My students are very familiar with using Audacity. They record themselves every 2 weeks for fluency check. They are able to listen to their own reading and listen to how much they are improving. My English Language Learners get really motivated when they listen to themselves because they realize how much their English reading is improving. I am also able to listen to their audio files because each one of my students have their own H-Drive. I am able to pull their drives up from my computer and keep electronic portfolios for each students.I like to conference with my students and sit down with them to set their reading goals.
Another way that I use Audacity in my classroom is for writing. After students draft their writing, thye log on to Audacity and record their own stories. Then, they go back and listen to their stories to listen for fluency writing. I have noticed that when students are editing their own writing without Audacity, they tend to read right through their syntax errors. With Audacity, they are able to go back and replay their sentences to ensure they are revising correctly.
I love Audacity and it's a great resource to have in the classroom!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
First Animation
I was feeling overwhelmed just knowing that I had to create my first animation, but after reading Richardson's book, listening to the tutorials on atomic learning, and Alice I started to feel more at ease. I did try to use Alice to create an animation, but then a colleague of mine recommend another site; goanimate.com.
Goanimate.com is a very friendly user site and it's free! This is a great site to use with your students that are not very technology savvy. It was very easy to create characters and maneuver them around. I was able to easily add captions, and include music as well. One thing that I really liked about it was how I could keep previewing and editing it. It did take me a while to finally finish it, but I really think it was due to it being my first time playing around with it. The only problems that I had was downloading into my computer, and keeping it 5-10 seconds. I finally was able to do it after many trials and errors.
I plan on integrating animation into my reading and writing lessons. I know my students are really going to enjoy it! I
Goanimate.com is a very friendly user site and it's free! This is a great site to use with your students that are not very technology savvy. It was very easy to create characters and maneuver them around. I was able to easily add captions, and include music as well. One thing that I really liked about it was how I could keep previewing and editing it. It did take me a while to finally finish it, but I really think it was due to it being my first time playing around with it. The only problems that I had was downloading into my computer, and keeping it 5-10 seconds. I finally was able to do it after many trials and errors.
I plan on integrating animation into my reading and writing lessons. I know my students are really going to enjoy it! I
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Atomic Learning Lessons
I was finally able to view Lesson Accelerators on Atomic Learning! The first one I viewed was Language Arts 3rd-5th grade Kid Pix titled Shape Poem. This is a fun activity that my students can do in a center. It's all about creating poems with the integration of graphics. Students can add many colorful graphics to their poem and even record their voice. The text can be shaped to what the poem is talking about. Students create a slide show as their final product. This is a fun and unique way to get kids motivated on writing poetry.
The second one I viewed was titled a Picture Perfect Slide show and was also Language Arts 3rd-5th grade. The lesson gave an example of a Picture Perfect Alphabet using Comic Life and Photo Story application. It even gave you a tip on how to download a resource packet that can be imported directly into Photo Story. Even though this project covered ELA, it could easily be modified for other subject areas.
Monday, February 1, 2010
First Jing!
One my reading centers consists of student listening to stories on tumblebooks.com. It is a great site for students, but my students were taking too long on fiding a book to read. Jing came to my mind immediately! I went on Tumblebooks.com and captured exactly where my students had to go on to find their reading level. This will help them log on, and get started immediately!
EDU 6486 FIRST FACE TO FACE!
WOW! After Saturday's first face to face meeting I left feeling still a little overwhelmed, but at the same time feeling like I am really going to become a pro at these new programs that I have been wanting to explore!
I just downloaded Jing, and I am still playing around with it to get the hang of it. I can really see my students enjoying it, but at the same time I'm not sure how I can integrate into one of my lessons. I'm hoping that after I get the hang of it, it will come to me!
The most exciting part is knowing that I will soon be creating my own website. This is something that I have been wanting to do, and now I will have to make the time for it. My students and their parents will really benefit from it. I think it will create a stronger connection between my class and their home.
Overall, I am looking forward to learning all the new technology programs, and becoming an expert at them!
I just downloaded Jing, and I am still playing around with it to get the hang of it. I can really see my students enjoying it, but at the same time I'm not sure how I can integrate into one of my lessons. I'm hoping that after I get the hang of it, it will come to me!
The most exciting part is knowing that I will soon be creating my own website. This is something that I have been wanting to do, and now I will have to make the time for it. My students and their parents will really benefit from it. I think it will create a stronger connection between my class and their home.
