By Cathy Carmody

 Classroom News  Commercials/Skits/documentary –  Stories ON-line  Culminating activities  Independent enrichment project  Open House, Curriculum Night  Samples Videos of the above are available on YouTube account:  username: Mrsccarmody  password: Maggiemm

 Each month students write in their journals “what happened” that month  Use graphic organizer  Brainstorming and writing exercise  “I chose” 2-4 student’s journal entries to report  Together we edit the entries  I type up the script  Practice at home  Practice during snack, during quiet reading time, team approach  Video tape during quiet reading time, recess ◦ Takes approx minutes

 Writing improved every month  Higher expectations in writing  Repetitive project. They have another chance to take what they’ve learned and try it again.  By March the monthly news could be written by most of my students

 Excellent motivator  Students read text numerous times, partner practice.  Fluency  Expression  Reinforces comprehension strategies and elements into the video -connections-prior knowledge -questioning-visualizing-inferring -favorite part-theme-lesson

 Writing  Reading  Fluency  Comprehension  HUGE motivator  Self esteem builder

 Video clips ◦ (camera, flip camera, video camera)  Microsoft Movie Maker ◦ Down load video clips or photos to assemble into “movie” to include special effects, music, titles, narratives, credits, etc.  YouTube – place to house and display videos using ‘private’ settings

 Movie Clips downloaded into Owner/Videos file Recommend that all pictures/video remain on hard drive until movie is finalized and published  Microsoft Movie Maker File> New Project Import pictures and video from My Videos Drag video clips onto the Storyboard or Timeline at the bottom of screen. Storyboard Feature: supports sequence of clips and pictures Add “transitions” (fading, zooming, effects) Add title and credits by opening Tools Timeline Feature- allows you to overlap, edit clips, alter timing, Import Music from your Music file Drag Music file and add to the Timeline Be sure to “Save Project” (File) frequently

Publish Movie “Top of screen” ◦ Publish it to “my computer” ◦ Give it a File name and Publish it to Videos  FYI-A 3 minute movies is approximately 100MB.  Can be published at “Best Quality”, larger files can be compressed.  YouTube can house movies up to 15 minutes in length You can always go back to your “Saved Project” by reopening it under “Open Project” and republish under another name and republish Published videos and Microsoft Movies (Projects) are stored in the Video file

 YouTube Account ◦ large files, easy download and access ◦ “Private” setting  District/ teacher Share Folder  Who’s watching? ◦ Students and families ◦ Colleagues ◦ Specialists  When? ◦ Mini Lessons ◦ Snack time ◦ Listening Center