Saturday, December 12, 2009
Wall wisher sample
Just saw this at a conference. I thought I'd embed it here just in case anyone still views this and sees it as another resource
Monday, December 7, 2009
nearly the end
I hope everyone in 5305 had an experience as enriching, if not more than, as mine. The end of our class is only a couple days away. I know I will keep this blog as a resource for me to be able to remember what I can NOW do that I was never able to before. :)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Some thing hard to find early in my blog history
Previously, when we had to score each other with a rubric, my scoring person could not locate some of my earlier activities. This is because they are under my very first posting as comments. Yep, I was still learning, so I have copied them here just to let anyone who is going to be viewing this site that they really do exist. To myself, it serves as a testimont as to what I have learned in this course. I went from a bumbling blogger who couldnt even figure out how to put in new posts to someone capturing images, videos, etc and embedding them here. Wow!
It's been a fun and challenging ride,
Chris
Chris Ware said...
Today is the second day of school here at B-UMS. We lived through the first day!
August 27, 2009 9:46 AM
Chris Ware said...
Still learning how to post a link.
This hyperlink is to my resume in progress
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfxh77tr_0fq775wgr
August 27, 2009 6:50 PM
Chris Ware said...
it didn't show up as a blue hyper link.
Argh!
August 27, 2009 6:51 PM
Chris said...
Blog response to TPACK article Aug 31, 2009
1. What are the major themes or ideas in your content discipline?
This year I work mostly with reading and English. With reading, I work with the five themes of reading: comprehension, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. With English, the push is to focus more on writing, but to integrate the grammar within writing instruction.
2. Does your content discipline rely on specific processes for developing the key themes or ideas?
For writing, we are to follow the writing process, but the difference comes in how people present it. There is no specific process of program which is used, so most teachers vary greatly on this. Some use five square writing, write from the beginning, etc for working through the writing process. In reading, we do not have a specific process, though just like all the other subjects we do need to follow the WV CSO’s. I find that for my special education students, I do a lot of remediation and work with skills to improve their current level.
3. How much of what you know is dependent on the way you learned your subjects?
I conduct my instruction much differently from the way I learned as a student. I’ve been to many conferences, trainings, meetings, and even viewed instructional coaches modeling in classrooms. This has greatly helped with both what I know and how I use it in practice.
4. Do you think in terms of your content by the chapters in a textbook or do you think in terms of your content as an integrated whole.
I rarely follow a text book, but instead try to pull out what I want to use or find goes along with the CSO’s. Sometimes I just look for things that would work well with my students or capture their interest. I don’t always think in terms of integrating everything, especially technology, but if it works in, then that’s rewarding.
5. Does your knowledge of this discipline represent an integration of the concepts and processes that connect them?
I believe so, but I say this because of my accumulated experience thus far. Through trials and learning I believe that I have become more comfortable pulling everything together. There are times when integration is almost a given, with technology that it. I find that with my group, there is very little previous exposure to technology and technology resources.
August 31, 2009 11:36 AM
It's been a fun and challenging ride,
Chris
Chris Ware said...
Today is the second day of school here at B-UMS. We lived through the first day!
August 27, 2009 9:46 AM
Chris Ware said...
Still learning how to post a link.
This hyperlink is to my resume in progress
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfxh77tr_0fq775wgr
August 27, 2009 6:50 PM
Chris Ware said...
it didn't show up as a blue hyper link.
Argh!
August 27, 2009 6:51 PM
Chris said...
Blog response to TPACK article Aug 31, 2009
1. What are the major themes or ideas in your content discipline?
This year I work mostly with reading and English. With reading, I work with the five themes of reading: comprehension, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. With English, the push is to focus more on writing, but to integrate the grammar within writing instruction.
2. Does your content discipline rely on specific processes for developing the key themes or ideas?
For writing, we are to follow the writing process, but the difference comes in how people present it. There is no specific process of program which is used, so most teachers vary greatly on this. Some use five square writing, write from the beginning, etc for working through the writing process. In reading, we do not have a specific process, though just like all the other subjects we do need to follow the WV CSO’s. I find that for my special education students, I do a lot of remediation and work with skills to improve their current level.
