Week of Dec 13th–Dec 17th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Complete Project 2 and any missing assignments for the 3rd 6 Weeks.  Friday we release for the Holidays at noon.   

Monday 13th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Check your grades for the most recent information.  Use the list above to help you find and complete your assignments.
  2. Good luck with your midterm exams this week!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!
  3. If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Winter Storm Slideshow on the weather from yesterday

Tuesday 14th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Try this Snowline Game (thanks Jacob!)
  2. Aviary Creations made by other students should now be visible to you when you login. Login here and check them out.
  3. My intent for you this week is to give you an opportunity to get caught up on any missing work for the end of the semester, but also to let you relax a little with all of the midterm testing which is going on.  If you find a cool website with games (like the one above) or photos related to the holidays, please share them with me through the Share Websites Form  so I can add them here for others to see and try!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Christmas at the White House Slideshow
  2. Try this holiday trivia quiz (you have to do better than I did… 50%)
  3. Explore this Google Earth Gallery

Wednesday 15th:

- Review

  1. Check your grades for the latest updates!
  2. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  3. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Here’s a link to send an e-postcard to support our troops!

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Animal Tracks Slideshow
  2. Check out this Gallery of The Most Amazing Science Images Of 2010

Thursday 16th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. List of assignments and links for the 3rd 6 Weeks (since Progress Reports).  The two marked in red are the fastest way to raise your grade if you need to!

- New

  1. Please complete this 3 question survey
  2. Explore the Macy’s make a wish foundation site where you can create a letter to Santa and Macy’s will donate a dollar to the Make a Wish Foundation

- Do 

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  2. Your Project2 screencasts need to have P2 in the Title please!
  3. If you’ve made a Prezi for Project2, please send me a link to view it!  If you’ve created something with Aviary, I’ll be able to see it automatically once you save it.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it! 
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this updated Holiday Lights Slideshow
  2. …or this NYC Holiday Windows Slideshow
  3. …or this World’s wildest Christmas gifts Slideshow

Friday 17th:

- Review

  1. 2010: Was it a good year for you?

- New

What person has had the biggest positive effect on your life and what have they done that has had such a positive effect on you? (if you have trouble narrowing it down to 1 person, just choose any one of your top picks)

There are 3 ways for anyone who sees this to respond...

  1. Use this 1 question form
  2. Reply to this email (or send an email or text to bmercer@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu)
  3. Call or text this Google Voice number with your response 512.703.0308

- Do 

  1. Have a Merry Christmas…

- Through?

  1. …and a Happy New Year!

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Dec 6th–Dec 10th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin Project 2  

Monday 6th:

- Review

  1. Key vocabulary for Math and Science

- New

  1. Introduce Project 2 and a stickfigure animation program called Pivot
  2. Here’s a Study Stack for Algebra students

- Do 

  1. 7th Grade take this quiz on Graphing Terms.  If you don’t do well, you can take the quiz again once-per-day until you are satisfied with the score.
  2. 8th Grade take this quiz on Plate Tectonics.  If you don’t do well, you can take the quiz again once-per-day until you are satisfied with the score.
  3. View this Prezi on Project 2 (your final project for the semester)
  4. View the tutorial on the Pivot Stickfigure Animation Progam and the examples of  student-created animations using Pivot in the J-drive/TODAY/screencasts/P2 folder
  5. Explore the Pivot animation program (there should be a shortcut on your desktop, but if not, there’s one in the J-drive/TODAY folder which you can drag to your desktop).
  6. Complete this P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form.  Add any questions you have about the project and any applications you explore to the form.

- Through?

  1. View this Animal Tracks Slideshow

Tuesday 7th:

- Review

  1. Retake the vocabulary quiz if you would like to raise your grade.  Here are the links to the quizzes:

- New

  1. Explore the Prezi Presentation software website.  There are copies of the Introduction and Tutorial Video clips in the J-drive Project2 folder.
  2. Check out the new animation examples (6&7) in the J-drive Project2 folder.

- Do 

  1. Copy the Prezi Presentations folder from the J-drive/TODAY/Project2 folder to your desktop
  2. View the Prezi Introduction and Tutorial Video clips in that folder
  3. Create a Prezi Public Access account here.  Later on if you like this software, you may want to create an education account which will give you more storage space and other benefits.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. View this Unlikely Friends Slideshow about unusual animal families

Wednesday 8th:

- Review

  1. If you’ve created a cool Pivot Animation, please upload it to your Google Docs and share it with me so I can add it to our demo collection!

