Showing posts with label Going Global. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Going Global. Show all posts

Throwback Thursday - 100 Word Challenge

https://100wc.net/

I first blogged about the 100 Word Challenge in this post from September 2013.  The 100 Word Challenge is a fun and easy way to make global connections and provide a real life audience for student writing.

Each week students are given a prompt on the website (sometimes a picture and sometimes a phrase).  Students around the world (under the age of 16) write 100 word stories based on the prompt and post to a class blog.  Students can then read the blogs and comment on the stories  written by other students (both older and younger). It's a great way for students to get blog comments from outside their classroom and also a great way to encourage high level writing from your students.

Even if your students aren't blogging, they can still share their stories with each other and read stories from the showcase online.  

If you want to start blogging, EasyBlog is super easy (even kinders can do it!)  Here's our blog post on how to get started with EasyBlog  http://engagingtechtools.blogspot.com/2015/10/easyblogorg-super-easy-student-blogging.html

What's a Mystery Skype?



What is a Mystery Skype?
A Mystery Skype is a Skype conversation between 2 classes.  The teachers arrange the Skype call in advance but the students do not know where the other class is located.  Students ask and answer pre-determined questions about their city/state to learn about where the other class is.  Students research the answers and guess the location of the other class.
What themes can be learned through Mystery Skypes?
Social Studies: geography, climate, landforms, natural resources, economy, cultures
Math: data collection, graphing, estimating, measuring
Science: weather, seasons, landforms
Thinking: research, organizing data, critical thinking, problem solving, compare/contrast
Listening/Speaking: notetaking, communicating via written, oral and visual information
What equipment do I need to do a Mystery Skype?
Either a computer with a webcam, microphone and Skype software loaded or an iPad 2 or higher with the Skype app installed.


How do I do a Mystery Skype?
I've put together a Mystery Skype checklist with reminders and resources to keep you on track. 
http://goo.gl/xJCSuu 
For more information about Mystery Skypes or other ideas for using Skype in the classroom, visit my Pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/amypintx/school-skype/





3 Easy Ways to "Go Global" in your Classroom




Communicating and collaborating both locally and globally using digital tools are two important 21st century skills as well as a part of the Technology Applications TEKS for ALL GCISD students.  

Here are 3 super easy ways that you can "Go Global" in your classroom:






100 Word Challenge 
http://100wc.net/about-100-word-challenge/
Each week students are given a prompt (sometimes a picture and sometimes a phrase). Students around the world under the age of 16 write 150 word stories based on the prompt and post to a class blog. Students can then read the blogs and comment on the stories written by other students (both older and younger). It's a great way for students to get blog comments from outside their classroom and also a great way to encourage high level writing from your students.

Global Read Aloud 
The Fall Global Read Aloud runs from September 30th to November 8th. There are four different books to read depending on your grade level: An Eric Carle Author Study for grades K and up, Marty McGuire by Kate Messner for grade 1 and up, Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper for grades 4 and up and Stupid Fast by Geoff Herback for grades 8 and up. Student read and discuss the book with classes around the world. Connect with teachers and students via the Global Read Aloud blog and wiki, Edmodo, Skype, Twitter, Facebook or any combination of them all. You decide how much you want to participate.  

For more info and to sign up, visit http://www.globalreadaloud.com/p/faq.html

Then go to the wiki page "So You've Joined - Now What" to get started. http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com/So+You%27ve+Joined+-+Now+What  

Mystery Skype
Mystery Skypes are a fun way to begin using Skype in your classroom. Two classes Skype, ask each other questions and use the answers to figure out where they are from. It's great for geography as well as research and critical thinking skills. Teachers can find classes to Skype with using the Skype for Education website (https://education.skype.com/collections/mystery-skype ) or via Twitter using the #mysteryskype hastag. Once a partner class is located, a list of questions is created (ideas here), students answer the questions for their community, student jobs are assigned (ideas here) and the Skype begins!

For more information about Mystery Skypes or other ideas for using Skype in the classroom, visit my Pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/amypintx/school-skype/

Want even more ideas for "Going Global" in your classroom, visit my "Connecting Globally" Pinterest board: 
http://www.pinterest.com/amypintx/school-connecting-globally/