All of this is understandable considering they just launched the site, but explain that to some tired, harried teachers who had to give up their planning to meet with me a mere week before the end of the six weeks, the grade submission deadline, and our first checkpoint test of the year. Yeah - I was roadkill. Sigh.

I really do see the value in the site - it has some great features - when they work. The aggregation of the data, especially the built in ability to compare assessments, lends itself to self-evaluation and helps the teacher really SEE where the kids are missing the concepts. The skills resources included (by TEKS and even broken down to specific objectives) are a great way to reinforce those weak skills and provide assistance for teacher, parent, and student.

There doesn't seem to be a ton of content for some of the sciences (High School IPC for example), but I'm sure they'll remedy that with enough data dumped into the system. I just hope they get it done in enough time for it to be useful this year.

I hope TEA is able to correct the technical issues so that using TMSDS doesn't become a nightmare (ask me about STaR Chart - ugh). In it's behalf, Firefox seemed to cure most woes - but not the application errors when I tried to create assessments. Sigh.

Here's me....hoping they get it worked out! If you're going to be using TMSDS (Texas Schools) then here's my training pdf to help you out! Please leave my credit in the footer if possible.

TMSDS Support Document

Other Sites to help

• http://www.shiftedlearning.org/wiki/Cuba_City_Google_Apps_Workshop#Google_Registration
• http://www.dtic.mil/mlw/2007/briefs/mlw_Metz.pdf

1. Get a Google Account
   • Create a new google account Click here to begin the registration process.
   • Use this gmail account for your online wandering - to keep spam etc. from your work email
   • Avoid issues with the filter and spam
2. Gmail - http://mail.google.com/support/?ctx=gmail&hl=en&labs=1
   • G-Talk  - http://www.google.com/support/talk/?hl=en
   • Labels (email straight to labels)
3. Google Docs
   • Docs Help - http://documents.google.com/support/
   • Spreadsheet Help - http://documents.google.com/support/spreadsheets/
   • Presentation Help - http://documents.google.com/support/presentations/
   • Student Collaborative Work
     • Introduce Gaggle email for students to create student google accounts.
   • Teacher Book Studies
   • Collaborative Projects
   • Create a document for all to share
     • Ideas for my class on how to use Google
4. Google Notebook - http://www.google.com/googlenotebook/faq.html
   • Creating Notebooks
   • Sharing Notebooks
5. Google Reader - http://www.google.com/support/reader/?hl=en
   • What are RSS feeds?
   • How can you use them in class
   • Finding RSS Feeds
   • Create Google Reader under Google Account
   • Add folders
   • Add feeds
   • Share articles
   • Look at Share page
     • Get link
     • Get RSS Feeds
       • Use RSS Feed to make a gadget
6. Google Custom Search Engine - http://www.google.com/coop/cse/
   • Why to use them
   • How to add contributors
   • How to share them with kids
     • Link
     • Gadget
7. Setting up Your iGoogle Page
   • Changing themes
   • Adding Tabs
     • Make a Class tab for helpful class gadgets
     • Share tab with students and parents via Google link on website
   • Adding Gadgets
8. Creating Your Own Gadgets
   • Create a Gadget
     • Discuss possible uses
       • RSS Feed from your blog or website
       • List homework due
       • Bookmarks, etc.
       • Extra Credit
9. Other Apps by Google
   • Google Sites - http://sites.google.com
   • Google Books - http://books.google.com/
   • Google Groups - https://www.google.com/groups/
   • Google Forms - http://documents.google.com/support/spreadsheets/bin/answer.py?answer=87809
   • Google Toolbar - http://toolbar.google.com/T4/index_pack_xp.html
   • Google Open Social
10. Best Help Docs
    • Gmail Help: http://mail.google.com/support/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Calendar Help: http://www.google.com/support/calendar/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Docs Help: http://docs.google.com/support/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Spreadsheets: http://docs.google.com/support/spreadsheets/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Presentations: http://docs.google.com/support/presentations/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Reader Help: http://www.google.com/support/reader/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Video Help: http://video.google.com/support/?fulldump=1
      
