How Students Can Log In and Blog

Up until now, the students have been typing their posts in Google Docs (online MS word) and we have been logging into the Blog under the teacher's account and copying and pasting their work.

Class, I think you are now ready for having your own account so that you can login on your own. So I have added a guest author account so that students can log on and make write their own posts anytime they want. Here is how:

Step 1: Go to https://www.blogger.com/

Step 2: Login using our class username: studentusers
password: (hint our school and room #)

Step 3: Click on the new post link

Step 4: Write a title, then write your blog post

Step 5: Don't forget to sign your initial code (example John Smith would call himself JS0708 ) at the bottom so we know who wrote the piece

Step 6: Optional-give the posts some labels. If you use more than one use a comma between.

Step 7: Hit the Publish Post button below

Student User Email Address

I have set up a class email address for the students to use so they you can log into online web services with out having to register and give out your own personal email address. It is:

studentusers@gmail.com

password hint = school and room #

We will be writing this done in our planners for reference but email me if you can't figure it out.

Plant Webquest

Class Webquest on Plants

Click on the link below to begin the "Great Plant Escape"

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/

Plant Life Cycle Videos

Plant Cycle:

Germination/Parts of a Seed --> Maturation & Flowering --> Pollination/Feritilzation --> Seed Dispersal --> retstart back to Germination

Germination

Title: Time lapse radish seeds sprouting, top and roots growing

Duration: 46 seconds

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d26AhcKeEbE

Video: (click on screen to play)


Maturation & Flowering
Title: Flowering plants

Duration: 4:33 min

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpglkA3wUPU

Video: (click on screen to play)


Title: Flowering Anatomy
Duration: 39 seconds

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WptVynkT0hg

Video: (click on screen to play)

Pollination & Feritilization
Title: Plant Reproduction: Methods of Pollination (Britannica.com)

Duration: 3:56 mins

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuYrFwDuYn0

Video: (click on screen to play)

Seed Dispersal

Title: Plant Reproduction: Plant Fertilization (Britannica.com)Duration: 39 seconds

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WptVynkT0hg

Video: (click on screen to play)

Video: Gift of Green - Photosynthesis

These are the types of 16mm film strips I use to watch in school. I found a classic that does an excellent job talking about photosynthesis.

Video: Gift of Green - Photosynthesis (1946)

Duration: 16 min

Link: http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=0c102339f97716d2fdfb

Video: (click on screen to play)

Plant Unit Standards

Below are the Grade Level Content Expecations (GLCE's), also called standards, for 5th grade. Read also What are GLCE's? Understanding these GLCE's allows you to better prepare for the Science Test on Plants (expected in early November).

PLANT UNIT GLCE'S

III.2M.S
Standard: All students will compare and contrast differences in the life cycles of living things

2.Describe the life cycle of a flowering plant

Key Concepts: Flowering plant parts and processes- roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, embryo, pollen, egg cell germination, fertilization

Tools: Microscope, hand lens

Real-World Contexts: Common flowering plants, such as bean, tulip


3. Describe evidence that plants make and store food

Key Concepts: Process and products of food production and transport – photosynthesis starch, sugar, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water

Real World Contexts: Plant food storage organs, such as potato, onion; starch storage in plants grown under different conditions.

About this Site

Our class has gone cutting edge and started a class blog. A blog, short for "web log", is an online journal or newsletter of thoughts and information chronologically published where the most current content is on top of the main page. Blogs are a part of the new social read/write web because they allow others to participate and comment on the content. (See also Defintion of a Blog and Why I Switched From a Class Website to a Blog)

My goals are to use blogs as a platform to responsibly teach, model, and give the students the opportunity to explore the new social web in a supervised and safe environment. Please make sure you and your child have read, discussed, and understands The Blogger's Contract. Secondly, I want to use blogs as way to improve the home-school connection. I also plan to use the blogs to put content and tools online that could assist students in studying for tests at home and on the web.

Our class blog will improve parent communication by keeping you updated on the latest news. Another great feature about blogs are they allow you to subscribe to them. You can subscribe by filling in your email address in the box in the right hand margin of this site. Then every time the blog is updated it comes to you through email, so you can stay current with class news and blog posts. (See also Email Subscription: The Simplest Way to Stay Updated)

One of things that make blogs most powerful is the ability to participate in a live conversations through comments. Please read How and Why to Comment on this Blog.

I am really excited about using this new technology to better connect parents, teachers, and the students in order to better prepare them with the skills they need to be competitive in the 21st century. (I recommend you watch Video: Did You Know 2.0 to see what this generation is about).

Please comment on this post below to give any general feedback, questions, or concerns that you have about this blog. Have fun.

Student Paper: A New Kid In A New School

This paper was written by TW0708 and edited by TD0708

After my first day of school I was all right but my first day of school was a challenge. I thought people were going to call me a geek because of my glasses. I was hoping other kids would have glasses too. I didn't want to be the only one with glasses.

