The Great War is Over!

As I sit in class this morning I am watching my students take their test on World War I.   I hope that I have prepared them well enough to be successful.  As only a second year teacher of this course I certainly don't claim to be an expert on American history.  I do know that I have a passion for teaching and an intense desire to learn more.

This test marks the end of our second trimester studies.  Tomorrow we begin reviewing for next Tuesday's final exam.  The final will include everything that we studied from westward expansion through WWI.  It will not include the Civil War and Reconstruction.  The students have already received a study guide which should be very helpful while studying.

On another note, the students have done a great job working with Edmodo.  It has been a great communication tool for us.  For example, last night I was able to answer students' questions about the test.  One student posted a quizlet that was a great study aide.  I have been able to post all of the homework assignments, notes, study guides, etc.  My next goal is to start posting videos that the students will view for homework.

That't it for now.  As always, any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Google Workshop for Educators

On January 18 the faculty at Country Day took part in a Google workshop for educators.  I am happy with the progress that I am making using Google resources but there is certainly more that I can be doing.  I currently use Google for:

• Search
• Images
• G-mail
• Reader
• Docs
• Blogger
• YouTube

The workshops that I attended covered maps, search, docs, sites, and youtube.  As a history teacher I am still trying to figure out how to do a better job using Google maps and Google earth with my students.  With my current use of Edmodo and blogger I'm not sure I see the need to create my own website but that might be something to consider in the future.  If anyone has any suggestion on using google tools, let me know.  

Welcome to Edmodo

If you scroll down through a few of my blog posts you will see my technology goals for the school year.  Well, #6 has finally become a reality.  Two weeks ago, the students all signed up for Edmodo.  Edmodo is a social networking site for educators and their students.  Its format looks very similar to Facebook, which of course most of the students will recognize.  We are using Edmodo for a few key purposes:

#1.  It makes it very easy for students to communicate with me and with each other.  The minute a student posts a question or comment, I receive a text message on my phone.  By using the Edmodo IPhone app (or my computer), I can quickly respond. This has already proven useful to answer questions about upcoming homework or tests and quizzes.  It made it quite easy for the students to communicate with me when I was in Dallas at the football coaches convention.

#2.  I can post all of the homework assignments on Edmodo which are easy to download.  I have placed a link on my old homework page to Edmodo so students can quickly learn about their assignments. 

#3.  The calendar allows me to post due dates for homework, tests and quizzes, and FHAO paper dates.  It is an easy visual which helps the students know exactly what is coming up.

#4  I can post videos for the students to watch or links to articles that need to be read.  The students also have the ability to post videos and links on the site.

This site is limited only to me and my history students.  No one else has access to our group.  However, if any parents are interested in access to the site, I can arrange for that as well.

I am excited about the possibilities with Edmodo.  The early feedback from the students has been very positive.  If any educators are reading this and have advice on how you have used Edmodo, I would love to hear from you.

Dolls, Inc.

There are a few topics that I am interested in writing about so I am just going to go chronologically and write about the assembly line simulation that we did in class.  About two weeks ago, the students and I experienced one of my favorite lessons of the year.  Rather than simply discuss working conditions in the factories of the early 20th century, I tried to simulate life on an assembly line.  As the students entered the classroom, they were welcomed to their first day on the job at Dolls, Inc., a New York City paper doll manufacturing company.  They then met Robert Grasso, the quality control inspector on the assembly line floor.  Each student was assigned a particular job in the doll making process (head, eyes, nose, etc.).  The students then began drawing their particular section of the doll as the first sheet of paper worked its way down the line.  As they worked, the loud sound of machinery filled the classroom and the room got progressively hotter as time passed (due to the fact that is was the middle of summer and the bosses refused to pay for air conditioning).  We were able to get the room up to 87 degrees.  Talking had to be kept to a minimum as the workers completed their 30 minute shift.  Each doll was inspected at the end of the line to make sure that it met company specifications.  After 30 minutes of constant work, the machines were silenced, the heat was turned off and the class and I debriefed by discussing the pros and cons of an assembly line for both the workers and the company. 

These are the types of lessons that I love to teach.  They are unique, hands-on, and leave an impression in the student's mind.  Not long after the lesson I ran into some of my students from last year.  When I told them about the simulation they immediately could recall what it was like in their class last year (when they worked for the ABC Book Company).  These are definitely the lessons that the students remember.  I hope to continue to use simulations to teach U.S. History as we move forward.  This year we have also simulated the Civil War experience and the immigrant's journey to and through Ellis Island.  My only regret is that I didn't take any pictures that I could post with this blog entry.  I will make sure to do that next time. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Any feedback is always appreciated. 

New Year ... New Efforts to Post

I feel as if I should be clearing cobwebs off of this blog as it has been quite long since my last post.  But with the new year comes new motivation to get this blog up and running again.  One of my goals this year is to do a better job communicating with the parents of my students as well as other educators.  I will be using this blog to periodically update what is going on in our classroom.  I will also post videos or links to articles that relate to our studies.

As the students returned to school today, our focus has turned to a study of the Progressive Era, a period of time between 1890 and 1920 when the U.S. was forced to react to many changes that had taken place in the country as a result of industrialization. 

The students have a quiz Friday on the Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Woodrow Wilson. 

Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, suggestions, etc. that you may have about our studies.  I will be posting another blog later this week to explain our work with Edmodo, a secure, social learning network that the students will join this week.

Appropriate Quote

"It is far better to succeed with small incremental changes and modest setbacks than to create a grand plan and fail completely."  - The Power of Full Engagement

This is probably a good idea to guide me as I try to implement new web tools into my instruction this year.

Tech Plans for the Year

So after being quite overwhelmed by technology options for this school year (blogs, twitter, facebook, edmodo, voicethread, wallwisher, diigo, delicious, ning, wibiya, wikis, skype, flickr, youtube, google reader, google docs, wordle, prezi, symbaloo, prometheon, glogster, twiducate, etc.), I have come up with a plan.  Here are seven ways that I am going to try to bring my instruction into the 21st century:

1. Class blog (http://rgrasso.blogspot.com/)

a. I started this last year, did a good job until Thanksgiving and then never posted again. I hope to do better this year.

2. Twitter account (@rfgrasso)

a. This has been great to connect with other teachers. I may created an account that I use with the students.

3. Google Reader

a. I am now subscribed to around 10 educational blogs that I find very helpful.

4. Google Docs

a. I started to use google docs last year and would like to use it more this year.

5. Wallwisher (http://www.wallwisher.com/)

a. This is a simple program where I post a question on the site and the students post a response that appears almost like a post-it note on the site.

6. Edmodo (http://www.edmodo.com/)

a. This is a site that looks similar to facebook but it is geared towards education and would only be accessible by the students. I haven’t figured out exactly how I plan to use it but I want to try to tap into the students fascination with social media in a way that supports my curriculum.

7. Glogster (http://edu.glogster.com/)

a. I have to learn how to use this site but basically it replaces the old fashioned poster board displays with a poster designed online with links, videos, pictures, etc.

Wish me luck!