Eating Takis Could Make Your Brain Grow.

Yes, it's true.  Eating Takis while viewing and participating in these video clips might make your brain bigger.  However, it's not just the act of eating alone that improves your brain.  It's watching, questioning, and applying what you see in the videos.

I found a new website called LearnZillion.  It's FREE and it'll make your life in our learning environment super easy! Giving you more time to concentrate on your FB status, or gaze across at your new crush. You can download it to any mobile device or computer you use...including our classroom computers. Hmmmm, wonder where you should click to get to this FREE Awesome site that will help you pass your MT's before anyone else in the classroom?

Try it out! Grab some headphones, a bag of Takis, and log on to any English Language Arts content at your appropriate 7/8 level.  Who knows...maybe the sign of  red fingertips on a person, is actually a manifestation of a brilliant learner ;)

Click Me!

Pep Talk

Watch this video, and write down what it means to you.
(Be extra brainy and see if you can put it into Step up To Writing form...(hint-hint, the paragraphs are kinda lined out for you)  Hmmm, so how many paragraphs would that be?

1. How can you apply this to your PERSONAL life goal? (health, well being, mental state of mind)
2. How can you apply this to your ECONOMIC life goal? (career etiquette, employability)
3. How can you apply this to your RELATIONSHIP goals? collaboration/working together, having empathy, communication skills)  ...Not just your BFF, boyfriend/girlfriend or FB friends...but with everyone you come in contact with throughout your day?
4. How can you apply this to your LEARNING goal? (your brain power, self-direction, information learned, daily goals/monthly goals/end of the school year goals/ college goals?

Story Devices

How many literary devices can you find in this video?  Be prepared to state the technique and give a specific example used in the video.

irony

so many times we find irony in places when we aren't even looking for it.  What does irony even mean?  Do some people confuse ironic situations for coincidence?

Science Monday 7th Grade

(Learning Goal: Students will be able to explain the how tectonic plate movement alters the geography of earth and affected the distribution of species on earth.)

Today you will be watching this video with Mrs Parnell. As you watch this video you will be gathering information for making a GoAnimate video. (Possible ideas include being a space traveler and going back to Earth after a million years and explaining why the continents have shifted and how this has affected life on Earth.)

Cool sites and apps

www.TypoEffects.com
this site lets you create words as background to any photo you like.  Try it out and I'll post your pics on here

tagxedo
this would be a really neat project to express symbolism.

i-TunesU

This innovative app offers access to a deep well of free educational content from top schools and prominent libraries around the world. Just tap to study history at Yale, physics at MIT, sociology at Berkeley and much more. iTunes, free

TED

Redirect your developing intellects away from mindless TV and toward some of the most fascinating thinkers of our times. Brilliant doctors, artists, game designers, writers and scientists are changing the world with ideas. Install the TED (motto: Ideas Worth Spreading) app and watch. New videos are added weekly. iTunes and Google Play, free

argumentative essay

Our newest topic up for debate is communication.  What is the best way to talk to people?  Many ideas that were brain stormed were, phones, Facebook, Skype, Instagram, Kik, email, and writing letters.  The learners have to convince me (a lover of the old fashioned paper and pencil style letter writing), that times have changed, and I need to get on board with the technology era.

So let's see how well they did at convincing me to take a change and try something new :)




Currently we are working on another new topic for discussion.

1. Is graffiti art or vandalism?
2. Are video games harmful to your health?


                    Question number one. What do you think?
                                 Is Graffiti art or vandalism?

Check out this persons use of color and depth using only cans of spray paint!  So is it art or vandalism?

When graffiti is done on someone else's property, is it still considered art?  What else could this money, which was used for the clean up, been used for in the community?  Would you have donated your time for this cause?

Question number 2.  

Are video games harmful or helpful to your health?

This clip seems to show positive uses for video games.

This video seems to show...well, you tell me :)

I guess it depends on the evidence you have to back up your opinion...words are a powerful tool.  Aren't you glad you have them?  What will your words tell me?