Last Thoughts

This class truly surprised me! If I am honest, I will admit that I was not looking forward to this class at all. I thought I would not be able to use much of the material in my teaching and remained skeptical for a few weeks. Now that the class is almost over, I have to admit that I truly enjoyed it. I learned many new tools such as Animoto, Voki, VoiceThread, blogger, Kidblog, and Wordle. I enjoyed blogging every week and would like to keep it up going forward. I think it would be a great way for collaboration and research among teachers. I would also like to set up Kidblog in my classroom next year to get my students blogging. I think they would benefit from this context of writing. I would also like to use more Animoto with the students. When we finish a text set or unit, I believe the students would enjoy and benefit from being involved in the planning and producing of more videos.
Here is a Wordle I created with some words that reflect what I took away from Technology and Literacy.

 

Classroom Rules and Expectations Digital Story

I started creating a digital story about my classroom rules and expectations to fulfill a requirement for my grad class, but quickly realized it was a great way to connect with parents, intrigue students, show student work, and use as a tool for instruction. I decided it would be really neat to use current students to make a video for my incoming students in the fall. I had students assist me in brainstorming different rules and/or expectations in my class to begin. I then took their list and used the students to model different positive actions in my classroom. I complied all the pictures and videos and added commentary to finish it off. Here's what I created.



I used a new tool called VoiceThread to compile all my pictures and instructions.I found VoiceThread to be straightforward and easy to use. Below I've listed a few of the ways I think VoiceThread could be used.

- Student documentation of his/her own story
- Read aloud of a book for a listening station
- Lesson introductions with pictures of a concept (i.e. intro to shapes create a short digital story displaying different shapes you see around the house and school)
- Practicing math facts, sight words, letters, numbers, etc.
- Introduction of classmates and/or teacher
- Classroom rules and expectations

Let me know if you use VoiceThread and how you use it in your classroom!

Draft Form!

Hi all!

I have been working on a Digital Story for my grad class this week. I was fairly apprehensive about beginning this project, but have quickly learned it is fun (and fairly easy) to create. I will warn you, it is slightly more time consuming than I first thought. I decided to create a short video about the rules and expectations in my classroom at Washington to use with my new students in the fall. I decided to use the tool called VoiceThread. I will post a bit more about VoiceThread when I reveal my final digital story. This is all for now. There are a few slides I plan on adding, but I hope you enjoy what I've created so far!

So Many to Choose From...

After researching a few literacy projects from previous classes, I feel slightly relieved to know there is a variety of resources to choose from when completing the literacy project! I stumbled upon quite a few really interesting projects that I would love to try with my students. The first literacy project I looked at was from what appears to be a kindergarten class. The teacher, Anne Marie Betterini, read 10 Little Rubber Ducks by Eric Carle as images of student work flashed by illustrating every scene. I think it was a really neat idea to involve young students in literature. Check the video out here. !0 Little Rubber Ducks

Another literacy project I viewed was the project we also viewed in class. It was a project completed with fourth graders using Voki. I had never heard of the tool before last week's class and still do not have a complete understanding, but I really enjoyed the projects done regarding the characters from Charlotte's Web. Watch the voice over with Wilbur here. Wilbur Voki

The last literacy project I viewed was done using VoiceThread. I am entirely unfamiliar with this resource, but liked how the students were able to use images of their own work and record their voices as they read their Alphabet Aliiteration Book. Not only did I like how the teacher utilized VoiceThread, but I liked the idea of an alphabet alliteraciton book. I have a few students in mind that might benefit from creating their own alphabet alliteration book. I think I will have to give this a try next year with some students! View the alliteration book here. Alphabet Alliteration Book - VoiceThread

I think I'll have to do a little more research before deciding on a topic and tool for my own Literacy Project!