Podcast #15 - Example of a StudyCast for American History

Hello. Podcast #15 is an example of how I am using MP3 files as "StudyCasts" for my students. I have created a studycast for each of my unit tests so far this year and I have found them to be a huge success. At first I wasn't really sure how many students were listening to them but I am now convinced that this is an effective means of delivering content to them to help them review for a test. I have some data from an informal survey of my students on studycasts and MP3 players that I will use in an upcoming show. I have found that just me talking for 10-15 minutes is not the most exciting thing to listen to so I have added some background music to make it a little more interesting. The music I used in this studycast is from Faze and entitled "Mad Flava" from the Podsafe Music Network. Links are included on the shownotes. Let me know that you think by e-mailing me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com I would be interesting in learning about any other teachers using MP3 files as a way to review for tests and how it has worked with their students.

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #15 - Example of a StudyCast for American History - MP3 Format (10 minutes)

Show Notes:

• Mr. Langhorst's Podcast Page on Classroom Site
• Podsafe Music Network

Podcast #14 - Missouri Teaching With Cable Awards and Interviews

Hello. This episode of Speaking of History is the longest to date. Last month I was honored to recieve a Missouri Teaching With Cable Award from the Missouri Cable Telecommunication Association in Jefferson City. It was an amazing event and I was able to meet and visit many people invlolved with educational technology. The award banquet featured many distingued guests that work with education in the cable industry - including Cable in the Classroom, A & E Networks, Time Warner, Comcast, Charter Communications, Discovery Networks, etc. After dinner I was able to interview several of these individuals about upcoming projects for teachers. This episode also describes the Missouri Teaching With Cable Awards and I would encourage everyone to submit an application next year.

If you have a comment about this episode you can e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com or leave a comment on the bottom of this entry.

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #14 - "Missouri Teaching With Cable Awards and Interviews" - MP3 Format (38 minutes)

Show Notes:

• Missouri Teaching With Cable Awards
• Video from Award Banquet - produced by Time Warner Kansas City
• Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association
• Cable in the Classroom
• Windward - an Online Interactive Game by Cable in the Classroom
• Helen L. Headrick - Queen of All Saints School - St. Louis, Missouri
• Eric Langhorst - South Valley Junior High School - Liberty, Missouri
• Stephanie Long - Pleasant View Middle School - Springfield, Missouri
• Angel Taylor - St. Charles Borromeo - St. Charles, Missouri
• A & E Networks Idea Book
• Article on the Upcoming History Channel Production: "10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America"
• Discovery Networks
• Discovery Educator Network

Podcast #13 - Join Our Class in Reading "The Year of the Hangman"

Hello. The topic of this episode of Speaking of History is reading in the junior high American History Classroom. We will discuss an online reading blog, graphic novels and SSR.

As part of a grant from the Liberty School District Foundation, I purchased 60 copies of The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood. I will be giving these copies out to my students and we will be discussing the book in the form of an online blog starting on March 6, 2006. We are inviting you to be a part of the book blog. The book is available in paperback for $6. It is a great historical novel with a twist - it is an alternate history book. In this novel the British have defeated the colonists in the Revolutionary War. Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson are in exile in New Orleans trying to figure out how to break George Washington out of prision where he is awaiting execution. A 15 year old British boy - Creighton Brown - is caught up in the middle of spying and relationships. His actions could impact the fate of two nations. If you are interested in joining us please e-mail speakingofhistory@gmail.com for more information. It could be a single student who likes to read or an entire class. We would love to hear from you!

The second topic of the show is graphic novels and my discovery of an adaptation of the Red Badge of Courage by Wayne Vansant. The entire novel is written in graphic format - like comic book for lack of a better term. It looks awesome. Check out the link below for more information on this new twist on an old classic. Please let me know if you have used graphic novels in the classroom.

The final segment takes a look at SSR and how just 20 minutes of reading at the start of each day has transformed the culture of our building into one of reading and literacy - for both teachers and students.

