My ebook

My PLN

For my Professional Learning Network I attended the Teaching with Technology Showcase. One of my workshops was the Strategic Transitions presentation. This workshop focused on how to teach with an iPad, handheld testing units that students can use with predetermined routes, a Promethean board, Kidspiration / Inspiration and Speak Q.

I found several of these very interesting such as how much the Promethean Board can do. It is very useful for group work because it is built like a table that groups can sit around.

I chose this because it sounding like it would be interesting (so did Microsoft, but that was a 15 minute promotional pitch flop in my opinion). I do not know if I will be able to use these technologies, but if and when I can I have been able to see only the tip of the iceberg and I am very interested in discovering what lies beneath.

My Learning Object

Grade 4 - Specific Expectations

Language Arts
Oral Communication
2.3 communicate in a clear, coherent manner, presenting ideas, opinions, and information in a readily understandable form
Media Literacy
1.3 express opinions about ideas, issues, and/or experiences presented in media texts, and give evidence from the texts to support their opinions

Health and Physical Education
Healthy Living
C1.3 describe various types of bullying and abuse, including bullying using technology, and identify appropriate ways of responding

View and properly respond to the touts found on Mr. Ellison's Touts

Watch and if applicable respond to:
"How to Tout For Class"
"My Example Response To Bullying Clip 1"
and Tasks 1-6

My TPCK Journey

Check Out My Twitter

https://twitter.com/MrREllison

Tout Your Feelings

Students:We will be watching some more clips from That's What I Am. This clip shows Stanley standing up for his friend.

b.a.STAR: Advocacy [Online video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDOI5sm3vXU&list=PL7DF5B4EECEDE8E93

By using http://www.tout.com, Tout your reaction to the video using critical thinking. Use #mrellison and tweet to me @MrREllison.


Parents:
This will meet Language Arts Curriculum expectations for Grade 5 Oral Communication page 95:

2.3 communicate orally in a clear, coherent manner, presenting ideas, opinions, and information in a readily understandable form.

and Media Literacy page 103:
1.3 express opinions about ideas, issues, and/or experiences presented in media texts, and give evidence from the texts to support their opinions

That's What I Am Bullying Example 1

Students:
This week we will be viewing clips daily from the movie That's What I Am. These clips can be found at http://www.beastaralliance.org/videos#top or http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBeASTARAlliance.

Here is the first clip:

Some questions to think about:
How do you think Stanley (the boy who was sprayed) felt after this incident?
What would you have felt like?
What was Andy's (the narrator who watched) role in this?
Could Andy have done anything?
Who could Stanley or Andy have gone to?



 b.a.STAR: Bullying Example 1 [Online video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcJknydelM&feature=player_embedded

Parents:
This works towards Health and Physical Education Grade 5 Part C page 143:
C1.1 identify people (e.g., parents, guardians, neighbours, teachers, crossing guards, police, older students, coaches, elders) and supportive services (e.g., help lines, 9-1-1, Telehealth, public health units, student services) that can assist with injury prevention, emergencies, bullying, and abusive and
violent situations.

These questions open students up to empathizing with Stanley and Andy allowing them to imagine themselves in this situation needing to seek out help.

Tout

Throughout the year I will be using Tout. Tout is a short video response, similar to Twitter, lasting 20 seconds. I will also be encouraging you as students to Tout to each other and to myself in responses. These can and will be used for the Oral Communication and Media Literacy portions of Language Arts as well as other various subjects. 

"Tout Logo" [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.tout.com/

Tout can be found at http://www.tout.com/

Mr. Ellison

Be a STAR Program

Be a STAR is a curricular based unit on anti-bullying designed by the WWE and its partners. Yes, that's right World Wrestling Entertainment.

WWE John Cena [Online image]. Retrieved from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_76WUUZoxA8tXUOvg6L26lmZjerTHSZlqs7bg3Nm0mV48lM0Cn8wMYXmYUmGKRop3JlDtn7xlThTQ7SXxPuA9MxojPqdgjqK3KuAbDexdBMGa2k0FXVGRBc-A9MIENSHvpFoRUHDzdA/s1600/wwe_johncena_by_cenationforevedf-d4om8xf.png

Be a STAR -Show Tolerance And Respect.

Many of you have been bullied, some have even bullied. You may feel alone, but many other people in this world have been bullied too, even WWE superstars and divas.

This website is listed at http://www.beastaralliance.org/.

Here you can take the Be a STAR pledge.

There are youtube videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBeASTARAlliance
that you can watch.

For parents

The program is designed for students in grades 7-8, but can be managed to teach 4s, 5s and 6s and although the curriculum expectations are designed to meet USA standards, I am working on converting these to the Ontario curriculum.

The program is designed to meet Language Arts and Health and Physical Education expectations, but can be used for Social Studies as well.

The program is designed around the movie That's What I Am, which focuses on the protagonist Andy (played by Chase Ellison, no relation) who is making choices on how to stand up to bullies for himself and for friends.

That's What I Am Poster [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.traileraddict.com/content/samuel-goldwyn-films/thats_what_i_am.jpg

In class we will watch clips from this film to build discussion on positive characteristics to create a safe environment for themselves and their peers.

Some other great links for you outside of the Be a STAR program that help stop bullying:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/ - This is from the United States but still delivers the same message.

http://www.stopabully.ca/ - A Canadian site offering great resources, videos and more.

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/ - You may have heard of this day. This is a way to be active in putting an end to bullying.

http://kidshelpphone.ca/Teens/home.aspx - Kids Help Phone is here to listen to anything that might be troubling you.

 "B.A.STAR Logo" [Online image]. Retrieved from http://pmchollywoodlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/101211_star111012165510.jpg?w=600

Mr. Ellison

Welcome students and parents of room 182

Hello students and parents,

I'm Mr. Ellison and I will be your teacher for the coming year. Allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. I believe that  children are the future, I understand this seems cliché, but in believing this I in turn believe  that we as educators shape that future. I find it my personal mission to make you as students or your children the best women and men you can grow to be.

I myself wear many hats. I am a teacher, Scouts Canada leader, lifeguard and lifeguard trainer, actor, musician and pro-wrestler. All of these roles can reach out to children and I firmly believe in the WWE's mission against bullying called Be a STAR which I will inform you of later on. 

Mr. Ellison.