#15 Shelfari.com

Shelfari.com is a great site for kids to talk about books. This social media site is focused on books. Members can build virtual bookshelves, discover, rate and discuss books, and participate in online groups.
The kids love to use because they compare it to myspace and facebook. They are able to chat with others, add their pictures, add and invite friends to their page. The kids are able to focus on nothing but books and they are able to give others book recommendations. The site has so many books available that kids can choose from to add to their list of books that they have completed. This site can be used a motivation tool to get kids to read.
My students are eager each day to log in to chat with others. I myself love this site!

#14 Photo Stories

This week my students made stories on photo stories. They really had fun doing this project. The kids took one of their stories that they wrote during writing workshop and published them on photo story. The students downloaded some picture from the internet and some even used their own pictures and added them to their stories. The students were able to add their voices to the stories as well. Next week the students will be sharing the stories with other classes. I couldn't believe how creative some of my students got. This really motivated me as their teacher to integrate more technology!

Topic #13 Campus Technology

I am very excited because my campus is having a Technology Media Fair this month. Teachers may enter projects that they are doing with their classrooms or any ideas that they might have. The media fair categories are animation, desktop publishing, digital audio/video, multimedia, photography, original illustrated art, product design, and website design.
Like I have mentioned before, I feel privileged to work at a campus where technology is recognized. We have a great technology master teacher that is always there when help is needed and always has things like this upcoming technology fair, and staff developmental classes on Technology. I am looking forward to this media fair, can't wait!

TOPIC #12

A. I believe that I am a visual/spatial learner. I have to be able to see things in order for me to be able to learn. I use visualization a lot with when I am reading; I have to picture things in my mind at times to understand. I am also a bodily/kinesthetic learner. I have to practice doing things myself in order to learn. I can’t just sit there and listen to someone, and then do it correctly. I am a big on hands on, if I don’t I will not be able to retain!

B.I try to incorporate all of the multiple intelligences when I teach, but I know that sometimes I don’t. I try to use all of the students’ senses when I teach as I have heard that students learn best when more senses are used. I obviously use verbal/linguistic, but I always have my visuals to go with my verbal lesson. I especially have my visuals for many of my ELLs. This really helps me with my vocabulary words that I have to teach, but it gets tougher with abstract vocabulary. I like to incorporate as much kinesthetic as possible like when we do plays for reading. I have also taken a lesson from Social Studies and have had my students act it out. This really helped some of my students that a hard time comprehending with the reading in the book. I like to use music as well. Just this week we had a reading lesson on inferring. I had my students listen to the lyrics of a song, and had to infer on who the song was talking about. My students are all ears as soon I say the word “music”.

VERBAL:Electronic dictionary and Electronic Dictionary, email
LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL:Search Engine, Spreadsheets, Webquests
VISUAL:Power Point, Camera, Animoto
KINESTHETIC:Assistive Technology, Joystick, Mouse
MUSICAL/RYTHMIC:YouTube, Multimedia Presentation
INTRAPERSONAL:Blogging, Online-Surveys
INTERPERSONAL:Class Discussions Blackboard, Instant Messengers
NATURALIST:Mapping Tools, Database
EXISTENTIAL:Virtual Fieldtrips, Simulations

In my lesson, students will understand what real reading is by making connections. They will use the thinking stems, and will practice by writing letters to teachers and other students through epals. This lesson includes verbal, visual, intrapersonal, and interpersonal multiple intelligences.

TOPIC 11: Assistive Technology

I just discovered a whole new world; assistive technology. I had never ever heard of such a thing, but I am so amazed of all the wonderful resources that are available to fulfill our students’ needs.

http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html is a great site for parents to visit. It is a family guide to Assistive Technology. It helps parents learn more about AT, and how they can help their children. I think that it is important that teachers train parents on how assistive technology can be used at home. Some students are in need of assistance at home as well; even basic things that we take for granted like eating, dressing, etc…

Let’s Play! Project is a model demonstration project at the University at Buffalo Center for AT. It provides families of children with disabilities to play through the use of assistive technology. It features illustrated sections on the role of play, families, AT, success stories, and resources.

Toys for Kids with Disabilities is wonderful! They have different ideas and tips on buying toys for kids. This is something that I would of never thought of.

Two of my own resources would be:

Foldables on Vocabulary Words: This really helps my kids to organize their thoughts on the vocabulary words of the week. I can’t believe teachers expect their students to learn new terms by just looking up the word.

Graphic Organizers: I love graphic organizers. The students can really learn by creating these organizers. They are great for my students to use as visuals.

TOPIC 10: TECH SKILLS

I had a few tech skills, but obviosuly there is always room for more!
I have really learned of so many sites to use also with my students through students in class.I have also grabbed some ideas from people's postings of things they are doing with their students.
The book,Integrating Technology, is a great resource to have as well. It gives you insights on technology and strategies to implement in the classroom. I have really reflected on my ways with technology. There is more much to learn and do!
Atomic Learning is also a great tool to use! It is ver detailed and explains to you step by step.
All I need is more time!

TOPIC 9: Tech in the Class

Something new that I have started to do in my class is try to implement more technology! Eventhough I have not come up with a crazy big idea yet, I have really tried to implement technology it in our busy schedules that doesn't allow too much of anything!

Every week students have to listen to a video on brainpop.com in relation to what we are studying in social studies. For example, this week they had to listen to the video on Pocahontas since we are studying the first settlements in North America. After listening to the video, students have to take a quiz that is offered by Brain Pop and instead of recording it, they have to email me their score. This gives them the opportunity to practice their typing skills, and practice the emailing system. I am really trying to make them independent students, and I think that them emailing me is taking one more step towards that goal.

They receive two grades, one for their quiz grade, and one for emailing. If they forget to email me, then they will receive a failing grade for that part.