Please e-mail comments and questions to speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #13 - Join Our Class in Reading "The Year of the Hangman" - MP3 Format (14 minutes)

Show Notes:

• The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood
• Review of the The Year of the Hangman
• Official site of author Gary Blackwood
• Liberty Public School Foundation Grant web site
• The Red Badge of Courage (Graphic Novel) adapted by Wayne Vansant
• The SSR Handbook by Janice L. Pilgreen
• Are They Really Reading - Expanding SSR in the Middle Grades by Jodi Crum Marshall
• Order Speaking of History Podcast items from Cafe Press

Speaking of History Podcast Coffee Mugs Now Available

I doubt many of you have been saying to yourself, "What I really need is a "Speaking of History Podcast" coffee mug, but just in case you have - here is your chance. Check out the online store at www.cafepress.com/sohpodcast

I have always been curious about the availablity of items with a custon logo through the Internet so I checked out CafePress and set up an account. I designed a logo for the podcast and within minutes had my store up and running with items that bear the show logo. You can purchase coffee mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads, magnets and a tile coaster with the logo. The store gives the storekeeper the option of charging more than the base price but I did not mark up any of the prices. I figure if you are willing to purchase an item to promote the show the least I can do is give it to you for the lowest possible price. The main reason I wanted to create some products with the show logo are to give away some items to friends and family as well as have a couple of items to give away at upcoming workshops where I am presenting information on my podcast. I also thought it might be cool to drink my morning coffee in an official Speaking of History Podcast mug.

Let me know what you think of the logo by dropping me an e-mail at speakingofhistory@gmail.com I'm working on the rought drafts of a couple new shows and hope to have a couple of new episodes posted this week. Thanks.

Podcast #12 - Interview With State Representative Tim Flook

This episode of Speaking of History is an interview with Tim Flook - the Representative from Missouri in the House of Representatives in Jefferson City. In the interview I ask questions about state government from the perspective of an 8th grade student. Tim discusses his experiences as an 8th grader in Liberty, the day he saw Ronald Reagan in person as an 8th grader and he began to develop an interest in politics, his committee assignments and the aspects of being a state representative that he enjoys the most and the least. Thanks to Tim for taking the time to visit with me. I hope to secure a similar interview with the mayor of Liberty later this spring. I think this type of podcast has great potential and I would like to have the students produce the show and do the interview in the future. Check out the show notes for some additional information.

I would be more than happy to answer any questions or listen to your comments. E-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Speaking of History Episode #12 - An Interview with State Representative Tim Flook - MP3 file (14 minutes)

Show Notes:

• Representative Tim Flook Web Page
• E-mail Tim Flook: tim.flook@house.mo.gov
• Tim Flook Biography
• Official Site for the Missouri State House of Representatives
• Listen to LIVE debate on the floor of the Missouri House or Senate
• State of Missouri's Official Web Page

Podcast #11 - The Discovery Educator Network Interview

Hello. Sorry for the long delay between podcasts. I also coach 8th grade boys basketball and we are currently still in season. Once the season is over in about 3 weeks I will probably be able to post more shows. Over the past month or so I have written down a ton of ideas - now I just need to make them come to life.

This podcast is a conversation I had with Linda Chiles - the Missouri/Kansas Field Manager for the Discovery Educator Network. If you haven't checked out DEN yet please go over and check it out. You may already know about what Discovery is doing in education through United Streaming. I have signed up to be a member of the Discovery Educator Network and would encourage you to sign up as well. If you are listening to a podcast this is definitely a network of teachers for you.

Linda came up to Liberty to visit with myself and Lance Huebner - another teacher at South Valley Jr. High who is a member of DEN. Lance and I have taught together for the past 5 years and work on many technology projects together. Linda will be presenting several sessions at our district's workshop in February and we sat down to visit about video editing, podcasting, what Discovery Education is working on for the future, teaching, family......... I sat down to ask her some questions about DEN and recorded it on my MP3 player for the podcast.

