PIRATES!!

Two of my favorite pirates...

I Am Poem….rough draft!

I am Black Beard.

My nickname is much scarier than my real name, Edward Teach.

I wonder who I can terrorize next!

I hear the ocean sloshing against my ship.

I see fear in everyone’s eyes.

I want to steal from everyone who crosses my path.

I am Black Beard.

I am  a pirate.

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Internet Workshops and Blog Publishing

During my internship, I have heard many mixed feelings about internet workshops and blogging. Some teachers find it to be distracting while others are striving to become better 21st century teachers. Using the internet in the classroom setting is a great way to teach children that there are new and helpful resources online. They do not always contain correct information, but a lot can be very useful in  research.

I agree that “We use the Internet workshop framework …as a way to structure students’ activities to enhance learning”. It seems to be a very modern, yet educational way to get students learning on the computer rather then just playing games or using AIM.  Presenting new information in  this fun and interactive way may play a huge role in our educational future as teachers.

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Pirates in Historical Fiction and Nonfiction: A Twin-Text Unit of Study

I really loved how this unit was introduced. Having the students come into a room and WANT to learn is very hard to do. The pirate music playing in the background, displayed “artifacts”, and different kinds of Pirate Literature gives students a great reason to become engaged in the new material. Changing the classroom environment can really get them excited and interested about what they will be learning. Using activities like KWL and keeping a pirate notebook are great ideas, as well, to introduce a unit. Having the students watch DVDs about pirates and have them browse through Pirate (child-friendly) web-sites really integrates technology into the classroom. On the other hand, children need to remember that internet and DVDs aren’t the only sources in today’s world. Having books of all different literary styles out for them to explore is also smart. I believe that using Fiction and Non-Fiction texts about the same topic can give students factual information while keeping things fun and interesting.

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Swashbuckling Adventures on the High Seas:

This seems like a fun and exciting way for students to learn about what they’re reading. Instead of having traditional quizzes and tests about what they read, teachers can assess the students knowledge by giving them a packet of worksheets that are truly engaging. I especially liked the Double Entry Journal (DED) because it entices students to get involved in the language of the literature. It’s great they they are allowed to choose what they want to record in their DED, as well. Giving students a list of resources is also a good way to get them involved with the unit in their spare time or to further involve their interest.

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