Sunday, August 12, 2012

Welcome! Here's to another exciting year.

Welcome back to another school year. I can't believe it. Another year is around the corner and I am getting excited with two weeks left of summer.

For the past two summers I have been learning about technology. There are so many incredible changes going on in education related to the world and technology.  To begin the new school year I want to have a blog to share ideas, student projects and the learning going on in my class. After 20 plus years of teaching, I will open my world to the possibilities of technology as a tool and learn with my students this year. I have been reading so many blogs by others, that I figure - it's my turn to really get out there, to create a learning experience for myself and my students by making my own class blog.  This will be a record of learning. It's also a history of this school year and the process.


Plans... Just like I always do, I will do it my way and see where this new path leads. I plan to collaborate, communicate and create with my students and parents as a teacher and learner. Again I will try more new adventures, games and paths using the world of history, technology and my imagination as a palette! As I think of this year, I want to explore history using new tools with my students.  Some of the learning that I have done relates to the creation of a blog, using podcasts, voicethread and edmodo. Together we will learn by exploring new tools, paths and ideas. I look forward to this new year and being back at it again! Here's to a new great school year 12-13!

This summer I took numerous workshops. Some were related to being a leader, learner and others related to using technology to flip my instruction, and the changes that are going on with the common core and curriculum that will impact teachers and learners as we move into the 21st century.  As a teacher and learner, exploring new paths of information, ideas and in this case, technology, is always a valuable exercise. Although I started this blog a year ago and I prepare for this year 12-13 with great students - I am back at it again. There are many new, exciting ideas on the map for my new year and it will be an exciting adventure. Are you ready? I am! 

Be ready to try class challenges, use edmodo to collaborate with classmates and create various types of  products to display learning. Studies will revolve around history of the ancient world from the Roman Republic through the Middle Ages and into the Age of Discovery and Exploration. Our class will explore events, famous people, pieces of literature and the world as it relates to the present and the past. Every class will be different and the lessons will be engaging and provide the opportunity to learn new skills, use new tools and examine all types of learning. 


Prepare for our class by starting to change your routine. Get up earlier, go to bed earlier, make sure you are excited, rested and ready to have an exciting year. You will want to make sure to have your supplies and materials needed for the first day of class. I look forward to  meeting my new 12-13 students. Welcome! We will share an exciting year. 


In the sidebar, you will find a way to subscribe to our class blog. Or you can bookmark our class blog for easy access. Also, we want to hear from you, so  feel free to click the comment button at the bottom of the page and submit your ideas and thoughts. 


Plan to check in and read our blog regularly as we will post weekly.   I will write every other week and have a student or two create an entry to post between my entries. This blog is to share responses and celebrate our class processes, the learning and activities. I hope you enjoy it.

Monday, June 27, 2011

The worst jobs in Middle Ages History...

What job would make it on to this Dirty Job? Should we send any of these ideas to Mike Rowe?Your job will be to make a video about a medieval dirty job!  Have fun. I can't wait to see what you and your partners create.

Great Medieval Resource!

Do you love the Middle Ages or the Renaissance? What is your favorite topic or lesson? We'll have a tournament this year, a medieval luncheon and some students will die from the plague or on a crusade... We'll study famous Renaissance figures including the four Ninja Turtles. Check this out to learn some more about this time in history.

Great video on changes in education. What do you think?


I find this video so intriguing. How do we help our students change using this paradigm? I am working on it. I attended a great workshop this June and learned that there is so much for us to use on line that we need to share with our students and teach them to do independently. What do you think?

Picture Posts

Betty was one of my favorite comic book characters.
I love hummingbirds! What is your favorite animal?

Welcome to Team McAuliffe History Class!

Hi new 7th graders! I am thrilled to have you for the year!  We will have a stellar year learning about World History in Europe. This is a new tool to share what we do in class, learn and explore this year. I look forward to sharing and celebrating our learning. I can't wait to see what you discover and share with the world!

Have you ever blogged before?