PODCASTING!!

I used a tool called podcasting today! It is a very neat tool! I got to experiment with it during the time I was with my second grade class. I chose a couple students from the poetry center during center time. Below is an example of a student using podcasting. I had them read it through while being recorded (Student Reading-1. You can tell she was a little shaky during this reading. I played back the recording for them and had them critique their own reading with my help (were they reading too fast/slow, did they read with expression, how was their fluency?). After we analyzed the first recording, I had them read it a second time while being recorded. We listened to that one too. And each student sounded better the second time.

Below is an example of one student reading her poem called "Nature's Creatures."

You could also use podcasting to read a story or a poem how you would want it read and share it with your class. You could also create a seperate center where the children could create their own podcast presentation. As you can see, podacsting could be a very useful tool.

Glog Poster

This is the poster I created on the online tool Glogster Edu. You may add students to your account on glogster and they may create posters like this one.

Glogster

Star of the Week!

This is the Star of the Week.  Almost every week there will be a different Star of the Week. They create a poster of things they would like to share with the class. They may include places they have been, things that interest them, family, friends, etc. When they are the Star of the Week, they get a certificate, a picture of themselves, and first selection for a seat at SSR.  This picture is also posted on the class blog so parents can see all of the children as Star of the Week. It is a very neat activity!

Flipcam

Today's new tool was the flipcam. A Flipcam is like mini video camera that has an attached USB port. That way you may download the videos onto your computer and attch them to your blog so parents can see what is going on in the classroom. For example, today I videotaped the class's morning work on the smartboard. A little bit later today I will upload that to my computer.(I need to learn how first) You could also video tape a reader's theatre. This way children can here the inflection in their voice and also see their facial expressions. You could videotape group work to show the students how they work together. There are many things that the flipcam could be used for in the classroom.