Edmodocon

A half day of Edmodocon and all I can say is . . . WHEW! So many ideas and so much information.

So far my biggest take away is understanding what I am trying to do with my classroom this year and learning that is has a word.

In other words, I want to give control of students' learning over to them, and I'm just there as their captain.

Putting together ideas from Dave's Pirate book and using Edmodo to create more of a blended learning environment is going to put me on a HUGE learning curve.  Hopefully I will be able to keep myself afloat. 

While Edmodocon is on their lunch break, I've worked on tweaking a video I made for my class while thinking about the reality TV hook from the Pirate book.  

"Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan has a fabulous array of foods that many of my middle schoolers, who don't like the wheat pizza in the cafeteria, would deem as "gross":  prawns, rock cod, tofu, dried fungus (mushrooms), squid.  My thinking is what better way to create excitement about the story then to have a Fear Factor competition to see who would eat all of this food.  Of course I plan to pick those who have never ate any of these before.  

You can check out the video here:  Fish Cheeks  I used Animoto to create it.  You can get an upgrade account if you apply as a teacher.  I find it very easy to use.  Go to the freebies page for Fear Factor sign up cards to use if you make a video yourself.

Also I realized I haven't told you what PIRATE stands for.  

Passion

Immersion

Rapport

Ask and analyze

Transformation

Enthusiasm

Stephanie at Third Grade Thoughts did an excellent write up about the sections of the How to Teach Like a Pirate book along with some freebies.  Check out her blog here PIRATE techniques

Heading back to Edmodocon!