[Replicable Practices] Flickr . . . Flickr . . . Flickr Fun

Signing up for a free Flickr account was simple. The wonderful thing about the signup process was that any user has three options (the more options the better). Each user can sign up for a new account (associated with Yahoo), use an existing Yahoo ID or they can use an existing Facebook ID or Google ID. I already had a Yahoo Account (Renaissance Professor) therefore I did not have to memorize another signup name and password for a site that I may or may not use.

I am finding myself daydreaming about other nostalgic places and therefore decided to revisit a couple of childhood communities. I took a couple of snapshots with my iPhone 4s (enabled Geo-tagging), signed up for a Flickr Account, uploaded the photos, changed their privacy settings to public, reviewed the license agreement and tagged. I then decided to map the photos on the Flickr map. The process was easy and I can see how this tool can be addicting.

Here are the set of three photos that also mark earlier milestones in my life:

Avon Ave by Renaissance Professor, on Flickr

Keele Subway Station Outdoor Waiting Platform by Renaissance Professor, on Flickr

Keele Subway Station by Renaissance Professor, on Flickr

These spots are very important to me because this is where I grew up. What and where would I explore today? I cannot count the number of almost falls I had running down these steps at the Keele Subway Station. Never wanting to miss my bus as I heard the rumble of its engine as the bus pulled into the bay.

My photo experience and using Flickr was a positive one. Uploading pictures was easy. It took a while to get all the settings in the Flickr account just right but once they were set they became the default for every other photo I uploaded. I really liked placing the photos on the Flickr map. Enabling the Geo-Tagging feature on the phone is a great feature.

Teachers can use Flickr and associated tools in many ways. Consider an interactive and visual story line for writing assignments, historical associations to modern landmarks or photo journalism to virtually any topic.

[Replicable Practices] Tricking my students to write an Opinion Essay. What I mean is Creating Comics & Cartoons

The students in my class are very opinionated. I often hear them get into fiery discussions with their peers about who is the best basketball player, favourite recording artist or favourite team in any given sport. They are also very good at coming up with advantageous reasons as to why they should not be in school uniform or why they should not receive a zero for an assignment they may or may not hand in. However when student's are asked to write an opinion essay they become so burdened, listless and lethargic in getting pencil to paper (fingers to keyboard). Of course I go over with the class countless examples and writing guides on how to write and effective opinion essay but somehow they do not seem to enthusiastic about it (I do not blame them, since the my old way was a snooze). Personally I happen to think it is the term 'essay' extinguishes their writing flame despite the fact that they can argue with some incredible points of view. One idea that I would like to explore to further my own replicable practices when it comes to delivering a lesson about writing an opinion essay is through the use of Comic Creators.

[Replicable Practices] Educational Merits: Blogging in Education

Grab yourself a blog in 3 steps

What is a blog?

Comments:

I share with you a Google Scholarly Search using the term: Blogging in education. I particularly enjoy:

Downes, S. (2004, September). Educational blogging. EDUCAUSE Review, 39(5), 14-26. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBlogging/157920

Taken from the Educase Website:

Stephen Downes (http://www.downes.ca) is a Senior Researcher with the E-Learning Research Group, National Research Council Canada, Moncton, New Brunswick. Comments on this article can be sent to the author at stephen@downes.ca.

My Blogs
  

WordPress	Blogger
Replicable Practices	Replicable Practices
My Philosophy	My Philosophy

Please look forward to another [Replicable Practices] post in which I explore Tumblr.

[Replicable Practices] As you see it because you are the storyteller! Storify

Storify - All the stories happening on social media

Guided Tour

How to write a newspaper article is a skill that I guide my students through in a series of lessons. The reason why I really enjoy these lessons is because I only initially share with my students some guidelines. The rest is up to them. Through student exploration, research, polling and a culminating whole class example the lesson and curiculum expectations get processed through.

I am excited to try this new tool and incorporate it into my next series of newspaper writing lessons. English teachers and media teachers might also want to explore this site.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions page and view the videos below to become familiar with Storify.


Storify from Storify on Vimeo.


Storify Overview from Storify on Vimeo.


Getting started with Storify from Storify on Vimeo.

[Replicable Practices] Ontario kids can read well, but they don’t have to like it

Ontario kids can read well, but they don’t have to like it

Author: Kate Hammer
Published Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 5:00AM EST
Last updated Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 7:09AM EST

Directly copied from the article:

Students in Ontario are among the most proficient readers in the world, but those bragging rights may have come at a cost: The joy of reading.

A new report released Monday by education advocacy group People for Education finds that while literacy and standardized test scores have climbed over the past decade, the number of students who report that they like to read has dropped, from 76 per cent of Grade 3 students in 1999 to 50 per cent in 2011.

Be sure to also check out the video attached to the article:
How one teacher uses Smart boards to entice students to be 'part of the show'

[Replicable Practices] Ontario Ministry of Education: Think Literacy Library

The Ontario Ministry of Education using the student success umbrella presents the Think Literacy Library. 

