My niece (Kindergarten) and nephew (1st grade) helped me create this for my kindegarteners and reviewing all letters. They chose all the pictures to include and eventually completed their own google serches to find the images. I can use this video for either Letter ID or Sound Fluency. I also plan on sharing it with a co-worker who also works with a Letter ID intervention group. I think that because these videos (I have an Only Vowels Animoto in case you missed it!) are short that they are a good way to begin and/ or end each day.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Live Binders
Live Binders is my new favorite way to
organize data!
My favorites list is out of control! I have more folders to link to my favorite sites, personal sites of interest, and sites I need for my students. With this tool, I can organize my sites into handy binders. I can use it with my students for class projects and students can get started on gathering the information they need to complete it.
Here is a quick overview...
Here is a quick video about what you can do with live binders. I have created just a few live binders for use with my students. However, I have used many of them available to gather information for a variety of reasons. You may need even have to create your own binders- you may just be able to use what is already out there!
This may help you get started...
Do you think you will find this useful??? Will it help you to create digital aged learning experiences for your students?
Alan November
Alan November's 2nd edition of Empowering Students with technology encourages educators to deepen students ability to analyze, create, and investigate using critical thinking skills and technology. The text provides many examples of e-ventures that can be modified to meet the needs of all students.
Interesting Points to Note...
- Different search engines produce different results (a fact that I never realized because I only use Google). In the future, I plan on creating lessons where students use a particular search engine to search a given topic. The web-sites can be compared and contrasted and further analyzed so information can be evaluated.
- Using New Literacies can be a tool to improve parental involvement. Videoconferencing and blogging can be used to allow parents more opportunities to be involved in daily classroom activities and increase knowledge of what it happening within the classroom.
- Integrating New Literacies doesn't necessarily depend on the number or quality of technologies available within any given school. It does depend on the quality of the use of the technologies and the planning that goes with using the technologies available.
- Technology can empower and motivate students. It connects them with an authentic and global audience. Critical thinking and global communication skills are greatly enhanced. My personal concern is protecting children while these connections are being made. I have also had parents address concerns related to protecting identities.
- Educators should not be afraid to use new technologies. Children will usually learn technologies quicker than adults and can often teach the teacher how to use it. Educators should focus on the classroom management aspect not necessarily the technological aspect. I also think that this could be a great opportunity to increase community involvement. Try getting volunteers into the class (maybe high school or college students needing community service hours) that can help with the technology side.
- Many students need guidance with learning activities. Student-centered learning opportunities are great but students need direction and a real-world problem to solve with teacher guidance to support their learning with technology. Control can be shifted to the student but it does come with barriers and limitation to an extent.
Classroom Lesson Idea: Fourth Grade- Connecticut History
I know students in the fourth grade in my school district (I think it is throughout CT) study the history of Connecticut as part of the curriculum. To integrate technology into this topic of study, I would connect my students to members of Congress and having them write letters discussing personal topics of interest. Students could also set up a Skype session to have questions answered.
Another possibility
Students in my school are currently very concerned with the possibility of the school closing at the end of this school year. It is constant chatter throughout my building between the students, they are fearful of going to a new school. Teachers can set up videoconferencing with the Mayor and Board of Education members to discuss their concerns. I wish this is something that I could incorporate in my arena but with the guidelines I must adhere to this is not an option for me!
Check out this video from Alan November and The Spring Branch Plan.
Do you agree with Alan November's philosophy? In your teaching environment are you concerned with student engagement, global empathy, and preparing students for life success?
Personally, I agree that schools need to change to accommodate today's world. We need to teach our children in a manner that they thrive to become lifelong learners and are prepared with the necessary skills to succeed in tomorrow's world (whatever that may be!).
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling 4 Kids features examples of digital storytelling created with Creaza, Photo Peach, Voki, Photo Show, Go Animate, Make Beliefs Comix, Animoto, Dvolver, Flickr, and probably many more digital storybook resources. I have found that there are just too many resources available. My best advice would be to start slow and work with what you know. Use the tools that both you and your students are comfortable with. Larry Ferlazzo's blog and this wiki could also be helpful tools in getting started with using digital storytelling with your students.