      YouTube Help: http://help.youtube.com/support/youtube/?fulldump=1
      
      AdSense Help: https://www.google.com/adsense/support/?fulldump=1
      
      Analytics Help: http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics?fulldump=1
      
      Google Desktop Help: http://desktop.google.com/support/?fulldump=1
      
      Picasa Help: http://picasa.google.com/support/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Toolbar for IE: http://www.google.com/support/toolbar/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Toolbar for Firefox: http://www.google.com/support/firefox/?fulldump=1
      
      Google Earth (PDF): http://earth.google.com/userguide/v4/google_earth_user_guide.pdf
      

This is my teaching outline for my class Improving Writing With Technology.  You are welcome to take it, use it, and share it with others. A link back here or a little credit would be appreciated!

Improving Writing with Technology  6 + 1 Traits

1. Ideas - A clear, focused content packed with details
   • Mind Mapping and Brainstorming
     • http://www.mindmeister.com/
     • http://www.mindomo.com/
   • Gone in 30 seconds
     • image slideshow to inspire and encourage ideas
     • can be a daily activity or used at each stage of the writing process
     • Email me if you'd like a copy of the HS Version I've already created.
       
   • Get Great Prompts
     • http://writingfix.com/ - an interactive plot creator
     • http://writingfix.com/Classroom_Tools/dailypromptgenerator.htm - prompt generator
     • http://writingfix.com/writingfix_for_kids.htm - interactive writing games
     • http://writingfix.com/right_brain.htm - Right Brain prompts
     • http://writingfix.com/left_brain.htm - Left brain prompts
     • http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/imagination.prompt.html
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits - http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/Idea_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place - http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Idea_Development.htm
2. Voice - Writing that is active and engaging for the reader (a specific audience)
   • Using your voice to give your writing voice - use audacity to record your writing and help you hear the voice in a work
     • Play examples of speeches and audio books that demonstrate clear voice
     • Students write a piece and then record their own (or mix it up and record someone elses)
     • Students then review the works and critique with a rubric
   • Literary Theatre/Readers Theatre
     • Students create melodramas from literature read in class with a special focus on voice and characterization
     • Works with their own original scripts and poetry as well
     • http://bms.westport.k12.ct.us/mccormick/rt/RTHOME.htm - Reader's Theatre Basics website
   • Using Movies to Teach Voice - play famous scenes from movies AUDIO ONLY and have the students listen for the voice in the script writing. (How was it achieved - word choice, tone, sentence fluency, etc.)
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits - http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/organization_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place - http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Voice.htm
3. Word Choice - Choosing the right word or words to convey a message, idea, or feeling
   • Dead word funerals
     • photo story or video http://youtube.com/watch?v=kQODcdUtmH4
     • Students choose the words, write eulogies, put tombstones on the walls as reminders
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place -http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Word_Choice.htm
4. Sentence Fluency - Sentences are clear, concise, and various lengths
   • http://youtube.com/watch?v=Db-YgMac7Uo - student video on sentence fluency
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place - http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Sentence_Fluency.htm
5. Organization - The order makes sense, including strong transitions words and a clear beginning, middle, and ending
   • SMART Lesson
     • getting things in order (elem) kjahdfssdfldflksdl;f
     • Literature game (ms)
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits - http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/organization_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place - http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Organization.htm
6. Conventions - Proper usage of grammar, punctuation, and spelling
   • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e5b854ffad5f70a516c8
   • Create and record songs to help students remember their traits - http://writingfix.com/PDFs/6_Traits/conventions_song.pdf
   • Use websites that have everything you need in one place - http://writingfix.com/6_Traits/Conventions.htm

   • Grammar Blast (elementary) - http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/

7. Presentation - Neatness, appealling to the reader's eye
   • http://poster.4teachers.org/ - create writing posters
   • http://toondoo.com - make comic books
   • Create a publishing center in your classroom - http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4385&FullBreadCrumb=%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.scholastic.com%2Fbrowse%2Fsearch%2F%3FNtt%3D%253cand%253e%2528%2528audience%2B%253ccontains%253e%2Bteachers%2529%252c%2B%257bTechnology%257d%2529%26query%3D%3Cand%3E%28%28audience%2520%3Ccontains%3E%2520teachers%29%2C%2520%7BTechnology%7D%29%26Ntk%3DSCHL30_SI%26Ntx%3Dmode%2Bmatchallpartial%26N%3D0%26Nty%3D1%22+class%3D%22endecaAll%22%3EAll+Results%3C%2Fa%3E+%26gt%3B+Grade+3+-+5

