"I Learn, You Learn, We Learn" Blog

Within the post before last I promised a photo of the Cinquain Quilt my class created during national literacy month. Students created a cinquain about a special person: family member, friend, etc.  We then cut them out and mounted them on decorative paper to create this paper quilt for this bulletin board.  I wish I saved some of the poetry they wrote about those people.

The bulletin board received many compliments. I did as well for incorporating literacy in my Family & Consumer Science classes.  My response? “Thank you. But what exactly do you think I teach in this class?”  I’m sure I don’t have to tell you their answers.

Did you know DEstreaming has many videos about poetry? There are 341 results when I search for “poetry” for grades 3-8.

 
I was never a big fan of poetry when I was in school probably because I never understood the poems the teacher picked out for our class to read and decipher. When it came to writing them, the best I could do was the old standard “Roses are red, violets are blue…..”.  It was painful! I would bet I’m not the only one.  Are any of you willing to admit the same?

Still, at this stage in my life, my first choice of something to read wouldn’t necessarily be poetry; however,  I’ve learned as a teacher some kids (more than I actually would think) enjoy various forms of poetry and  there are some good poetry sites out there for students and adults as well.

As a Family and Consumer Science Teacher, I’m always looking for ways to incorporate literacy within the realm of the curriculum I have to teach.  A few weeks ago I came across this site, POETS.org.  I learned it was National Poetry Month and started my quest to incorporate some fun poetry into my lessons.

My seventh grade students have recently finished a  Special Person Cinquain Quilt. This was part of a lesson in interpersonal relationships and an introductory lesson on quilts and community service. This particular quilt is made of paper and each quilt block has a Cinquain Poem on it created by students about special people in their lives. The quilt will be displayed on a bulletin board (a picture will be posted later).

POETS.org is a site containing poems for just about everyone. You can find poetry events to an iPhone poetry App! Check it out at http://poets.org/. 

Of course DEstreaming has many resources to teach poetry and images such as this one for students to create poetry about.

 Here are some additional sites of poetry resources:

EETT Instant Poetry Forms – http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm

The Poetry Zone – http://poetryzone.woodshed.co.uk/index2.htm

Giggle Poetry – http://www.gigglepoetry.com/

Have Fun!

21st Century Information, Media and Technology Skills

According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, ICT literacy is a skill that students need to master in order to succeed in work and life in the 21st century. ICT literacy involves using technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. It also involves using digital technologies, communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy.

Here are more games for developing your students’ ICT literacy. All of the games are accessible in English and Spanish. 

Get Wise to the Spyware Guise
Don’t let spyware sneak onto your computer to give others a chance a peak at the information you enter online. Get wise to the spyware guise by taking this online quiz.

Spam Scam Slam
Three rounds. Three strikes. If your students can make it through this game, it’s clear they’re on to spam scams and not likely to get slammed by the next one.

Stop Him in His Tracks
A techie spy and his cunning crew are out to get your students’ personal information. Can your students stop them cold? Invite them to play this game and prove they’re ready to protect themselves online.

Start the Bidding!
Your students are the next contestants on Auction Action, the game that puts their online auction know-how to the test. Start the bidding!

Avoid the Bait!
Your students can earn their spot on the Friend Finder All-Start List by showing they’re savvy when it comes to making friends online. Can they avoid the phish bait in this game? These helpful resources are taken from The Big Deal Book for Educators.

I love PhotoStory 3 and Windows Movie Maker for creating stories in the classroom; however, the UDL Book Builder deserves a few shout outs for being a free  online tool to create books and stories. Along with the tool itself, there are tips for authors, model books to explore and resources galore for creating the online books. I think I’ll have my 7th grade students create children’s books using this site as part of my Child Development unit.

Check it out at http://bookbuilder.cast.org/.

Digital Storytelling week begins at Discovery on Aug. 3. Sign up today to learn many ways to incorporate Digital Storytelling in your classroom.

Aug. 3  Thinking Outside the Slide

Aug. 4  Digital Storytelling made easy with Discovery Education Content, Animoto and PhotoStory

Aug. 5  Discovery Education Media and Windows Movie Maker

Aug. 6  Discovery Education Media and Windows iMovie

All webinars start at 11:00am ET. Click here for a complete list of webinars and registration information.