I personally have just begun my venture into the world of digital storytelling. Today for the first time, I used Storybird with a group of fourth grade students. I explained to my students that they were going to create a digital story book but first I wanted to give them the opportunity to explore the concept of digital storytelling. It took them only a few minutes to become familiar with navigating the site, read a few examples, and gain interest in writing their own digital storybooks. They are so looking forward to their next time with me when they will have an opportunity to begin using the tools within this site to write their own stories. While we were exiting the computer lab, I could already hear this group of students discussing their story ideas, potential issues, and concerns thus demonstrating their critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills already. My job is to get these students to enhance these skills by modeling the skills needed to succeed in this digital arena!
My Animoto Video
I created this Animoto video with my Kindergarten intervention students in mind. We have been working very hard for the past six weeks with learning all of our letter sounds! We have mastered all of the consonant sounds but still need to work on the vowels. The students have watched it for the past two days and are loving it. I can't wait until their next progress monitoring assessment to see additional improvement in this area. I'm thinking about creating one with all the letters to review with.
I am also hopeful that as a teacher I am adhering to the Net standards and inspiring and advancing student learning by modeling creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. (Standard 1 for Teachers)
Have you found success with animoto? Are your students benefitting from integrating technology?
Can someone help me embed the entire video in this post? I don't know what I am doing wrong. Can only get the link.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Model Educator & Teacher Blogs
The good ones!!! (in my opinion, anyway)
Mrs. Ripp's Blog took on the challenge many everyday problems from being bored in class to modeling positive behaviors and brought about a perspective to dealing with them. I really like how she handles classroom management and her teaching philosophy.
Josh Stumpenhorst's Blog not only showcases the work of a Teacher of the Year but viewpoints that may be against the norm and challenges some may be fearful to take.
Collaboreyes was well liked for the model it provides to connect students throughout the world. I think this would be a modern day version of the pen pals that we had as children. I loved writing to my pen pal and sending the letter through snail mail! I would wait excitedly for a response. Now students get instant gratification!!!
Mrs. Schur's Blog included posts with all types of technology incorporated.
Aviva Dunsiger's Blog showed examples of using technology within first and second grade classrooms. The videos uploaded sparked great interest and just what should be done more often in the classroom and what even very young students are capable of!
Mr. Avery's Blog is up there with Aviva Dunsiger’s blog for the same reasons.
Blogs can be an innovative and creative tool to use in
any classroom. I can see the benefits for the students in
all types of classrooms. Students young and old, from inner-city neighborhoods to suburbs, and from all walks of life could increase new literacy skills by using blogging within the classroom.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Diigo Lists: Resources from Judy Arzt
More resources and information
than you can imagine for using
blogs and wikis!
Judy Arzt's tagged blogs is a list of many interesting blogs that can be used to generate ideas for use in the classroom. The one by Room 121 (a group of 5th grade students) is an amazing example of how to use blogging in the classroom. Children can use what they have personally created to review material and reinforce new material. 30 Digital Classroom Blogs from Around the World is another wonderful resource to get ideas for of using a classroom blog. Mr. Salsich's 3rd graders is an example from here in CT! Also included Reasons, Tips, and even Steps to follow.
As a wiki virgin, I found navigating and using Wikispaces a challenge. I succeeded in making a wiki but I didn’t know Everything You Need to Know about using Wikispaces. The tutorial was very helpful in learning more about using wikis.
How do we have time to check it all out?
What would be best for my students?
Definitely allows me to relate to my students who are struggling- I'm
struggling trying to digest and evaluate all the resources available to us!!!
Effective Instructional Models
Effective Instructional Models What a great resource for any teacher looking for lesson ideas within the internet workshop, internet project, internet inquiry, and webquest frameworks!
