Shavua Tov Friends!
Opening this weeks tasks, I was intrigued to see how we can practically integrate technology when teaching speaking and writing. In my (limited) experience in the classroom, teaching speaking seems to be a constant challenge for many teachers and thus I was excited to see what new ideas I could get!
Debating
As a high school student I can remember debating a lot in class. The most difficult challenge however was always to come up with arguments that were valid and worthy. The website idebate (international debate education association) is a great tool to aid students in creating great arguments and discussions within the classroom. Especially when attempting to argue in a second language, this website will surely come in great use. In a high school classroom, I would choose a topic from the vast list provided and print out the arguments for and against. These will provide a great springboard for the students to expand the ideas and not be a too overwhelming task to debate in their second language. I would allow class time to work on the speeches, creating even more chances for the students to communicate orally in English.
Here is a link to the website and some tools for teachers that I found interesting too!
http://idebate.org/training/teaching-tools/debate-of-the-masses
Digital Storytelling
So the idea of getting our students to create their own stories on the computers is definitely one I would like to incorporate into my classroom. I looked at the teachlearning website and was sadly not very impressed. Almost every website listed was an app and therefore needed to be used with iTunes. Thinking practically for schools here in Israel, I doubt most schools have computers that are that up-to-date with their systems. I would have like to find regular websites that can be used to create digital stories and or record themselves reading their own stories.
Here is the link the to the website: http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&entryid=5129
Do you have any other suggestions??
Pre Writing - Graphic Organizers
I have used graphic organizers before in class and have found them very helpful. The students benefit greatly from having a clear way to organize their thoughts and it enables for a much quicker and smoothers process when they begin writing. Last time I prepared a handout for my students and it took hours to get all the shapes exactly in the right position and so on. This website it great because it has so many different options and pages to choose from...ready made!
Check it out: http://www.teach-nology.com/platinum/samples/graphicorg/index.html
While Writing - Creating Newspapers, Brochures, Flyers and Posters
I love the idea of ending a unit with a writing project like this. I have fond memories from when I was a child and put an enormous amount of effort into creating an authentic looking 'old' newspaper. Nowadays, things a little different. A website like readwritethink can be easily integrated into classrooms from elementary to high school. I would work on what the students are writing first by hand (using a graphic organizers to get started) and only once the students have produced a final hand written draft would I move them to the website where they can type in their information and create their own template with pictures and so on.
Here the link with the different templates to choose website: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/Printing_Press/
Post Writing - Publishing
I feel like I have been waiting for this website the whole unit! Love it. Little bird tales is a great way to incorporate so many aspects of teaching. Creativity, writing, speaking, art, just to name a few! I love that the students can even draw their own pictures for their stories. My favorite aspect however, is being able to share the story. How excited would a parent be to receive an email from their child with an original story they created in English?! This is a writing activity I would use in my classroom. Once again I would start by using some type of graphic organizer so the students know what they want to write before sitting in-front of a computer screen.
If you register for the website, it allows you to go in and explore and create your own stories...check it out! https://littlebirdtales.com/home/default/
Wow, there was a lot of information in this unit. I feel like I bookmarked so many pages! Hopefully they won't just stay bookmarks and when I am teaching I will remember to incorporate some of these great tools.
Hope y'all enjoyed, have a good one! :)
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Week4
Hey Y'all,
I am really excited about what I read on one of my blogs today. The entry is entitled "5 Tips for Classroom Management With Mobile Devices". Classroom management is one of those topics that I am always interested in reading about and seeing what new strategies people have come up with. Most of the suggestions made weren't anything too innovative and didn't excite me that much - except for one.
The write contends that engagement is the key to having strong classroom management. Jennifer Carey says that it is key for teachers to keep their students engaged in lessons by relating to them - and I totally agree - connecting to students by "playing to their passions". She then brings brilliant tool to incorporate the use of cell phones during class. I clicked the link to the website and cannot get over how cool it is!
The website is called Socrative. I am so impressed with the ideas from this website and I think its a perfect way to tackle the problem so many teacher faces of students using their cell phones in class. Have a look at the link and play around on the website: http://www.socrative.com/
My favorite tool on the website is one of the assessments. Each student is able to rate how well they understood what was taught in class. When I was a student in high-school I was always nervous and shy to ask questions in-front of the whole class (surprising I know!). Using a website / app like this is a great way for such students to express honestly whether they understood or need further explaining. Using the vast array of tools on Socrative is a way for teacher to meaningfully gauge student progress and helps keep students focused on tasks.
The other tip I liked from this blog was the idea of having the students put their cell phones on their desks but face down. Most of the time when a teacher says put your phone away, it only encourages the students yearn to keep checking their phones secretly from their pocket. By having it out there on the desk, students are less prone to check their text messages, that is according to Carey - and I tend to agree!
