More Educational Websites

http://paperrater.com/

plagarism-grades papers for free

 

http://www.khanacademy.org/

tutorials

 

http://www.aviary.com/

edit, design pictures and videos

 

http://sharendipity.com/

gaming

 

http://learning.snagfilms.com/

educational videos

 

http://dropitto.me/

students can drop assignments

 

http://www.wolframalpha.com/

statistics

 

http://www.notaland.com

 

https://pod51008.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=ELgphYGi0ECwKfqDPXOYMB-FlVqKbs4IEGo7U02D_ZTOeY-e2Ybd7aIeBFrqfBa5MZBEpR_pkcY.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fedu.symbaloo.com%2f

smart search engine-personalized (can add websites via tikes for students to use on project)

 

http://photopeach.com/

create slideshow with pictures and sound

 

http://www.kerpoof.com/

students can create picture, movie, tell story

 

http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/

virtual author visit

 

http://zimmertwins.com/

create movies

 

http://www.neok12.com/

educational videos, lessons, and games 

 

http://storybird.com/

create and share short stories

 

http://compfight.com/

image search engine

 

http://livebinders.com/

create binders to organize information -sharable

 

http://digitalvaults.org/

 

http://www.archives.gov/nae/education/

teacher lessons from archives

 

http://edu.glogster.com/

interactive poster

 

https://www.schoology.com/home.php

social networking site-controlled

 

http://www.sweetsearch.com/

search engine for education

 

http://www.qwiki.com/

information experience

 

http://sumopaint.com/app/

photo editor free

 

http://boolify.org/

teaches students how to search

 

http://search.creativecommons.org/

search music, pictures, videos

 

http://www.bibme.org/

bibliography maker



More Human Geography!

Here is another link to a PDF that has printables on the World Population.  I've used this link since my first year teaching so I guess it is "outdated" now that the world population is 7 Billion.  Still, it has great ideas for the classroom when covering overpopulation, levels of development, and so on.  Enjoy Exploring!

Population Education

Sins of My Father

I just recently saw this movie with my husband off HBO.  Great film about Pablo Escobar and the Drug Wars.  Check it out!

IMDB: Sins of My Father





7 Billion

It has been so long since I last posted.  I have been swampped with lesson planning, copy making, drill team, NHS, and be a wife and mother!  But I'm BACK! 

A friend of my came across this website that I thought had a lot of great resources that we can use in the classroom when covering Human Geography.  So I'd like to share this link with you and get your feedback on it. 

I'll do my best to post more links and information as I find more time to do so...

Happy Halloween!

World of 7 Billion

Map Skills

Another great link I found.  This one covers map projections, hemispheres, equator and even practice questions!

Basic Map Skills

Covering Rotation, Revolutions, Equator, & Prime Meridians?

Rotating Sky Explorer

HCISD Kick Off

(L to R)

• Veronica Arredondo, Social Studies Department Head @ HHS
• Michelle Ayala, Team Leader for Kinder & PTA President @ Rodriguez Elementary
• Dr. Flores, HCISD Superintendent
• Linda Salinas, World Geography Teacher @ HHS
• Erika Vela, 2nd Grade Teacher & PTA Vice-President @ Means



Global Footprint Network

"You’ve probably heard of the Ecological Footprint - the metric that allows us to calculate human pressure on the planet and come up with facts, such as: If everyone lived the lifestyle of the average American we would need 5 planets.  This Web site explains how the Ecological Footprint works in basic terms. It examines the benefits of ecological accounting, introduces some of the most important Footprint findings, and addresses provocative questions: Do we fit on the planet? How can the Footprint foster sustainable human development? How do carbon emissions contribute to humanity’s Ecological Footprint?"

Global Footprint Network



Interactive Student Notebooks

I'm currently working on my Course Syllabus and my World Geography Survival Guide.  Inside my survival guide, I include my rules, procedures, expectations, bell schedule, and anything else that will help make their year succesful.  Since my first year of teaching, I have incorporated the Interactice Student Notebooks (ISN).  I'm currently working on my handout for ISNs that will be in my survival guide and I found a link with great information so I thought I'd share it with you!

Interactive Student Notebooks

World Geography Standards Printable

My World Geography team & I have typed up our new 2011-2012 TEKS so that they maybe be printed on color paper and laminated.  This will make it easier to have our objectives displayed in the classroom.  Below you will see that I broke up the PDF into 3 separate documents. 1) Readiness Standards 2) Supporting Standards 3) Skills  Therefore you can print each group in a different color to help distingush between the different types of standards. 

