks http://msfrachetti.wikispaces.com/5th+Gr.+Civil+Rights+Podcasts

Again, I added a section at the bottom of the "Try Me" page to share with you what and how to turn in this week's assignment--hoping that is helpful.

And for your reading enjoyment, this week's Teacher-Story-of-the-Week. Don't miss this one--it offers you a perspective of how students see us, as teachers, and how teachers see students...and never the twain shall meet.

Thanks to all for such good work with the Scavenger Hunt--I think next year I'll drop the requirement of making it in Word and just have folks drop it directly into a wiki page.
 * 9/26 3:46 p.m.**

This week's assignment, Web2.0 tools, is definately one of my favorites! To be able to BE a part of the information superhighway, to truly publish one's work to the world, is empowering and motivating--both to teachers and to our students.

Again, I added a section at the bottom of the "Try Me" page to share with you what and how to turn in this week's assignment--hoping that is helpful.

And for your reading enjoyment, this week's Teacher-Story-of-the-Week. Don't miss this one--it's moral is something you cannot teach without understanding in your soul.



Thanks to all for such great work on your unit ideas--can't wait to watch these unfold.
 * 9/19 2:00 p.m.**

I took some time to ensure that this week's assignment has a new inclusion at the bottom of the page entitled "What do I turn in and how do I do that?" Hoping this will clarify any confusion.

Also, the link above ("What's everybody doing?") is now populated with other people's wikis for the semester. I will continue to fill in information as I get it.

For your enjoyment, the teacher story-of-the-week (a video totally worth watching!)

Sorry this posting is so late. Big weekend. Hope everyone enjoyed putting the basics of your wiki together.
 * 9/12 8:00 p.m.**

I've taken the liberty of revamping this week's assignment and hope it is less stressful and more helpful in developing your unit of instruction.

For your reading enjoyment, the teacher story-of-the-week:



Hi everyone! Hope you three-day weekend is productive. This week, you will be starting one of the most foundational products for this class--your wiki. Read and think carefully, plan thoroughly, and enjoy!
 * 9/5 4:00 p.m.**

Also, don't forget. Once you create your wiki, you need to:

1. Send me your URL (address) of your wiki. It will NOT have a "www." in it. It will simply be something like: http://yourname.wikispaces.com

2. Change your outlook signature to include your wiki address. Not sure how to do this? Read me!

NOTE: Every year, I struggle with a few students who look at the EXAMPLES done by former students and model theirs after the exemplars. Make SURE you read my inclusions, as I usually change this based on former student feedback.

OK, back to my grading!

Greetings to all! As I am getting caught up in your blogging posts, I will share out that this week's assignment is ready for you!
 * 8/29 4:00 p.m.**

This is an important task--not just for this class, but as a teacher. As a teacher, you focus on two things: WHAT you teach and HOW you teach it. This lesson is all about giving you practice with the WHAT you teach. The reason this is important for this class is because you can't integrate technology into your curriculum and think about your teaching strategies if you don't know WHAT the curriculum is to being with!

I do know this is a difficult task, especially if you've never done it before. It took me years and years to "master it" and I'm very sure I still have much to learn. But, each journey starts with a single step--so here we go!

Let me know how you are doing.

By the way: I always share a favorite teacher story-of-the-week, and here' this week's tale: [|What Teachers Make-1.doc]

There are a few things to do before you come to our one face-to-face session on Tuesday: --email an introduction to me (including your email address and student number); --walk around the wiki and get to know the organization --visit the gradebook (after it is set up for you)
 * Sunday, 6:00 p.m.**

And due on Sunday: --complete the first week assignment ("21st century learning") on the wiki