3. How much of what you know is dependent on the way you learned your subjects?
I conduct my instruction much differently from the way I learned as a student. I’ve been to many conferences, trainings, meetings, and even viewed instructional coaches modeling in classrooms. This has greatly helped with both what I know and how I use it in practice.
4. Do you think in terms of your content by the chapters in a textbook or do you think in terms of your content as an integrated whole.
I rarely follow a text book, but instead try to pull out what I want to use or find goes along with the CSO’s. Sometimes I just look for things that would work well with my students or capture their interest. I don’t always think in terms of integrating everything, especially technology, but if it works in, then that’s rewarding.
5. Does your knowledge of this discipline represent an integration of the concepts and processes that connect them?
I believe so, but I say this because of my accumulated experience thus far. Through trials and learning I believe that I have become more comfortable pulling everything together. There are times when integration is almost a given, with technology that it. I find that with my group, there is very little previous exposure to technology and technology resources.
August 31, 2009 11:36 AM
Intel tools classroom activity
Summary/ Rationale
Each year, I find myself giving out the same classroom rules and procedures. These go home with the students after going over them and come back signed by parents. Although I think this is fine, I could really see how setting up an Intel ranking activity could benefit me and my students. Having them participate in ranking the top five most import classroom student expectations would provide a concrete activity for the students. I think parents would be more ‘on board’ as well , knowing that their child rank ordered them and discussed them in detail at school.
Curriculum Framing questions:
Which student expectations incite increased student achievement and classroom management?
How do students rank classroom expectations and can they justify reasoning for such rankings?
Activity:
Students would be provided the classroom procedures with a list of seven student expectations (rules). On the back would be their first assignment detailing how they would rank the top five as a small group. Since I have small special education classes, each period could be a group, and the information could be entered as a group using the Interwrite board so that all could see and participate.
The expectations are the following:
Be prepared for class with all needed materials
Be on time
Respect others and their property
Raise your hand to ask or share
Complete all class work when assigned
Be courteous
Treat others as you wish to be treated
Each class will log into Intel Thinking Tools and record rankings.
To review expectations on the second day, the class would log back into Intel Thinking Tools and see how the other groups compared to theirs. This would spur debate within the class as to why they chose what they did. Students will share their opinions as to why their ranking may be better or why they thought others group chose what they did.
Group 1: period one (team ID 1; password one)
Group2: period five (team ID 2; password two)
Group3: period seven (team ID 3; password three)
Group 4: period nine (team ID 4; password four)
Teacher ID is chrishware@aol.com
Summary/ Rationale
Each year, I find myself giving out the same classroom rules and procedures. These go home with the students after going over them and come back signed by parents. Although I think this is fine, I could really see how setting up an Intel ranking activity could benefit me and my students. Having them participate in ranking the top five most import classroom student expectations would provide a concrete activity for the students. I think parents would be more ‘on board’ as well , knowing that their child rank ordered them and discussed them in detail at school.
Curriculum Framing questions:
Which student expectations incite increased student achievement and classroom management?
How do students rank classroom expectations and can they justify reasoning for such rankings?
Activity:
Students would be provided the classroom procedures with a list of seven student expectations (rules). On the back would be their first assignment detailing how they would rank the top five as a small group. Since I have small special education classes, each period could be a group, and the information could be entered as a group using the Interwrite board so that all could see and participate.
The expectations are the following:
Be prepared for class with all needed materials
Be on time
Respect others and their property
Raise your hand to ask or share
Complete all class work when assigned
Be courteous
Treat others as you wish to be treated
Each class will log into Intel Thinking Tools and record rankings.
To review expectations on the second day, the class would log back into Intel Thinking Tools and see how the other groups compared to theirs. This would spur debate within the class as to why they chose what they did. Students will share their opinions as to why their ranking may be better or why they thought others group chose what they did.
