Zondle and LearnBoost

Wow!  The day was not a total bust!  I have the makings of a class that might function this year!  I will use Flocabulary, poetry, fliipping for direct instruction (when I can) and still have time to read Literature Circle books for 20 minutes or so.  Sound like a lot, but I think I have it down pat.  Time will tell.

Found two new websites to use one for flipping and games
Zondle

and one that allows me to lesson plan using the web and it will use my Google Calendar, share to Facebook and Twitter.  LessonBoost has an app on Google Chrome as well.

LessonBoost

Both great and I hope to use them this year!

Flocabulary

Working hard on the Wiki we will use this year.  I have created pages that will go with what we are learning and that students can use for review.  I have created play lists on you tube, and I will upload videos (I am hoping the wiki will take the size of some of the videos) on each page so that the kids can view and review each topic.
I have found a lot of good stuff on Flocabulary.  Since I have an account, I intend to use this as well.  I really like the Word Up, Grammar and Literature links.  I just need to figure out how all of the raps will fit into my classroom.  I am thinking of using them much as I did last year.  I will begin the day with them but this year instead I will follow the lesson plans so that the kids learn the raps, vocabulary and grammar.  I need to make sure I am leaving at least 30 minutes each day for reading or writing.  That would leave me more then enough time to have a mini lesson or direct instruction.  I need to whittle this down to what I am going to use and how I want my day to progress.  Perhaps it would be best to drive everything through Edmodo and use the Wiki for review and remediation.

E books for flipping

I have found a couple of sites that I think might help me flip.  At least I am hoping I can upload a few picture books onto the wiki for the kids to watch and review.

 I had some ideas about pages on the wiki including anchor books, poetry, and grammar.  I am thinking that these pages could be used as review and remediation pages for all students.

e-book library
http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Tumblebooks

Found a way to save videos to upload to my flipping site. The wiki will only hold so much, so I might have to use another vehicle to show the videos. I am going to try Edmodo in hopes that everything will load there. I still like the wiki idea and will use it in conjunction with Edmodo.

 Savevid.com

Workshop today left me with much to think about.  Still flipping, but all with good measure.  This is going to be quite a process, and I know it will take a couple of years before I have a good working knowledge of the whole thing.  In other words, it is a work in progress and I won't know how the whole thing will be until I get back in the classroom with the kids.  I will continue to share my thoughts here however, and once I get the Wiki worked out, I will link it as well.

Beginnings

     I have begun the Wiki I will use the first three weeks of school.  Included on the Wiki are steps to using Edmodo, Google with apps and using Wikispaces.  I need to add Diigo to the list of tools that I need a strong running knowledge of.
     MentorMob is really coming along and I think I have a good idea of not just how to use it, but implement it in the classroom as well.   MentorMob has a Chrome extension that has really come in handy in creating playlists.
      I am learning screencasting and will have videos embedded in the wiki as well.  I know that videos are only for direct instruction, and I need to leave classroom time to allow for SSR.  I really think that flipping is going to be the answer for the 1 to 1 computers that we have all been looking for.  I need to get it secure in my mind, and then pass the knowledge on to anyone who will listen.
     There are Chrome extensions for screencasting as well.  I have added them to my Google account and hope to understand how they work.

Video production

video

This was created on my IPad using EDUcreations.  I really liked this app.  It was the easiest screen cast tool so far to use and master.
Educreations

discovery

So the stuff on the IPad works and I can email and then embed videos to my wiki and blog.  Using Educreations for all of this.  Seems to be the easiest way to create videos that I have found so far.  I will work with Screencast-O-Matic tomorrow.  I know that will be useful in grading student papers.  Still working on the whole Edmodo thing to support the flipped class.  But at least the video production part seems to be settled :)

Thoughts on Flipping

I know that I will have to add blogging to the mix in my classroom.  I found a great resource for doing this at
Flipping with Kirch  I an going to try Mentor Mob for screen shots.  A lot of other folks are using this, so I will give it a try.  I really want to keep new things I am learning down and applying in the classroom to three.
I know I have to learn screencasting so screencast o matic is a must as is voice thread   I have learned about both of these at a workshop over the summer, so it is now a matter of using them.  I know I have to use blogs for student writing.  Since it seems like most blogs will remain blocked, I think I will use Edublogsfor student blogs this year.
So I think these three tools will be what is focused on, for me, this year.

I am going to begin my two week unit on the flipped class and how students will interact and learn in this class.  I am still toying to work out how I am going to use a wiki within Edmodo so that I will be able to use the tools of Edmodo while still using the benefits of flipping.  As soon as  I complete Unit 1,  I will post it here.

Planning for the first two weeks

The first two weeks of school need to be spent showing the kids how to function in the flipped classroom.  We need to work  on taking Cornell notes, working Socratic Circles, and reviewing the basics of the elements of fiction.  We also need to create our first writing piece.  We should begin a Literature Circle which can be a picture book or short story to show the students how these will work.   I think we will begin grammar once we get past these two weeks.  Grammar will be a part of the first major unit which looks like it focus on the elements of theme, character development and how characters change throughout the novel or reading, how the plot moves conflict toward resolution, round and flat characters,  writing narratives (so we will be able to write a story here) and creating assessments that can be shared with others.  


This will take 3 years to change school culture!

What I have learned about flipping so far....

There are several things that I have learned.  I need to construct some units in order to flip.  I only use video for my direct instruction, and the units must contain formative and sumative assessments.  I need to include grammar, writing and literature circles in these units and work in a socratic circle once a week.  I think I want to use a wiki for all of this.  i have looked into edublogs and while it looks great, it seems a lot to learn.  I already know the basics of the wiki and I can create a wiki for each unit I create. 

 I need to learn more about screencasting and become better at creating Prezis.  I need to use tpck to create betters lessons and units.

tpck

Screencast 0 matic

Voicethread

Things I have learned about Socratic Circles.  I can use these in a flipped classroom and use today's meet for a back channel chat.  I need to include discussions about the current literature circle book and bring in other documents to support reading such as poems,  chapters of books, drama and speeches.  There are so many ways to use Socratic Circles it almost seems endless.