I also ask the audience for help on a future show. Please send me the best teaching resources you have found for FREE. I plan on putting together a show of the best free teacher resources. You can send them to me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to the Podcast #11 - The Discovery Educator Network Interview

Show Notes:

• Discovery Educator Network - Home
• discovery Educator Network - Blog
• Discovery Educator Network - Missouri / Kansas Blog by Linda Chiles
• United Streaming - bring digital video to your classroom on demand

The Importance of Knowing Dates

I hope many of you have used the link on my blog roll to visit Ed Tech Talk - if not please check it out - great discussions going on by people all over the world about education and technology. This past Saturday I joined their show via conference call and at some point during our conversation the question can up about how much a history teacher should stress that students know the specific date of major history events and how it compares with the importance of knowing the context of the event. I mentioned that I was not as concerned about my students knowing if the Boston Massacre happened in 1770 or 1771 as much as I was concerned that they understood the event and its importance in relationship to other events. Others listening to the show entered the discussion and it became quite a debate. It is a little hard to explain without listening to it so I would like to direct you to the link so that you may hear it for yourself:

Link to listen to Ed Tech Talk - Brainstorm 16B - The Ed Tech Massacre

I am very interested in what you may think about this topic - one way or the other. I do plan on bringing this question back to my fellow history teachers at South Valley Jr High and my students but it will probably have to happen after we return from winter break since we are doing finals today in class. Please e-mail me your reactions: speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Studycast for Unit 4 - The American Revolution

Hello. Not a traditional podcast but I thought I would post my latest "studycast". For each unit I do an audio review of the important material on the upcoming test. We have our Unit 4 test coming up on Friday over the American Revolution. I have done a studycast for each of the first three unit tests but had not yet mentioned one for this unit and today several students in several different classes asked if I would record one tonight for them. It was great to hear that the students do use it as a resource and that they were actually wanting to listen to it as a study guide. I added a little background music to spice it up - just listening to me ramble on is rather dry - and am anxious to hear comments from my students. My students are always very interested in discovering what types of music their teachers listen to on their own time.

This is another example of me using the i-River MP3 player to create content for my students. I hope to allow for more student created content in the spring semester after Christmas.

Direct link to Mr. Langhorst's Unit 4 StudyCast - MP3 file (13 minutes, 16 seconds)

Let me know what you think and how you are using MP3 players in your classroom. E-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Living History Opportunity for Missouri Teachers

Yesterday I received some information about a great workshop opportunity from Linenwood University and the Missouri Department of Conservation. I don't think I will be able to attend because I am also an 8th grade basketball coach here at South Valley and it occurs on the same date but I wanted to pass along the information for other teachers who may be interested.

The workshop is entitled: Missouri History and Western Movement. It takes place on January 28, 29 and 30th of 2006 at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. The handout says: "Sign up and spend a weekend learning new skills and ideas to incorporate living history and outdoor education as a tool to enhance subject matter delivery and student learning in your classroom." Sample topics include, but are not limited to: Osage Indian Meal, Dutch Oven Cooking, Muzzle Loading Rifles and Bullet Molding, Living History, Wood Tools, Log Cabin Notches and Split Rails, Dugout Construction, Archaeological Survey and Flint Napping. The workshop is limited to the first 50 participants who sign up and college credit is available through Lindenwood University for 1 or 2 credit hours. The course without credit is $60.

I could not find a link on the web for this workshop but you can contact Jim Duncan at (314) 301 - 1500. If anyone decides to do this workshop please let me know. I would really enjoy hearing how what you learned.

Videos in the American History Classroom

Hello. I have several ideas for a podcast and plan to record one in the next couple of days but I have also been thinking a lot lately about adding more blog entries to "Speaking of History" that would interest other American History teachers. I would like to do a future podcast on some of the best videos and movies used to teach history. I know that social studies teachers get a bad rap when it comes to showing movies but I'll be the first to admit there are several movies I really love to show my students because they generate excellent discussion and do an amazing job of showing the time period.

One of the movies I think every history teacher should consider showing it class is "The Crossing". This movie describes George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River to attack the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas Eve, 1776. "The Crossing" was produced in 1999 by A&E and is available as on DVD and VCR tape. I would recommend the DVD since it also includes several special features you may want to share with your students. I love showing this video to my students because it shows George Washington as a person with flaws and yet his men believed in him. I think Jeff Daniels does an excellent job of playing George Washington. This video is a favorite of my students every year. We are currently in the middle of the movie and will finish it up on Monday. My students find it so incredible that not a single colonial soldier was killed in the actual fighting at Trenton - that is why I always tell them that many times history is more incredible than anything Hollywood could write as fiction.

E-Mail me and let me know what movies you love showing your students and how you use them in class. I will share my favorite movies for teaching history in a future podcast and would enjoy hearing about your favorite movies in the classroom. Send e-mail to speakingofhistory@gmail.com