~Mary Sohns' Page!~
*Spring 2008*
Using a Chat Room Lesson Plan:
Using a Chat Room.doc
Embedded address:
Digital Story Telling- March 6, 2008: 
Digital Story Final.ppt
Inspiration Assignment ~ Due February 28, 2008
Inspiration.doc
Persuasive Essay01.doc
Assignment # 4 ~ February 21, 2008
webquest "A Day in the Life" Sohns.doc
Assignment # 3~ February 14~ Virtual Field Trip:
I've actually used this "virtual field trip" in my reading classes. I tied it to reading assignment that my 8th grade students read from a a fictional story based on P.T Barnum ( from an online book site called "epulpfiction.com")- a fictional story about two kids who actually meet the famous P.T. Barnum and visit his New York museum. This "field trip" actually is a type of "mystery" tour because history tells us his museum "mysteriously" burned to the ground back in the early 1920's. It was a great Halloween assignment but I had a few obstacles. It was necessary to have "sound' (as one must listen to accounts and instructions) so I had to walk them through it from the big screen, and it was challenging, a bit above tha ability of these students. It took about two days to complete, but I would love to give this to some of my better English students to work on as an extra credit assignment.
If you want to go through it, use "Sohns" as the user name and "reader" as the password that will allow you to visit each floor and answer questions posed at specific sites.
the site:
P.T. Barnum's Museum: http://www.lostmuseum.cuny.edu/office.php
Enjoy!
Assignment #2, Jan. 31- Powerpoint :
pos pp.ppt
Assignment# 1- Excel Spreadsheet- Jan 24.doc
Sentence Variety Check.xls
Contact Me!
Google
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Some of my favorite links:
dictionary.com
your dictionary
refdesk.com
Assignment # 2 ~ Search Engines
This was a great assignment for me. I think that my next job will be research, because I could literally spend hours searching topics on the internet.
My topic was "Apostrophe rules"-- to celebrate Monday's "National Punctuation Day." I have been a loyal user of Google for years, but my eyes have been opened up to a whole new realm of searching. The numbers are huge:
Google.com
Results 1 - 10 of about 1,150,000 for apostropherules
Yahoo.com
1 - 10 of about 763,000 for apostropherules
Ask.com
There were, of course, many repeats of the same sites, but I found myself drawn to "Ask" because of the larger text and format. Yahoo had, as my 8th graders would say, "a lot going on," and I'm amazed at how, well, boring Google's format is. However, checking the sites, they obviously don't have time for all the "bells and whistles."
I actaully found a number of sites that I would love to use such as:
Apostrophe Rules
Apostrophe English Zone Rules Quiz
As far as narrowing my searches, I couldn't decide if I liked the way Yahoo actually listed "narrowed" searches for me as I was typing in my original topic. It was slightly distracting, but then I realized that it may save me time in the long run.
As far comparing and contrasting search engines, there were obvious simialrities and differences. All three will their job, all had numerous advertisements, and they all seem to "spit out" ten at a time. However, the larger text and the colorful options made me want to spend more time with Ask and Yahoo than Google. I really like the binocular icon on Ask that enables you to "view" the picture without actually opening the page. But then again, how well can I judge if I actually can use the page if I can't actually read what's on the page? It will save me time when I see charts and other "unusable" things for me, but the presentation of Ask and Yahoo certainly have captured my attention. At the end of the day, I have never been disappointed by Google.
The results of the search engines had fewer differences. All three seem to give the same "top options," but it is certainly easier to "narrow your choices" on Ask and Yahoo than on Google. It's an almost "primitive" form Google requests the surfer to complete in order to narrow the choices. All three sent back the choices I would be apt to "hit." Will I fall for the "pretty colors" and the larger text of Ask and Yahoo? I may, but again, I'm a hugely loyal fan of Google. If anything, this assignment will keep me in front of the computer evern longer!
