SheppDawg's Classroom: Recent Episodes
Thomas Sheppard
SheppDawg's Classroom podcast is hosted by two educators with a combined 40+ years of teaching experience in K-12 education. We enjoy conversations around teaching, curriculum, technology, and a wide-variety of topics related to our roles as educators in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In some episodes, we discuss the subject areas we teach like English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology, as well as topics that address the social emotional learning of our students. We also include contributions from students and other teachers related to the curriculum and, at times, we even have special guests to talk about the topics we teach in our classes. We invite you to download our episodes and join us for a great time as we learn, laugh, and sometimes perform.
This is an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" that students at Frank Roberts Junior High recorded in the Fall of 2020. It was originally uploaded as a five-part series (an episode for each chapter or stave in the book) in December 2020. We have re-released our production of "A Christmas Carol" as one complete episode in audiobook format. We hope you enjoy the production.
A Christmas Carol
- Background [00:00:00]
- A Christmas Carol Intro [00:00:50]
- Stave One: Marley's Ghost [00:01:29]
- Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits [00:29:25]
- Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits [00:53:48]
- Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits [01:29:00]
- Stave Five: The End of It [01:53:13]
- Outro [02:05:29]
Frank Roberts Junior High is proud to present an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
This is a student production of one of the most famous and enduring Christmas stories. There have been numerous movies and adaptions of this Dickens classic tale and we are adding our own as bonus episodes in the podcast.
This is the last of five episodes that we are publishing. This is the end of our story. We have witnessed a Christmas miracle in the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from a wicked, uncaring miser in Stave I to a righteous and kindly figure, not unlike Father Christmas, in Stave V. We hope you enjoy our students' performances as much as they have enjoyed recording it.
Frank Roberts Junior High is proud to present an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
This is a student production of one of the most famous and enduring Christmas stories. There have been numerous movies and adaptions of this Dickens classic tale and we are adding our own as bonus episodes in the podcast.
This is the fourth of five episodes that we are publishing. Each episode with be a Stave (or Chapter) of the story. We hope you enjoy our students' performances as much as they have enjoyed recording it.
Frank Roberts Junior High is proud to present an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
This is a student production of one of the most famous and enduring Christmas stories. There have been numerous movies and adaptions of this Dickens classic tale and we are adding our own as bonus episodes in the podcast.
This is the third of five episodes that we hope to publish. Each episode with be a Stave (or Chapter) of the story. We hope you enjoy our students' performances as much as they have enjoyed recording it.
In this episode, Sherry Barfitt and I discuss the audio production we are doing at Frank Roberts Junior High of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.
With the first 2 epsidoes of "A Christmas Carol" published, we wanted to do an episode that explains what is going in the story for our students in particular, and our listeners in general. We also wanted to let people know how our students are doing with the recordings. We are all haveing a great time and more than a few laughs.
Frank Roberts Junior High is proud to present an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
This is a student production of one of the most famous and enduring Christmas stories. There have been numerous movies and adaptions of this Dickens classic tale and we are adding our own as bonus episodes in the podcast.
This is the second of five episodes that we hope to publish. Each episode with be a Stave (or Chapter) of the story. We hope you enjoy our students' performances as much as they have enjoyed recording it.
Frank Roberts Junior High is proud to present an audio production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.
This is a student production of one of the most famous and enduring Christmas stories. There have been numerous movies and adaptions of this Dickens classic tale and we are adding our own as bonus episodes in the podcast.
This is the first of five episodes that we hope to publish. Each episode with be a Stave (or act) of the story. We hope you enjoy our students' performances as much as they have enjoyed recording the story.
In this episode, Sherry Barfitt and I are joined by one of the biggest book fans I know and that is my daughter, April Sheppard. April works at a bookstore here in Newfoundland and is currently doing a Publishing Certificate online at Ryerson University.
Here are a list of the books that April mentioned in the podcast:
- Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
- Nevermoor: The Trails of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- Coraline and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
- Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares
- Let It Snow (Movie Tie-In) THREE HOLIDAY ROMANCES
by John Green, Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson - 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston
- Rick Riordan Presents (Dragon Pearl BY YOON HA LEE
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe BY CARLOS HERNANDEZ)
Welcome to Season 2 of our podcast! This is episode 12 entitled “Staycations 2020 Update”.
This season I will be joined regularly by my co-host Sherry Barfitt. In this episode we discuss how our staycations went this summer.
Resources
- Town of Bishop's Falls
- Town of Pasadena
- Town of Conception Bay South
- Manuels River
- Town of Clarenville
In this episode I am joined by my sometime co-host Sherry Barfitt for a talk about staycations in Newfoundland and Labrador. We include the feedback we got from social media about staycations in our beautiful province and include a few audio clips sent in to us for this episode.
In fact we had so much content on staycations for this podcast that it is longer than usual. Therefore I have decided not to include the joke of the week . I know a lot of listeners will be disappointed.