Group 1: period one (team ID 1; password one)
Group2: period five (team ID 2; password two)
Group3: period seven (team ID 3; password three)
Group 4: period nine (team ID 4; password four)
Teacher ID is chrishware@aol.com
Intel group correlation
Intel Tools
Civil War Causes group comparisons
1. Group 3 had the highest correlation with group 2,3 and 6 with a correlation of .70
2. Group 3 had the lowest correlation with group 5 with a correlation .50
3. Compared to the class average, group 3 had a correlation of .60
Civil War Causes group comparisons
1. Group 3 had the highest correlation with group 2,3 and 6 with a correlation of .70
2. Group 3 had the lowest correlation with group 5 with a correlation .50
3. Compared to the class average, group 3 had a correlation of .60
Saturday, November 28, 2009
YouTube Jing
I also Jinged a youtube video which I might use with my class. The nice thing about Jing is that I could capture videos to share with my students which we can not view at school due to the inabiliy to access Youtube.
Civil War Rankings
Chris Ware
(I thought this posted before, but am reposting because I'm not finding it)
As I read the articles pertaining to the Civil War and its causes, I was reminded of many things. The Causes of the Civil War article at http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/causes.htm, and the American Civil War article at http://en.wikipedia.og/wiki/American_Civil_War, have led me to develop the following ranking seen below:
Causes of the Civil War
1. Slavery
Deep at the root of it all, I feel that if there was no slavery, there would not have been an issue to disagree about. The Great American History article mentions that even though most US citizens didn’t have anything to do with slavery, it made a big difference with those who did. It also had great political interest. (which leads to my next ranking)
2. Political division
Also mentioned in the Great American History article, there were even differences in opinions regarding slavery not only in the south and north, but also within the northern political leaders. I found it interesting that the article mentions that many leaders were also influential in many ways such as owning newspaper or businesses. I imagine that those who owned newspapers or were editors published much political propaganda.
The seeking of possible secession by the southern states would also be with this ranking.
3. Abolitionists vs. Pro-slavery supporters
I like how the Great American History article reminds the reader that although we see slavery as a moral issue today, it was really more of an economical issue in its time. Pro-slavery supporters were keeping in mind the plantations who owned the most slaves. There would not have been a way for them to accomplish what they did if they did not have the slave labor. Though it doesn’t mention it, I imagine the larger plantation owners had some political clout due to their wealth. On the opposite end of the spectrum were the abolitionists who wanted nothing more than to abolish slavery.
4. Attack of Fort Sumter
I knew little about this, but after reading about in the Wikipedia article, I understand that this attack forced many border states to decide how they sided in the slavery, anti-slavery movement.
5. Abraham Lincoln’s election
I ranked this last, but have been debating about whether or not it should be higher in the ranking. From my understanding, the Wikipedia article explains that Lincoln was not the abolitionist, but was interested in not allowing slavery to spread further. This election struck fear in the southern states that Lincoln would indeed lead to slavery being abolished, which would in turn have a direct affect on southern economy (and plantation owners).
Chris Ware
(I thought this posted before, but am reposting because I'm not finding it)
As I read the articles pertaining to the Civil War and its causes, I was reminded of many things. The Causes of the Civil War article at http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/causes.htm, and the American Civil War article at http://en.wikipedia.og/wiki/American_Civil_War, have led me to develop the following ranking seen below:
Causes of the Civil War
1. Slavery
Deep at the root of it all, I feel that if there was no slavery, there would not have been an issue to disagree about. The Great American History article mentions that even though most US citizens didn’t have anything to do with slavery, it made a big difference with those who did. It also had great political interest. (which leads to my next ranking)
2. Political division
Also mentioned in the Great American History article, there were even differences in opinions regarding slavery not only in the south and north, but also within the northern political leaders. I found it interesting that the article mentions that many leaders were also influential in many ways such as owning newspaper or businesses. I imagine that those who owned newspapers or were editors published much political propaganda.
The seeking of possible secession by the southern states would also be with this ranking.
3. Abolitionists vs. Pro-slavery supporters
I like how the Great American History article reminds the reader that although we see slavery as a moral issue today, it was really more of an economical issue in its time. Pro-slavery supporters were keeping in mind the plantations who owned the most slaves. There would not have been a way for them to accomplish what they did if they did not have the slave labor. Though it doesn’t mention it, I imagine the larger plantation owners had some political clout due to their wealth. On the opposite end of the spectrum were the abolitionists who wanted nothing more than to abolish slavery.