That's it for now...until next time...
Have a good one! :)
I am really excited about what I read on one of my blogs today. The entry is entitled "5 Tips for Classroom Management With Mobile Devices". Classroom management is one of those topics that I am always interested in reading about and seeing what new strategies people have come up with. Most of the suggestions made weren't anything too innovative and didn't excite me that much - except for one.
The write contends that engagement is the key to having strong classroom management. Jennifer Carey says that it is key for teachers to keep their students engaged in lessons by relating to them - and I totally agree - connecting to students by "playing to their passions". She then brings brilliant tool to incorporate the use of cell phones during class. I clicked the link to the website and cannot get over how cool it is!
The website is called Socrative. I am so impressed with the ideas from this website and I think its a perfect way to tackle the problem so many teacher faces of students using their cell phones in class. Have a look at the link and play around on the website: http://www.socrative.com/
My favorite tool on the website is one of the assessments. Each student is able to rate how well they understood what was taught in class. When I was a student in high-school I was always nervous and shy to ask questions in-front of the whole class (surprising I know!). Using a website / app like this is a great way for such students to express honestly whether they understood or need further explaining. Using the vast array of tools on Socrative is a way for teacher to meaningfully gauge student progress and helps keep students focused on tasks.
The other tip I liked from this blog was the idea of having the students put their cell phones on their desks but face down. Most of the time when a teacher says put your phone away, it only encourages the students yearn to keep checking their phones secretly from their pocket. By having it out there on the desk, students are less prone to check their text messages, that is according to Carey - and I tend to agree!
That's it for now...until next time...
Have a good one! :)
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Week3
Hello fellow bloggers,
Today I tried out the website Quizlet. I am obsessed! I wish more classrooms in Israel had hands-on access to computers so this could be used. Flashcards are a great way for students to learn new vocabulary and practice what they already know. However they are a lot of work to create for the teacher! This website is quick and easy to use and the students can even spend time creating their own flashcards. My concern with this type of website though is that there is no way to use it other than being connected to the internet (that I could see) and it is therefore only a tool a teacher could use when in the computer room with all students in front of a computer or as a whole class activity through a smart board or projector. An idea could be to use this website as a homework tool. If the class had a blog forum then each student could create their own flashcards and share it on the forum for their classmates to practice.
While reading my blogs this morning I found it interesting that 2 out of the 3 both had posts about the advantages / disadvantages of online learning and technology. There are many valid points that fall into both categories and I can see the argument from both sides. What I do struggle with though is how to integrate and incorporate the positives into the classroom practically here in Israel. The schools and classrooms that I have been exposed to in my student teaching so far do not really allow the use of technology in the classroom. The teacher is lucky if they have a projector in the classroom, let alone an internet connection!
I feel like the education world is moving and advancing more and more in its use of technology and my fear is that the Israeli education system is not keeping up. There is so much out there and this course is opening my eyes even further to all the ways that technology can be used. I just hope that when I get into the classroom I will have the tools to enable me to share this new world with the students!
I didn't learn any innovative ideas from my blogs this week...hopefully next week!
Have a good one! :)
Today I tried out the website Quizlet. I am obsessed! I wish more classrooms in Israel had hands-on access to computers so this could be used. Flashcards are a great way for students to learn new vocabulary and practice what they already know. However they are a lot of work to create for the teacher! This website is quick and easy to use and the students can even spend time creating their own flashcards. My concern with this type of website though is that there is no way to use it other than being connected to the internet (that I could see) and it is therefore only a tool a teacher could use when in the computer room with all students in front of a computer or as a whole class activity through a smart board or projector. An idea could be to use this website as a homework tool. If the class had a blog forum then each student could create their own flashcards and share it on the forum for their classmates to practice.
While reading my blogs this morning I found it interesting that 2 out of the 3 both had posts about the advantages / disadvantages of online learning and technology. There are many valid points that fall into both categories and I can see the argument from both sides. What I do struggle with though is how to integrate and incorporate the positives into the classroom practically here in Israel. The schools and classrooms that I have been exposed to in my student teaching so far do not really allow the use of technology in the classroom. The teacher is lucky if they have a projector in the classroom, let alone an internet connection!
I feel like the education world is moving and advancing more and more in its use of technology and my fear is that the Israeli education system is not keeping up. There is so much out there and this course is opening my eyes even further to all the ways that technology can be used. I just hope that when I get into the classroom I will have the tools to enable me to share this new world with the students!
I didn't learn any innovative ideas from my blogs this week...hopefully next week!
Have a good one! :)
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