I Can't Read Their Writing!
When reading chapter nine of Web 2.0 How-To For Educators by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum, I ran across an app called Handwriting Without Tears. Teaching second grade has taught me to always incorporate writing practice and to give students opportunities to practice their handwriting. I have many students who if I do not stay on top of them about their handwriting they turn in work that they can not even read for themselves. Handwriting Without Tears gives practice activities and work for teachers to give students and it allows students to log in and practice their letters and record their own progress and errors. This tool can be used as morning work prior to the school day starting. It can be used as a center and during enrichment time at the end of a school day. The tool can also be used as an at home practice tool for students. There are many students who have informed me that they do not enjoy writing. Using an online tool is a way to engage students more in writing by having them practice on a device verses writing on a sheet of paper. If I was to use this tool in my classroom I would make it a guided reading center for students do independently. Challenges to using this program would be that the students are not always physically writing, so you would have to remind students that a device is not always a subsitute to writing. Another challange could be teachers monitoring the student progress and monitoring how the students monitor themselves.
Games Are Only Fun When Math Is Involvoled!
Magna High is a math game site that incorporates Common Core standards for second grade and up. The tool allows students to earn badges and compete against others based on their performance. Students are encouraged to move to more advanced levels of math while playing fun competitive games. Magna High has a great level of engagement for students, because it allows them to practice and master standards without realizing that they are doing work based on the Common Core standards. This tool can be used during math centers, in the computer lab, and when students complete work early. This tool allows students to practcie their standards without completing a worksheet or workbook page and it allows them to independently work on mastering their math skills.This tool could be a challange when students are trying to rush through and just put ansers because they want to be the first to make it through a certain game. This challange would more likely happen with younger grades. I feel like this is a great classroom tool to implement in my classroom on our Friday Math Days.
Voki Voki Vokiā¦ Show Me Show Me Show Me!
Voki is a free Web 2.0 tool that allows you take make personal avatars. These avatars can be used to read a story, open a lesson, close a lesson, and introduce a project or task. The tool allows the sreator to design the avatar and bring the avatar to life. The avatar's voice can be the creators voice or can be a voice and in a language provided by the Web tool. Voki's are a fun engaging way to catch an audiance's attention. After asking around I was informed that Vokis are amazing attention grabbers for elementary school students. I plan on using Voki in my classroom just to give my students something different to grab their attention when introducing a new standard. Voki is a great tool for students who like change in enviroment, because it is almost like getting a new instructor when the Voki is "teaching the lesson or giving the task". Voki's can be a challange when creating them ad figuring out the best way to create and bring the avatar to life. I feel Voki is a quick fun tool that can engage students when the instructor makes an avatar based on what they know about their students.
Hoot For Kahoot- Screencast
Originally, I was frustrated with Screen-o-matic. I was having issues with my computer and it was hindering me from completing my task. Then after two days of my computer freezing and logging me out while I was trying to create my screencast, I found that I like the tool. It is an amazing way to use you voice of a video or presentation. This would be beneficial for giving presentations or teaching a lesson in class. This is also a great tool for students to be able to go back and use as a reference on information. For my screencast I used part of the video Kahoot! Gamify Your Class ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6gER64oFgA ). I spoke over the video and gave teachers a brief word of encouragement to use the tool Kahoot.
Kahoot is an amazing free game based tool. It can be used with all ages so it is an appropriate tool for grades k-5 and for secondary education. Kahoot can be used for any subject and it offers different languages. Kahoot is a great tool to use a lesson or unit opening or closing. It is also great for quick checks, assessment and competitive review. It is a great tool that will engage students and allow teachers to collect data on if their class is mastering the standards.
Kahoot is an amazing free game based tool. It can be used with all ages so it is an appropriate tool for grades k-5 and for secondary education. Kahoot can be used for any subject and it offers different languages. Kahoot is a great tool to use a lesson or unit opening or closing. It is also great for quick checks, assessment and competitive review. It is a great tool that will engage students and allow teachers to collect data on if their class is mastering the standards.