- New

  1. Explore the Aviary editing tools at their homepage

- Do 

  1. Watch the Aviary tools demo clip (there’s a copy in the J-drive P2 folder)
  2. Explore these Aviary photo-edit examples
  3. Try to logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Prezi on Playing to Learn
  2. View this Animal Tracks Slideshow

Thursday 9th:

- Review

  1. View this Prezi on Project 2 (your final project for the semester)

- New

  1. The voice recorder in the Aviary Music Creator (Myna) should work for you now, but if it doesn’t, you can still import your voice by recording it with the Windows Sound Recorder (in programs/accessories/entertainment), saving it to your desktop, and importing it into Myna.  It’s cool… try it!

- Do 

  1. Try to logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. Explore these Hall-of-Fame Myna tracks.  Try this one called Birdsong which uses a voiceover from Nature videos and this one called Bells & Gizmos (link to edit mode) sounds Christmassy!  You can open them with the editor to see how they were made (and to experiment with changing them).
  3. Test the voice record function in the Edit Audio option (3rd item in the drop-down menu)
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!   Remember to upload your creations to Google Docs and share them with me!
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Christmas at the White House Slideshow

Friday 10th:

- Review

  1. Remember to upload your Project2 Pivot creations to Google Docs and share them with me!

- New

  1. Watch this animated talk on reforming education

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Aviary education account here. (use your first name and the first 3 letters of your last name as your username and your student ID as your password)
  2. Explore these Hall-of-Fame Myna tracks.  Try these: Marooned theme, Hall of Mirrors, and Together Forever. You can open them with the editor to see how they were made (and to experiment with changing them).
  3. Try the voice record function in the Edit Audio option and experiment with ways to alter your voice.
  4. Continue working on Project2 (explore Pivot, Prezi, Aviary or other software).  Use this opportunity to explore something new and cool and create something with it!  
  5. Complete the P2 (Project2) Progress Check Form with your progress for today.

- Through?

  1. Watch this Holiday Lights around the World slideshow

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 29th–Dec 3rd

Highlights for the week: 

  • Learn some new functions using Google Docs (like the lookup function and Google Forms)  

Monday 29th:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Today! 
  2. If you add anything to your files, please send me an email so I will know to grade your file again!
  3. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!  The files in your S-drive Project1 folder will not be graded!  If you don’t remember how to do this, there’s a screencast in the folder for today, Nov29 Mon, which explains how to do it.

- New

  1. View this Street Riding clip

- Do 

Check all of your Project 1 materials, especially your Glogs which count the most,  to make sure they have the following:

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page

        -----Your finished Project1 should contain these things-----

  1. Your daily log (3 pts)
    • should have a title like this:  Mark Twain Project1 Notes
    • it should be a diary of your project work
  2. Due to the problems we’ve been having opening Google Docs and Drawings, I will count them as extra credit (worth 1 pt each) for those who were able to make them
  3. Please make sure your Glogs contain the following (6 pts for each Glog)
    • At least 3 images involving your topic (3 pts)
    • At least 2 links to websites related to your topic (2 pts)
    • At least 1 animation, audio or video clip related to your topic (1 pt)
  4. Your screencasts should document some part of your project like the following:
    • A search tour which follows you through your topic research
    • A tutorial which teaches others how to do something you’ve learned about

- Through?

  1. Check your progress report grades and complete any missing work.  Today is your last chance to complete missing work before Progress Reports go out (they will be handed out Friday)
  2. If you are satisfied with your Progress Report Grade, you may start on the assignment for tomorrow (there’s a folder with the screencasts in it which you need already in the J-drive/TODAY/screencasts folder called Nov30 Tues)
  3. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Tuesday 30th:

- Review

  1. How to logon to your Google Apps account
  2. Make sure you upload your Project1 screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!  The files in your S-drive Project1 folder will not be graded!  If you don’t remember how to do this, there’s a screencast in the folder for yesterday, Nov29 Mon, which explains how to do it.

- New

  1. Learn how to use the Google Lookup function to find information automatically and put it in a table
  2. It looks like Progress Reports will be extended for another week.  I will let you know when I hear the final decision!

- Do 

  1. Copy the screencast folder for Nov30 Tues to your desktop
  2. Watch screencast 1 called “How to use Google Lookup”
  3. Logon to Google Apps and find the file called “Google Lookup Practice” (search for Lookup if you have trouble finding the file)
  4. Watch screencast 2 on how to copy, rename and share this practice file
  5. Make a copy of the file, add your name in front of the title, and share it with me
  6. Watch screencast 3 on how to create lookup tables
  7. Follow the instructions on the spreadsheet, in the screencast and in class to complete tables 1, 2 and 3 in the Google Lookup Practice file (6 pts for this assignment – 2 pts per table)
  8. Create a screencast (here’s a link to Screencast-o-matic) of how you completed Table2 of the spreadsheet.  The title of your screencast should be ‘Table2’.  Upload your screencast to your Google Docs and share it with me! (3 pts for this assignment)

- Through?