Overall, I am looking forward to learning all the new technology programs, and becoming an expert at them!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Reflection #20
EDU 6384 has been very beneficial in many ways as an educator, a student and a mother. This was my first online course, and it was very difficult to get used to learning pretty much on my own, but at the same time it was very convenient because I was able to do it all at home. Therefore, it had its pros and cons.
The book was very informational and helpful. I learned so many ways of integrating technology, and new websites that I could use in the classroom. The discussion posting were also very helpful. I was able to learn from my classmates, and steel some technology ideas to use in my class. Something that I took from the book, and have already started to use is E-Pals. My students have enjoyed using this site, and so have I. They are now able to write letters to me through E-Pals versus me having to take their journals home on the weekends.
This course has enhanced my way of thinking of technology. I thought my campus was pretty advanced in the area of technology, but there is still so much to learn about it. After being in this course, I have really reflected on my ways of integrating technology in class. I really need to step it up with technology. There are so many new things out there for students, including Assistive Technology. This class has shown me that I need to be better equipped to be able to integrate technology in class.
I really enjoyed creating a Blog for the first time. I have also created a Blog for the classroom for my students to see. My Blog helped me reflect on me integrating technology in class. I plan on creating a personal blog as well to write about personal things.
The best part was the driving time! I was able to do it all from home, and dedicate more time to my family duties.
Now to the things that didn’t work out as great for me…
I had difficult time learning on my own. For example: the database and excel assignments were my worst. After sitting for hours listening to the tutorials, I still struggled with these assignments. This is where I needed to sit in a classroom, and learn step by step.
The postings on Blackboard were not difficult. The only problem I had in this area was waiting for others to post so that I could have any discussions. I constantly had to check Blackboard to check when people had posted so that I could reply back. Another issue in this area is that when a discussion had to be posted based on the Chapter questions, I felt like the answers of classmates were very repetitive making it hard to respond if you were one of the last ones to respond to the answers.
Overall, this course was a great one! I would recommend this course to a person that is always on the go, and wants to save driving time. Plus, it offers so many new ways of learning how to integrate technology in the classrooms, and help you be up to date with some of the new TECH items, and sites to use.
The book was very informational and helpful. I learned so many ways of integrating technology, and new websites that I could use in the classroom. The discussion posting were also very helpful. I was able to learn from my classmates, and steel some technology ideas to use in my class. Something that I took from the book, and have already started to use is E-Pals. My students have enjoyed using this site, and so have I. They are now able to write letters to me through E-Pals versus me having to take their journals home on the weekends.
This course has enhanced my way of thinking of technology. I thought my campus was pretty advanced in the area of technology, but there is still so much to learn about it. After being in this course, I have really reflected on my ways of integrating technology in class. I really need to step it up with technology. There are so many new things out there for students, including Assistive Technology. This class has shown me that I need to be better equipped to be able to integrate technology in class.
I really enjoyed creating a Blog for the first time. I have also created a Blog for the classroom for my students to see. My Blog helped me reflect on me integrating technology in class. I plan on creating a personal blog as well to write about personal things.
The best part was the driving time! I was able to do it all from home, and dedicate more time to my family duties.
Now to the things that didn’t work out as great for me…
I had difficult time learning on my own. For example: the database and excel assignments were my worst. After sitting for hours listening to the tutorials, I still struggled with these assignments. This is where I needed to sit in a classroom, and learn step by step.
The postings on Blackboard were not difficult. The only problem I had in this area was waiting for others to post so that I could have any discussions. I constantly had to check Blackboard to check when people had posted so that I could reply back. Another issue in this area is that when a discussion had to be posted based on the Chapter questions, I felt like the answers of classmates were very repetitive making it hard to respond if you were one of the last ones to respond to the answers.
Overall, this course was a great one! I would recommend this course to a person that is always on the go, and wants to save driving time. Plus, it offers so many new ways of learning how to integrate technology in the classrooms, and help you be up to date with some of the new TECH items, and sites to use.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
#19 Thanksgiving Story
The last day before break I allowed my students to create a Thanksgiving story on thanksgiving story.com. It is a site that students star in a story all about Thanksgiving. Students were able to fill in some blanks, and at the end a story is generated for them.