Teachers can find:

• Subject-Specific Strategies, Grades 7-12
• Professional Learning
• Professional References: Boys' Literacy Teacher Inquiry

[Replicable Practices] Strategic Reading Resource Center

Has developed a great web resource that is "designed to help secondary teachers integrate strategic reading instruction into their curriculum." The subsidiary site contains links to a number of excellent resources.

Copied directly from the site:

• Strategy Tool Box - Brief descriptions of reading strategies for teachers to use in their classes.
• Teacher-Tested Strategies - Practicing teachers used these strategies and created a database of what works.
• Web Links - Links will take you to other strategic reading sites.
• Research - The Department of Education site to inform educators about research supporting strategic reading in secondary education.
• Bibliography - Great resources in print and media that can help teachers help their students.

 

[Replicable Practices] Please Sir, Honestly ... I know how to write a paragraph! OSSLT Preparations

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Prep

This is a the second in a series of posts that examines some of the resources I had bookmarked when I was preparing replicable practice resources for my GLE2O1 class. The primary way that I used and modified this resource was to help prepared the students for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.

1. Improve your English with WritingDEN! (Tips-O-Matic for Sentences / Paragraphs / Essays)
2. Writing Fun by Jenny Eather (Using text organizers to assist students with the writing process)
3. Persuasive Writing Websites for Teachers and Secondary Students
4. District School Board of Niagara and Westlane Secondary School present Summer Literacy Project
5. Digital Literacies - Persuasive Writing by Kevin Cummins (Slideshare Presentation)

[Replicable Practices] Please Sir, Honestly ... no more OSSLT Preparations!

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Prep

This is a the first in a series of posts that examines some of the resources I had bookmarked when I was preparing replicable practice resources for my GLE2O1 class. The primary way that I used and modified this resource was to help prepared the students for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.

University of Manitoba Virtual Learning Commons

The University of Manitoba Virtual Learning Commons hosts a series of resources designed to help their students to improve their writing.

The resource can be adapted and modified to match the level of learning for any student.Make sure to click the Plagiarism and Academic Integrity link for the main resources I used.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

[Replicable Practices] EduGains.ca

EduGains.ca

UPDATE: This website will be retired on June 30, 2021and is no longer being updated. Edugains resources can continue to be found by signing into eCommunity Ontario and Curriculum and Resources website.

EduGains is another amazing source and collection of ideas to create and sustain Replicable Practices. I encourage all my readers to explore the Differentiated Instruction and Literacy sections.

Differentiated Instruction

Literacy

[Relicable Practices] The Devastaing Impact of Illiteracy: Lesra Martin

I was looking for a way to introduce reading strategies to my class and decided to browse the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) Profile for ideas when I came across Activity 1.4 - Introducing Reading Strategies (P 74). The activity is great. Even better is Lesra Martin. Lesra Martin is one of the resources listed for this activity.

Taking inspiration from Lesra Martin an excellent introduction to reading strategies can be developed. I especially enjoy reading with the students { Literacy }The Devastaing Impact of Illiteracy.

As a side interest we also discussed: { The Six Elements}

© 2010 Lazarus Communications Inc.

[Replicable Practices] All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - By Robert Fulghum

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten - By Robert Fulghum

Oh great...just fantastic...I should have paid more attention in Kindergarten! I encountered an excerpt from this book which I must have read at least 20 times already. I would like to share it with you. The excerpt is taken from Chapter 1 of the above book. The chapter is entitled "Credo".

[Replicable Practices] The Grammar Gorilla!

Grammar Bytes! Grammar Instruction with Attitude

Robin L. Simmons has created a grammar based website loaded with an assortment of interesting topics. Look up definitions of common grammar terms or test your grammar knowledge. Teachers you must check out the section devoted to handouts and presentations.

A giant thank you Ms. V. D'Amico for sharing one of your Replicable Practices.

[Replicable Practices] Civics 101

The goal of Civics 101 is to teach people about how the Government of Ontario works. Through animated explainers, interactive features and interviews with political movers and shakers in the province many answers can be found. The majority of the information is presented in either a video format (perfect for an interactive whiteboard lesson) or a printable PDF format. Make sure to check out the online simulators and their new blog!

Civics 101

• What is an electoral system?
• What are Ontarians voting rights?
• What is democracy and when did it begin?
• How a law is made?
• Who does what?
• Rights and Responsibilities?
• What is a budget all about?
• What does First Past the Post mean?
• What is a minority and a majority government?
• What is a by-election?

[Replicable Practices] eWorkshop.on.ca

eWorkshop.on.ca

I try to better myself in the the areas of Literacy, Instruction and Leadership. In order to promote replicable practices without trying to improve myself is a meaningless message and not very professionally satisfying. The Ministry of Education of Ontario has a collection of resources at eWorkshop for Literacy and Numeracy for K to 6 teachers.

If you are not sure, then let me tell you . . .

What is literacy and what is my role as a teacher?

What is numeracy and what is my role as a teacher?