First when I got in the classes. I saw people who were wearing glasses other than me. I was happy to see that. The day was starting off well. I knew that the class would not call me a geek. Then I said who is my teacher. It was Mr.Ambrose the most funniest teacher a kid could ever have. He makes us laugh,he plays math games. The games are fun too, they are the funniest games ever. I think I'm going to like this school year.

Mr.Ambrose is a great teacher, he teaches great lessons on math ,prime numbers ,arrays ,and reading too. He teaches better lessons then my old school. I have some friends in this class and they are funny,that makes the classfun. The teacher is my friend and so is the class. They are fun to learn with. One more thing the class is the best class ever. They help each other with school work and to help each other with work we need help with. My teacher Mr.Ambrose is the best teacher ever and a very,very, good person.

You Can Now Lease Social Studies & Science Books

I just found out that parents can lease Science and Social Studies book with a $65 deposit that will be completely refund if the book is returned in good condition. Also remember you can purchase the Everyday Math Student Reference Book, which I highly recommend because it is an excellent resources to help students and parents with homework and studying.

Contact Mr. Rozier the Science and Social Studies Cooridnator at ext 1201 and Mrs. Boueri the Math Cooridnator at ext 1165 for details and arrangements.

What Should I Read Next

After teaching reading for a couple years now, I have learned that one of the biggest factors in literacy development with new readers is the importance of them reading something they are interested in. Too many times I see a kid torturing themselves reading an outdated old beat up book for their daily 20 minute reading response homework.

So a big part of my reading class is exposing kids to good books through my daily read a loud and getting them access to good cheap popular books - Scholastic Book Club. When ever I share a book like Holes I tell them about how they can go to Amazon and look up the author and the book and see the links that say people who liked this book also bought... link. Well I this new website makes this whole process much easier to find other books similar to one that you have enjoyed.

Check out http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/

Make and Share a Quiz Online

BuildQuiz.com is a free online web based tool that is extremely easy to use and does note require you to register an account. You can make and share a quiz in minutes with 4 steps:

1) Watch this short 2:53 min video to learn on how to use
Click the arrow to play



2) Go to http://www.buildquiz.com/

3) Name and make your quiz

4) Cut "Share this quiz with your friends link" (located on the bottom of the screen) and paste the link on our class blog so others can study from your quiz

I am really excited about this tool. Check out the quiz I made a test your self here is the share this quiz with your friends link
http://www.buildquiz.com/quiz/Prime_or_Composite_Number_Quiz_1191461243.php

If you make a quiz post your "share this quiz with your friends link" in a comment to this post below

Student Paper: Why Should You Use the Writing Process

This piece was written by student MP0708 in school and was published in order to share tips on how to write a prompt for the MEAP.

Whenever I do a prompt, I use the steps of the writing process. It may take long but its all worth it at the end because I have a great paper. You will have to follow these steps.

To begin, I would like to tell you why you would want to use the writing process. It helps you understand what you are writing about. It also help you answer the question in your writing prompt. Another reason you won't get off of topic. These are the reasons you would want to use the writing process.

First you would want read the prompt. You would want to know what your writing about. Then you should do fatp f stand for form, a means audience t stand for topic,and p stand for purpose. If you have one read the checklist make one if you don't have one or ask your teacher to make one for you. Alway set goals like focus correction errors.

Next you always need to brainstorm because you can get all your idea's out. You can always do five w's and one h which stands for who,what,when,where,why,and how. After do a web it can be very helpful it gives a little information so you can write on your draft. Also do an outline to show how to set it up.

Third is your draft you can make mistakes but not on your final copy. It is alway important to revise and edit it is mostly good to let a friend or partner to do it for you because you may not notice your mistakes. Also you have your final copy. Don't forget starter,transition,and conclusion words.

Truly now you see how the writing process works. Now your paper will turn out perfect. If you want a perfect paper follow these steps. It will help you through all your writing prompts.

Written by MP0708

Edited by BM0708

Math Fast Facts Challenge

From now until the end of October the 5th grade has begun a multiplication fast fact challenge. The standard is 50 out 50 multipication facts (1-12 times tables) under 2 minutes. We will be taking fast fact quizzes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Once the student has achieved this 3 times in a row they can move on to the next challenge - 50 out 50 division facts in less than 2 minutes. Last year we spent a lot of time building these reflexes up, it should just take a couple days of brushing off and refreshing these facts back up to speed. It is crucial that we master these basic facts right away since we are moving quickly into more complicated topics (like prime factorization) that assume a mastery of multiplication. If the students don't know their multiplication times table they will quickly fall behind. My two favorite math websites for parents and students to make their own worksheets and timed test plus loads of onlines games are http://mathfactcafe.com/at http://themathworksheetsite.com/. Parents and students please comment below and add your favorite websites, tricks, and tips.