WebQuest Project

Subject Area: Language Arts

 

Topic: Analyzing Dear Mr. Henshaw By, Beverly Cleary and Writing Letters.

Grade: Fifth

Common Core Standards:

READING STANDARDS FOR LITERATURE K-5

The following standards offer a focus for instruction each year and help ensure that students gain adequate exposure to a range of texts and tasks. Rigor is also infused through the requirement that students read increasingly complex texts through the grades. Students advancing through the grades are expected to meet each year’s grade specific standards and retain or further develop skills and understandings mastered in preceding grades.

2: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

6: Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.

Technology Standards:

1. Creativity and Innovation: Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.

b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.

 

End Product: Students will be writing their own letters throughout the unit, just as Leigh did. The teacher will give them certain topics to write about based on the book at times and other times the students will be able to free write, just as Leigh did. They will be able to use blogs, word document, social media, etc. to keep record of their letters.

Scoring PowerPoints

My Thoughts About the Article:
Reading this article made me realize how much I already know about Powerpoint presentations and I know it's because I have had teachers demonstrate what a good presentation should look like. My teachers have always demonstrated that powerpoints should be organized, appealing to the audience eyes, and accurate with interesting information. Even though the article did acknowledge on what makes a successful powerpoint, it also seemed to focus on what unsuccessful powerpoints look like. The number of words used, picutres, audience, and time should always be considered when making a powerpoint, however the information and big ideas are what should always be the main focus. It is important for presenters to not forget what the purpose is, because that is sometimes what leads to an unsucessful powerpoint presentation. . The author also seemed to be adamant about keeping the presentations short in length and professional. In this case, less is more. The presenter has the role of capturing the audience attention with eye contact, voice expression, and confidence, because that is what makes a powerpoint presentation successful. The powerpoint in itself is just to help the presenter deliver the messages.

What Parts I Agree With and Why?
I do agree that teachers have to be examples on what good presentations should look like, because they are modeling what they expect from their students. I dislike when presenters are reading off the slides, because it makes me feel that they are not confident in what they are presenting. It also makes me feel that I could be reading the powerpoint myself. Also, I agree that powerpoints should be a tool to help guide the presentation and not necessarily be the presentation. Often times I think people get them confused, because they think the powerpoint is the presentation. However, I see it more as notecards that are suppose to help you remember what you want to say. I agree that student's should be provided rubrics, because it helps give students a guideline of what is expected of them and a goal to aim for. Lastly, I agree with supporting students to cite their work, whether it is picutres or words. I think often times we forget to cite pictures and it is something that also needs citing, because it gives credit to what is not our own.

What Do I Disagree With and Why?
I found it difficult to find things that I disagreed with about the article. However, I did disagree when the article expressed that real images should be used rather than clip art. I do agree that real images do make points more clear, however, I also think that clip art can do the same. Just as the article said, it depends on who the audience is and what the purpose of the presentation is.

Getting to Know You!

Andrea Maria Moncayo is my full name, however, the people that see me every day or  that are really close to me know me as, Drea.

Who I am at Home:

• A daughter: My family is the most unique thing about me, because my dad had me when he was 60 and my mom was 38. I am very proud that my parents (mainly my dad) is older and it something that I have been able to share with strangers  openly my entire life. 
• A sister: I have 8 half siblings and a full blooded sister. My youngest sister and I are not even a whole year apart!
• A Aunt and Great Aunt! 18 nieces and nephews and 3 great nephews and 1 great niece.

This is my sister, Gaby! We are twins for 10 days every year!

This is my dad at his 10 crazy kids! 

Who I am at School:

Friends since Kindergarten all the way to APU.

• A Kindergarten Instructional Aide: The students call me Ms. Moncayo and I love it! I get to work with 31 kindergartners every day and I work with a great teacher. I am learning so much from her. I feel so blessed to be at the school and I work at and the only person I can truly thank is God. 
• Boys and Girl Club Staff Member: I get to work the 6:15 a.m. shift and I love it! I get to work with kids from K-5! I enjoying get to know the students and teaching them new skills. 
• A Grad Student: I never thought I would be getting my M.A., especially in Digital Teaching, but I love it and I don't take it for granted at all. 
• A Friend: I love making new friends and being a friend. I have friends that I have kept from elementary, middle school, high school, college, and co-workers. I am grateful for the friends I have and have made, especially lately. 

Who I am When I am Out and About:

• A Photographer: I love taking pictures and I loved editing them on Photoshop. One of the best birthday gifts I got was Adobe Photoshop.
• A Traveler: I am always itching to go somewhere and I have been all over and I feel like I still have so much more to see! 
• A Dancer: I enjoy ballroom, swing, and salsa dancing. 
• A Musician: I like to play the piano and ukulele. 

My Photography

Something Unique:

• Something unique that happened to me is that I got to study abroad in South Africa. It was the best thing I could have ever signed up for. 

South Africa, 2009.