K.VanDeMark

B.Barbulean- The work you have done here is fantastic. Ms. VanDeMark has been co teaching with me throughout the year and has changed the way that i teach writing. In the previous years i think i assumed more about my students writing capabilities then i should have. Together we have created one of the best common core units for our content area. The feedback from our administrator was very positive and as a result we will continue our co teaching. this has been my first time co teaching and i have to say it has been nothing but a positive experience. The essay we developed together to address the totalitarian rulers is right in line with current and common core standards and hopefully will better prepare the students for their upcoming regents exam. 4/28

Precise Claim and Expanded Conclusion-T.MOUNKHALL- EXCELLENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES- PRECISE CLAIM GIVEN LARGE NUMBER OF POINTS IN THE RUBRIC, EXAMPLES AND MODELS GIVEN AND STUDENTS HAVE TO SELECT THE BEST EXAMPLE, SAME RESPONSE FOR EXPANDED CONCLUSION LESSON- POINTS IN RUBRIC INDICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SKILL AND CIRCLING THE BEST EXAMPLE IS A GREAT MODELING TECHNIQUE- 4/22- KRISTINA-YOUR WORK IS DONE. SHOULD I CONSIDER THIS WORK ALSO TO BE DONE BY BRIAN IN CONCERT WITH YOU? THANKS-4/22 H. Frischknecht - I think that is an excellent idea. It directly relates to the task and is something that you could even address directly in a follow up lesson. We recently had an artist in class whose work revolves around the Arab Spring and impact it has had on the people in those areas in conflict. It can be a very difficult topic as it is complex, but certainly an important one to understand moving forward. 4/15-T.MOUNKHALL- USE OF ART IN HISTORY CLASS HELPS TO COMMUNICATE TO STUDENTS THAT MANY ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES ARE INTEGRATED-4/16 4/22/12- I would have liked to listen to what that artist said. It is a difficult topic as you said; it is evolving and changing as we write but I agree with you that it shows our students how themes of nationalism and revolutionary change are not static and a thing of the past but that they are very much present around the world. K. VanDeMark-T.MOUNKHALL- THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE CONTEMPORARY IMPORTANCE OF CERTAIN THEMES THAT COULD BE USED IN AN EXPANDED CONCLUSION- 4/22- ALL POSTS ARE NOW DONE- STILL NEED LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP PRECISE CLAIMS AND EXPANDED CONCLUSION-4/22

4/15/12-- For an expanded conclusion in the rise of dicatators essay, students can discuss the rise of Fidel Castro in Cuba, the rise of Kim Jong Il in North Korea, or the rise of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya and the social, political, and economic changes these leaders brought to thier countries. We have been discussing the events of the Arab Spring in our Global II classes, as well as the developments taking place in North Korea following the death of Kim Jong Il. - K. VanDeMark -T.MOUNKHALL- THIS POST IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF RELATING CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND ESSAY WRITING-4/16

T.MOUNKHALL- SHARING MEETING RE:INSIGHTS ON 4/18 FROM 3:30 TO 6:30 P.M. IN SAME ROOM AS FIRST MEETING-4/14-PLEASE PUT ALL NEW WORK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE-4/14-T.MOUNKHALL-PLEASE SEE INSIGHT LIST ON MY PAGE-4/14

H. Frischknecht - Re: Stalin Essay Question - This is a neat way to approach essay writting. I think making it analogous to a movie is a fun way to get them to pay attention and understand the concept. I will be stealing that... I also think that your G.O. is well thought out and structured to fit on one page. The one I use for my 7th graders in the beggining is about 5 pages long since they need a bit more structure 4/9-T.MOUNKHALL- RELATING WRITING SKILL WORK TO POPULAR CULTURE -MOVIE TRAILER- WILL COMMUNICATE WITH MANY STUDENTS. ESSAY DEALS WITH HUMAN AGENCY AND RELATIONSHIPS OVER TIME AND PLACE-4/10

