GENERATING A RESEARCH QUESTION...

Hey Kiddies!!

      GREAT INQUIRYstarts with a RESEARCH QUESTION.  A research question leads to more questions.  What you will be trying to do today is create a "line or questioning".  It's kind of like those cop shows on T.V. when they ask the criminals and witnesses a line of questioning. 

      Down below you will find a TON of videos that you are free to explore.  YOUR PURPOSE...  generate a line of questions about whatever interests you.  Please read and print out one of the articles at the end of the video OR complete the quiz and print it out.  You will have notecards to record your questions as you interact with the videos and text.  Let's see some research questions!!

Yours Truly,
C
P.S. WHAT YOU ARE USING TODAY IS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE.  You will later find other sources to collect more information. 

Westward Expansion and Native Americans:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/goldrush/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/westwardexpansion/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/mexicanamericanwar/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/lewisandclark/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/culture/americanindians/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/trailoftears/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/pocahontas/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/woundedkneemassacre/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/tecumseh/

Slavery and Civil Rights:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/civilrights/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/usgovernmentandlaw/billofrights/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/slavery/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/undergroundrailroad/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/brownvsboardofeducationoftopeka/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/jackierobinson/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/martinlutherkingjr/

CIVIL WAR:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/civilwarcauses/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/freemovies/civilwar/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/abrahamlincoln/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/frederickdouglass/

American Revolution:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/americanrevolution/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/causesoftheamericanrevolution/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/frenchandindianwar/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/frenchandindianwar/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/usconstitution/

WWI and WWII:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwari/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/worldwarii/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/annefrank/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/adolfhitler/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/holocaust/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/worldwariicauses/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/worldhistory/leagueofnations/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/culture/unitednations/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/culture/war/

The Great Depression:

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/greatdepression/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/greatdepressioncauses/

http://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/newdeal/

Lost Hero 2... POST HERE!!

POST YOUR Q & A HERE!!

BEYOND THE BOOK II....

Hey Raucous Readers,

      Today is Monday, April 11, 2011.  Many of you have finished your book club books, beyond the book projects, and have already selected new texts to dive into.  You are all rock stars in my book, and I can't wait to see the INQUIRIES you are all going to engage in.  STOKED!!! 

      For today, I wanted to see some of your feedback.  As a reading and learning community we normally write blurbs or pieces of our knowledge on NOTECARDS.  This weekend I was like WHY C?  We have this blog that so many students enjoy using and already know how to do it so well.  So, instead of using notecards today let's get our netbooks open and start making some comments shall we!? 

      As we see some of our Beyond the Book Projects today keep a netbook with you so you can quickly type up feedback, thoughts, reactions, and responses to what you see.  Does anyone's project spark a lightbulb in your mind?  Does a project you see today remind you of something we have already learned or talked about?  Do you see anything that reminds you of YOUR project?  What do you see that you like?  What is something you wish you would have seen? 

      Be gentle with each other and the comments you make.  Be honest and fair.  Have fun listening, reading, viewing, and thinking. 

Yours truly,
C
P.S. Over the next week ponder something for me...  As a learner, student, kid, and awesome thinker, when and where do most of your great ideas happen?  Where do you have great ideas?  When do they come to you? 

?: Connectedness also comes through conflict
pg. 51

!: "Students who feel they are part of a community will participate actively in community activities."
-from Building Online Learning Communities pg. 50

Inquiry starts with QUESTIONS!!!

Hey Super Students,

      Today is Thursday, April 7 2011.  Your guest teacher today has tons of articles and accessible text for you guys and girls to dive into.  Since we are finishing are book club books, we are moving from fiction to nonfiction.  The nonfiction genre is one of my favorites and I hope you enjoy it too.  Our reading purpose changes a little when we read nonfiction texts. 

