Friday, August 31, 2012

TGIF

Wow, have we ever had a busy week. We have begun work in geography in and around Ancient Greece. Students have been introduced to and created accounts in Edmodo, a safe and secure student learning web based program. Students sign up, enter no personal information, and don't enter an email address. They can only be invited into their class group through a special group code and parents may begin an account following their child, as well. Teachers have full control of who may be in the class and can close it off from any unwanted members and even control students who wish to enter a class of which they are not a member. A special private parent code is generated for each student. Students have been participating in a big way by viewing "Flipped" videos at home and responding through quiz or written responses. Their has been somewhat of a learning curve for both students and teacher alike. We are all getting the hang of it and are ready to soar. In this way, we will "push" videos and documents out to students where they view them at home for homework. Then, in class, students collaborate, share, discuss as a class, and generally work their traditional homework with teachers on hand for questions and further elaboration on topics. The result should be more teacher time for each student as well as a chance to do "homework" in class where they can be assisted when needed. So far it has been an awesome experience and students have displayed an enormous level of interest. Our students are fired up for learning social studies like I've never seen before. Hang on because it going to be a fun ride.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Geography Challenge

Hello! Today we were still collecting papers that needed to be returned. If you still need a copy, see yesterdays post. You can click on it and print it out at home:) Students worked on the geography challenge for ancient Greece. They worked with their clock partners. For some classes we were able to discuss a few of the answers. All classes will complete it tomorrow. Students were given an Edmodo assignment of viewing a few short video clips on our post and then taking the short quiz right there on Edmodo. Students should take notes on the videos and go back to look for information. We will use this as a tool to set up our classes next week when we talk further about latitude and longitude!

Homework:  Edmodo: View video clips and take quick quiz due Tuesday (reminder....if you don't find the post on one of the classes for social studies, you will find it on the other.)

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Discusssion of Geography of Greece and Colonies

Hello! Today we were still cleaning up papers to hand in that required signatures (syllabus signature due Friday, Edmodo code of conduct was due Monday). We have included copies of them at the bottom of the post in case you can't find it and need another.  We had a great discussion on solving problems related to technology. Students can up with many solutions that could help. The last resort would be to send a note to us with parents signature letting us know the problem. For some classes we started the Geography Challenge and for all we will finish tomorrow!

Homework:  Syllabus Signature, Edmodo Code of Conduct Signature


Edmodo Guidelines

Edmodo Code of Conduct

Syllabus

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

First Edmodo Assignment

Hello! Today we had some things to catch up with before we could move on to new material. We completely finished 3-item bags and t-shirts. We also filled in the clock partners so we have classmates to work with cooperatively . We collected syllabus signatures (still a few out there) and Edmodo code of conduct sheets. We explained the homework found on the website for Edmodo. We believe all students have joined the social studies groups and should be able to find the assignment when they log in to Edmodo. Students will be watching a screencast on Chapter 25 the geography and settlements of Greece. Students will then write a response on their own paper and put in their binder to share tomorrow. In class tomorrow we will explain about the process for completing this at home and model what it should have looked like. Students may reply to our post, but it is not required. All replies should follow the Edmodo Code of Conduct. Students are doing a good job with this so far! In some classes, we started the Geography Challenge but will complete this tomorrow. There is no work with this outside of class.

Homework:  View Edmodo Screencast video, respond on loose leaf
                     Complete t-shirt if not finished

Monday, August 27, 2012

Acuity Test Day

Hey! you all did a fantastic job taking the Acuity Pre-Test. The test was mostly new material as evidenced by the results but you each worked your best effort and hung in there like troopers. The scores will not count for or against your overall grade as it was a pre-test put out by the state of Indiana. We will be taking one of these at the start of each quarter and an "end of the quarter" assessment at the end of each quarter. Tomorrow we will begin work on Ancient Greece by working with the geography of the region.

Acuity Pre-Test

Hello! Today we take the acuity pre-test for the first quarter. You will read the hard copy of the test and record your answer on the computer form for your class period. Click submit only when you are sure about your answers. Do not rush but you will only have this class period to complete it! You will find it below.

Cobb Period 1
Cobb Period 2
Cobb Period 3
Cobb Period 4
Cobb Period 6

Hogue Period 1
Hogue Period 2
Hogue Period 3
Hogue Period 4
Hogue Period 6

Have a great day!