Resources:
- Port au Choix National Historic Site
- Gros Morne National Park
- The Tablelands
- L'Anse aux Meadows
- Red Bay National Historic Site
- Newfoundland and Labrador Interactive Map
- Four Hidden Gems of the Burin Peninsula
- Twillingate
- Visit Twillingate
- Port-aux-Port Peninsula
- Port au Port Peninsula, Francophone heritage in Newfoundland
- Lumsden, Newfoundland and Labrador
- An Intriguing History - The French Shore
- The French Treaty Shore (Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador)
In this episode, I am joined by a couple of my students, Melissa and Ben, to talk about our school's ROV Team.
For more information about the MATE ROV competitions please see the resources listed below. The YouTube video is a great way to see what the MATE Scout competition is like which is what we competed in last year (2019).
I also include a Joke of the Week.
Elliott, R. (2018). Laugh-out-loud A jokes for kids. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
Resources:
- MATE ROV Competition
- MATE SCOUT Challenge
- MATE Newfoundland and Labrador
- Marine Institute Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University
- Newfoundland & Labrador MATE ROV Scout Day 2 2019 (YouTube)
In this episode, Sherry Barfitt returns and we discuss the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our own teaching experience. We both teach at Frank Roberts Junior High in the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.
I also include a Joke of the Week.
Elliott, R. (2018). Laugh-out-loud A jokes for kids. New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.
This is Episode 8 “The Covid-19 NL Oral History Project with Dale Jarvis”. In this episode, I talk to Dale Jarvis about creating an oral history record of our experiences living through the Covid-19 pandemic. We discuss how our students can participate in the project. Dale also talks about how he started the Haunted Hike, the stories he likes to record in his books and the book he is currently working on.
Dale Jarvis is an author, folklorist, and storyteller, and is the Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Officer for HeritageNL, where he helps communities save and document traditional culture and skills. The owner of the St. John’s Haunted Hike ghost tour, Dale loves ghost stories, supernatural stories, legends, and traditional tales from Newfoundland and beyond, and has written six books on local folklore.
Joke of the Week
- Excerpt From: Uncle Amon. “100 Jokes for Kids.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/ca/book/100-jokes-for-kids/id993133414
Resources:
- Covid-19 NL Oral History Project (http://www.ichblog.ca/p/oral-history.html)
- Project email: covid19@heritagenl.ca
- Living Heritage Podcast (https://anchor.fm/living-heritage)
- Covid-19 NL Youtube playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQXl0N48CUKcNPBsYjd05ozoKv7UPdvB)
- An example of a student interview sent in for the project (https://youtu.be/VzejM9iKXT0)
- Covid-19 NL Oral History Project - Online Submission Form (You can use the questions in the form to participate in the project) (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePzqz_MAf2IThR7A7WyXt_plbpbnHYxBgQvk42X3txsWEkxw/viewform)
In this episode, I am joined once again by historian, Mariah Cooper, and this time we are talking about the influences of the Middle Ages found in Harry Potter.
Also, back by popular demand (ok I am probably the only one that wanted it back) is the Joke of the Week.
Resources
- Lady and the Unicorn: Mona Lisa of the middle ages weaves a new spell (The Guardian)
- The Hall (Christ Church)
- Oxford Harry Potter (Experience Oxford)
- The Lady and the Unicorn (CBC Radio)
- Lady and the Unicorn: Mona Lisa of the middle ages weaves a new spell (The Guardian)
- The Coronation Chair (Westminster Abbey)
- Detailed record for Harley 1585 (Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts - British Library)
- The Medieval Bestiary
- Paris' Cluny Museum: The Unicorn Tapestries (Rick Steves Classroom Europe®)
THE LADY & THE UNICORN LECTURE: Dr Elisabeth Taburet-Delahaye (YouTube) - Lady with the Unicorn (The Tapestry House)
- 5 ways that medieval history might have inspired "Harry Potter' (HistoryExtra - BBC History Magazine)
- 100-1400 A.D. - Medieval Era Timeline (The Harry Potter Lexicon)
- Game of Thrones or Harry Potter? What Was the Middle Ages Really Like (uOttawa)
Episode 6 - “A Reading of Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 2”
This is a special episode as I am joined by a colleague of mine, Sherry Barfitt, who teaches English Language Arts at Frank Roberts Junior High. Sherry teaches Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in Grade 9 so we collaborated on a reading of the famous balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 2). Before you hear us read the scene we discuss the teaching of the play in school and the importance of this scene.
Resources:
Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2 | myShakespeare
Episode 5 - Olivia's Book Talk and Thunkable.com
We have a great book review from Olivia for our Book Talk segment. Check with your local library for the book, Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott or you can order it online from Chapters.ca.
In Tech Talk, I will talk about Thunkable.com which al.