  1. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Wednesday Dec 1st:

- Review

  1. Progress Reports will go out this Friday as originally planned

- New

  1. Watch the funny clip collection as a class

- Do 

  1. Take this Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment (it’s worth 5 pts)
  2. Complete lookup function spreadsheets and screencasts from yesterday.  If the function doesn’t work in some cells, check your spelling on the names of the states with the problem.
  3. To make your screencasts, clear out the data from table 2 and record how you used the lookup function to fill out the table for you.

- Through?

  1. 8th Grade classes should review the vocabulary terms on Plate Tectonics from your science classes for a vocab quiz later on this week.  Here is a link to the Study Stack review site.

Thursday 2nd:

- Review

  1. Progress Report Cards go out tomorrow.  Check your grades to see what it will show!
  2. Please complete your Google Lookup Practice file and your screencast of Table2 if you haven’t already done so!

- New

  1. Learn how to create a form

- Do 

  1. Complete this form to receive extra credit (it’s worth 3 points)
  2. Retake the Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment if you would like to raise your grade (it’s worth 5 pts)
  3. Watch the screencast for today (from my J-drive folder) on how to create a form. 
  4. Create a form which asks 3 questions that you would like to know the answer to. 
  5. Send an email to me with a link to your new form so I can see your 3 questions.
  6. Explore this Time Special on the 50 Best Inventions of 2010.   Tomorrow we will use a form to post your 3 favorite inventions and a sentence describing each (so we will know what they’re about).  

- Through?

  1. Watch this slideshow of Americas tallest Christmas trees
  2. Watch the ‘What’s new in Google Earth 6’ Video Clip (in today’s screencasts folder)
  3. Try the Google Earth Explore the oceans tour (click on the file in today’s screencast folder)

Friday 3rd:

- Review

  1. Progress Report Cards go out today!

- New

  1. Watch 2 video clips together as a class

- Do 

  1. Retake the Quiz on the Google Lookup Assignment if you would like to raise your grade (it’s worth 5 pts)
  2. Take this Class Favorites Survey
  3. 7th Grade classes – use this Study Stack Review for a Quiz Monday on Math vocabulary
  4. 8th Grade classes – use this Study Stack review for a Quiz Monday on Plate Tectonics Vocabulary from your science classes

- Through?

  1. Check out the NORAD tracks Santa Website and this article about how to use it.
  2. …and this Winter Wonderland Slideshow!

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 22nd - Nov 26th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin   

Monday 22nd:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Tomorrow!
  2. Make sure all Glogs and Screencasts have Project1 in the Title
  3. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs!

- New

  1. Check your grades today.  The progress check grade from Friday was only based on 3 things: 1) your daily log, 2) your first Project1 Glog, 3) your first Project1 screencast
  2. You can vote for the High School player of the week here (our own Josiah Monroe is included in the list of candidates!)

- Do 

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page
  2. Watch the screencasts for today – One explains Friday’s Progress Check2 Grade and the other 3 review important parts of the project
  3. Continue working on your Project1 assignment

- Through?

  1. View this Prezi on all of the things we’ve learned about over the last several weeks
  2. Explore Larry Ferlazzo’s The Best Sites to Learn and Teach about Thanksgiving
  3. Try this Interactive What Really Happened at Thanksgiving or this  First Thanksgiving Web Adventure

Tuesday 23rd:

- Review

  1. All Project 1 Materials Due Today!
  2. Make sure you upload your screencasts to Google Docs and share them with me so I can access them to grade them!

- New

  1. Check your grades to see the Project1 assignments and points (grades will be entered over Thanksgiving)
  2. Watch this TED demonstration of card tricks

- Do   Check all of your Project 1 materials, especially your Glogs which count the most,  to make sure they have the following:

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page

        -----Your finished Project1 should contain these things-----

  1. Your daily log (3 pts)
    • should have a title like this:  Mark Twain Project1 Notes
    • it should be a diary of your project work
  2. Due to the problems we’ve been having opening Google Docs and Drawings, I will count them as extra credit (worth 1 pt each) for those who were able to make them
  3. Please make sure your Glogs contain the following (6 pts for each Glog)
    • At least 3 images involving your topic (3 pts)
    • At least 2 links to websites related to your topic (2 pts)
    • At least 1 animation, audio or video clip related to your topic (1 pt)
  4. Your screencasts should document some part of your project like the following:
    • A search tour which follows you through your topic research
    • A tutorial which teaches others how to do something you’ve learned about

- Through?

