Creating a Digital Portfolio (Reflecting and Writing)

Creating a Digital Portfolio (Reflecting and Writing)  You have already build the foundation of your website, personalize it, and add content. Now it's time to begin the reflection process. The purpose of of a portfolio is to both showcase your assignments and reflect on them. Today you will begin writing about your selected digital assignments.

Make sure to introduce, explain, and reflect on each assignment.  Consider these questions: What did the assignment ask you to do? What does the assignment show that you know and know how to do? How did you feel about the final product? Would you do anything differently next time? Explain. I've included a model of how you may want to write about your assignments below. 

Creating a Digital Portfolio (Adding Photos, Videos, and Google Docs)

Creating a Digital Portfolio (Adding Photos, Videos, and Google Docs)  Yesterday you created and named your website and began to personalize the look and them of your Digital Portfolio. Today you are going to begin adding the content (text, images, video, and Google Doc assignments), which in many ways is the heart and soul of your Digital Portfolio. The videos below are great tutorials on how to add content to your Google Site. Watch them at your leisure and try adding some content to your Digital Portfolio today.  

How to Insert Text and Images in Google Sites

How to Embed Google Docs in Google Sites

How to Add Video

Homework  (1.) Practice adding some content to your Digital Portfolio.  (2.)  30 minutes of silent reading at home.  Make sure to record your reading on one of the digital reading logs available. Our weekly Google Form reading log is here and the Google Spreadsheet reading log can be found here. 

Creating a Digital Portfolio

What is a Digital Portfolio?  Digital Portfolios (also known as e-portfolios) are digital representations of a student's work. Portfolios are a powerful way of showcasing your individual skills and talents, as well as illustrating your growth in learning and achievement. Your Digital Portfolio will also allow you to show off who you are as a unique student and individual. For your Digital Portfolio, you will build a website using Google Sites. Your Digital Portfolio Google Site will include a collection of your most important digital assignments of the school year and your personal assessments of these pieces of work.  We will be working on creating our Digital Portfolios over the course of the next several weeks. This project will make up a sizable portion of your final Language Arts and Social Studies assessment grade. In order to get a better a sense of what student Digital Portfolios look like, check out the video below. A link to a collection of student portfolios can be found here.   

Creating a Digital Portfolio  I have created a Digital Portfolio template for you here, which you will use to get started. It includes the basic structure, components, and guidelines for building your Digital Portfolio. However, you will have the opportunity to personalize your Portfolio and make it uniquely your own. To begin, you get to select your website's theme. First, click on the pull-down menu with a bolt on it at the top of your screen and select "Manage site." Next, select "Themes, Colors, and Fonts" located near the bottom of the screen. You may begin to personalize the look of your website here. Make sure to save your changes. 

Additionally, the videos below show you how to change the site's layout and how to insert text and images. Check them out to learn how you can continue to make the look and feel of your Digital Portfolio website a true reflection of who you are.    

We will continue to personalize our Digital Portfolio websites in class tomorrow and begin to learn how to incorporate our digital assignments. In the meantime, more information on creating Digital Portfolios can be found here.  

Homework  Begin to personalize your Digital Portfolio website.  

The Smarter Balanced Performance Task

Warm Up: NoRedInk  Good morning! Let's continue practicing subject/verb agreement at NoRedInk. Find the assignment entitled "Subject/Verb Agreement #2" and begin. What is not finished in class becomes homework. Please fix your errors in order to receive full credit. 

The Smarter Balanced Performance Task  A key component of the Smarter Balanced Assessment that you will be taking next week will be the 'Performance Task.' What exactly is a Performance Task? Check out the explanation from Smarter Balanced below. 

Now let's see what one looks like and process it together. Go to the online practice test here. After logging in and selecting your grade level, select 'Start G6 ELA Performance Task.' Follow along with Mr. McGinty as he guides you through its various components. 

Homework  (1.) Complete the NoRedInk assignment "Subject/Verb Agreement #2." (2.) 30 minutes of silent reading at home.  Make sure to record your reading on one of the digital reading logs available.  Our weekly Google Form reading log is here and the Google Spreadsheet reading log can be found here.  Deadline: I will be checking this week's reading log on Monday, April 28. 

Subject/Verb Agreement and Test Prep

Warm Up: NoRedInk  Good morning! Please visit NoRedInk and start the assignment on Subject/Verb Agreement. If you need a little background on the rules of Subject/Verb Agreement, check out the site here. What you do not finish in class becomes homework. Please fix your mistakes in order to receive full credit.  

Smarter Balanced Test Prep  In order to better orient you with the features of the Smarter Balanced Online Test, we are going to watch a presentation about the logistics of the test process today. You can find a link to the presentation here, however I will be showing it on the SmartBoard and would request that you close your Chromebooks during the presentation. If you have questions or would like to refer back to the presentation please refer back to the link provided.  

Homework   (1.) 30 minutes of silent reading at home.  Make sure to record your reading on one of the digital reading logs available.  Our weekly Google Form reading log is here and the Google Spreadsheet reading log can be found here.  (2.) Complete your NoRedInk Subject/Verb Agreement assignment.  

Nuts and Bolts and Test Prep

Warm Up: Nut and Bolts  If you need to get inspired about the day ahead, watch the video above. Then, head over to School Loop and check your grades. Do you have missing assignments that you need to make up? Do your grades reflect the actual work you've done? Do you need to send a message to one of your teachers via Loop Mail? Next, visit Accelerated Reader and check your A.R. points. Are you reading nightly and taking A.R. tests regularly? Are you making progress towards your goal? Finally, go to your Google Drive and make sure that you have published your Ancient China video and moved it to your name folder within your Social Studies folder.  

Smarter Balanced Test Practice  Yesterday you were introduced to the Smarter Balanced Field Test and had the opportunity to explore the format of the test. Today, you will actually practice taking a part of the exam. Go to the online practice test here. Sign in as a Guest, select Grade 6, click 'Start G6 ELA Practice Test,' check your sound, and then start the test. Today we will be working through the passage "Cure It with Candy." I will read the passage aloud to you and then give you time to answer the various questions. If time permits, we will review our answers and process together.  

Homework  30 minutes of silent reading at home.  Make sure to record your reading on one of the digital reading logs available.  Our weekly Google Form reading log is here and the Google Spreadsheet reading log can be found here. 

Almost to the Finish Line

Welcome Back Message  Welcome back form Spring Break! I hope you had a fun and relaxing time and are feeling rejuvenated as we begin the final sprint towards the end of the school year. We are almost to the finish line! Let's finish strong! 

Warm Up: Newsela  Let's get the day started with a little nonfiction literacy practice at Newsela. Log in, check your 'Binder,' and locate the article entitled "Teacher ditches grades to help students." Set the reading level to 920L (Grade Level: 6), read the article carefully, and then take the quiz. Be prepared to discuss the article with the class. Do you agree or disagree with this approach to teaching and learning? Why or why not?  

The Smarter Balanced Field Test: An Introduction Next week you will be taking the "Smarter Balanced Field Test." Learn more about what this new test is all about by watching the video below.  

The Smarter Balanced Field Test: Exploring the Test  Now that we have a general idea about what to expect, let's explore the online practice test here. Follow along with Mr. McGinty as he familiarizes you with the test format and guides you through some of the different types of questions you should expect to see.  

Homework  30 minutes of silent reading at home.  Make sure to record your reading on one of the digital reading logs available.  Our weekly Google Form reading log is here and the Google Spreadsheet reading log can be found here.