      During the first part of your rotation today, you and the other people at your tribe will be generating 8-10 inquiry questions.  Each of you will fill a page in your dialogue journal with your questions.  From our questions we will continue the inquiry process.  remember their are 4 types of inquiry we can pursue:

1.  Mini Inquiries

2.  Literature Circle Inquiries

3.  Curricular Inquiries

4.  Open Inquiry

      There are so many pieces of text your guest teacher and I are opening up to you today that you should not have any problem coming up with questions.  Listen to your inner voice.  Interact with the text.  What are you curious about finding more information?  Does one of these articles connect to another thought you want to explore?  Have fun reading and thinking.

Yours Truly,
C
P.S. When you are finished generating questions, the rest of the time is yours for book clubs and independent reading.  

Characterization...

Hey Crazy Characters,

What does the author come right out and say?
What does the author let you infer on your own?
Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.

There are two ways an author can convey information about a character:
With direct characterization the author literally tells the audience what a character is like. This may be done via the narrator, another character or by the character him- or herself. With indirect characterization the audience must deduce for themselves what the character is like through the character’s thoughts, actions, speech (choice of words, way of talking), looks and interaction with other characters, including other characters’ reactions to that particular person.

Let's see if we can find some together. Have fun reading and thinking. 

C

Group Doodle...

Howdy do to you!!

      Today is Thursday, March 31, 2011.  I hope it is apparent to you by now that you have a guest teacher here for me today.  Treat her better than you treat me.  You know the drill and you know what is expected of you. 

      Since it's TRIBES week, there has been a different energizer every day of the week.  Today's energizer is a little different than before.  You are going to do it in your tribes at your desks.  Here are the rules...

The paper you need is in the middle of your community circle on the floor. 

      So, now that you know the rules let's talk about what you are going to group doodle about.  I want you to GROUP DOODLE anything you know or remember about story elements.  ANYTHING!!  Give me examples from your books.  Write words.  Draw pictures.  I don't care.  I want to see your understanding of  story elements. 

      After your Group doodle is finished here are the things you will be doing in order to be on task:
1.) Any book club work that you need to do to finish.  (READ, BEYOND THE BOOK, DIALOGUE JOURNALING)
2.) Continue any of the MINI INQUIRIES we started together when I showed you my thinking in The Alchemyst.
3.) You may grab a Social Studies book, GENERATE INQUIRY QUESTIONS, and research them in your Social Studies books.  (USE YOUR DIALOGUE JOURNALS)

Have fun reading and thinking. 

Yours Truly,
C

I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
Do your best and forget the rest!

    

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Text Codes...

Hey there damas y caballeros,

      So...  I'm reading The Alchemyst.  During the exposition, as Michael Scott is giving information about the antagonist, he also drops a little history.  It piqued my interest and also spurred me to do a MINI INQUIRY on some of the things he ties into the story.  I used text codes and tracks in my thinking to find my way back to the text.  It connects thought to text. 

By using text coding we are able to capture our thinking QUICKLY so that we can go back and think about it in depth later.  HUH?  What do you mean "in depth" Mr. C?  Well, pay attention during the minilesson today and let's find out together.  Some time in the near future you will be conducting a MINI INQUIRY of your own.  Have fun reading and thinking. 

Here is a KEY to help you remember some important text codes:
L = This code stands for information we learned while reading. 
? or Q = These codes are to tell us we have a question.  The question may be about what we are reading or may take us Beyond the Book. 
! = This code is when something we read causes us to be surprised or grabs our interest.  (WOW! In a lot of cases this code may go along with the L code.)
R or C = These are out connection codes.  We use these when the text reminds us of something or is connected to text, media, real world experiences, or to ourself. 
?? = This is the CONFUSION code.  When we don't understand something from the text this is the code that let's us know the spot that caused the confusion. 

Look at what is circled in green.

Look at what is circled in green.

These codes will be very important as we continue on out INQUIRY adventure.

Sincerely,

C

I can... Raise my awareness of thoughts as they permeate consciousness within context in order to hold, retain, organize, and apply them in a precise, effective delivery. (hold your thinking until it will be needed later where its effectiveness will be unleashed.)