  1. Check out this critters caught on a high-speed camera slideshow
  2. Explore this First Thanksgiving Interactive
  3. Here’s a website which describes how Thanksgiving is celebrated around the world
  4. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Wednesday 24th: Holiday

Thursday 25th: Holiday

Friday 26th: Holiday

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 15th–Nov 19th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Continue working on Project1

Monday 15th:

- Review

  1. Please make sure your Project1 Glogs include Project1 in the name so I can find them!!!   (For example: Project1 Sports)
  2. If you’re interested in UIL Calculator Competition, please let me know as soon as possible!

- New

  1. Test this Den Time locations page
  2. Add the Project1 Due date to your calendar with an email reminder
  3. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 

- Do 

  1. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!
  2. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  3. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!
  4. Robotics Students view Prezi Showcase Video updates and record new clips

- Through?

  1. Check out this video of the World’s Tallest Building (twice as high as the Empire State Building in NY)

Tuesday 16th:

- Review

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 

- New

  1. Check out this Project1 Glogs Presentation

- Do 

  1. There are no new screencasts for today!
  2. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  3. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!

- Through?

  1. View this Earth as Art Slideshow

Wednesday 17th:  Today is an early release day!

- Review

  1. Logon to your Google Apps account
  2. AFTER you logon, view the Project1 Progress Check page 
  3. Check the Early Release bell schedule for your bell schedule today

- New

  1. Please watch today’s screencast!
  2. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects

- Do 

  1. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me.
  2. Watch the screencast on how to upload your screencasts to Google Docs and then upload them.  If you upload your screencasts to you G-Docs, you’ll be able to see them and all of the rest of your project1 materials from anywhere with an internet connection!
  3. Continue working on your Project1 materials
  4. The next Project1 Progress Check grade will be this Friday.  It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!
  5. Robotics Students copy ConeTest1 program to your desktop,  view it, and modify it for a practice run.

- Through?

  1. Check out this Animal Tracks Slideshow for this week

Thursday 18th:

- Review

  1. Project1 Progress Check grade tomorrow!  

- New

  1. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects. It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast. All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break! 

- Do 

  1. As a class watch student screencast demos
  2. Watch the Progress Check2 Grade screencast which will show you what you need to get a good grade on tomorrow’s progress check
  3. Continue Project1 work
  4. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me
  5. Robotics students program 5 basic moves course

- Through?

  1. Check out this Extraordinary microscope images slideshow

Friday 19th:

- Review

  1. Project1 Progress Check grade today!  It will be worth 5 pts and should have links with entries for your Daily Log, Notes and Sketch files, as well as your first project Glog and screencast.  All materials are due before the Thanksgiving break!

- New

  1. Check out the updated Project1 Glogs Presentation so you can see what other students are doing for their projects.

- Do 

  1. Watch this TED Talk: How web video powers global innovation
  2. Logon to your Google Apps account and then view the Project1 Progress Check page 
  3. Check to make sure you have named and shared your project1 files correctly!  I cannot find them if they don’t have project1 in the title and aren’t shared with me
  4. Continue working on your Project1 materials

- Through?

  1. Check out these concept car photos from the L.A.Auto Show
  2. …and this World Population Clock

Additional Information:

  • Prezis
at

Week of Nov 8th–Nov 12th

Highlights for the week: 

  • Begin the 3rd 6 weeks Project Phases of this class, which will include 2 Projects.  Project 1 is due by 3rd Progress Reports, and Project 2 is due by the end of the semester.

Monday 8th:

- Review

  1. Check the missing work list for your class which you should see by logging on to you G-Apps account and looking at all files.  Make sure you have shared your Google Drawing (Red Ribbon Week or Halloween Drawing), your Google Doc (with your name and Nov3 as the title), and your Google Spreadsheet (with your name and Nov4 as the title). If you don’t share them with me, I can’t see them to grade them!
  2. Students with low grades after today will be assigned to tutorials during den time!

- New

  1. View Project 1 Assignment information and templates.  This is your chance to explore things you’re interested in and get credit for it!

- Do 

  1. Complete missing work for the 2nd 6 weeks.  Grades must be submitted tomorrow after school, so you have until then to complete any missing assignments.
  2. Check the missing assignments list for each class period (in your Google Docs list).  Quizzes count the most so make sure you do well on those!
  3. Read the Project 1 Bulletin (in your Google Docs).  Check this bulletin daily for updates!
  4. Copy and rename each of the 3 templates for your Project 1 in your Google Docs (replace Mark Twain with your first and last name).  Start thinking about what you might like your Project1 topic to be and jot down some of your ideas (and questions if you have any) on your Project 1 Notes Document.