Friday, August 24, 2012

TGIF

Hey! It's Friday and a beautiful but warm day outside. I hope you are ready to enjoy the first weekend after school has started. I am.
Today we completed loose ends on procedures, syllabus, Edmodo acceptable use procedures, and the T-Shirts.
If you have not had a chance to sign up for an Edmodo account, you can simply go to Edmodo.com and sign up an account as a student. You will need to get your class code from another student who is in your current period class.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

3-Item Bag Presentations

Hello! Today students worked on the arrival procedures and are getting the hang of it! About half of the students shared their 3 items which represented themselves with the class. Students were attentive and respectful and seemed truly interested in each other. Mrs. Cobb's students were given a copy of the syllabus (yellow) and need to have the bottom portion filled out and returned next week. Mr. Hogue's class will get them tomorrow. Mr. Hogue's class finished the t-shirts which are visual representions of themselves. Mrs. Cobb's class will do them tomorrow. In science class today, students joined a social studies group on the classroom site from edmodo.com. Next week, we will go into the lab and learn more about how to use it step by step. Lots more to come about edmodo!

Homework:  3 item bag if not already presented
                     syllabus signature due 8/31

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

First Day of School

Today was a great day for all! While today was spent learning some classroom expectations, we also worked on meeting someone new and on becoming more comfortable in our classrooms. We shared our 3 item bags with students to explain a little more about who we are and what is important to us. This also showed students what we are looking for in their 3 item bags which are due tomorrow. For  some classes, we viewed a short slide show starring Charlie Brown and friends and teachers from Discovery about the do's and don'ts of lockers. We believe most students survived their first day of middle school and we are looking forward to a great year!

 Homework:  3-item bags

Monday, August 20, 2012

Monday Night - Parent's Night

We hope you had a nice visit with your teachers tonight. Sorry, if it seemed hot and was difficult to get around to everyone. Thanks to those of you who had a chance to complete our technology survey. If you were not able to come or you did not get a chance to complete it, please go to the next post which has a list of possible class periods that your son or daughter has social studies. Choose the class period and teacher and complete the survey. It is just a quick five question sheet and will help us determine your situation at home for Internet connects. No worries, if you do not have a connection we will help your child figure out how to access the material from school. That is one of the reasons for our little survey. Also, if you have Mr. Hogue for first period, I somehow lost all the data for your period. Please complete the survey again.
Thanks.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Parent Meet and Greet Night

Welcome to Discovery Middle School Parent Meet and Greet Night. We hope you have a great visit with your child's teachers and have an opportunity to see their class rooms and get a visual of what their day may entail. I know it will go fast and seem like there was a lot packed into the evening. Please take a moment to complete a short technology questionnaire to help us get an idea of what technology tools your child may have at their disposal to access Internet content at home. Please choose your child's teacher and class period. Click on the link to access the short questionnaire.

Thank You,
Mr. Hogue
Mrs. Cobb

Mrs. Cobb Period One
Mrs. Cobb Period Two
Mrs. Cobb Period Three
Mrs. Cobb Period Four
Mrs. Cobb Period Six

Mr. Hogue Period One
Mr. Hogue Period Two
Mr. Hogue Period Three
Mr. Hogue Period Four
Mr. Hogue Period Six



Welcome to DMS 6th Grade Social Studies

Welcome to the Discovery Middle School 6th Grade Social Studies Blog. This site has been designed for use by Discovery Middle School sixth grade students and their parents. Hopefully you will find it a resource link for class videos, checking grades, student handouts, assignment rubrics, and more. This site is a collaboration of Mrs. Cobb and Mr. Hogue and we hope it will become a tool, along with Edmodo, to help you keep up with class activities as well as a source for supplemental tools. The social studies focus in sixth grade is Ancient Greece, Rome, and the Western World. We will be using two text books as well as a multitude of Internet resources this year.

We will also being employing a concept called "Flipping." We will not being using it on an everyday basis so we refer to it as "Blended Learning." Essentially what this means is that we will be using short video clips or screen casts that we develop as well as borrow from other sources. These clips will be viewed by our students at home and will be short 5-10 minute clips and will usually contain one concept or one learning target. Sometimes, students will take notes, write a short response, or even take a short quiz online to qualify their learning as well as hold them accountable. One of the benefits of the video clips is that students can watch at their own pace, pause, and rewind at any time. Then, the next day in class, students will have opportunities to collaborate, do hands-on activities, and use the concepts introduced on the videos with their classmates. We will begin the year by modeling this experience in class together and then expand it as the year continues. Students that do not have Internet access, a device, or that may experience technical difficulties at home, will have opportunities to access the content at school.

The short version of blended learning is that student homework will consist of watching a short video at home, making some sort of response, and then participate in class after. The other form of homework will be that students will be required to prepare for assessments (tests, quizzes).

You may view the following short introduction video on Blended Learning.