Sixth Grade Sampler

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Sixth Grade Sampler
An experimental Collaboratory Project designed to
weave technology across the sixth grade
curriculum
Managers Kay Collins, Christine Comstock,
Nancy Cesario, Mary Gaylord, Tina Stern, and Kim
Kallieris McHenry Middle School, McHenry, IL
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The Teachers - 6th Grade Red Team
Tina Stern
Nancy Cesario
Kay Collins
Mary Gaylord
Christine Comstock
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Purpose

• Provide a user-friendly place for teachers and
  students to learn how to navigate their way
  around the Collaboratory
• Weave technology across the sixth grade
  curriculum
• Create opportunities to strengthen and publish
  student writing

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The Egypt Game Activity
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Process

• Students read particular chapters of the novel
  and discussed the theme of the week

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Themes Explored

• Friendship
• Abandonment
• Community/Teamwork
• Family and Relationships

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• Teachers worked on Write Approach strategies
  using mini-lesson format

Picture of write approach strategy (webs) Kay or
other 6th grade teachers teaching whole class.
It would be nice to have pix of all team members!
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• Students utilized laptops to respond to writing
  prompts about each theme

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(No Transcript)
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Writing Prompt Sample(See Handout)

• Friendship
• In many friendships, one person emerges as the
  leader. Which girl appears to be the leader in
  this novel so far?
• Write about a friend most like/unlike you.
• Talk about the qualities you look for in a close
  friend.

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• Students edited their work and printed final
  copies

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• The final piece was uploaded onto the Internet
  Book Club

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(No Transcript)
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• Teachers learned to utilize the comment tabs and
  e-mail to communicate with the students on a
  different level

Screen shot of comment
Comment written to student
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• Academically talented students performed a trial
  run of responding to one another on the
  discussion boards

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How student work evolved as a result...

• Students writing showed evidence of newly gained
  confidence and growth
• Improved knowledge of Theme
• Basic technology skills improved, copying,
  pasting, proofreading, and editing skills
• Motivated students to do well because other
  students read and commented on their work (490
  Reviews!)

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Writing Center Activity
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Process

• Students utilize Media Space to publish writing
  samples.
• Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive
• Poetry

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Narrative Example
Screen shotsa few pages to give audience an idea
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Persuasive Example
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Poetry Example
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Author Spotlight
A Collaboratory author study for 3rd grade
language arts students
Managers Carrie Johnson, Brenda Phipps, and
Kim KallierisHilltop Elementary School, McHenry,
IL
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The Teachers
Brenda
Brenda Phipps Learning Center Director
Carrie Johnson 3rd Grade Teacher
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Purpose

• Integrate information literacy skills into
  curriculum
• Introduce students to a variety of authors
• Strengthen writing skills
• Provide an opportunity for research using the web

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Process

• Students began the unit by writing letters to
  their authors requesting information

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Research was completed on the authors by using a
Cybrary of web sites
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The Author Cybrary
Screen shot
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Our learning center director, Brenda Phipps,
worked with small groups to help fill out the
storyboard and put the information into the
students own words
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Students were required to read a minimum of one
book by their author
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Students utilized PC6 computers to type a review
of one of their books
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Students edited their book reviews and uploaded
them onto the Internet Book Club
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Internet Book Club Review
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After gleaning information from the web sites,
students used their storyboards to create a
PowerPoint presentation about their authors
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Students utilized the SmartBoard to share their
PowerPoint presentations in front of an audience
of parents, students, and administrators
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Author Spotlight presentations were contributed
to Media Space to be viewed by parents from home
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A student-created author survey was taken by the
class and urged to be shared with parents at home
Screen shot of survey results
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The data results provided the class with instant
feedback on their comprehension
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How student work evolved as a result...

• Developed a sense of purpose for their work, and
  took a great deal of pride in what they produced
• Instant feedback on student comprehension
• Made connections between home and school

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Questions?
Thank you!

• Kim Kallieris
• kkallieris_at_d15.org
• McHenry District 15
• Technology Integration Coordinator