- Through?

  1. If you finish completing makeup work, start working on Project 1!

Tuesday 9th:

- Review

  1. Complete missing assignments.  The missing assignments G-Docs have been updated as of this morning.  Grades are due today!

- New

  1. Start Project1 today!

- Do 

  1. Make a new folder in your S-drive and name it exactly Project1 (with no spaces)
  2. Watch the screencasts in the Today/Screencasts/Project1 folder
  3. Copy, rename and share (with me) the 3 templates files in your Google Docs list
  4. Record what you did today in your Project Log

- Through?

  1. Check out this sports photos of the week slideshow

Wednesday 10th:

- Review

  1. How to copy, rename and share a Google Document

- New

  1. If you have ideas or comments about your project, please add them to your Project1 Notes document!

- Do 

  1. Watch the new screencast on how to copy, rename and share the Project1 Templates
  2. Continue Project1 work.  Make sure you copy, rename and share the 3 Template files.
  3. Update your project1 Notes file.  Add 3 possible project ideas and any specific questions you have to your notes.
  4. Update your project1 Daily Log file.  Add what you’ve done today and any links you’ve visited that you will use for your project to you Log file.

- Through?

  1. View this slideshow of National Parks

Thursday 11th:

- Review

  1. If you have ideas or comments about your project, please add them to your Project1 Notes document!

- New

  1. Learn how to find the Project1 Screencasts when you need help

- Do 

  1. Open the J-drive/TODAY/Screencasts folder and copy the Project1 folder to your desktop
  2. Watch the screencasts for today and continue Project1 work
  3. Update your Project1 Notes and Daily Log files.  Your progress on these will be graded over this weekend!
  4. Make new groups in your gmail contacts for ‘My Friends’ and ‘My Teachers’ (if you haven’t already, and start adding contacts to those groups (watch the screencast to see how to do this)

- Through?

  1. Watch the Jetman clip in your screencasts folder for today

Friday 12th:

- Review

  1. Make sure that all of your Project1 files have your name and Project1 in the title, and that your Glogs have Project1 in the Title

- New

  1. As a class, watch this TED Talk by Will Wright (the creator of SimCity and Spore) to see a different way to learn

- Do 

  1. There will be a Project1 progress check grade assigned this weekend.  You should have these 3 things:
  • A Daily log with entries for each day named (your name) Project1 Daily Log
  • A notes page with 3 project ideas named  (your name) Project1 Notes
  • At least 1 Glog started with Project1 included in the title:  example name Project1 Pro Football

- Through?

  1. Explore Bing Maps and the State Capitol

Additional Information:

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at

Week of Apr 18th–Apr 22nd

Highlights for the week: 

  • TEKS for this week –

Monday 18th:

- Part 1) Review

- Part 2) New

  1. Watch cats video clip

- Part 3) Do 

- Part 4) Through?

    Tuesday 19th:

    - Part 1) Review

    - Part 2) New

    - Part 3) Do 

    - Part 4) Through?

      Wednesday 20th:

      - Part 1) Review

      - Part 2) New

      - Part 3) Do 

      - Part 4) Through?

        Thursday 21st:

        - Part 1) Review

        1. Pivot 10 competition entries are due today!

        - Part 2) New

        - Part 3) Do 

        - Part 4) Through?

          Friday 22nd: HOLIDAY

          - Part 1) Review

          - Part 2) New

          - Part 3) Do 

          - Part 4) Through?

          1. Check out the Media Shows from this Week!
            •  

            Additional Help and Information:

            1. YouTube How-to Videos for this class
            2. G-Apps How2 Videos
            3. Prezis
            4. TED talks (browse TED talks list)
              at

              Week of Nov 1st - Nov 5th

              Highlights for the week: 

              • This is the last week of the 2nd 6 weeks!  We are 1/3 of the way through the year and 2/3 of the way through this class.
              • Please check your grades frequently this week to make sure you are caught up in all of your classes!

              Monday 1st:

              - Review

              1. Please test this link to your Glogster Account Information
              2. Try again to create a new Prezi Student Account using your Gmail address
              3. 7th grade students, please review these vocabulary words for today’s vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration.
              4. 8th grade students, please review these vocabulary words for today’s vocabulary quiz on Weather.

