LMC+Project+Notes

**re: phone conference with Mr. Nelson**
Dear All,

In conjunction with the Grade 5 Change Agent Research Project, students are invited to attend a telephone conference with Mr. John "Nellie" Nelson on Monday, April 7th in the small auditorium at 2:20 pm sharp (EST).

As an introduction to their library project, your students were acquainted with Mr. Nelson via a Power Media Plus video entitled "Life's Worth Living," attached. Mr. Nelson has been very gracious to speak to our students about his life and I am sure he will inspire all who attend.

I will supervise the conference and prep your students with a hand-out as to proper phone conference etiqutte. Students wishing to ask Mr. Nelson a question or make a comment to him during the phone confernce will be requested to write their question/comments before the conference and submit them to me for review. Before the conference starts I will select questions to be asked, and let your students know who will ask the questions/make comments. Teachers are invited to attend. Please let me know if your students will be able to attend. Thanks,

5th Grade Students What: Live Phone Conference Who: Mr. John “Nellie” Nelson (in the Library Project Video) When: Monday, April 7th, 2:20 p.m. sharp Where: Elementary Small Auditorium Mr. John Nelson has graciously accepted our invitation to speak with him live during a first, ever telephone conference at Cleveland Hill Elementary School. Here’s your chance to ask Mr. Nelson questions you had after learning about him in the movie you saw in the LMC. On April 7th Mr. Nelson will speak to us during a telephone conference. If you have a question you would like to ask or a comment to make about his movie, please write it below and return this form to Mrs. Kelly. My name is _ __My teacher’s name is__ __My question is__
 * Invitation sent to 5th Grade Students:**

IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED TO SPEAK TO MR. NELSON, YOU MUST RETURN THIS TO MRS. KELLY NO LATER THAN APRIL 4TH! Please remember to use proper phone manners.

Phone teleconferencing etiquette We will not have time for all questions. Before asking your question: • In a clear voice, say “Hello Mr. Nelson, my name is __, my question is……………… or my comment is …………………… • Even though you may never meet in person, it’s a good relationship builder and gets the shyest of people to at least say their name. • Stick to the question or comment you wrote and gave to Mrs. Kelly. If you are selected to speak to Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Kelly will give you your sheet back with what you wrote on it and you may read from it. • Don’t shuffle papers; scrape chairs, pencil tap, hum or other distracting, noisy activities. • Do say thank you after Mr. Nelson has answered your question. • Be considerate -- This is just as important in personal meetings as it in conference calls.


 * 2/21/08

From LM_Net: Middle school appropriate films in which main characters face daunting obstacles and overcome them to reach admirable heights of achievement and fulfillment.**

Life Worth Living: One Man's Story Simon Birch Akeela and the Bee Brian's Song Finding Forrester The Pursuit of Happyness Freak the Mighty The Other Side of the Mountain Rudy Forrest Gump The Miracle Worker The Diary of Miss Jane Pitman Beethoven lives Upstairs The Diary of Anne Frank Miracle A Coal Miner's Daughter The Goonies The Power of One Door to Door Stand and deliver Remember the Titans My Left Foot An Angel at my Table Astronaut Farmer October Sky The Big Green Believe in Me.

Evaluation - include self evaluation points - points for turning in parent letter
 * 2/15-08 Students will sign a learning contract**.

1/31/08 Parent Letter:
NOTES…NOTES…NOTES…NOTES…NOTES…NOTES…NOTES…NOTES… note: 2/8/08 Coughlin's class first class to receive letter - all present From Mrs. Kelly Cleveland Hill Elementary Library Media Specialist February 2008

Dear Parent or Guardian:

As your child nears the end of their elementary education and enters middle school, projects will be getting more complex. Part of our jobs as teachers is to prepare them for their next step of education. I would like you to know about an upcoming 5th grade library project. Your child will shortly begin their library research project called, “The Change Agent.” One goal of their research will be to learn about a celebrity who has overcome some sort of disability, either, physical, economic, emotional, etc., and what the change agent was in their lives they used to overcome the obstacle and become successful.

Not only will they be focusing on this aspect from a research project in the Library Media Center, they will also be learning about the topic in some way in their music and art classes.

Students will have some time in library class for research. The majority of their research and writing will need to be done on their own time.