4. Attack of Fort Sumter
I knew little about this, but after reading about in the Wikipedia article, I understand that this attack forced many border states to decide how they sided in the slavery, anti-slavery movement.
5. Abraham Lincoln’s election
I ranked this last, but have been debating about whether or not it should be higher in the ranking. From my understanding, the Wikipedia article explains that Lincoln was not the abolitionist, but was interested in not allowing slavery to spread further. This election struck fear in the southern states that Lincoln would indeed lead to slavery being abolished, which would in turn have a direct affect on southern economy (and plantation owners).
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Podcast lesson
As you can see earlier. I got fed up with trying to get the FTP site to work for me, so I took my Podcast through Podbean.com... check it out. It's a pretty user friendly site.
My lesson for podcasting is late however, because we had a lengthy power outage. So, the rest of my lesson, rubric, etc, is going up today. :)
I adapted the provided lesson plan to utilize a classroom PBL. I included a rubric to grade the end presentation of the podcast:It can be viewed at:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDdnazV3MmJkag&hl=en
My activity sheet is very simplistic:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDh3OWozcGY3&hl=en
Monday, October 26, 2009
Link to Podcast
I created my podcast in Audacity. I had some free music files which were shared with me from the Special Education Teacher Leadership Academy this past summer. I put a song in the background, but first used some of it as intor music. I them tapered it off and kept it lightly playing in the background.
I have almost no previous experience with podcasting, but I think that mine's acceptable for a first try. (better then a few I've heard through iTunes :)
Here's a link to my script. I don't think I could do it without one:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDZjY21yaGNkMw&hl=en
href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDZjY21yaGNkMw&hl=en">
My podcast is saved through the FTP site. Yet again, I'm having trouble with this. I can log in, even see that I've saved it. I've clicked on the file so that I can bring up the address properly. Even then, I can't get this link to work for me. very frustrating. I'd love some tips, because there is something I'm doing wrong, and I don't even realize it.
Podacst link:
ftp://studentsftp.fairmontstate.edu/Parts%20of%20Speech%20Podcast%20Ware.wav
I have almost no previous experience with podcasting, but I think that mine's acceptable for a first try. (better then a few I've heard through iTunes :)
Here's a link to my script. I don't think I could do it without one:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDZjY21yaGNkMw&hl=en
href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Acw4sKLyAUk_ZG1ramNtOF8xNDZjY21yaGNkMw&hl=en">
My podcast is saved through the FTP site. Yet again, I'm having trouble with this. I can log in, even see that I've saved it. I've clicked on the file so that I can bring up the address properly. Even then, I can't get this link to work for me. very frustrating. I'd love some tips, because there is something I'm doing wrong, and I don't even realize it.
Podacst link:
ftp://studentsftp.fairmontstate.edu/Parts%20of%20Speech%20Podcast%20Ware.wav
Monday, October 19, 2009
trying again
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Asw4sKLyAUk_dEFTUHgtMmZSa0VPUHRMSFJNVDFINUE&hl=en
Forms through Google Docs
Below is the survey I created in Google Docs. This would be one I could use with my English sstudents.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEFTUHgtMmZSa0VPUHRMSFJNVDFINUE6MA
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEFTUHgtMmZSa0VPUHRMSFJNVDFINUE6MA
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rubistar
What a site!!!
Why didn't someone show me this earlier.
I found this site to be very easy to use. I create my own category in the rubric, but I also liked and used some of the available ones. USER friendly.
I would recomment this to everyone.
Here is the link to my rubric:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Asw4sKLyAUk_dFVFQ0RJTXUxRC1pRGpRNjhreWRoNXc&hl=en
Why didn't someone show me this earlier.
I found this site to be very easy to use. I create my own category in the rubric, but I also liked and used some of the available ones. USER friendly.
I would recomment this to everyone.
Here is the link to my rubric:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Asw4sKLyAUk_dFVFQ0RJTXUxRC1pRGpRNjhreWRoNXc&hl=en
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Presentation Games Jeopardy
Wow!