              - New

              1. View this Presentation of Space Glogs and this Presentation of Halloween Glogs

              - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

              1. *Watch Overview screencast
              2. *7th Grade Comp Lit classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Spanish Exploration
              3. *8th Grade Web Design classes take this Vocabulary Quiz on Weather
              4. Watch the Docs overview video clip which is called Docs in the folder for today’s screencasts (pay close attention… there’s a lot to see in this very short clip!)
              5. *View the Group Chat Demo G-Doc to get some ideas for your group assignment
              6. *Use your Group chat document to work together to choose your 3 favorite Glogs and capture and paste them into your group doc.  (You will need to resize the images to make them fit).  This assignment is worth 7 points (or 2 regular daily assignments): 1 point for each picture (for a total of 3), 1 point for each working link (for a total of 3), and 1 point for formatting your name and area.

              - Through

              1. Watch this Amazing Amazon Slide Show
              2. Check out this Fun Prezi and click on Videos (with the arrows) to watch the Ship under bridge clip

              Tuesday 2nd:

              - Review

              1. Check Gmail and documents for updates (logon link, top right, link 2).  Anything from Prezi?  (…if there is, please forward that email to me so I can see what it looks like!  Thanks!)

              - New

              1. Please take this very brief Extra Curricular Activities Survey on things you are involved in outside of the school!
              2. Try this Online Stopwatch (with lots of other functions).  There’s also a link in the Tools section to the right.

              - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

              1. *Overview
              2. *View the demo to see what step 6 from yesterday should have looked like.  If yours doesn’t look like that, please correct it!
              3. *Finding my stuff in docs
              4. *Finding and using templates
              5. *Go to our campus website public calendar and try to copy an event (like the early release day on Nov 17th) to your G-Apps calendar
              6. Try the Checkers Drawing template (share with a friend to play)

              - Through?

              1. If you need to retake your vocab quiz from yesterday, here are the links to do so:
              2. Browse templates to find some you might be able to use
              3. Explore the Online Stopwatch functions
              4. Continue exploring the Fun Prezi and click on Videos (with the arrows) to watch the Ship under bridge clip and base jumping from the world’s tallest tower.

              Wednesday 3rd:

              - Review

              1. Use the star function in your G-Docs to mark and find your important documents
              2. Use the search window to find your G-Docs
              3. See who your G-Doc is shared with

              - New

              1. View this Prezi on the first few days of the gulf oil spill to show how Prezi can be used to replay images and video from an important event

              - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

              1. *Overview of today
              2. *Use the Google News Timeline to find information on the oil spill by month.  Choose one article that interests you and copy the URL.  (If the site doesn’t work for some reason, just use a normal Google Search).
              3. *Open your Google Doc with your name as the title.  Paste the URL from step 2 into your Doc along with a little of the text so we can read what it’s about
              4. *Try another search on Google News Timeline to find information on any appropriate topic which interests you.  Again paste a link and some text in your Doc (with your name)
              5. *Use Google Squared to search for information on roller coasters.  (If the site doesn’t work for some reason, just use a normal Google Search).
              6. *Find some images on a roller coaster that interests you and and copy and paste the URL into your Google Doc.  Add a few images of coasters to your doc (this site might help with images)
              7. *Open this G-Doc spreadsheet called Roller Coaster Image Links, choose and open block and paste the link to your favorite coaster image in the block

              - Through?

              1. If you need to retake your vocab quiz from yesterday, here are the links to do so:
              2. Checkout these photos from the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
              3. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades and complete or update them.

              Thursday 4th:

              - Review

              1. How to copy and paste links and text into Google Docs and Spreadsheets

              - New

              1. Watch this ‘What’s my sentence’ project clip as a class
              2. Think about what your sentence might be and enter it in this form
              3. Check out the 3 new folders in your Google Documents called ‘Nice Work!’ (with examples of work well done from yesterday’s assignments), ‘Today’s Assignments’ with an example of what we will be doing today, and ‘How-to (for students)’ with helpful information.
              4. Some of you added the date in the title which was very helpful to me.  Thanks for doing that!  If you’re not sure what your documents should look like, look in this folder!

              - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

              1. *Overview
              2. Complete steps 3-5 from yesterday and please add the date (Nov4) in the title after your name.
              3. *Complete step 7 and add links to cool or unusual coasters so we can all see them!
              4. *Create a new spreadsheet with your name and the date in the title, and share it with me to receive credit for this assignment (example: Mark Twain Nov4). 
              5. *Create 2 multiplication tables (one with the numbers 1-10, and one with the numbers 60-70).  Format the colors of your tables like the example.

              - Through?

              1. Watch this Animal Tracks Slideshow
              2. Check your grades for missing assignments or low grades in all classes and complete or update them.

