Internet Workshop and Emerging Literacies

The Internet Workshop and Emerging Literacies
When reading Peg Kehret Small Steps I bookmarked some articles for my students to read about polio and the iron lung and asked them to write a response to share with the group. One of the links took them to a video clip for them to watch about a woman who lived for more than 50 years in an iron lung. Many parents commented at conferences about how it touched their child and they were eager to share with them all about polio and the iron lung video. Since they had read and watched them prior to our group discussion we could use that time to discuss and not to sit and read or watch a video. I did bookmark Peg Kehret's website for the kids to read more about Peg.

Science Fair Internet Workshop
 The five major skill sets needed for emerging literacies are exactly what we are asking our students to do to prepare for the science fair. They begin by asking important questions, locate informative sites, evaluate what they read, take notes in their own words, and communicate what they have learned on their science fair boards. This is much like an individualized Internet Workshop because they all have their own topic they need to read and respond to in their writing for on their science fair board.

How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms

February 28, 2013

How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms

This article was really looking at middle and high school aged students in the classroom, but there were many things that could apply to our fifth graders.  The resources in our building are better than most in LPS but it still limits our access to technology and when kids finally have full access to the technology will change the way we can do many things. I still wonder how schools handle no internet outside of school for students when they require this for assignment completion.

Notes as I read…

Doing research, word processing, or assignments at home is a challenge…not everyone has access to the internet or even computer access at home. How do you even that playing field? How can you make assignments that are not available to all kids?

During our science fair the kids benefit so much from using search engines to ask the question. Often times it is difficult for the kids to even know what scientific concept they need to look up. By asking and reading they can then probe more into the scientific research of particular topics.

I find myself using the internet all of the time to find Kahoots! , powerpoints, movie clips, literature units, or lesson plan ideas to teach concepts or units. It is invaluable. I know that has enhanced the teaching and changed the way I do many things since beginning to teach 29 years ago. It is nice to find a developed unit and then to adapt it to exactly what I need to teach.

Here is a great example of integration to enhance learning. At LSE one of the Spanish teachers (My son’s teacher)  has reached out to her students and allowed them to instagram her pictures and use Spanish to write about what the picture is showing. They can earn class “speaking points” instead of only speaking aloud in class. She had to get an instagram account, which was out of her comfort zone, but she is amazed how much she hears from her students! It has been a great tool and a wonderful way to reach out to incorporate technology and in a manner the kids are very familiar with in their own lives.  She also has learned so much about her students beyond the classroom and has been able to have authentic conversations about what they are doing.

So much of this article discusses smartphone use in the classroom but they are really talking about middle and high school age kids. I have only 9/23 kids in my class that have smartphones so that is not something I would have considered using.  Maybe I need to rethink and allow some to use that as a tool for research?

Wednesday, February 4th--It's a Snow Day!

Wednesday, February 4th--It's a Snow Day!
I have spent a bulk of my day today looking at apps and reading articles for class. I have identified several apps I would like to try out in my room. 

1. (This is strictly a consumer app!) Math Charts by Jenny Eather.  This site is an invaluable resource for visuals to use with my math students about new or difficult concepts we work on in our curriculum.