T.MOUNKHALL- AS OF TODAY, YOU NEED 3 POSTS AND MODELS FOR PRECISE CLAIM AND EXPANDED CONCLUSION. PLEASE PUT MODELS AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE AND POSTS AT THE TOP OF COLLEAGUES' PAGES.-4/9

T.MOUNKHALL- PLEASE SEE NOTE ABOUT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS OF THE WORKSHOP ON MY PAGE4/2

T.MOUNKHALL- PLEASE BRING COPIES OF INSIGHTS FOR ALL ON 4/18-THANKS-3/30

T.MOUNKHALL-PLEASE SEE MY COMMENTS ABOUT INSIGHT SHARING FOR 4/18 ON MY PAGE-3/29

T.MOUNKHALL-PLEASE SEE MY QUESTIONS ABOUT 4/18 ON MY PAGE AND ANSWER THEM HERE-3/28

-T.MOUNKHALL- AS OF TODAY, YOU ARE MISSING 4 POSTS ON YOUR COLLEAGUE'S WORK THROUGH 3/25-3/23 T.MOUNKHALL- THEMATIC ESSAY IS REGENTS BASED, WHICH PREPARES STUDENTS FOR THE JUNE ASSESSMENT. SUGGEST THE COMMON COREGOAL OF WRITING A PRECISE CLAIM BE WORKED INTO YOUR THESIS PARAGRAPH. SUGGEST ADDING A STATEMENT IN CONCLUSION THAT SHOWS IMPORTANCE OF THEME IN 2012-3/21 3/27 J. Pedota--- I like your thematic essay on leaders and change. I think your essay outline is great. This outline would work great with special needs students. Nice way for students to brainstorm and organize their essays.T.MOUNKHALL-3/28

3/21/12- Part I Assessment for Rise of Totalitarianism unit. M.Grande-3/22-I like the planning document you have for the essay assignment. How do you modify it for students who can not fit their ideas into the boxes because of grapho-motor issues/students with large handwriting?-T.MOUNKHALL- I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF THE GROUP WHO WORK WITH "SPECIAL NEEDS" KIDS ON THIS ONE?-3/22

3/25/12- As a teacher of special education students in a special class and inclusion high school setting, the goal for this particluar planning document is to get students to list information for the body paragraphs to be expanded upon in their writing. In my experience, I have found when I had my special needs students complete a graphic orgainzer for their thematic essays, there is no significant addition or depth of information added to the actual essay. Unfortunately, some students preceive graphic organizers and outlines as "more work" and asking them to devote the same amount of time and detail to both discourages them from writing all together. This planning document was more to get students to brainstorm and list content specific events that address the task. L.Feyen's idea about the flash cards is a very good one for students with special needs. K. VanDeMark -T.MOUNKHALL- WE ALL HAVE A " BAG OF TRICKS" OF TEACHING METHODS AND WHEN ONE FAILS IT IS TIME TO SWITCH. I ASSUME THIS POST IS FROM KAREN-3/26

//L. Feyen 3/22-Two formatting ideas that might allow for more space would be to change the layout from portrait to landscape to stretch out the boxes horizontally or to copy it on larger size copy paper and zoom in. As a more distinct modification, the students could use the boxes as a template to follow but substitute index cards to give them more space to write. The information pre-filled on the boxes could be pre-written on the cards depending on the needs of the student.This would also provide a kinesthetic aspect because they would be able to move the cards around to set up the organization of their essay.-T.MOUNKHALL- VERY PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS-THANKS-3/23// 3/21/12- I'm not sure what just happened but it appears as if all my posts have disappeared. I will re-post what I have.-T.MOUNKHALL- DON'T STRESS YOURSELF. IF YOU CAN FIND IT FINE, IF NOT YOU HAVE SATISFIED MOST OF THE REQUIREMENTS- NEED TO COMPLETE YOUR POSTS ON COLLEAGUES' WORK-3/21

- 8 Day Instructional Unit

-Day 1 Learning ActivityDay 4 Learning Activity

Day 5 Learning Activity