All -

1. http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/6traits/index.htm - interactive reading selections that students rate.
2. http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/sixtrait/sixtrait/handbook.html - list and handouts for a student binder students can create their own to use all year
3. Introduce each concept with a short infomercial! http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=bbc0d17a4f8d4324cc8e
4. http://readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp - interactive flash based games and activities
5. http://writingfix.com/traits.htm#lessons - Free lessons on each aspect of the 6 traits
6. I-pod and lyric inspired lessons - http://writingfix.com/ipod_prompts.htm
7. Self-Assessment/Teacher Feedback Post-it notes - http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm

Types of Writing

1. Narrative
   • http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/marshs/movies/index.htm - March Movie Madness. 8th grade students write scripts that can be chosen to later be turned into short films. Students must base all short stories to demonstrate the plot diagram. (you could specify any content)
   • Radio Theatre
2. Persuasive
   • Political Speeches from candidate sites used to identify aspects of persuasive writing
   • Video and Audio commercials for a product or service that target a specific audience
   • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=7f6788918f03c42b123c
   • Create videos or audio or photostories to teach the elements of this type of writing
     • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=3f745343bab61a5f8aee&page=2&viewtype=&category=
3. Comparative
   • http://my.hrw.com/nsmedia/intgos/html/igo.htm - Interactive Online Graphic Organizers - Highlight, type, and print (or save and put on website)
4. How-To
   • Photostories and video on How-To subjects (written by one group - recorded by another)
5. Research
   • Netrekker
6. Poetry
   • Song Lyrics
     • Research them for figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, allusions, poetic devices)
   • I Am Poetry
     • http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8c621d4e83cb0ec9616c&page=2&viewtype=&category=
   • Share your favorites
     • Encourage kids to read their favorites to the class
       • Record their readings
       • Turn it into a poetry SLAM, a beatnik coffee cafe
       • Have your students record other teachers and administrators sharing their favorite poems
       • http://www.favoritepoem.org/
   • Interactive SMART Lessons
     • Father's Day Poems
     • Easter Poems

Editing

1. Google Docs
2. SMART tools
3. Gaggle.net

Feedback and Peer Review

1. Gaggle.net
2. blogging

Learning is Fun

1. http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/word_game_for_writers.htm

Professional Development & Teacher Tools

1. http://readwritethink.org/lessons/index.asp?grade=0&strand=0&engagement=0&display.x=40&display.y=13 - Lesson Plans
2. Writing across the curriculum...a grassroots movement.... http://writingfix.com/WAC.htm
3. Involving parents in writing - http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/family_write.htm
4. Mini-lesson of the month - http://www.unr.edu/educ/nnwp/Mini_Lesson_of_the_Month_Club.html
5. Art and Writing - http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/art_and_writing.htm
6. Help with the writing process for teachers - http://www.mwp.hawaii.edu/resources.htm

7. Elementary Integration Ideas - http://www.cyberbee.com/intclass.html#LanguageArts

More

1. SMART Lessons on Writing http://education.smarttech.com/EdCompassCMS/Template/LearningActivity/FileActivitySummary.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7b0A5EF2A4-15A2-4F78-983D-8643D7EFAC0C%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fste%2fen-US%2fEd%2bResource%2fLesson%2bactivities%2fNotebook%2bactivities%2fBrowse%2bNotebook%2fUnited%2bStates%2fdefault%2ehtm%3fsort%3dSubject%26search%3d&NRCACHEHINT=Guest&sort=Subject
2. Great site by a real teacher - http://corbettharrison.com/index.html
3. Dena Harrison's site is a great resource - http://denaharrison.com/
4. United Streaming - One Place -
   • http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/tools/writingPrompt/index.cfm? - writing prompt builder home page
   • Assignment builder
   • Quiz builder
5. http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/English/ - Helpful site for interactive resources