Thunkable.com (https://thunkable.com/)
Learning Computer Science at Home — Thunkable Education Resources
Joke of the Week
Excerpt From: Johnny B. Laughing. “125+ Funny Jokes: Funny Jokes for Kids.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/ca/book/125-funny-jokes-funny-jokes-for-kids/id889044248
This is Episode 4 “An Interview with Historian Mariah Cooper”
In this Episode, I talk to historian Mariah Cooper from the History Dept at Memorial University. We discuss the study of history, how to become a historian and the Middle Ages which is her area of study.
In honour of our guest I have chosen a history joke for the Joke of the Week. Stay tuned to the end to hear the joke because you won’t want to get past it.
There is no Tech Talk segment in this episode but it will return next time along with a puzzling challenge for my students.
As always you can check out the show notes for more information.
This episode includes a Book Talk, Augmented Reality and the Joke of the Week.
Book Talk
- I talk about one of my favourite fantasy book series, "The Wheel of Time", and review the first book in the series called "The Eye of the World."
Resources:
- Tor.com - Robert Jordan
- The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 (Excerpt)
- Chapters.ca - THE EYE OF THE WORLD: BOOK ONE OF THE WHEEL OF TIME
- Chapters.ca - THE EYE OF THE WORLD: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, VOLUME ONE
Tech Talk
In the Tech Talk segment I talk about Augmented Reality and the Reality Composer app.
Resources:
- AR RocketShip created in Reality Composer iOS app (YouTube)
- Reality Composer iOS app
- Get to know Reality Composer - Apple Support (YouTube)
- Best AR apps in 2020: Augmented reality comes to your phone
- AR Makr iOS app
- Pokemon GO iOS app
Joke of the Week
I also tell my Joke of the Week. It's a doozie.
If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider subscribing to it in Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcast or from wherever you download your podcasts.
Music Credit: The theme music used in this podcast was created by Robbie Lee.
Episode 2 provides an update for my Grade 8 and 9 students in my Energy and Power Technology course. Along with the update I include resources and do a "Joke of the Week".
Tech 8:
- Making a Keychain in Tinkercad https://blog.tinkercad.com/making-a-name-keychain-in-tinkercad
- TinkerCad Assignment #1: Design a Space Helmet in TinkerCad https://www.instructables.com/id/Design-a-Space-Helmet-in-Tinkercad/
Tech 9:
- TinkerCad.com https://www.tinkercad.com/
Cool Tech
- Hands-on with 3D Animals in Google Search [Video] https://9to5google.com/2020/03/28/google-ar-animals/
- Hands-on with all of Google's 3D Animals! https://youtu.be/SD3V47BX9fU
Joke of the Week - Sorry you have to listen to the podcast to hear it. Excerpt From: Uncle Amon. “100 Jokes for Kids.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/ca/book/100-jokes-for-kids/id993133414
Episode 1 provides an update for my students on their Technology and Social Studies courses. Along with the update I include resources and do a "Joke of the Week".
Communications Technology 7
Podcast Project: This is the podcast that I set up for my classes. For students that are interested, I would like to continue with the Radio News Report from British North America (1800’s and leading up to Confederation in 1867). I know there will be questions about how we are going to do this but I have some ideas and will be discussing it with students that are interested in pursuing this project.
Canva: Canva.com is a great resource for designing all kinds of graphics including logos, posters, book covers, infographics, flyers, brochures, certificates ... I've used it to create cover art for podcasts. It can even do animations.
Coding: Scratch Contest from Brilliant Labs (https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/scratch)
Social Studies 7
Podcast Project: This is a cross-curricular project for me Social Studies classes. Please see the notes for Technology 7.
Unit 4: For students that are looking to continue their studies, I have posted all the resources you need in your Google Classroom to start Unit 4. There are resources included so that it does not require your textbook.
Resources for students
- Canva: Canva.com is a great resource for designing all kinds of graphics including logos, posters, book covers, infographics, flyers, brochures, certificates ... I've used it to create cover art for podcasts. It can even do animations.
- Canva for Education (Tutorials) https://designschool.canva.com/tutorials/education/
- Brilliant Labs Scratch Competition https://www.brilliantlabs.ca/scratch
- Super Space Shooters https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/298181333
Cool Tech
- Hands-on with 3D Animals in Google Search [Video] https://9to5google.com/2020/03/28/google-ar-animals/
- Hands-on with all of Google's 3D Animals! https://youtu.be/SD3V47BX9fU
Joke of the Week - Sorry you have to listen to the podcast to hear it. From: Uncle Amon. “100 Jokes for Kids.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/ca/book/100-jokes-for-kids/id993133414
In this episode, I introduce myself and explain what the podcast is going to be about. I'll apologize now because I was I was in a hurry to get this trailer episode up so I could submit it to the podcast directories. Hopefully I won't ramble as much in future episodes. It is a work in progress.