I downloaded the jeopardy file from class and placed all of my information so that I could use it with my English students.
This will be IDEAL with my whiteboard. The students can just click on a gategory... even have someone be the host.
I did experience much frustration with the ftp site at Fairmont. I followed the video directions exactly how it showed, but I just can't access it as it shows.
What really frustrates me is that I had no problem accessing someone else's ppt.
If anyone can get it to work,please let me know. :)
My link is below:
ftp://studentsftp.fairmontstate.edu/JeopardyPPTchrisware.ppt
I downloaded the jeopardy file from class and placed all of my information so that I could use it with my English students.
This will be IDEAL with my whiteboard. The students can just click on a gategory... even have someone be the host.
I did experience much frustration with the ftp site at Fairmont. I followed the video directions exactly how it showed, but I just can't access it as it shows.
What really frustrates me is that I had no problem accessing someone else's ppt.
If anyone can get it to work,please let me know. :)
My link is below:
ftp://studentsftp.fairmontstate.edu/JeopardyPPTchrisware.ppt
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Moving Pictures: Movie Maker
For my movie maker presentation, I used the slides from my dog slideshow in a previous assignment. I thought that pulling slides into movie maker would be easier, but once I figured it out it went smoother. I first copied my slides out of power point and placed them in paint. I saved them as pictures, forgetting to crop off the white edge from paint. So I then used windows picture viewer to crop each picture before entering them into movie maker. ( I couldn't find the capabilities to drop in Movie Maker)
I don't know which I like more... Photostory, or Movie Maker. Both are great resources. I DO like how you see the line of music below the slides, and view it along the time scale. Plus, adding music in this progam was pretty easy. I used a sample song which came on my computer.
It's also really easy to apply transitions and slide effects. Boy did I try out a lot of different affects. Why have I not been using this program sooner. I'm already planning to help someone make their faculty senate presentaion in movie maker.
Good activity,
I don't know which I like more... Photostory, or Movie Maker. Both are great resources. I DO like how you see the line of music below the slides, and view it along the time scale. Plus, adding music in this progam was pretty easy. I used a sample song which came on my computer.
It's also really easy to apply transitions and slide effects. Boy did I try out a lot of different affects. Why have I not been using this program sooner. I'm already planning to help someone make their faculty senate presentaion in movie maker.
Good activity,
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Pecha Kucha & Ignite Presentation
For my presentation, I created a Slideshow which I could use with my students. I plan to have students write a persuasive essay this year on choosing a pet. I chose dogs and made an accompanying slide show. The slides which have statistics, I placed the web address at the bottom for reference. I want the kids to do this also.
The embedding was easier for this show, because of my experience with the last embedding. I found uploading into SlideShare much faster.
I'm learning so many resources,
Chris
The embedding was easier for this show, because of my experience with the last embedding. I found uploading into SlideShare much faster.
I'm learning so many resources,
Chris
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Photostory
For my project, I used Photostory to create a story about my recent trip with my family.
I always have my students write about thier families, or things they do with thier families. I also use a prompt about a memorable moment. I think this would tie in well. My students can create a Photostory which hits on the main ideas from the essay they create.
My obstacle will be having students use digital pictures from home.
I've sent home a letter to parents asking if they can send in digital pictures later in the year. I hope that with email, disks, or jumpdrives, they can make it in. I imagine I'm going to have to loan out a camera as well.
I found Photostory to be rather user friendly. This is the first time I've used it. The music portion worried me, but it was easy to use. I used a song thet is put out by the resort, so I thought it worked well. The narration was simple. I would like to be able to record a portion that spans two slides instead of slide by slide. Maybe the purchased version allows this.
I'm also thinking about having my students do a project using our classroom rules and expectations. The narrative aspect of this program would allow them to add their ideas.
Neat program!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I finished my PowerPoint
Wow!
That was a lot of work!
You can view my PowerPoint here in google docs:
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ae-tVYzPWgUcZGZ4aDc3dHJfMjRxbjduN2dn&hl=en
That was a lot of work!