There sure is. Over at The Apple .com there are 10 great technology enhanced ideas for getting kids juiced about the dreaded book report. Why not try one of these in your classroom:

1. Let students create a cartoon version of the book they have just finished.
2. Let students create a short video clip about the book.
3. Create a virtual poster advertising the book.
4. Encourage students to create their own virtual bookshelves with Shelfari or GoodReads.
5. Book Adventure is an online reading motivation program.
6. Bookcasting is a recorded audio podcast about a book.
7. Allow students to create a timeline of events in the story they just read in an online timeline.
8. Wikis are an excellent place for students to share book reviews.
9. Excite and motivate students to read with Book Wink .
10. Voice Thread is an amazing site that allows students to create web 2.0 slide shows that become interactive and collaborative.

Read full article at http://www.theapple.com/benefits/articles/8529-10-technology-enhanced-alternatives-to-book-reports 

Meredith Bernadt, the newest Schenectady City Schools STAR, has been working on  a special project with her 4th grade students: Podcasts. 

 After participating in the Northeast Regional Event in Troy, NY; Meredith will never be the same. She’s off and running with some great ways to integrate technology in her classroom. nr=1&&s=144961871

Look for more from Meredith at the Howe International Magnet School.

Website: Howe 10 Podcast – http://www.gcast.com/user/MsBernadt/podcast/main?

 In the Teacher Tools section of  DEstreaming you can find themes to fit just about any topic.  Each theme includes video segments, lesson plans, discussion guides, related resources and student activities for each grade level.

* Before clicking on the link below, open a new window and log in to your DEstreaming account.

Knowledge of form and function is as important to writing as it is to the visual arts. Examine the structural conventions of a range of genre, from contemporary songwriting and screenwriting to classic satire and horror.

Here’s a list of books listed by grade level about the election process and government.

Website – http://community.epals.com/groups/elections/blog/archive/2008/10/20/recommended-election-reading.aspx.

Forecast Earth Summit Essay Contest

The Weather Channel is hosting a chance for students to attend the Forecast Earth Summit in December. Students need to write an essay and complete the information at https://www.forecastearthsummit.org/index.php as part of the selection process.  Why not get started on the first day of school?

Start the year off with a reading incentive program from Power to Learn. View requirements and submit your class application now at http://www.powertolearn.com
/reading_lounge/knicks_read_to_achieve/index.shtml
Even if you choose not to enter the incentive program, you can still use the Reading Lounge for a post card club and video books.

Literacy Debate : Online, R U Really Reading?

This is the first in a series of articles that will look at how the Internet and other technological and social forces are changing the way people read. NY Times Article and Graphic

What do you think?

A fish diagram? Must be another fun thing I missed when I was in school. Check this out, it looks like some fun for your students.

ClassTools.net is a simple-to-use Flash-based game creator that allows you to use templates to make your own addicting online games. The beauty here is that the hard part is done for you. You don’t need to know a thing about Flash to make these games or play them. All you have to know is the content you want to place in the template. It really couldn’t get much simpler. Different games are catered to different subject areas, but you’ll be able to find something for any subject.

Along with the games, you will find templates for charts and Venn diagrams, for example, and each one is terribly easy to use. Once you are happy with your creation, you can then save and embed them on your own blog, website or online course. You’ll find an example here. Some aspects of the site are glitchy, but then again, the whole Internet is a little glitchy sometimes. There are a bundle of games to choose from, though, so you are bound to find something that works. – JEREMY S.GRIFFIN

Get a promotional flyer about ClassTools Here

Here’s a really great resource for learning about the 8 strategies for reading comprehension:  Using Prior Knowledge, Making Connections, Questioning, Visualizing, Inferring, Summarizing, Evaluating and Synthesizing. There are activities, lessons, audio clips, videos and professional development videos. 

Although the site is geared towards K-4, teachers who teach literacy at any level can get some really great ideas. 

Website: http://reading.ecb.org/

Here’s a site to stimulate literacy development. “Word play can ignite a love of language in general, which is essential in a lifetime of reading, writing, and higher thinking and learning.”

Choose various poetry kits to put together a poem ( or other word activities).

 Website – http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/mpgpick.htm

There is a Teacher Guide to provide ideas for using the Poetry Kits.