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions... feel free to leave a comment or contact me through email.

Enjoy exploring!

WG Readiness Standards Printable

WG Supporting Standards Printable

WG Skills Printable

World Map Notepads

I stopped by DOS the other day and came across this cute World Map Notepad.  The notepad is pretty big in terms of size.  I want to say its about a foot in width.  I purchased the notepad and laminated each sheet individually so students can write on them with dry erase markers.  I plan to use them both individually and in groups when reviewing for map quizzes.  Its perfect for a class set because the notepad comes with 30 sheets.  I'm sure you can also find this notepad at Jones & Cook, Gateway, or online.  Below is the actual picture of the notepad. 

So Many Changes, It's Time to Prepare!

Working at my Alma Mater has been an amazing experience.  I've had the opportunity to work with people I've know for years and work on a campus that I already know like the back of my hand.  After many years of consistency, HHS welcomes a new head principal, two new assistant principals, a new department head for Social Studies, our schedule is changing to traditional, and on top of all that, I am now moving to a new classroom!  YIKES!  So many changes for this new school year!  But I'm up for the challenge and I know that change is for the best.  I'm excited to see what this new school year holds and I'm doing all that I can to prepare for the future! 

"For tomorrow belongs to the
people who prepare for it today."

So, as we are nearing inservice, I have been working on setting up my new classroom.  I have had a lot to do and my list is only getting longer.  I'll be uploading pictures of my room as it undergoes "transformation!"  Let me know what you think! 

I wish all of you luck as you begin the 2011-2012 school year!! Enjoy! 

So far, I've only moved the student desks.  10 desks still needed.

I've come to the decision that my desk will be in the back, center.  I'm making progress!

I've found a spot for my book shelf, table, and lamp.

 One board done!  I broke it up into 3 boards.  Over the past years, I have posted several maps around the room but when it comes to testing, I need to cover up a lot of stuff.  This might be the only map I put up this year.  On the left in blue, I'll be posting "NEWS" in the classroom such as upcoming quiz/test dates and homework assignments.  I haven't decided what I'll do with the orange section.  Any suggestions? 



Because reading and writing are very important in all areas of study, this year I added a spot on the wall that can be used as a reference when writing research papers.  The black giraffe section will be for my objectives.  Which reminds me, I need to type, print, & laminate all of the new World Geo TEKS.

 The green section you see below will be my official "WORD WALL"

 And finally, my office space.  As you can already see, this is where I display the priceless masterpieces that my daughters create.  When I pick them up from Pre-School, they usually bring home some kind of artwork and say, "Mommy, look what I made for your classroom!" 

More to come so keep coming back!!
Remember to sign in so you can follow this blog and get updates to your email!

HCISD - New Theme

I really love the new theme for our school district!  Check it out!

5 Themes of Geography

I found this great link with ideas that you can use when incorporating your local newspaper with the 5 themes of geography! 

Check it out!

Teaching the 5 Themes of Geography

Another great idea that will incorporate the use of technology, your students can create a "poster" online using Glogster.  Glogster EDU is a collaborative online learning platform for teachers and students to express their creativity, knowledge, ideas and skills in the classroom.  Along with the link below, you'll find the link to Glogster on the right hand side of my blog for quick reference.

Glogster

Below is an example of a 5 Themes of Geography Glogster

5 Themes Glog





Bloom's Taxonomy Vocabulary Print Out

I have create two versions of the following vocabulary based off of Bloom's Taxonomy.  Both are very plain, without graphics.  The only difference is the font.  I prefer a "girly" font but in order to accomodate all, I also did another set in the font Papyrus.  Feel free to edit and print them.  I personally recommend having them up in your classroom all year long as reference and as a visual reminder.  Thanks for stopping by & please be sure to follow this blog!!

Bloom's Taxonomy Printables - French Script

Bloom's Taxonomy Printables - Papyrus

Videos in the Classroom

I'm very picky when it comes to showing films in the classroom.  Below you will find my favorites that made the cut.  Some may not relate to a concept in Geography, but I still feel it is some what educational and will leave a lasting impression on my students. 

