Yo Mama

Okay, it is confession time.

During my second year of teaching I had this great idea to use popular movies as examples of literary terms. You should know that the word LITERARY instantly causes me to run to a book. However, in the mind of 6th graders, LITERARY is just another word for boring. SO, I decided to show them, through movies, that the same techniques perfected by authors in novels are incorporated into the movies they love.

Good idea, right?

I thought so too, and from the first minute that I started this project (with video editing and tons of work) I knew what movie clip I wanted to use for hyperbole.

Picture the scene.... 30 sixth graders (the majority of them boys) sitting around watching a clip from Sister Act 2 where Whoopi Goldberg, in all her nun glory, gets control of the class by telling a Yo Mama joke!

CLASSIC...... PERFECT........RELEVANT AND FUNNY....... & AN EXAMPLE OF HYPERBOLE!

Wondering about the confession?

Well, here's the deal. Not a week later, I sat in a 6th Grade Team Meeting where we discussed the increased number of Yo Mama jokes circling the halls of Highview and the need to "nip those jokes in the bud" before things got out of control.

YIKES!! I am embarrassed to say that I stayed silent in that meeting. :)

So, in light of all of that, I have uploaded the infamous video below, for you to enjoy and am taking suggestions for movie clips with examples of hyperbole that are school appropriate. 

By the way, I LOVE the idea of having a YouTube account to share with my students and parents!!

Happy Tuesday!!

- Stacey

P.S. Want to see the other Literary Terms Videos I have created? Take a look at my YouTube account!

Stacey Olinger's YouTube Account

Screencasting....Take 3

Ok, let's be honest, so far this whole Summer Camp 2.0 thing has been fun! I pretty much have loved searching for videos about Justin Bieber, writing stories about myself, and then talking about it in each blog. However, things got a bit dicey as I worked on this next assignment.

Simply stated, Screencasting, FREAKS ME OUT!!

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the idea! I love that I can record things that I say and my presentations for students. This could be used as a Sub Lesson or for extension activities or for students who have missed class. The problem that I seem to have with screencasting is making the screencast look as good as my actual powerpoint. I did three, yes I said THREE, different screencasts all with the same result. The animation on my ppt or the video clip I had embedded would not show clearly in my screencast. Actions seemed to be delayed and at one point the music from the embedded video was almost 30 seconds ahead of the picture. Maybe it is not always like that, but I was frustrated as I worked to complete this assignment. I guess I will have to keep working on it. (Jeremy, expect me to stop by at some time!!)

Here is what freaks me out about screencasting, and it is the same thing that freaks me out about listening to myself on video or on the answering machine. No one likes to hear his/her voice! I don't like it, I say the word "umm" do awkward pauses, and am pretty positive that my voice is much more angelic in all other areas of life!! :) Oh well, it is what it is....

Anyway, here is what I did to complete my screencast:

1. Downloaded SMART Notebook on my home computer.
                - This was a good decision because I think it makes sense to use the same screencasting          software at home and at school, however, it took a while to download.

2. Found a previously created powerpoint.
                - Perhaps the ppt was my issue. I don't use SMART Notebook to create presentations because I do not have a SMART Board, and it may be that all the bells and whistles of ppt are too difficult to capture smoothly with the screencast.

3. Found another previously created powerpoint.
                - Same issues!!

4. Decided to do a screencast on Pinterest instead.
                - Have you taken the STEAM institute? You know that whole fear of failure thing? Well, I have it, MAJORLY, and I was so frustrated with the failed screencasts that I decided to, once again, go with something totally non-educational so that I didn't give off the impression of an incompetent teacher! :)

5. Did my screencast on Pinterest, same results, planning to post anyway.
                - Once again, the recording can't seem to keep up with my movement on the screen, but I have given up and am posting anyway.


Here is my first Screencast:

Ok, so, there it is. Obviously it needs some work still, and I will plan to use screencasting during the school year at some point once I work out the glitches.

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer!! The countdown has begun!!!

Have a nice day!!

Stacey