You can help your child by periodically asking them about how they are progressing with their project and encourage them to do their best work.

Your child has learned about informing readers from where they found their information, a process called Works Cited. Last semester, your child learned about plagiarism and stealing other people’s ideas and work and using it as their own work. This is not acceptable. Cutting and pasting other people’s work is stealing. Students who plagiarize will receive a zero for their project.

This Library Media Center project will be due on May 5th. Points will be deducted each day their project is late.

Please sign the bottom of this letter and have your child return it to me. In this way I’ll know, you know about the project. Thank you for your support in this upcoming project.

I have read the letter, and know the due date for the 5th grade Library Media Center’s project.

Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature

1/28/08
From Powermediaplus.com: Intro with: Life's Worth Living video - John Nellie Nelson & Arthrogryposis Notes: showed to Coughlin's class 2/8 - had to cut short due to length. Intro'd the topic by mentioning that all people use different tools to overcome personal obstacles in life. The movie would show how one person did this. After movie, asked students what they thought and most said it was sad. One girl was teary eyed. I remarked that instead of looking at it in a sad way, to look at in an inspirational way to learn how Nellie has dealt with his obstacle and to learn from him.

DI Learning Contract: A learning contract is, in essence, a plan for self improvement. It forces the individual learner to reflect as well as look forward, to analyze their respective strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, to declare in measurable terms WHAT they intend to achieve, and HOW they plan to get there. Learning contracts draw on the principles of goal setting, self evaluation, and mentorship. While it may be tempting for supervisors to use this tool in evaluation of the learner, it is important to remember that it is designed for the learners benefit, not to provide information to the organization.

http://www.usafp.org/Fac_Dev/Teaching_Topics/Learning%20Contract/Learning-Contracts.htm

1/24/2008
You will receive points for turning in and including the following: Project Points of Information: 1. Name of the person. 2. Why did you chose this person? 3. Basic Facts: 4. Explain why you think this person is important. 5. Personal Reflection: What struck you the most about doing this project? 6. How will you deal with obstacles in your life? 7. Student's Name. 8. Student's Teacher's Name (not the Librarian) 9. Works Cited Page 10. Turned in on Time? 11. Self - evaluation 12. Parent letter SIGNED!
 * Date of Birth
 * Place of Birth
 * Obstacle - What is the barrier?
 * What are/were the problems and challenges this person faced?
 * How did they deal with their obstacle?
 * What are were their accomplishments?

12-29-07
http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/motivation.html Students who do not understand the relevance of a school activity are not usually motivated to accomplish it unless they are motivated to please the teacher. (External motivation.) Clearly establish the expected goal and required method. Let the students know the benefits that will be realized. This is especially important when no choices are being offered.
 * 14. Students Need To Understand The Relevance Of All Their School Activities**

Evelyn Glennie? [|__http://www.evelyn.co.uk/homepage.htm__]http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/24/Music/Percussionist_has_the.shtml Deaf (she is way cool) Wasn't The Pianist (w/Adrian Brody) based on a true character who survived the Holocaust.Felice Feldman Jeff Healey SEAL - he was a homeless man in England for quite some time, a common street beggar...Then, as chance would have it the right person heard him singing and now he is a Multi Platinum Recording Artist with Grammy Awards, Millions of Dollars, and is married to Heidi Klum--arguably one of the most beautiful super models of all time. Stevie Wonder-- for obvious reasons. Being a poor blind kid from the ghetto and rising to sell millions of records over a 30 or 40 year career. Marian Anderson - who overcame prejudice to perform in the a great story. Hip Hop artist Brother Ali is an independant hip hop artist on Atmosphere's Rhymesayers Entertainment Group. He is also an African American Albino. One can only imagine the trials and strife one would feel going through life looking so vastly different than everyone in their family, neighborhood, city, etc. Blind Lemon Jefferson, blues singer and guitarist Stevie Wonder (blindness) Ray Charles (blindness) Stevie Nicks (visually impaired) Cher (learning disabilities) Ray Davies (of the Kinks) (bipolar) Jose Feliciano (blind) Handel--(composer of "The Messiah") (epilepsy) Elton John (epilepsy) John Lennon (learning disability) Ronnie Milsap (blind) Charley Pride (bipolar) Carley Simon (speech impairment / stuttering) Sting (mental disorder) Mel Tillis (speech impairment / stuttering) Neil Young (epilepsy) Ludwig Von Beethoven. Andrea Bocelli Sammy Davis Jose Felliciano (sp?) How about Itzak Perelman (violinist) contracted polio at age 4 Beethoven, deaf Blind Boys of Alabama Art Tatum, blind jazz musician Ella Fitzgerald was incarcerated at the age of 14 in an upstate New York correctional facility. Her mother died when she was a teenager and she spent some time homeless on the streets of Harlem. Cher has pretty bad dyslexia and was public about it. Shania Twain was fairly poor and lived in a trailer. Loretta Lynn was the coal-miner's daughter. James Brown was very poor; Ray Charles blindness, Jose Feliciano blindness; there's the famous pianist played by Geoffrey Rush in a movie who is autistic Sheryl Crow and Melissa Etheridge both fought breast cancer and are still goingl if I think of more I'll send 'em along!
 * POSSIBLE SUBJECTS:** Need to categorize