              Friday 5th:

              - Review

              1. Calculator formula and tips for making your tables work correctly!

              - New

              1. Test this calendar link.  Try to copy events to your calendar.
              2. Updated assignments list with links to the week in which they were assigned.  The key assignment step is highlighted for each assignment.

              - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with QuickTime for best results!)

              1. *Overview screencast
              2. *Watch the Spreadsheets intro clip to show you some of the spreadsheet features
              3. *View the examples of student work
              4. *More help with the calculator spreadsheet
              5. Complete your G-Apps Spreadsheet assignment from yesterday

              - Through?

              1. Check the Graded Assignments List to make sure you have completed all assignments for this grading period
              2. If you have completed an assignment but the gradebook still shows a zero for a grade, please send me an email letting me know you have completed it (with the name of the assignment in the email!)

              Additional Information:

              • Prezis
              at

              Week of Oct 25th – Oct 29th

              Highlights for the week: 

              • Begin working with Google Apps (Docs, Drawings, Spreadsheets, and Forms)
              • Wednesday is an early release day 
              • This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.

              Monday 25th:

              - Review

              1. Test your logon to your G-Apps account (use the same logon info you use when you start your computer)

              - New

              1. View the new Bulletin Board Document to see if you have correctly completed your Wolfram Alpha assignment (this is a Google Doc which you can only view when logged onto your Google Apps account!).
              2. Check to see if your Prezi account email has arrived!  If so try experimenting with Prezi.  It’s fun :)

              - Do

              1. Complete your Wolfram Alpha Assignment (from Tues Oct 19th on this blog last week)
              2. 7th grade students review this Study Stack with Spanish Exploration terms and definitions
              3. 8th Grade Students, review this Study Stack of weather terms and definitions
              4. Robotics Students view these NXT programming tutorials
              5. Continue working on your Halloween Glog (you may create more than one if you like)

              - Through?

              1. Checkout these photos from the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition
              2. Complete assignments from last week (including your Wolfram Alpha assignment)!
              3. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!

              Tuesday 26th:

              - Review

              1. Checkout the updated Student Submitted Links  section and the new Webpage View
              2. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.

              - New

              1. Check your Gmail for an account confirmation from Prezi.  If you have received it, please forward it to me!
              2. Introduce Google Drawing
              3. New and returning students: Please pickup the Google Apps permission form and get it signed and returned to me as soon as possible!

              - Do   (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

              1. *Watch the overview screencast
              2. *Watch the Google Drawing tutorial in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder (drag it to your desktop and open it with Windows Media Player)
              3. *Create a new Google Drawing and name it Red Ribbon Week exactly!
              4. *Add 4 shapes, an arrow, a curve, a polygon, a text box, and upload a small image of a pumpkin to your drawing.
              5. *Share the drawing with me and download it as a PDF.  Move your new PDF drawing file into your S-drive.
              6. *Copy your drawing to your clipboard and add it to your Google Document with your name on it (if you don’t have one, please make one and share it with me!)
              7. Make another drawing called ‘Practice Drawing’ and share it with another person in the class and your teacher.  Practice editing it together.

              - Through?

              1. Complete assignments from last week (including your Wolfram Alpha assignment)!
              2. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!
              3. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog
              4. Try Funbrain activities

              Wednesday 27th: Today is an early release day (bell schedule)

              - Review

              1. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.
              2. You’ll get your Progress Reports on Friday, but you can see what will be on them by checking your grades online anytime.  If you need to bring up your grade, complete any assignments which are zeros and let me know when you’ve completed them (in person or by email) so I can grade them.
              3. Check missing Google Apps Permissions list… if you’re on the list, please return your form as soon as possible!

              - New

              1. Interested in UIL Calculator Competition?  If so, we will meet here in this room on Tuesdays and Thursdays during den time for practice.  Let me know in person or by email and if any of your friends are interested, ask them to stop by before or after school.  I need 5 students for a team and I will post more information later.
              2. Check your Gmail for an account confirmation from Prezi.  If you have received it, please forward it to me!
              3. Introduce Google Drawing
              4. New and returning students: Please turn in the Google Apps permission form as soon as possible!  Here’s a link to list of students who need to turn in forms.

              - Do   (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

              Google Drawing didn’t work yesterday, but I’ve installed a component on all of the laptops and it should work today.  Because of that, the steps below are repeated and the screencasts are the same (so the dates are wrong) except for step 1, the overview.

