Tim Moss

 

Welcome to my Wiki page. I teach fourth grade at Camptown Elementary. This is my third year teaching in the Wyalusing School District. Prior to coming home to teach in the Endless Mountains, I taught fifth grade in sunny North Carolina. Now that I'm back to enjoying country life, I spend my free time with my new wife, Jen, and my family enjoying the outdoors. If not outside, I enjoy watching college football, especially PSU, my alma mater, who are currently ranked in the top ten. Once the weather begins to change, you can find me in the gym coaching Junior High Basketball.

 

 

 

 

 

 Assignment #1

 Moss448searchengineassignment[1].doc

 

Assignment #2

http://delicious.com/moss99

 

Assignment #3

                             My Wedding Day

      

 

                                                                           We Are Penn State

 

 

                                       Hi Bailey!

 

 

 

 

                                 Camptown 4th

 

                                                                              Camptown 4th

 

Assignment #4

 

1.  What are three reasons podcasting is becoming so popular?

 

One reason is everyone likes to check out the new Gadgets and podcastings are available on any device that is up-to-date.  Another reason is you can find podcasts that fit your personal interests.  The last reason podcasting is so popular is it is available to anyone with access to the web. 

 

2.  Are iPods the only device on which podcasts work?

 

No, podcasts can be downloaded onto computers, cell phones, ipods and other gadgets.

 

3.  Do you have to download podcasts to an iPod or can you watch them on your computer?

 

You can search, download and watch podcasts on your computer.

 

4.  Name three ways podcasting is different from traditional broadcasting.

 

One way podcasting is different from traditional broadcasting is that it does not run on a schedule, you can download them at any time.  A second way is you can use many different devices to enjoy your podcast.  The final way podcasting is different is it does not have to cost $ to get podcasts.

 

5.  Find at least 3 podcasts that you think could be useful to you in your role as an educator.  If you have iTunes, I would start there.  If you don't, search for podcasts on the web.  Describethe podcasts on your wiki page.

 

 I googled podcasting and found many directories to try out.  One directory I found useful was EPN.  One section on EPN gives you current event podcasts.  I could have my students come up with daily current event discussions or trivia.   Also on EPN I found a podcast on fact families.  I could play the podcast for my class as an extension of my lesson.  National Geographic also has free podcasts.  I would also use these to reinforce Science lessons.   I found one podcast on The Yellowstone River which shows graphics and would fit a lesson on food chains.

 

 

Assignment #5

 

For the video assignment I decided to search youtube for topics that I already teach in my class.  The first topic I researched was landforms.  I found a great video on the volcanoes of Hawaii.  This could be a great resource to use as an extension of a lesson on volcanoes.  It has bright, colorful and amazing footage.  This video would certainly give some life to the lesson. 

 

Volcanoes of Hawaii

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hec9yK-QQ4o

 

The second video that I found deals with animal adaptations.  My fourth grade students would  absolutely love this video.  The video focuses on the adaptations that a camel has developted to live in the desert.  The video includes a cool adaptation rap.  I would make a study guide for the students to follow, this would help the students focus on the key concepts of the video. 

 

Camel Adaptations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX8VQIJVpTg

 

The third video that I selected is about early Native Americans.  I would use this video to introduce a unit on Native Americans.  The students would then have some additional background knowledge to pull from as we work through the unit.

 

Early Native Americans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTNWDbgTck

 

 

I think using videos in class is an excellent tool.  I know some teachers use videos in the classroom to keep the students quiet and busy.  If used correctly videos can be used to enhance lessons, motivate students, and show things that can't be found in a textbook.  To be honest, I rarely use videos of any type in my classroom.  I teach in the Camptown Elementary building.  We do not have projectors in our classroom.  We do have a projector available on a cart, however I tried to use it twice and it was not a successful experience.  It is not worth my time and effort to find the video, plan a lesson and not have the projector work.  In the right situation I would use videos on a weekly basis in my classroom to enhance and extend my lessons.   

 

 

Final Project Summary

 

For my final project, I have spiced up a unit on Cloud Types using a few technological components.  I typically teach this unit after working through a unit on weather.  I would begin with the following opening question:  What are clouds and what are they made of?  This would lead to discussion.  I would then have the students create a foldable to use as a study guide.  Students would complete the foldable as I gave them notes through a Power Point presentation.  The next day we would review the previous days lesson.  I would display three pictures of the three cloud types taught.  I would then ask the students to identify each cloud.  We would continue the review as I asked the class questions like, which cloud type is made of ice crystals, or which cloud could produce thunderstorms and so on.  I would end the lesson with a podcast on Cloud Types.  The students would be instructed to study their foldable and be prepared for a test on the third day. 

 

 

 Cloud Types Power Point

 

Clouds.ppt

 

Clouds Podcast 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Wyttl3tS0&feature=related