A Perfect Day

The day was perfect day for the end of a week long paddle along the Yukon River. The August sun still just circling high in the sky was finally providing the long needed heat we desired following three days of rain. The light breeze that you can usually find near any running water was a bit more intense on the mighty Yukon but well appreciated as it kept the annoying flies and mosquitoes at bay. The only audible sounds that had been appreciated for days were that of the silty water sliding along the underside of the plastic canoe, the rain falling onto our high-tech fabrics, and the occasional wood on gunwale sound made from a “J” stroke that strays just slightly off course. And on this perfect day at the end of a perfect trip we would trade all these simple sounds, and more important to me, this simple and comfortable lifestyle for the sounds of man. With each stroke we moved closer to the satisfaction of a trip complete and already dreaming about trips of tomorrow. It was indeed the perfect day.

SabrinaJourney-Uses in the Classroom

SabrinaJourney-Uses in the Classroom
Using a model of storytelling like SabrinaJourney could have several possible purposes. The following are some possible applications of the model:
· Autobiography- Students often love telling their story. Providing students, even those reluctant writers, with a topic about themselves often engages their interest and desire to produce. Integrating a writing component in this model of storytelling seems to be rather seamless.
· Sequencing- Though a basic skill, SabrinaJourney could be a way to get students to understand and demonstrate sequencing. Some students even struggle with identifying their life’s sequence of events, so this could be a starting place to begin developing sequencing skills that are also important literacy skills as well.
· Futures Planning- I have seen students with cognitive impairments use video sequencing and picture schedules to guide them towards completing activities that they have not yet mastered such as mopping, riding the bus home, or any task that can be sequenced. Student input into the activities they would like to see themselves actually complete could be great additions to this. A student could actually see and hear themselves do something before they do it.

Epic 2015 Implications

Epic 2015 Implications

The implications that the ideas presented in Epic 2015 would have in the classroom could be wide reaching. The need for students to be able to critically analyze appears to be even more important when they are inundated with such a mass amount and mass produced type of information. As suggested in the film the quality of the information presented may not be any more reliable than it is today, and it may even become based more on the popularity of topics and data than before. If you have ever watched some of the programming on MTV you will recognize that popular does not always equate to quality and substance. The continued need for public schools to increase the application of information gathering and distribution, as with podcasts, would also be of even more importance in order to maintain student engagement. As we move into more capable technologies we will likely be tasked with educating students that are capable of getting and sharing more information in more interesting ways. As educators we will need to provide students with alternate ways for them to show us mastery of skills in the classroom and on state assessments.

Assessing- Fox Becomes A Better Person and School Train

Assessing- Fox Becomes A Better Person and School Train

Assessing and providing grades for some types of projects can be difficult. When evaluating work like Fox Becomes A Better Person and School Train I would use a rubric that would assess the project in several areas. The following are the areas I might focus my attention on these two types of projects:
· Elements of a story- plot, characters, setting, conflict, resolution
· Presentation- voice, word choice, clarity
· Visual elements
· Specific concept mastery- using metaphor
· Group participation

Josh's Photo

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