Auto Summarize

Using Text Compactor:Free Online  http://www.textcompactor.com/    I copied and pasted the first chapter of Moby Dick into the top window that was titled step 1. Next, I slid the percentage bar back and forth to compare how much of the chapter would be summarized. I found that very interesting and puzzling to see how it worked. Last, I took a screen shot of my findings and have posted it below.

Build your own low tech kit: Writing

I purchased a few inexpensive items to assist students with writing. All of the Low Tech items I bought came from the Dollar Tree in St Augustine, FL, thus each item cost $1.00.

This image shows a binder and composition notebook. The binder is being used as a slant board.

This image shows different colored pens which could be used for note taking and motivators. Also, these pens come with grips already affixed to them.

This image shows pencil grips which help build fine motor skills and allow students to grasp the pencil more easily. 

This last image shows a bingo marker which could be used for individuals with dexterity challenges. Also, it could be used as a motivator, to plot spots on a chart, to highlight, and as a tool to build fine motor skills in young students. 

Adapting Paper for Writing

For this activity, I used a piece of braille paper. It is like card stock paper. Then I used a ruler to emboss lines on the back side of the paper. I turned the paper over and traced the raised lines with a black pen to make my raised lines more visible. Next, I marked where I would want my name and the date written with an orange marker (name on the top right of the paper and the date on the second line all the way to the left. Lastly, I wrote a small message about writing on raised line paper. Here is the image displaying my activity.

 

The above picture shows my hand writing and says the following: 

Name * Joey Dalia

Date * 1/25/14

Start here * This is my first time writing on raised line paper. I can feel the line with my left finger first then can write on the line feeling it slightly with my pen. Very Interesting.

Spellcheck Dictionary activity

In the images below you'll see my spellchecker dictionary activity.
The first image shows my typed passage with purposely misspelled words.

Next shows the dictionary with the misspelled words I added.

Last I took a screenshot of my custom dictionary with the misspelled words removed and my first and last names added.

Adapting Text for Readability

Hello. My name is Benjamin, and I am a preschooler at the Early Learning Center. Every morning after breakfast, we walk in a line with our hands folded behind our backs. I may not run. Instead, I walk into the classroom.  The teacher welcomes us to the rectangle line on the rug and we all sit with our legs “criss-crossed.”  We show that we are ready for Line Time when we are quiet and sitting on the line.

  Hello. My name is Benjamin, and I am a preschooler at the Early Learning Center. Every morning after breakfast, we walk in a line with our hands folded behind our backs. I may not run. Instead, I walk into the classroom.  The teacher welcomes us to the rectangle line on the rug and we all sit with our legs “criss-crossed.”  We show that we are ready for Line Time when we are quiet and sitting on the line.

  Hello. My name is Benjamin, and I am a preschooler at the Early Learning Center. Every morning after breakfast, we walk in a line with our hands folded behind our backs. I may not run. Instead, I walk into the classroom.  The teacher welcomes us to the rectangle line on the rug and we all sit with our legs “criss-crossed.”  We show that we are ready for Line Time when we are quiet and sitting on the line.

  Hello.    My name   is   Benjamin,  and  I  am  a preschooler  at  the  Early  Learning  Center.  Every  morning  after  breakfast,  we  walk  in  a line  with  our hands  folded  behind our  backs. I may  not  run. Instead, I walk  into  the classroom.  The  teacher  welcomes  us  to  the rectangle  line  on  the  rug  and  we  all  sit  with our  legs  “criss-crossed.”  We  show  that  we are  ready  for  Line  Time  when  we  are  quiet and  sitting  on  the  line. 

1st paragraph

4th paragraph

Notetaking Template

Joey's Font

This image shows my own handwriting turned into a font using MyScriptFont.com

SPELL CHEQUER Thoughts

     I experience the spellchecker function almost daily. Sometimes it is frustrating when I type a word that I know is spelled correctly and it is flagged. For example, oftentimes teachers of primary and elementary math use the following word which is usually flagged: manipulatives. In the math classroom manipulative becomes a noun therefore, it's appropriate to pluralize the word with an 's.'    I’ve added that to my Microsoft Word dictionary because I was so frustrated every time it underlined my word in that red zigzag line. Also, many first names of my students and even my own son’s name, Jayce, is flagged with spellchecker.

     Regardless of my frustrations mentioned above, my position is that I am in support of the spellchecker function. There are commonly misspelled words that I type wrong and I am appreciative that spellchecker fixes it or flags my error. Defininitely, definately, definately,  Definitely!!! Absolutely, I am in favor of spellchecker. 

Jerrold H. Zar
Northern Illinois University

I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.

Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it's weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when eye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore a veiling checker's
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we're lacks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.

Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know fault's with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.

Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped word's fare as hear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should bee proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaw's are knot aloud.

Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too pleas.


By the author's count, 127 of the 225 words of the poem are incorrect (although all words are correctly spelled).

-- Jerrold H. Zar
Department of Biological Sciences
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115-2864

Literacy... What is it?

This post correlates with my discussion board in BlackBoard from week 1

I am a preK teacher and it is very rare to see my students read... but this doesn't mean they're illiterate. Literacy is the ability to interact with information represented by symbols and often times, that interaction  leads to future readers. Examples of literacy I see everyday include the following: Matching , objects-to-objects, pictures-to-objects, and pictures-to-pictures, tracing shapes and labeling them as real-life objects, explaining pictures and drawings, and of course, demonstration of letter and number recognition/recall. There are so many other factors that encompas literacy, but for now, my main understanding of the concept stands as the interaction between a person and symbols.

Action Research ideas

Phonics and vocabulary are hot topics with my students. 

I need to think of ways to motivate them to increase letter knowledge and vocabulary overall. 

first blog

This is my first blog... ever.