Famous People with Disabilities http://www.nebraskagifted.org/eric/fact/famous.html

Tampa Mayor's Alliance For Persons With Disabilities Famous Persons with Disabilities http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Mayor/Mayors_Alliance/famous_persons/people_A_thru_E.asp

http://www.dynamgraphics.com/images/kate/famous.html

Mrs. Kelly's Notes:

Possible project titles:
The Change Agent I won't quit

http://eduwikius.wikispaces.com/Blogs - has DI infor.

12-29-07
Teachers new to differentiating instruction may initially choose to use //individual// strategies and begin by differentiating //either// **content**, **process** or **product**. It is also important to recognize that there is a considerable overlap between the strategies listed below. As teachers become comfortable with these strategies several may be very effectively employed simultaneously. For example: students may be **//grouped by interest//** but may also have activities set at **different levels of complexity** (questioning levels/abstract thinking processes) resulting in **varying products** that employ students' preferred learning modality (auditory, visual or kinesthetic). **//Thus the content is being differentiated by interest, the process is being differentiated by readiness (complexity of thinking skills required) and the product is being differentiated by student learning modality preferences.//** This multiple differentiation has the added advantage of making presentations much more interesting than it would be if all groups do everything in the same way and each presentation was simply a repetition of the former one.

Lesson Plan Websites:
http://www.rickhansen.com/sections/programsandevents/docs/SchoolsInMotion_How-to.pdf http://www.in2edu.com/downloads/socials/famous.PDF Reviewed 12-29-07 - might be able to use http://www.education.uiowa.edu/resources/tep/eportfolio/07e160folder/lessonplanblocka.htmReviewed 12-29-07 - might be able to use http://www.teacherlink.usu.edu/tlresources/units/byrnes-famous/keller.html http://www.resilienceproject.com/k3.html http://resilienceproject.com/42.html http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/pdf/issue25/exploring.pdf