              Logon here to get to your Google Apps Account

              1. *Watch the overview screencast
              2. *Watch the Google Drawing tutorial in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder (drag it to your desktop and open it with Windows Media Player)
              3. *Create a new Google Drawing and name it Red Ribbon Week exactly!
              4. *Add 4 shapes, an arrow, a curve, a polygon, a text box, and upload a small image of a pumpkin to your drawing.
              5. *Share the drawing with me and download it as a PDF.  Move your new PDF drawing file into your S-drive.
              6. *Copy your drawing to your clipboard and add it to your Google Document with your name on it (if you don’t have one, please make one and share it with me!)
              7. Make another drawing called ‘Practice Drawing’ and share it with another person in the class and your teacher.  Practice editing it together.

              - Through?

              1. Please check your grades to make sure you have completed everything in ALL of your classes!
              2. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here! 
                1. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

                Thursday 28th:

                - Review

                1. This week is Red Ribbon week!  Here is the schedule for the week.
                2. Check missing Google Apps Permissions list… if you’re on the list, please return your form as soon as possible!
                3. Tomorrow we will be on a Pep Rally bell schedule (there’s a link at the top right of in the Bell Schedules section)
                4. How to get screencasts each day: Open J-drive TODAY folder (which is the only folder in all CAPS), and in there look for the folder for today.  Do not open that folder… just drag it to your desktop and then open and play the screencasts.  Watch and then do each step!

                - New

                1. Create and share a practice drawing with another student and your teacher
                2. Learn how to add a drawing to a Google Doc

                - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

                1. *Watch overview screencast
                2. *Logon to your G-Apps account and complete your Red Ribbon Week drawing from last class (Wed 27th steps 3 & 4)
                3. *Add your Red Ribbon Week drawing to the Google Doc you made with your name on it (Step 4 on Wed 20th)
                4. *make a new Google Document with your name and one core subject in the title and share it with that teacher and Mr. Mercer.  The title might look like this: ‘Mark Twain – History’ and it might be shared with Ms. Cheshire and Mr. Mercer for example.  Add a greeting to your document or copy and paste this example and fill in the blanks with your information: Hello _________, my name is ________ and this is my first shared document with you!  Please add something so I know you have received this and thanks very much for helping me with this test document!  When you share the document with your core teacher, leave the email checkbox checked so they will get an automatic email telling them about your new document.
                5. 7th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration tomorrow!
                6. 8th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Weather tomorrow!

                - Through

                1. Study for Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow! (steps 5 & 6 above)
                2. Try this online version of tic-tac-toe
                3. Checkout this slideshow ‘Halloween pups on parade’
                4. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here! 
                5. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

                Friday 29th:

                - Review

                1. Today we will be on a Pep Rally bell schedule although it is for an event at the end of the day which is not a pep rally (there’s a link at the top right of in the Bell Schedules section)
                2. Continue working with Google Drawings using templates
                3. Review for Vocabulary Quizzes which have been postponed until Monday

                - New

                1. Copy, rename, edit, and share several drawing templates

                - Do  (Steps marked with a * have a screencast in the J-drive/bmercer/Today folder.  Open screencasts with Quicktime for best results!)

                1. *Watch the overview screencast
                2. *Logon to your Google Apps Account and open the Pumpkin Color Template Drawing.  Make a copy and change the name to Pumpkin Color and your first and last name (example: Pumpkin Color Mark Twain).  Share your copy with me and then try to make a cool design of your own using your copy.  I’ll collect them all for a class collage and you can see how your class collage compares to the others.
                3. *Open the Tic-Tac-Toe template, save a copy and rename it Tic-Tac-Toe and your first and last name (example: Tic-Tac-Toe Mark Twain).  Share your copy with me and then use your new copy to make a complete game.
                4. *Make another copy of the template and rename it Tic-Tac-Toe Share.  Share this copy with another student and me and then play a couple of shared games.  Add your names as text boxes when you’re through playing.
                5. *Make a new folder in Google Documents and name it Practice Drawings.  Add all of your drawings to that folder.
                6. Work on Halloween or Red Ribbon Week Glog.  Check New Glogster account information here!  New students have Glogster accounts added on this list.
                7. 7th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Spanish Exploration Monday!
                8. 8th grade students, please study these vocabulary words for a vocabulary quiz on Weather Monday!

                - Through

                1. Check out this Halloween Safety Guide (especially if you have younger brothers and sisters to look out for!)
                2. Check your Gmail and G-Docs for responses from your teachers.  Try adding something else for them to see (like a drawing for example).
                3. Try Funbrain activities and other games (Physics and Math) in the new Games section on the right.  If you find good sites to add to the list, please use the Share Websites Form to let me know about them.  Thanks!

                Additional Information:

                • Prezis
                at
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