I hope you'll join me for #TMchat with Connie Hamilton on July 26th & Aug. 2nd to discuss reading comprehension. Since comprehension is a complex topic we're breaking it down:
July 26th -We're chatting about what specific strategies, or tools, are available for comprehending texts.
August 2nd- We're chatting about knowing and understanding the difference between teaching and testing reading comprehension.
Do you have any questions or comments you believe should be addressed? If so, please add them to this Google form: #TMchat Survey
Nowadays it seems like technology is everywhere. I can walk into a restaurant, place my food order, play a game of Solitaire, pay for my meal (and even tip) by using a Kiosk. Except for a person who shows me and my family where to sit down and a person who brings our food to the table, my experience is virtual.
teacher drone
It only makes sense that technology should be integrated into our lessons. It is one of the primary ways to prepare our students for life in a world that is global, virtual, and full of possibilities! But if I'm being honest, technology also worries me.
I confess that I have feared on more than one occasion that I would be replaced by a robot or drone. But until that happens I purpose to infuse technology into class experiences whenever possible. Which brings me back to the focus of this blog...
So what happens when your campus Wifi shuts down on the day you have the BEST technology infused lesson plan and your campus evaluator is planning on seeing your genius manifested?Ugg! You can have them come back another day. You can also have plan B ready, especially when your school's Wifi doesn't comply.
Disadvantages: may not hold student's interest; requires lowest level of thinking; is an electronic worksheet.
This is a little known app that teaches students how to write their name in cursive. We can't assume our students know how to do so even at the high school level.
If you don't believe me, pass around a piece of paper and ask your students to write their names in cursive. Explain that writing their name in cursive is required to do so on important documents, like contracts.
You'll be shocked how many future doctors are sitting in your class because their signature will be unreadable!
Advantages: free app; doesn't require internet; improves fine motor skills; practice tracing and writing.
Disadvantages: may not hold student's attention; requires lowest level of thinking; is an electronic worksheet.
Teaching the basics of handwriting is fundamental to written expression. Until keyboarding has entirely taken over, there is a time and place for manuscript writing. However, iPad writing doesn't replace the good ol' number two pencil and writer's notebook!
Advantages; free app; does not require internet; free color pages; highly engaging; integrates well into reading and writing workshop; fun for all ages!
Photo from ColArmix.com #sharkday
Disadvantages: cost for some of the "cooler" color sheets; learning gets messy (but fun) when GT students use scissors to cut the pages apart trying to identify the "trigger".
If you are unfamiliar with this 3D app, it will blow your mind! After running off color sheets, students can color and create stories to go along with their 3D images that come to life.
I've witnessed reluctant writers collaborate to create stories about their pictures and then share out with other students. This is creativity and innovation at its best!
If you are looking for a global experience, I encourage you to check out International Dot Day. Most likely your school or community librarian has heard of this experience and can hook you up with the book, The Dot by Peter Reynolds. There are endless activities such as Skype sessions to connect you and your students to a global audience.
Advantages: free app; appropriate for all ages; especially nice for themed projects like "Recycling" or "Earth Day"; highly engaging; collaborative; students become the experts; Lego may follow you if you post a project on Twitter +LEGO
Disadvantages: Lego pieces can go missing; Play do can end up on carpet or the floor; teacher esteem my go down a notch after watching children as young as ten-years-old create stop motion videos in less than an hour.
This is a perfect application for students who like to figure out how things work and enjoy manipulating props. I had a class of sixth graders who created some very cool projects this year by simply playing around with the app and watching a couple of "how to" videos on Google.
Here are a couple to check out:
Earth Day Video This video was created for an Earth Day project using Play dough and Stop Motion.
Side Note: Not every student will enjoy this project because it requires patience and multi-steps. I was surprised when a group of eighth grade girls who had been knee deep in end-of-the-year drama stories, play like children when given play dough and cookie cutters. Sometimes I think it's okay to let our students "just play" regardless of their ages.
5. Sock Puppet
Advantages: free app; doesn't require internet; user friendly; collaborative; easy to manipulate.
Disadvantages: limited to 60 seconds of talk; best if uploaded to You Tube (which requires internet).
This year I worked with a Science teacher to modify an assignment for a student using Sock Puppet. Instead of writing a "how to" essay on lab safety, the student created a sock puppet show on the importance of using goggles during an experiment. Click here to view: Hannah's Safety Goggle Project
