The readings for this week continued to focus on incorporating technology into the classroom. There were also free web resources that would be of great value to us as teachers. Bonk(2010)says that a "wealth of information available online is also changing teaching practices. Teachers can access online reference materials, podcasts, wikis, and blogs...". Hence, the need to research those free web resources. One particular website that was of particular interest to me was the literacy web at UCONN. This website offered a wealth of information for teachers such as research articles, and lesson plans per grade level. There is also a section where you can investigate certain authors to use in an author study with specific age-appropriate activities that correlate with the author's book. Being a special education teacher, I liked the fact that there was a section specifically designated for special needs children. This section provided many useful journal articles to read about various disabilities, including the talented and gifted children. The website is easy to navigate and understand. Using technology with literacy is an integral part of the curriculum. Just as students need to be accessing technology, teachers need to learn how to incorporate technology into their curriculum. Bonk (2010) also says that teachers are "developing procedures for posting course content and homework online". One way that teachers in my school are developing these procedures is by using http://www.teacherease.com This website has allowed our teachers to post assignments that students are missing, post grades, and give feedback on behavior, and academic assignments. This website has been a useful tool for students to access their academic progress report. Parents can also access the website to gain knowledge of their child's progress. This allows a constant, consistent communication between school and home.
Another website that I found valuable was the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. This website was a mathematics based website. It reinforces many mathematical skills and concepts. It was kid friendly and engaging. The mathematic concepts were separated by grade level making the website easy to navigate and search. I loved the visuals that were incorporated into the mathematical concepts. As a special education teacher, I find visuals benefit my students in understanding mathematical concepts that are difficult to grasp.
I would recommend these websites to my colleagues to use in the future. Personally, I really like the different thematic units to use in the classroom. Also, I plan to use the literacy website by UCONN when my students do their study on their favorite author. This link is useful to both the students and myself as we do this unit. I plan to use the mathematical website as a center in my inclusion math room, where the students who are still struggling with certain skills can practice math in a more "technological" way.
All of the web resources were very interesting to investigate and resourceful.
Curtis, B. (2010). For openers: How technology is changing school. Educational Leadership, (April), 60-65.
http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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4 comments:
Hi Lori,
My school has also began something similar to teacherease.com this year. I think it is exciting to integrate technology into the school even beyond our classroom. Parents are happy to have another convenient forum for communication with the school about their child. As this idea grows I think it can only positively impact the family and school relationships. This year I only teach reading so I won't be able to use the National Library of Virtual Mathematics in my own classroom, however I have seen many other people blogging about that site as well and hope to bring it to the math teachers on my team.
Hi Lori
Your response is “spot on.” Bonk (2010) has articulated what we as teachers are experiencing around us each day. Teaching practices are changing with the immediate and vast information available to students and teachers. I heard a quote about the Internet which made quite a bit of sense to me – writing is no longer peer reviewed (as in journals) but now a point of view. I think of this comment in reference to your recognition that free websites need to be researched when using as a resource. I, too, was interested in the two websites you chose to highlight. Your position as a special education teacher requires you to have a variety of options to engage your students and to move them forward. Your idea to incorporate the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives as a support for center time enrichment was an idea that occurred to me as well. During a recent mathematics professional development, we were given a quick look at this website and I was excited to think about using it – I hope to talk with you more about your plan to use this in your inclusion math room. In first grade, there is a great divide in readiness and knowledge – this website could be a great support on both ends of the curve. Additionally, you mention the UCONN website and using it to support an author study project. During the second marking period, first graders are required to do a performance task related to an author study. I did want to mention a website that I use in my classroom for literacy and fluency, http://www.storylineonline.net/. It is an online streaming video program featuring Screen Actors Guild members reading childrens books aloud. Each book has activities and lesson ideas. While reading other blogs from our class, I noticed Carolyn mentions the same two websites that you selected in her blog, http://cawarner14.blogspot.com/. As a first grade teachers, she also appreciates the grade level organization at each website.
Bonk, C. (2010) For openers: How technology is changing school. Educational Leadership, 67, 60-65.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html
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