Typing Test and The Question and Research Portion of Your Genius Project

Today, I want you to take a quick typing test on a new program called Typing Club:

https://holy-trinity-school.typingclub.com/

You will login using your lastnamefirstinitial (morellm)  and our password will be: htstype.

I will ask that you all take the Typing Test to begin the day.  I think most of you are in great shape with your typing, but if you type fewer than 20 to 25 words per minute, I want to set up an account for you so that you can continue to practice your keyboarding outside of class time.

Once we have finished that, I have shared a document in Google Drive with you that outlines the next steps in your Genius Project.

October 16, 2013

Hi all,

Based on the comments you received from your friends on the blog., I would like you to edit or revise the questions for your Genius Project, so you have five excellent questions that you can begin to find the answers to.  Please write the questions below, and then begin your research to answer them.  When your research is finished and approved you will then post it on the blog.

I would like you to use the Research function of Google docs.  It can be found under Tools→Research.  You can conduct your Google searches in the bar on the right.  When you find a source you think is credible, use it to answer your question, include the link to your citation, then cite the source.  I need you to use three different sources!

Example:

I just finished an amazing book called “Navigating Early” by Clare Vanderpool, so I would like to know more about this author.  So here is my example:

How did Clare Vanderpool get the idea for “Navigating Early”?

Clare Vanderpool said: "The idea for Navigating Early originally started with the character of Early who was somewhat inspired by a dream my mom had.  She had a dream of a young man with an extreme talent for playing the piano.  In her dream, the young man had no training but could play even the most difficult piece after hearing it just once.  Her dream was more about a friendship between this young man and a young woman.  But the idea of writing a story about someone with an unexplainable gift stayed in my head.  What would that person’s gift be?  How would if affect the rest of his life?"

The link would look like this:

Navigating Early and the citation would be the little number next to it. And the MLA citation will appear in the form of a footnote below:

Your Topic:

What five specific questions about the topic would you like to ask and answer?

Project Rubric:

You have included five thoughtful questions, using perfect spelling and punctuation.	25
You have answered the five questions, using complete sentences, perfect spelling and puncutation.	25
Your have included a link to the source on each of your questions.	15
You have included a citation to the source on each of your questions.	15
You have used at least three different sources.	9
Total possible points:	89

You must have at least 80 points before you can post your research on the blog, then begin your presentation.

Genius Project

Hi 7th Grade!

Today,

I would like you to log in to the blog:

http://kidblog.org/Classof2015Technology/

Today, you will have a chance to read through each other's ideas for Genius Projects.

I would like you to offer constructive ideas and ask smart questions, so you can help shape each other's proposed ideas into (even more) amazing projects.

I would like you to comment on at least 10 projects (and be sure to try to balance it out so that everyone has several comments...)

First, I would like to review the Art of Academic Commenting.

I will approve all your comments before they are posted, so be sure you stay follow the guidelines.

I found a few slides from my favorite blog, Langwitches, to help us review the difference between social and academic commenting.  In school, we ALWAYS will used academic commenting...

Let's review the slides:

This is Social Commenting, and not the sort of thing we will be using at HTS:

I will expect thoughtful comments, like this:

I will need to approve all your comments, so please be sure to follow these guidelines!  You may comment on this post, or My Favorite Things post today.

Mrs. Morell