http://webquest.org/index-create.php Reviewed 12-29-07 - good webquest site for president project Practice Some students do well with a brief overview of a topic and a single example. Other students need lots of practice to master a skill. Create a list of interactive activities students could use to practice or review specific skills. List the topic, standards, and URL. In most classrooms, students read at a wide range of reading levels. Be sure that you're selecting resources for a variety of levels. Also, look for websites that provided leveled reading resources. Create an activity and provide online readings at three different reading levels. Go to [|Naturescapes] and notice how three levels are provided along with a WebQuest. Use the resources below locate materials at varied reading levels. Students enjoy working with real facts, numbers, and documents. Rather than "watered down" resources found in workbooks, look for the "real thing" online. From the stock market to sports statistics, the web is filled with opportunities to manipulate real-world data. Locate a photograph, document, or piece of data that would bring a classroom topic to life. Design a short activity around this information. Students need to be active. Many students are motivated by interactive resources that ask them to create, build, design, or make decisions. They also like to make decisions and participate in polls and surveys. There are lots of online tools for students to use. Try an online tool. Consider ways to get students excited about learning through the use of online and off-line tools such as Inspiration, Timeliner, KidPix, and PowerPoint. Tools Experience You can't take students to Antarctica or the Amazon, but you can take students on a virtual field trip. Some students lack even basic experiences such as visiting a city or a farm. Use the Internet to help these students make a connection. Locate a virtual field trip. Where in a unit would you use this resources? To motivate at the beginning of a unit or review at the end? Brainstorm ways that you could create a virtual field trip with your class. Some students need motivation to write, draw, or express themselves in other ways. Sometimes technology can provide motivating tools and resources. Develop an ecard activity that makes use of an ecard. Students enjoy sharing their ideas with a real-world audience. Explore ways to provide connections for students. Go to [|KidsLearn] and explore their online projects. Plan to participate in this project. Or locate a class and write an email to the class. Or, create a nicenet forum. Practice Some students do well with a brief overview of a topic and a single example. Other students need lots of practice to master a skill. Create a list of interactive activities students could use to practice or review specific skills. List the topic, standards, and URL. Why use boring worksheets when you can find things that students will love to read? Use the following resources to check reading comprehension. Or, ask students to summarize or critique. Design a Word document that uses the high-interest content in one of the following pages. Include a title, photograph, link, and list of questions or problem to solve.
 * |||| From: http://eduscapes.com/sessions/needs/elementary2.html#5
 * [|DiscoverySchool Brain Booster]
 * [|FunBrain]
 * [|National Geographic Games]
 * [|National Geographic BackTalk] - write captions for photos
 * [|National Geographic Wild and Wacky] - add your own words
 * [|National Geographic Sounds Off] - share an idea
 * [|Yahooligans Games] - go to the test your knowledge section
 * [|Scholastic] - teacher page
 * [|Scholastic] - student page Why use boring worksheets when you can find things that students will love to read? Use the following resources to check reading comprehension. Or, ask students to summarize or critique. Design a Word document that uses the high-interest content in one of the following pages. Include a title, photograph, link, and list of questions or problem to solve.
 * [|Yahooligans Music]
 * [|Yahooligans Movies]
 * [|Yahooligans Book Club]
 * [|Scholastic News: Entertainment]
 * [|Sports Illustrated for Kids]
 * [|How Stuff Works] ||
 * Reading Level
 * [|Enchanted Learning]
 * [|Online Stories] from Teacher Tap
 * [|Fact Monster] - lower reading
 * [|Information Please] - higher reading ||
 * Authenticity
 * [|American Memories Learning Page]
 * [|National Archives Classroom]
 * [|Primary Resources from Steven's Institute]
 * [|Real-Time Data from Steven's Institute]
 * [|Teacher Tap: Primary Resources and Real-World Data]
 * [|Teacher Tap: Visual Resources]
 * [|42explore: Statistics] ||
 * Active Participation
 * [|Create a Graph]
 * [|Teach-nology Tools]
 * [|Timeline Builder]
 * [|Graphic Organizer Generator]
 * [|Throw a Pot] Polls and Surveys
 * [|Polls and Surveys from 42explore]
 * Check out the Polls in Online News and Magazines Interactive Websites
 * [|Teacher Tap: Interactive Websites]
 * [|Teach Tap: Builders] ||
 * [|Homework Spot: Field Trip]
 * [|JASON]
 * [|Journey North]
 * [|MuseumSpot]
 * [|Teacher Tap: Field Trips and Museums] ||
 * Motivation
 * [|Yahooligan Ecards]
 * [|Enature ecards]
 * [|San Diego Zoocards]
 * [|Jan Brett]
 * [|Teacher Tap: Electronic Postcard]
 * [|Yahooligan Animals] ||
 * Realism
 * [|Epals] - locate classes, get email, built in translator
 * [|Nicenet] - threaded discussions
 * Explore (T66Z94E49) Nicenet - practiceit1, practiceit1
 * [|Teacher Tap: Ask An Expert] ||
 * [|DiscoverySchool Brain Booster]
 * [|FunBrain]
 * [|National Geographic Games]
 * [|National Geographic BackTalk] - write captions for photos
 * [|National Geographic Wild and Wacky] - add your own words
 * [|National Geographic Sounds Off] - share an idea
 * [|Yahooligans Games] - go to the test your knowledge section
 * [|Scholastic] - teacher page
 * [|Scholastic] - student page
 * [|Yahooligans Music]
 * [|Yahooligans Movies]
 * [|Yahooligans Book Club]
 * [|Scholastic News: Entertainment]
 * [|Sports Illustrated for Kids]
 * [|How Stuff Works]