You can view my PowerPoint here in google docs:
http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ae-tVYzPWgUcZGZ4aDc3dHJfMjRxbjduN2dn&hl=en
Friday, September 18, 2009
making a PowerPoint
PowerPoint Project
For my PowerPoint, I decided to begin a series of presentations on the parts of speech. My students are just beginning to get into this in English, and I’m having them construct a flipbook to keep in their wrting folder this year. Instead of writing everything on the board, I can use this. Then I can show this on the board and allow students to use the clicker to advance it while completing notes.
I have never created a genuine presentation of my own before. I’ve altered many canned presentations from staff developments, but never my own. I found it very user friendly, and the smart graphics options really give the slides some visual interest. It didn’t take that long to create it either, so I’m going to work on a chapter three one tomorrow night.I was worried when saving it however. I always save Word documents as a 97-03 document, so it can be opened by others who may not have Vista, but when I went to save my PowerPoint as a 97-03 it told me that by doing so I may have a few slides which would not work. So, I saved it as a regular PP presentation.
For my PowerPoint, I decided to begin a series of presentations on the parts of speech. My students are just beginning to get into this in English, and I’m having them construct a flipbook to keep in their wrting folder this year. Instead of writing everything on the board, I can use this. Then I can show this on the board and allow students to use the clicker to advance it while completing notes.
I have never created a genuine presentation of my own before. I’ve altered many canned presentations from staff developments, but never my own. I found it very user friendly, and the smart graphics options really give the slides some visual interest. It didn’t take that long to create it either, so I’m going to work on a chapter three one tomorrow night.I was worried when saving it however. I always save Word documents as a 97-03 document, so it can be opened by others who may not have Vista, but when I went to save my PowerPoint as a 97-03 it told me that by doing so I may have a few slides which would not work. So, I saved it as a regular PP presentation.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Paying with Pollock- creatin a painting
I first tried the link from the activities list in the class. I thought something was wrong, but once I started moving the mouse, the painting began. I would have liked more tools or colors, but nothing can be seen on the screen.
Here is a link to the site:
After screen capturing the image, I cropped it in Word, but couldn't get the word document to load the this site, so instead, I copied it into paint and saved it as a JPEG. I signed mine with the pencil in Paint.
Check it out!
I'm going to look for other sites which do this as well, because I would be more inclined to let my students use it if they could print or save.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Picasso picture
I'm letting my friends know about this site... hilarious!
I did have trouble with the email function. I've done it three times and still haven't recieved the email with the link. (two to myself and one to my wife) I did however screen capture (print screen)it and will be posting it here. Once I get the email link, I'll post it as well.
PhotoShop.com
Photoshop.com is what I will refer to as a cooltool. I liked how simple it was to create an account. I uploaded a photo and twisted it. I bet my students would like to use this.
Here is a link to my recent picture project:
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Picassa Album
I've tried Picasa albums for my project. It seems pretty user friendly, but I would like to know how to work the link option at the bottom right portion of the screen with my blog for now, I'm posting a wed address here:
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
NAEP charts
I could not get the charts to copy from word into my blog so I screen captured them so the would show up.
This will still not show. There appears to be an error in the upload. I will try again with a different method.
This will still not show. There appears to be an error in the upload. I will try again with a different method.
On-line Graphics: NAEP scores
1. When examining the NAEP data for Reading, the percentage of West Virginia students who fail to obtain proficiency is alarming. According to the History or NAEP Participation and Performance, there has been little to no increase in the proficient scores since 1992. In addition, the students at basic score have remained within a five percentage range for the last six testing years, and advanced scores have fluctuated by only one percentage.
This information directly reflects a need for improvement in the area of Reading. It is my recommendation that further investigation take place in improving Reading instruction in our state’s classrooms.
I chose to represent this data with a separated pie chart. I felt this best because of the size difference which could be easily illustrated with the shapes. As seen in the blue portion of the graph below, it’s easy to see the differences. I used the scale of 100 percent, but don’t completely feel comfortable with creating them in excel like I did. I found the table which you use to create it a little confusing, but I realized that it starts with an example and the user has to alter it.
