February 13th - March 9th

WEEKS 22, 23, 24:

Citywide Grade 6 Assessment to Help Guide the Curriculum:

During week 23, all 6th graders across the city took a technology assessment using a software on learning.com.  Students were electronically grouped by feeder school, and spent a class period in the lab being tested on their word processing, research, and general internet skills.  This data will be compiled and analyzed at the Ed. Center, and will help to shape both the elementary and middle school curriculums.  I can't wait to discuss the results!


Title I Math Grant to Benefit All Students:

The math department pushed for a Title I grant, and received 3 new ELMO document cameras for the math department.  Teachers can use the cameras to project their own notes, as well as let students project and alter their own work in real time.  The cameras will live in Ms. Mercado, Ms. Lequire, and Ms. Mortimer's rooms, but they will be shared with all Bigelow math teachers.



8th Grade Italien Uses Blabberize to Present Biographies:
The 8th grade Italien class researched inspiring people in the library.  Using Google docs, they wrote and edited scripts for their person's perspective, and used the website "Blabberize" to record and present their scripts.  Her are some examples:

Jen G.: http://blabberize.com/view/id/713812
Liam C.: http://blabberize.com/view/id/715739


7C Use Google Docs to Present Biography Brochures:
Ms. Robles' students researched people who have made a difference in the world for their English class, and then created brochures using their Google docs accounts.  Their brochures not only included facts and timelines, but they also included a poem, brainframe, and bibliography.  Check out some examples:

Anna Z.:

 

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mgmixBClhwhvcQuIghW1KKG5sJ4E3n7KaAhuVFN-Rxs/edit

Kayla H.:

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yj34e3_kWbsgfyKo6m1Fsaz04p5GH54O06TQvGCt15A/edit


Mr. Spiegel's Students Use Google Earth to Explore Latin America:

In Mr. Spiegel's class, students worked in groups of 3 to create tours of different Latin American countries, beginning and ending in Newton.  They used the path and polygon features of Google Earth, as well as inserted videos and images.  We should be seeing some final products in the weeks to come!

Mr. Hayes' Students Use Google Presentations to Collaborate on Volcano Research:
8th grade science students worked in groups of 3 to research various volcanoes in the library.  Each group collaborated on a presentation in Google docs, focusing on one particular volcano, its location, and its characteristics.  Students presented on their volcanoes in class, teaching the other students about their volcanoes.  The presentations helped the students to work together to learn the material.