*many of the hyperlinks are not valid!!!
As a Reading Assistant it is my responsibility to enhance students’ literacy skills. The article Internet Project: Preparing Students for New Literacies in a Global Village by Donald J Leu, Jr has an interesting perspective on not only teaching children to be literate by our goal as educators should also include how to teach children to be continuously literate. There are many ideas for web-based projects, as well. New Literacies are emerging every day and with information readily available on the Internet, we need to teach our children to adapt and grow. This reminds me of a book I read awhile ago, Who Moved My Cheese, where the mice characters also need to adapt and change even though it is out of their comfort zone.
Webquests sound like an interesting way to incorporate inquiry based learning into the classroom. I did use the free text search and found some language arts and math topics that elementary teachers may find useful but using the curriculum and grade level matrix was not helpful!
The Global Virtual Classroom is a great way to connected to students around the world! Check out the GVC wiki to get the ball rolling.
Check out Mrs. Silverman's Webfolio to get project ideas!
Using the Internet regularly in the classroom is an opportunity for all
teachers and students to embrace. The endless supply of
information and countless lesson ideas make for wonderful 21st century learning opportunities. Find what works for you and for your students! Don't be afraid if your cheese is moved- learn to adapt and change and you'll find it!!!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Photostory 3
Here is my first attempt with old photos I have been uploading to digital form. How fun would it be for students to create one for themselves. I can't wait to try one with other media and make it more useful with my students.
Monday, March 19, 2012
New Literacies & Nets
New Literacies-
How am I supposed to define this term with its ever changing nature???
When I think about new literacies I think about all the different skills students need to acquire to function in our ever changing global environment. Skills not only to read traditional print texts but skills they need to acquire to utilize technology that hasn’t even been invented. New literacy skills will revolve around the new technologies of the future but will involve skills and strategies to enhance effective global communication.
What do you think the future holds in the way of new literacies?
Nets (What is it?) National (INTERNATIONAL AS WELL!) Standards for Integrating Technology
The skills our students will need to develop throughout their years of schooling to succeed in tomorrow’s world. Essential skills will not only include the ability to use the given technology but to also apply the technology to live as a global citizen.
As a classroom teacher, do you think it is reasonable to expect teachers
to incorporate these skills on top of everything else we do?
For Students: Check out the “student friendly category names” in the above wiki.
6 Standards:
Creativity & Innovation Communication & Collaboration Research & Information Fluency Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Decision Making Digital Citizenship Technology Operations& Concepts
For Teachers: Don’t miss it- the lesson ideas for each standard/ objective within specific grades!
5 Standards:
Facilitate & Inspire Student Learning & Creativity Design & Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences & Assessments Model Digital Age Work & Learning Promote & Model Digital Citizenship & Responsibility Engage in Professional Growth & Development
As a Reading Assistant for the past five years, I work with struggling readers to increase comprehension skills within guided reading and intervention groups. My day revolves around teaching children basic story elements (character, problem, events etc.) and comprehension skills (how to visualize, infer, predict, question, etc.) within traditional texts. After reading the article “Expanding the New Literacies Conversation” (see link below) I question the quality of education I am providing my students.
Am I really preparing my students to succeed in the technology age? I think not!!!
In the future, I plan on incorporating technology into the literacy instruction. I will teach children about story elements using authentic experiences and create digital stories allowing my students to learn the literacy “old” skill by using the new technologies available and gaining “new” literacy skills. Critical thinking and analyzing skills, skills involving synthesizing information, etc. will be taught within online reading incorporating more complex comprehension skills.
Why not exchange a hand held traditional book for a Kindle or I-Pad and read online to gain both “old” and “new” literacy skills simultaneously???
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Blogs in plain English
I was still a little confused about what this is all about and I thought that this was helpful. Similar to the one we watched in class about Google docs. I think it could also be helpful to introduce these concepts with our students! Hope someone else finds it helpful as well.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
First Ever Attempt at Blogging!!!
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