Concept/Theme: Overpopulation

Film: NG China's Lost Girls

Concept/Theme: Communist, Dicatorship

Film: NG Inside North Korea

 

Concept/Theme: Overpopulation = Mass food production & health

Film: Food Inc.

 

Concept/Theme: Genocide

Hotel Rwanda

 

Other(s) that made the cut:

The Cove

Getting to Know Your Students

On the first or second day of school, I use a Facebook layout worksheet that my students fill out in order to get to know them better.  You can give them the option of taking it home to add pictures, or you can have them do it in class and draw the pictures by hand or cut them out from a magazine.

 

 

Getting to Know Your Students

Yay! Lilly

Interactive Animations for Visual Learners

The majority of our students these days are found to be audio and visual learners.  I found this great website that has education animations by subject that will be great to use in the classroom. 


Here is the link: EduMedia Sciences and below is an example of animated erosion.

Malapa Fossil Find: Part Ape, Part Human
By: Josh Fischman
Photography By: Brent Stirton

5 Themes of Geography

After teaching the 5 themes of geography, I have my students create their "Geography of Me" posters.  Below is a copy of the assignment. 



Geography of Me

KWL - A way to activate Prior Knowledge

Use the following KWL Chart when introducing a new topic, lesson, or theme.  There are many layouts that you can find online but most are one full page each.  So in order to cut back on paper, I created my own KWL sheet with two.  You could also project the image onto a screen so that students can fill it out on their own paper.  Eventually, after using the KWL several times, the students will log the layout into their memory and they won't need to see the sheet in order to complete the assignment. 


The chart is simple.  Under the K, your students must write down what they know about the topic.  This is any information that they learned outside of your classroom, or in the years before.  They can not use any other resources in order to fill out the chart because that would defeat the purpose of the assignment.  Under the W, they will fill out any questions they have.  Let's say the topic is Alfred Wegner and his theory of plate techtonics.  A student might know that plate techtonics refers to the moving plates underneath the earth's crust.  This information would then go under the K.  Now the student doesn't recognize the name Alfred Wegner, then he could put that information under the W.  Think of the 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why) for the W column of the chart.  At this point,  I begin introducting the topic to my students and discussing as a class what we came up with.  On the board, I create a large KWL chart and have the students take turns going up to the board to write down what they knew or what they would like to know. 


After our discussion, we begin the lesson and assignments.  During the closing of the period, we bring the chart back out and complete the L.  This is what the student learned today.  Then, when turning in the assignment(s), the KWL sheet is stapled on top. 

KWL

Changing Education Paradigms

 

 

Wiki China

"WikiChina" By: Thomas Friedman





First Day of School: Assessing for Differentiated Instruction

Differentiation is a philosophy that enables teachers to plan strategically in order to reach the needs of the diverse learners in the classrooms today to achieve targeted standards.  As individuals come to school with varying learning styles and numerous intelligences, differentiated instruction becomes a means of addressing the learning needs of everyone in the classroom.  Because we have used the analogy of "one size doesn't fit all" for years in education, the teacher is quickly using numerous strategies to adjust the learning in his or her classroom to fit the learner instead of using the same strategy for all, (Gregory and Chapman,2002). 


When teaching with high achievement as a goal, one important aspect of assessing learners is finding out what the students already know.  This knowledge is based on their prior learning and experiences.  By doing a pre-assessment of knowledge, teachers can plan curriculum and design instruction to meet the needs of the class as well as individuals.   


For example, I teach World Geography at the 9th grade level.  Prior to entering my classroom, the students should have learned basic geography skills such as basic map components, the location of continents and oceans, and how to read a map.  I can not assume that all of my students already know the above information and jump straight to the Geography of the United States and map making.  By doing so, the students who might have gaps in learning will be unable to comprehend what is going on and will fall behind.  


Therefore, it is imperative to assess our students on the first day of school, and continue assessing them on a regular basis.  Click on the following links to find effective strategies and examples for pre-assessing students. 

Pre-Assessment Strategies

Example: Geography-Pre-Assessment

Example: 5 Themes of Geography - Pre-Assessment





Welcome

Thanks for visiting my new blog, Explore & Discover.  This is a place where parents and teachers can explore & discover together in order to improve the education of our children and students.  Here you will find postings on articles, videos, technology, links, lesson plans and many more educational items.  Once the 2011-2012 school year kicks off, you will definitely find many resources to dig your hands into.  So welcome once again and have fun as you explore & discover!