For this tool, we are required to create an online digital project to potentially use this year. I have decided to do "Reading Buddies" through Skype. So just as there is EEKK reading in The Daily Five by the sisters, the "EEKK" partner reading will be through the computer. One partner can listen, or both can have the same book and take turns reading. They will each have a form to fill out after reading to ensure comprehension and participation. I will hopefully be Skyping with an old teacher friend to her 3rd grade classroom.
Objective: The student will be able to read fluently, listen, and discuss text while participating correctly with a partner.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
11 Tools: Tool #6 Using Web 2.0 for Discussion
Online Discussion Boards and Social Networks are a great place to collaborate with fellow teachers. They're an even better place for students to have discussions too. Most students by the 5th grade have a twitter and/or Facebook account. And they're discussing things, it might as well be about information learned in the classroom! I feel that intermediate grades and above can utilize social networks more effectively than primary. However, teachers can have an account for the whole classroom and "socialize" with other classrooms. Obviously there are Facebook and Twitter, but to bring other classrooms into your own, Skype is a neat way to get students discussing. This past year, I had a student diagnosed with cancer, so he would Skype in to our lessons and feel included while out for treatments. It was great! This year, I would like to try and set up "Reading Buddies" on Skype with some students from my old school. We will see how it goes!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
11 Tools: Tool #5 Web 2.0 Tools
This tool is the most beneficial to me I think. I'm excited to use these websites because they truly engage the kids! There are websites that you can create your own comics, books, presentations, videos, word clouds, etc etc! If you know of any more to add to the list, please don't hesitate to let me know! When I taught 5th grade, I had the kids make comics and collages all of the time and they LOVED it!
I think I may use word clouds to introduce analogies to the kids. I'm going to put all related words in a cloud and have the kids come up with a sentence in how they are related. Then I'll introduce the Bridge map.
Here's one about Michael Phelps that someone created on the Tagxedo Facebook Page.
Another really awesome website in the classroom that's really fun and hilarious is Blabberize! You can choose a picture of your own or borrow one of theirs, then insert the text you want it to say and the picture talks! On the home page they have a talking llama, or you can do a historical figure such as Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Edison. It's really neat! Beware of ads though...I'm having issues with he audio on mine and awaiting a reply but here is a sample.
I think I may use word clouds to introduce analogies to the kids. I'm going to put all related words in a cloud and have the kids come up with a sentence in how they are related. Then I'll introduce the Bridge map.
Here's one about Michael Phelps that someone created on the Tagxedo Facebook Page.
Another really awesome website in the classroom that's really fun and hilarious is Blabberize! You can choose a picture of your own or borrow one of theirs, then insert the text you want it to say and the picture talks! On the home page they have a talking llama, or you can do a historical figure such as Abraham Lincoln or Thomas Edison. It's really neat! Beware of ads though...I'm having issues with he audio on mine and awaiting a reply but here is a sample.
11 Tools: Tool #4 Google Apps
Google Apps is a great resource to use in classrooms and schools. I constantly share all documents, presentations, etc that I make for lessons with my colleagues easily without any hassle of attaching anything (which I often send the email without the attachment, argh!) In my district, all students have a google apps account that are deemed for classroom use only (with permission from the parents of course!). I think in the older grades, Google Forms, SpreadSheet, and Documents can be a powerful tool during group work and research projects. In the younger grades, I think the teachers are able to collaborate with each other more easily and be able to have classroom accounts since the babies may be unable to be independent on a computer.
Since I'm very proactive about being fit and healthy, I might try creating forms, presentations, documents to share with the whole school to collect research and teach kids how to make the right choices about food and exercise. I'll start with my weekly Yoga class I host for my teachers. Interested? Yes/No? What day is best for you?
Since I'm very proactive about being fit and healthy, I might try creating forms, presentations, documents to share with the whole school to collect research and teach kids how to make the right choices about food and exercise. I'll start with my weekly Yoga class I host for my teachers. Interested? Yes/No? What day is best for you?