This was just something quick that my students had fun with, and integrating technology simultaneously. I thought it would be fun for each student to create one so that they could share with their family on Thanksgiving. This activity only took about 10 minutes per student.
They were all excited to print it after they were done!
I added one example below to share...
Megan's Thanksgiving Story
At Megan's house on Thanksgiving day, everything smelled fantastic! The grown-ups were in the kitchen filling the best china dishes with all sorts of yummy Thanksgiving food. In the spirit of sharing, every Thanksgiving Megan's family made a big turkey dinner to eat with special friends. All of a sudden the doorbell rang. It was Matthew, one of Megan's favorite people. "Come in!" Megan said excitedly. "Dinner's almost ready!" "I've brought corn bread," Matthew said, smiling, holding up a dish of great-looking corn bread. And Karla has made turkey," Megan said. This is going to be great! Dinner was terrific. The turkey and stuffing was especially good this year. But, the big question every year at Megan's house was: "Who will share the wishbone?" This year was no different! "Me, me!" Megan and Matthew pleaded. The grown-ups smiled. Karla nodded and said, "Go ahead you two!" Megan and Matthew were given the wishbone. Each grabbed one end and pulled. All of a sudden, the wishbone slipped from their fingers and flew into the air! From nowhere, Sparty appeared and grabbed the wishbone! Everyone jumped up! The grown-ups started shouting: "Get it!" "Grab the bone!" "Sparty can't eat that!" "Bones aren't safe for pets!" Chairs fell over and dishes almost crashed to the floor as everyone tried to catch Sparty. Sparty loved all the attention and ran happily around the room, slipping away each time someone got close! Finally, Karla caught Sparty and got the wishbone away. "Whew! Here it is," Karla said, holding the wishbone in the air for all to see. Oh no! It was broken! For a moment, everyone was silent. "Well," Karla said, starting to laugh. "It looks like Sparty gets to make the wish this year! I hope it's a good one!" Then, everyone laughed and applauded. "More pie!" Matthew said. This is a Thanksgiving to remember always, Megan thought, looking around at all the happy faces. Megan would always remember this Thanksgiving as "Sparty's Thanksgiving Wish!"
The End
This was just something quick that my students had fun with, and integrating technology simultaneously. I thought it would be fun for each student to create one so that they could share with their family on Thanksgiving. This activity only took about 10 minutes per student.
They were all excited to print it after they were done!
I added one example below to share...
Megan's Thanksgiving Story
At Megan's house on Thanksgiving day, everything smelled fantastic! The grown-ups were in the kitchen filling the best china dishes with all sorts of yummy Thanksgiving food. In the spirit of sharing, every Thanksgiving Megan's family made a big turkey dinner to eat with special friends. All of a sudden the doorbell rang. It was Matthew, one of Megan's favorite people. "Come in!" Megan said excitedly. "Dinner's almost ready!" "I've brought corn bread," Matthew said, smiling, holding up a dish of great-looking corn bread. And Karla has made turkey," Megan said. This is going to be great! Dinner was terrific. The turkey and stuffing was especially good this year. But, the big question every year at Megan's house was: "Who will share the wishbone?" This year was no different! "Me, me!" Megan and Matthew pleaded. The grown-ups smiled. Karla nodded and said, "Go ahead you two!" Megan and Matthew were given the wishbone. Each grabbed one end and pulled. All of a sudden, the wishbone slipped from their fingers and flew into the air! From nowhere, Sparty appeared and grabbed the wishbone! Everyone jumped up! The grown-ups started shouting: "Get it!" "Grab the bone!" "Sparty can't eat that!" "Bones aren't safe for pets!" Chairs fell over and dishes almost crashed to the floor as everyone tried to catch Sparty. Sparty loved all the attention and ran happily around the room, slipping away each time someone got close! Finally, Karla caught Sparty and got the wishbone away. "Whew! Here it is," Karla said, holding the wishbone in the air for all to see. Oh no! It was broken! For a moment, everyone was silent. "Well," Karla said, starting to laugh. "It looks like Sparty gets to make the wish this year! I hope it's a good one!" Then, everyone laughed and applauded. "More pie!" Matthew said. This is a Thanksgiving to remember always, Megan thought, looking around at all the happy faces. Megan would always remember this Thanksgiving as "Sparty's Thanksgiving Wish!"
The End
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
