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Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #11 “Flashcard Review”

Smarty — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:52:21 +0000

FLASHCARD REVIEW

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, OR HIGH SCHOOL

The following activity can be used to review concepts through questions, vocabulary,

or required memorization such as multiplication tables. It is an excellent way to achieve class

participation with students such as beginning level English Language Learners or students

who may be shy to speak during a class discussion.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Note cards or paper cut in similarly small pieces

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Create a few example flashcards that indicate to students the concepts or vocabulary

to be reviewed.

DURING

2. Direct each student to create several flash cards of the target concepts. Students can

use index cards, or simply use small sheets of notebook paper or printer paper.

3. Have each student come to the projector and place flashcards questions, one at a time,

under the document camera.

4. Direct the rest of the class to answer orally, either by choral response, or by selecting

individual students to respond.

AFTER

5. Choose some of the flashcards to project under the document camera. Have

students copy these questions onto paper. Assign as homework.

6. After sufficient reviewing, select flash cards to include on an assessment.

ADAPTATIONS

- Collect all the flash cards. Choose several for a classroom mock quiz. Have students

write their answers on paper. Check together as a class.

- Collect all the flashcards after the class activity. Choose one flashcard to project each

day as bell work.

- Hold a class competition by dividing students into two teams. Direct each team to

create questions for the opposing team. Students from one team place questions under

document camera, while students from the opposing team must answer the

question correctly.

Flashcards become a truly communal experience

Challenges of The Urban Education Grind

Smarty — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:43:57 +0000

At a TED Conference, Shukla Rose talks about changing lives by reaching kids in the slums of India….one at a time…and getting transformed in the process. It is a story that great teachers everywhere are familiar with.

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #9 “Jigsaw Notes”

Smarty — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:09:19 +0000

JIGSAW NOTES ———————————————————————————–

CONTENT AREA: ANY

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

Students can work together to write the complete notes for any given topic. Rather

than only giving a report verbally, a document camera allows students to

collaboratively produce valuable notes for the class.

For any Subject or Content Area

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- Paper with subtopic headings listed and space to write notes in each section

- Index cards or paper cut to a similar size

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Decide which subtopic within a given topic to assign for review, i.e. causes, effects, characteristics, and possible preventions for erosion.

2. Prepare a template paper divided into sections with subheadings listed.

DURING

3. Assign small groups of students to each subtopic of the topic to be reviewed.

4. Direct students to consult their notes, textbooks, and other resources make concise notes for the subtopic assigned to them.

5. Collect each group’s notes, and assemble them together under the document camera.

6. Project the image of the completed notes, discuss as a class, and direct all students to copy completed notes.

AFTER

7. In addition to preparing written notes for the subtopic assigned to them, have students become subject matter experts by presenting the topic to the class.

ADAPTATIONS

- As a final review of important concepts, repeat the activity, assigning different groups to different subtopics.

Document Cameras & Projectors: Cool Use #8 “Proofreading Analysis”

Smarty — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:49:41 +0000

PROOFREADING ANALYSIS ————————————————-

CONTENT AREA: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE

GRADE LEVELS: MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL

Evaluation requires a high level of cognitive processing. The following activity can be used to teach a specific grammar skill, as a review activity, or to reinforce the value of proofreading.

MATERIALS

- Document camera

- Projector

- List of sentences with mistakes to proofread

- Whiteboard or large sheet of paper that students can write on

PROCEDURE

BEFORE

1. Create a list of sentences that have strategically placed mistakes related to an instructional topic, i.e. spelling, punctuation, subject verb agreement, informal word choice, run on sentences, or other target forms. Decide how many mistakes to put in each sentence based on the students’ level. Write or type the sentences in a large, clear font.

DURING

2. Begin by teaching /reviewing a specific skill, such as how to punctuate direct and indirect quotations. Create sample sentences that contain mistakes with the target skill.

3. Using the document camera, project the sentences onto a white board or a large piece of paper that students can write on.

4. Have students copy the sentences on their papers and work independently or collectively to make corrections.

5. Choose several students to come to the board/paper with the projected sentences.

Have students cross out mistakes and write their corrections directly over the image of the projected sentences.

6. Review student corrections as a class. Discuss target points as necessary, and have all students make proper corrections on their papers.

AFTER

7. Allow students to work independently on other sentences containing the target skill.

8. Assign homework related to target skill.

9. Assess students on target skill.

ADAPTATIONS

- Instead of creating sentences for the exercise, use student sentences from submitted writing. This adaptation generates added interest among students because they feel ownership of their own writing. Re-write or type selected student sentences if necessary for legibility. Omit personal information such as names. Even without identifying information, some students may nonetheless feel comfortable enough to volunteer, “That’s my sentence! I can’t believe I made that mistake!”

- Five sentences work well as bell work to focus students at the beginning of class while completing administrative tasks such as attendance or passing out graded papers.

- As scaffolding, write the number of mistakes in each sentence to the side of the sentence. To make the activity extra challenging, do not indicate to students how many mistakes are present.

- To increase difficulty level, include sentences that do not contain mistakes with sentences that contain mistakes. This is much like evaluation activities found on some college entrance exams.