2. When examining the eighth grade reading scores to the national average for the 2007 NAEP testing year I am disappointed, especially as both a parent and teacher that we are not with the national average. The most recent score for West Virginia is 255, much lower than the national score of 261. I would also like to note that this has been low since 2003. I also find it alarming that only one percent of students met advanced levels during this year as well.
As a parent of two children in West Virginia Schools, I wish to encourage officials to examine why this drop in scores has occurred, yet not occurred in the national average. Before 2003, WV was actually higher than the national average. It is obvious that funding to strengthen our reading curriculum needs to be addressed.
The chart below exhibits this concern:
Figure 1 NAEP Scores: WV Eighth Grade Versus National Average
For this activity, I chose to create a dual stack bar graph. I think the scale of just the differences makes the years 2005 and 2007 look dramatically different. Having a 1-261 would not have looked as drastic. Both of my charts were created in Word using Excel. I thought that seeing the two bars together would be most effective in the second example. I do like that Word allows you to see small pictures of the graphs to help decide which to create.
1. When examining the NAEP data for Reading, the percentage of West Virginia students who fail to obtain proficiency is alarming. According to the History or NAEP Participation and Performance, there has been little to no increase in the proficient scores since 1992. In addition, the students at basic score have remained within a five percentage range for the last six testing years, and advanced scores have fluctuated by only one percentage.
This information directly reflects a need for improvement in the area of Reading. It is my recommendation that further investigation take place in improving Reading instruction in our state’s classrooms.
I chose to represent this data with a separated pie chart. I felt this best because of the size difference which could be easily illustrated with the shapes. As seen in the blue portion of the graph below, it’s easy to see the differences. I used the scale of 100 percent, but don’t completely feel comfortable with creating them in excel like I did. I found the table which you use to create it a little confusing, but I realized that it starts with an example and the user has to alter it.
2. When examining the eighth grade reading scores to the national average for the 2007 NAEP testing year I am disappointed, especially as both a parent and teacher that we are not with the national average. The most recent score for West Virginia is 255, much lower than the national score of 261. I would also like to note that this has been low since 2003. I also find it alarming that only one percent of students met advanced levels during this year as well.
As a parent of two children in West Virginia Schools, I wish to encourage officials to examine why this drop in scores has occurred, yet not occurred in the national average. Before 2003, WV was actually higher than the national average. It is obvious that funding to strengthen our reading curriculum needs to be addressed.
The chart below exhibits this concern:
Figure 1 NAEP Scores: WV Eighth Grade Versus National Average
For this activity, I chose to create a dual stack bar graph. I think the scale of just the differences makes the years 2005 and 2007 look dramatically different. Having a 1-261 would not have looked as drastic. Both of my charts were created in Word using Excel. I thought that seeing the two bars together would be most effective in the second example. I do like that Word allows you to see small pictures of the graphs to help decide which to create.
Friday, September 4, 2009
making some crappy graphs!
I was really surprised by how simple Crappt Graphs is! Extremely easy to use.
I had some fun and created a fake trips to the bathroom from my classes graph. I would have like to been able to set the scale along one of the axis though.
Pretty neat!
Here's the Link to My Crappy Graph
Link to crappy graphics example:
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Screen Capture: An Aha Moment
Image Capture Activity
Chris Ware
September 3, 2009
Ever had one of the D’oh moments like Homer Simpson? That’s about how I felt when I read about the print screen function from the link. I didn’t know it could be used to capture an image. I actually needed this function last month for a PowerPoint presentation, but was told the only way to capture what I wanted was to have a screen capture program since what I was wanting couldn’t be highlighted and copied.
I found an image on a blog of the making Fiends cartoon. My kids and my students really enjoy them as well as the podcasts. I captured the screen and placed it in Paint, then cropped out most of it. Then playing with some of the tools, I turned the picture into a decorated comic strip. I think this would be a good writing activity to use with my students. I could just imagine some of the pictures they could capture and write dialog for. They could create comic strips, political cartoons, or captions. I even made a very rudimentary speech bubble. Paint seems a little crude, but I guess you could zoom in to work in more detail.