Challenge Some students need a challenge. Ask students to think rather than copy through activities such as evaluating, critiquing, and creating. Design an activity that involves students in critiquing books reviews or websites created by other students. dents need a challenge. Ask students to think rather than copy through activities such as evaluating, critiquing, and creating. Design an activity that involves students in critiquing books reviews or websites created by other students. Currency Some students are drawn to activities that connect to local or world events. These students excel when working with real, current events and activities. Provide students with choices that relate to individual interests, while still connecting to current information and ideas. Use online newspapers, magazines, radio, and television as starting points. Design an activity to uses a specific section or articles from an online news source. Consider choices at different reading levels. Or, focus on visuals. Create an activity title, overview, URL, and list of activities.
 * [|Book Review Sites]
 * [|ThinkQuest Projects]
 * [|Teacher Tap: Plagiarism and the Internet]
 * [|Papermill Links]
 * [|4FreeEssays]

12/11/07

Gents,

I'll bring some stuff for us to discuss.

Doug, go to http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/disability/disabilities.html I'm sure we can come up with some using this website and explore other possibilities.

Matt, there's an artist, Kristi Painter, who is diabetic and uses the instruments and equipment needed to treat diabetes to create wearable jewelry and charms.....it's in the methods and materials part of http://www.vsarts.org/prebuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/disability/disabilities.html (pretty cool)

As far a doing the DI - if that's what we want to include, Kelly Talbot said she would help.

Gentlemen, We need to get together. Kelly Talbot said she would help with DI. Jan
 * 11/2**0

Hi,
 * 11/20**

Also the lead singer from a band called "Mother Love Bone" died in his 20's and the remaining band members went on to form "Pearl Jam" and "SoundGarden." They also did an album with members from both bands called "Temple of the Dog"

I love the movie idea. I think we should encourage as many videos as possible. I can edit them and put them into a presentation.

Jason, Doug,

Let us know if you want to collab.


 * 11/16/07**

Matt, Do you think Jason would want to collaborate on this? As long as we're doing people overcoming disabilities in the music world, what do you think about expanding to the art world and do you think Doug would want to collab. as well? Could use end products for the Art/Music Extravaganza in May and the concert. Just some more thoughts.....

What are the obstacles? What caused them? If you were faced with these, how would you overcome them?
 * Project Goals**:

Poverty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States Physical Differeneces Physical Disabilities Mental Difficulties Social Difficulties - war Homelessness Substance Abuse
 * Resources:**

Choosing the right medium.pdf [|Differentiated Instruction] [|10 Tips for DI]
 * DI INFORMATION:**

=Advice from LM_Netters:= I will email you a wonderful handout that appeared in Library Media Connection last year. This should be very helpful. It makes various research product suggestions based on learning styles.

Also - you can differentiate by level of material. You can make sure that you have materials on the subject with reading levels from elem, ms and high school. That will help your struggling readers and your advanced readers.

I think you are right. We differentiate all the time without really knowing it. My problem is creating differentiated activities for students when they all have to learn the research basics. I am thinking of developing pre=assessments to figure out who can get started gathering citation information and who needs more instruction. The biggest problem is that we don't work with the kids every day as classroom teachers do. So - especially at the beginning of the year -we don't know how to group kids by interst/ability etc. I think we have to depend on the teacher for this - and just have materials and activites at various levels. The teacher can assign the activities from there using his/her knowledge of the kids.

I will be looking forward to seeing a hit as our school is heavily invested in differentiation. Look for the article to arrive in your email soon. Jacquie "The Librarian, whose job is to heal ignorance, to keep life safe for poetry and to put knowledge smack dab in the middle of the American way." From The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9-20-03

Jacquie Henry, MLS Ruben A. Cirillo High School (GHS) Gananda Central School District 3195 Wiedrick Road P.O. Box 609 Macedon, NY 14502 315-986-3521 x 3144 jhenry@gananda.org Library Page: http://www.gananda.org/library/mshslibrary/indexgcl.htm Blog: http://nlcommunities.com/communities/wanderings/default.aspx Possible Projects: PowerPoints, wikis, poetry, posters,