Reading Is Fundamental

Leading to Reading is site sponsored by RIF (Reading is Fundamental) which provide users the opportunity to listen to well known children stories. Stories are read to the user, sometimes with the option of being able to turn the pages at their leisure. The site also offers newsletters to parents and teachers in Enlgish and Spanish.

WORDDUCK - Vocabulary (Game)

Wordduck is a site where users can play word search or hangman games in order to build and enchance their vocabulary. Memebers to the site can actually go in and create their own word lists to be used in the games or if users do not want to become memebers, they can play the games provided. Users do not have to be members to enjoy playing either type of game.

Tutpup - Interactive Math and Spelling Games (Math)

Tutpup is an interactive site where users can play math and spelling games and compete anonymously against students from all over the world. Users can choose math and spelling games that vary in difficulty level and skill. The math games consist of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and algebra. The site is also provides a link for parents and teachers.

Educational Blogging (Benefits)

Blogging can be used in some many ways to enhance literacy in the classroom. Before using blogs with any students, they have to instructed on various things such as how to navigate, write for a public audience, and voice. Students benefit from being able to use technology to voice their own opinions, communicate with students world wide, and build enthusiasm for writing.





post

Wikis

Wikis are a great way to communicate with others. They allow a group of people to communicate with each other and add and edit information amongst a group. Some uses for wikis that can be used in the classroom are generate list, collaborate on projects, and partner/group writing assignments.

post

Web 2.0

The reasons why people use the internet continues to change.  Web 2.o has allowed people to use the internet to interact with each other in other ways than email.  Blogs and Wikis are just some of the example of the way web 2.0 has enabled internet users to communicate in "non traditional ways".  

post

Thinking about Teaching Blogging

There are many phases of using and teaching blogs.  I am new to the whole blogging process.  I have now learned how to blog and comments on other peoples blogs.  The more I use blogs and really figure out what the whole process, the more I will incorporate them in my classroom.

post 

Why Students Blog

Students seems to really enjoy blogging.  It seems to be a way for them to write and express themselves were no one is going to give them a grade.  Students do not have to worry about anyone judging their writing or looking to see if they are using the proper grammar of sentence structure. 

 Blogging is a worry free way of expressing your thoughts and feelings about a topic.

post

Shift Happens

I think the video was very interesting and informational.  It does not surprise me to see that China and some other countries out number us in many ways (such as the number of college graduates).  

We are now in the technology era.  It is amazing to see the statistics about the use of computer, the internet, and other technology.  Children today have to be computer literate in order to succeed.  

video

Computer Access

I have 2 computers in my class which my students have access to.  Our school also has a computer lab which the students use once a week as part of their related arts rotation.  There is also a sign in sheet in the lab which enables the teachers to sign up for a time slot when the lab is not being used for a class (the lab has about 40 new apple computers).  I also use my laptop computer frequently during instruction to engage the students in Power Point presentations and show relevant YouTube video clips and United Streaming videos.