I saved this image as a JPEG, with a file size of 49.3 KB. It opens on my computer with Windows Photo Gallery.
Chris Ware
September 3, 2009
Ever had one of the D’oh moments like Homer Simpson? That’s about how I felt when I read about the print screen function from the link. I didn’t know it could be used to capture an image. I actually needed this function last month for a PowerPoint presentation, but was told the only way to capture what I wanted was to have a screen capture program since what I was wanting couldn’t be highlighted and copied.
I found an image on a blog of the making Fiends cartoon. My kids and my students really enjoy them as well as the podcasts. I captured the screen and placed it in Paint, then cropped out most of it. Then playing with some of the tools, I turned the picture into a decorated comic strip. I think this would be a good writing activity to use with my students. I could just imagine some of the pictures they could capture and write dialog for. They could create comic strips, political cartoons, or captions. I even made a very rudimentary speech bubble. Paint seems a little crude, but I guess you could zoom in to work in more detail.
I saved this image as a JPEG, with a file size of 49.3 KB. It opens on my computer with Windows Photo Gallery.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Creating a graphic to use in the classroom
Creating a Graphic
Chris Ware
September 2, 2009
For my graphic source I wanted to create my own so I created a picture mosaic. I would use this activity in my English classes as a writing activity. I truly believe my students would enjoy this activity. My students could bring in digital pictures or sign out our classroom camera so they would have digital images to use with one of the mobile computer labs.
I used Microsoft Publisher for the first time to create this. I wasn’t sure which I could do it in, but other than paint or my Interwrite software, I wasn’t sure I had anything else I could create in. It took a little bit of time, but once I figured out how to layer objects and bring them forward or send to back, it went much smoother. Without those functions, I think it would be harder for my students to create a mosaic. I could really see my students getting into this.
An idea I had was to place three text boxes in the mosaic which describe your family. These three words would then be the main ideas for the three paragraphs which tell about the family. My students can than share their essay, while also displaying the mosaic in the room. This would also be a good item for students to display at our spring heritage fair.
I wasn’t sure of the best way to save it, so I tried saving it as a JPEG, File Interchange Format. I only did this because I’m used to seeing the JPEG name on files. Otherwise I don’t know much more to it. What I did like was when I open it; it looks like a finished product. Nothing can be moved around, and none of the editing lines show. I would have like to add some kind of design behind it, but I really didn’t like the objects available with publisher, and I was nowhere near a signal to use the Internet. There was the option to alter the designs provided in Publisher, but it only changes the color.
My file size is 243KB. I discovered this because I right clicked on the file and it allowed me to open a properties box. When I open it, it opens in Windows Photo Gallery.
Chris Ware
September 2, 2009
For my graphic source I wanted to create my own so I created a picture mosaic. I would use this activity in my English classes as a writing activity. I truly believe my students would enjoy this activity. My students could bring in digital pictures or sign out our classroom camera so they would have digital images to use with one of the mobile computer labs.
I used Microsoft Publisher for the first time to create this. I wasn’t sure which I could do it in, but other than paint or my Interwrite software, I wasn’t sure I had anything else I could create in. It took a little bit of time, but once I figured out how to layer objects and bring them forward or send to back, it went much smoother. Without those functions, I think it would be harder for my students to create a mosaic. I could really see my students getting into this.
An idea I had was to place three text boxes in the mosaic which describe your family. These three words would then be the main ideas for the three paragraphs which tell about the family. My students can than share their essay, while also displaying the mosaic in the room. This would also be a good item for students to display at our spring heritage fair.
I wasn’t sure of the best way to save it, so I tried saving it as a JPEG, File Interchange Format. I only did this because I’m used to seeing the JPEG name on files. Otherwise I don’t know much more to it. What I did like was when I open it; it looks like a finished product. Nothing can be moved around, and none of the editing lines show. I would have like to add some kind of design behind it, but I really didn’t like the objects available with publisher, and I was nowhere near a signal to use the Internet. There was the option to alter the designs provided in Publisher, but it only changes the color.
My file size is 243KB. I discovered this because I right clicked on the file and it allowed me to open a properties box. When I open it, it opens in Windows Photo Gallery.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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