ipod touch

The kids love this tool! It provides instant motivation and engagement. So far we have used the touches to participate in a couple of debates. To do this I bring up todaysmeet.com with the projector, students sign in with their name followed by pro or con and then start making arguments. I tally up the points afterward and declare the winning side. This week we will be preparing for a debate on the resolution: rodeo and ranching practices are humane treatment of animals. Last week the students got an eyewitness account of a team roping event at our "Cowboy Day." The students will also read an affirmative and a negative article and then compose their arguments. We'll conduct the debate as previously mentioned. Next week, they will choose a resolution on which to write a persuasive essay in the negative or affirmative. The ipod touches really helped to set up the excitement of a debate and gave students a chance to participate in one and practice persuasive/argumentative skills before beginning their essay.