11 Tools: Tool #3 Online Video/Images
Well, if you are unaware of online video websites, I'm afraid you're in the minority. HOWEVER, just in case you haven't heard of ALL of the cool websites, here are some
TeacherTube
Youtube
Schooltube
Kidstube
Be careful about YouTube! There are inappropriate ads and videos that somehow make their way onto your search. However, this past year my students introduced me to some pretty awesome videos that have Lego men dancing which is hilarious!!!
Here is one: "Lab Safety" by Rhythm, Rhyme, Results
Discovery Education is also another website I use often in my classroom. I'm lucky to have it this year in my new district, I sorely missed is last year! It has great videos for science and social studies! Every year for Earth Day I show the kids some Planet Earth episodes which they LOVE! (and so do I!)
Using images in the classroom is a great tool to engage students and get students asking questions. However, are you using them legally? Make sure to give credit to those who did the work! We as teachers need to plant the seed of anti-plagiarism early in our students heads! I met a professor from New York on a train in Thailand, and he said he's about to give up assigning books to read and papers to write in his classes because most papers are plagiarized from the same sources even! He said he can tell when a rare student comes along and actually reads the assignment he gives and the student actually has genuine thoughts. These kids are supposed to be the cream of the crop for us! The next leaders of America! Yikes! Does it make anyone else a little squeamish?
TeacherTube
Youtube
Schooltube
Kidstube
Be careful about YouTube! There are inappropriate ads and videos that somehow make their way onto your search. However, this past year my students introduced me to some pretty awesome videos that have Lego men dancing which is hilarious!!!
Here is one: "Lab Safety" by Rhythm, Rhyme, Results
Discovery Education is also another website I use often in my classroom. I'm lucky to have it this year in my new district, I sorely missed is last year! It has great videos for science and social studies! Every year for Earth Day I show the kids some Planet Earth episodes which they LOVE! (and so do I!)
Using images in the classroom is a great tool to engage students and get students asking questions. However, are you using them legally? Make sure to give credit to those who did the work! We as teachers need to plant the seed of anti-plagiarism early in our students heads! I met a professor from New York on a train in Thailand, and he said he's about to give up assigning books to read and papers to write in his classes because most papers are plagiarized from the same sources even! He said he can tell when a rare student comes along and actually reads the assignment he gives and the student actually has genuine thoughts. These kids are supposed to be the cream of the crop for us! The next leaders of America! Yikes! Does it make anyone else a little squeamish?
11 Tools: Tool #2 Developing a PLN
Oh, teaching and its acronyms... A new one I learned today is PLN. A PLN is a Professional Learning Network, which you can learn new ideas from, exchange lessons, interact with other teachers, etc. And what do you know! I've been doing this all along! Most of the blogs I follow are on the left hand side of my blog. I also use Google Reader to keep up with all of the posts! Another "Google Reader" type app is Diigo. I've never used it but, if you want to venture out and look into it, go for it!
I have really enjoyed blogging over the past two years, and now that I've found the Blogger app, it will be even easier! I think it's a great way to inform parents, colleagues, and fellow teachers about the awesome things going on in classrooms everyday.
Pinterest.com has also been an awesome PLN and source of ideas as well. If you aren't pinning like crazy, I suggest you start! Great ideas from teachers and home schooling moms as well!
I have really enjoyed blogging over the past two years, and now that I've found the Blogger app, it will be even easier! I think it's a great way to inform parents, colleagues, and fellow teachers about the awesome things going on in classrooms everyday.
Pinterest.com has also been an awesome PLN and source of ideas as well. If you aren't pinning like crazy, I suggest you start! Great ideas from teachers and home schooling moms as well!
11 Tools "Training": Tool #1
For school I have to do a technology training called "11 Tools" which introduces teachers to new websites and gadgets online to use in the classroom. So I will be posting the assignments on my blog to receive credit!
1st tool: Create a Blog. CHECK! Add a VOKI... I don't want to!!!!!! :( They creep me out.
1st tool: Create a Blog. CHECK! Add a VOKI... I don't want to!!!!!! :( They creep me out.
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