Global Collaboration between Students

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC)  is a great site for students from all over the world to work on collaborative Math and Science projects.  "Down the Drain" is an example of a world wide project in which students from all over the world observe then record data on how much water they each use everyday.   Another example of collaborating data is for the students to record and analyze the collected data on their dominant traits.  

In my first grade class, I think it would be educationally beneficial for my students to set up and participate in a project with others in which they would record data based on the kind of rocks found on their school property.  It would be interesting to see the similarities and differences in the "rocks" depending on what part of the world the students lived.  

Blue Poison Dart Frog

Blue Poison Dart Frog
Originally uploaded by ucumari

This frog is cute too!

orange eyed green tree frog

orange eyed green tree frog
Originally uploaded by rainforest_harley

Isn't this the cutest frog you ever did see?

Always learning

For those who are interested in teaching at international schools in other countries, Kim Kofina has created a blog titled Always Learning which allows her and other international teachers to blog about their experiences.  Reading the blogs will help you make a decision as to IF and WHERE you might want to teach.  Also, those who are already teaching in international schools around the world now have a forum in which to give and receive support.   

                                                                         

Useful Sites and Blogs

For Social Studies teachers, there is a video website appropriate for school age children to teach the different aspects of Geography. Geography at the Movies has a wide range of geographical topics such as agriculture, tectonics, weather, rivers, rocks, and places that present using a video/audio format. One particular video uses TPR (dance movements) to assimulate the different geological phenomenon’s. Each video is enticing, fun and attention getting. Students will learn quickly and retain the information presented. They won’t even realize they are learning!

                                                                

Nik Peachy's Blog

By navigating through Nik Peacy's Posts, I have learned that I still have a lot to learn.  The possibilities for using the internet and other technology are endless, such as using animation to create an xxtranormal tutorial within animated movies, sending a postcard with 3d images, and mobile learning through google and cell phones.  As Nik said, "I love the power of images and their adaptability for teaching" on his Technology Blog (Nick's Learning Technology Blog), the internet and other forms of technology are providing attractive tools for teaching virtually any subject to ALL students.  The challenge is not necessarily how to use the technology, but maybe looking through all the sites available and choosing the correct website appropriate for you students/lesson.  This would be very time consuming.

For young students learning to read an awesome website is Leading to Reading.  The students can choose a book they want to experience such as "Brown Bear, Brown Bear".  This particular book is read by the illustrator Eric Carle!  A great website to use for an author's study.  The website also allows the student to choose books that sing the story.  The student can view the video, listen to the song while following the text.  Students can even choose games and doodle pages to create pictures.  There is even a level for adults!  I had a hard time breaking away from this website!  I didn't want to stop playing/learning!

A fun way to learn the history of the United States!  On the Trail of Captain John Smith: A Jamestown Adventure is a video/game with audio and text based on the book "John Smith Escapes Again!",  that describes the first colony in the new land.  It's excellent for ESOL students because the video supports the audio and text (context rich).  For those ESOL students that don't need the audio support, you can silence the audio to encourage the student to read and comprehend the text.  It is broken down into short segments in order to give a break between segments of the whole story.  Each short segment has interactive activities to allow the students to become involved in the story.  

                                                                                    

Online TPR exercises for ESLs

Henny Jellema has created a website for ESLs, TPR-exercises that allows them to practice their listening and reading skills using TPR.  This site has enticing stick figures demonstrating particular commands which allow the student to refer to while they match a verbal command with the written command.  As the student matches the listening and reading commands, they are immediately rewarded with a smiley face.  Progressing levels move the student from simple English commands to more complicated directions.  Cute and educational!

Spanish

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Basics for beginning technonerds

 “Writing a five paragraph essay is just not enough anymore. A whole new form of writing has emerged!”

Teachers need to be aware of and become familiar with the new technology. This is scary for many of us because of all the new vocabulary BUT, There is help out there!!! Just go to “Basics for Beginners: What is Web 2.0” and you will be exposed to the necessary vocabulary to become technologically savvy.

 “As educators, we know that vocabulary is one of the single most important indicators for academic success and we teach students new vocabulary all of the time. Shame on us if we are going to ask our students to learn new words daily, and we cannot wrestle with a few new words ourselves! We must stop making excuses and get those neurons firing to learn some new terms! Education is not just for the young - stop preaching it and start practicing it!"

Teaching Blogging

"Thinking about Teaching Blogging to your Kids?" is an informative article for teachers who are considering teaching blogging to their students.  After reading the phases this teacher went through as she explored the different types of blogs, you will be informed as to how, what, and why blogging will benefit YOUR students.  As teachers, we are very busy.  This article will save you time and energy because this teacher has already gone through many of the steps for you.

Reasons Why Students Should Blog

In the article "20 reasons why students should Blog", many excellent reasons were given for including blogging in our lesson plans for our students.  After reading this article, you will be convinced that blogging is NOT a waste of time.  All the components of teaching a well planned lesson are included while using and writing in a blog.  Make sure you connect to the blog that the 9 year old girl made her own list of reasons students should blog.  Her list includes cute, genuine, and authentic ideas as to why students would benefit from blogging.

Shift Happens

The rate of growth for technology all over the world is amazing.  Maybe we shouldn't be teaching to specifics in our schools, but to the ability to participate in continuous learning activities and to adjust and make changes to our ever changing world.  

Using Wiki in Education

"The new writing is online writing:  designing websites, writing weblogs, and creating and managing wikis.  New writers are redefining writing online, creating new forms and approaches for new audiences."

Writing is changing dramatically because of technology.  As teachers we need to be aware of and keep up with the new "genres" of writing.  Writing for a blog, wiki, or designing websites require different types of writing processes than we have been trained to teach our students.  It is our responsibility to be familiar with and teach these new types of writing styles so that our students will be prepared to function in their world as adults.  This site has offered many suggestions on how to use wikis in education with students.  Although none of them are appropriate for my first graders, reading through the ideas has encouraged me to brainstorm ideas for my class.  Having the students write a "class story" on a Wiki is an activity I would like to try with my students.  It would be interesting to see the final result as the students contributed, made changes, edited, and shared events of a story.

Teens and Social Media

     There are a large number of teens writing content online.  Sixty-four percent of the teenagers are MOTIVATED to write either on blogs, emails, ims, text messages, etc.  As educators, we are constantly looking for ways to motivate students.  In this case, the motivation is already here! Using the new technology to teach writing skills is another tool teachers can and should use.  

     There are statistical differences between boys and girls about the type and amount of content being posted, so we still need to be aware of individual differences.  Even though these differences exist, online communication gives all teenagers an active audience.  Teenagers would be highly motivated to write to this active audience and would receive immediate feedback on the content of their post.   An online assignment for teenagers would have face validity and it's just plain fun!

Student computers

My students have access to four computers in my classroom. During reading group rotation, fours students are assigned to the computers. This means each student has twenty minutes of computer time every other day. Periodically, the students will have computer time if they finish work early or they may choose the computer during indoor recess. The computers run VERY slow, so it is difficult for them to access intricate websites. They are able to participate on the Starfall.com website. This is actually an appropriate website for my first graders because it covers the skills we are learning in first grade and allows the students to practice the skills within context.