The best search engine? I think just like a certain car brand or preference of toothpaste, search engines are a matter of personal taste. I suppose the Chrysler driving, Colgate users will use Google more than the others. It's just always a safe choice for me.
Webquests: Assignment # 2 Due 10/25
1. http://www.suhsd.k12.ca.us/mvm/netlinks/1hoot/1hoot.html
This is a basic websquest that helps introduce the novel Hoot. Any websquest that helps you review a novel should cover every curricular area that may arise in discussion of the novel. For example, this one covers the basic "intro to the author" as well as science backgound on the burring owl, the central focus of the novel.
2. http://questgarden.com/46/50/2/070224121051/index.htm
I loved this! A webquest on grammar and punctuation! It took me to pages where kids can fill things in online, and instatly see their error if there was one. This will be for a furture reading class, and it's an excellent review for the PSSAs.
3. http://questgarden.com/45/69/0/070123041226/process.htm
This would be a challenge for my reading classes. Its a webquest that has students plan a trip to English castles, including flights and map uses and directions. Whoever put this together certainly spent a greatd eal of time on it. I suspect it may be British. This would be a challenge for any student, but it certainly was precise it its steps.
4. http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests/Career%20Inventory/intro2.htm
Once again, another quest for readingf students. This has links to sites about jobs, procedures, education, personality type. I did click a few times on "page not found" which is probably the greatest downfall to a webquest, not to mention the most aggravating. In developing a webquest, I only hope the links I use will be current and updated.
5. http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/museum/webquest.html
This one has something called "The '60's Museum"- a perfect way to introduce a novel set in the '60's to kids who have no clue about the decade. It has millions of links that will cover all areas of life from politics to music. I may use it Friday!
Podcasts : Assignment #2 Due Nov. 8
1. http://englishteacherjohn.com/podcast/ETJ_Show_061.mp3
As far as I can tell, this is almost like listening to really boring college radio. This particular one is authored by John Show, an English teacher who is currently teaching in Japan. I clicked on because it mentioned grammar, but he didn't get to it in the first ten minutes, so I clicked off. He usually runs about an hour, and he rambled. I don't know who has time for this.
2. http://literateloser.mitchellkdwyer.net/casts/literateloser20070615.mp3
Again, I chose this because it was supposed to "discuss" literature; it took FOREVER to download, and then it's the ramblings of an intellectual, Mitchell Dwyer. He actually reads an obscure piece of literature (in this case, he's in the middle of Mark Twain's "Pudd'n Head Wilson" and then he discusses any topic that pops into his head. It ran about 36 minutes, anout 36 minutes too long.
3. http://www.idiotvox.com/index.php?function=podcast-player&enclosure=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.libsyn.com%2Fmedia%2Fjaion% 2FEP_14.mp3&channel_id=19&channel_name=Education&show_id=13259&show_name=The+Faculty+Room
This is a second year teacher "Jason" who discusses typical, educational questions across the board. He has a website "The Faculty Room." It ran about a half an hour, and it could happen (without the drama, well, maybe) in any faculty room in our school. I guess I don't need to listen to this as I could have any of these "topic" conversations with the guy across the hall from me, and he's a whole lot more entertaining!
I'm not a big fan of podcasts, educationally, anyway....
Blogs: Assignment #2 Due 11/1
http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/
As you can see, this is someone who takes great pleasure in the mechanics of writing. I've read it off and on for pleasure (!) and I realize that no one comments on her entries- who can argue or debate punctuation? Still, she has a lot of great links to other sites. This is somewhat inspiring for people who may want to write the "great American novel."
http://vagrantgrammar.blogspot.com/
Once again, I look for intriguing ways to teach and express grammar. So many people take grammar so seriously, and I have located an explanation to a tricky grammar rule through this bolg. Again, great links.
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/
My favorite! I was looking for online work for my Reading class when I stumbled across this gem. She does "podcasts" too!
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Apostrophe Quiz
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