Week 11: Website

http://sites.google.com/site/annualscrapbookretreat


This website is mainly providing information for my scrapbook retreat that I and my friend, Bianca West, hold annually in Shipshewana.  I believe that this site will really help manage the paperwork that I have had to do in the past.  Now I can direct people to this site instead of having to email over 200 girls several times every year.  I can update and edit new information so easily.  This will be a very big timesaver!!!!!!

I included such topics as registration forms, payment coupons, FAQ's, map of retreat location, bio on Bianca and me, and photos of past retreats.

Week 10 - Concept Mapping

This concept map of classroom vocabulary would be used in a beginner level Spanish class.  I would have the students use this concept map to show the relationship between vocabulary words.  This "picture" would help them remember the vocabulary and the relationship to other words more easily.  For example, seeing the word for "male student" and how it relates to the words for "boy" and "young man" expands their vocabulary, yet allows them to recognize that these words are related in gender as well as in  meaning.  The word for "furniture" also includes different types of classroom furniture and items that go with that furniture, such as "chalkboard" and "chalk" or "desk" with "pencil," "paper" and "scissors."  


As a means of evaluation, students may be required to label a concept map with blanks to be filled in with the appropriate vocabulary words.

Week 9 - Screencasting

http://screencast.com/t/CNU9qsm2C

This video is an oral demonstration of colors in Spanish.  It can be used as oral practice for students who are just learning the basics, such as in a 7th grade 9-week rotation.  After introducing the words to the class, I would have each of the students listen to the video and repeat the vocabulary words outloud.  This way, they could hear it anytime even when I am not available to help them practice.  I would have it on a classroom blog that would be accessible to the class.  
I see many possibilities for screencasting.  At first, I was so frustrated.  I went to Jinx and watched the videos and I downloaded the stuff I thought I had to download.  I still couldn't find my "SUN"!!!   But then as I was downloading for the second time, I found that I hadn't installed Jinx onto my computer.  After that, it became easier with lots of practice!  There are things I would continue to improve and edit on the video to make it more manageable and practical.