Since April is National Poetry Month I chose poetry as my curriculum unit. I prepared this unit for my daughter as I am home schooling her. She is in the 4th grade. She is a natural public speaker and has been memorizing and reciting poetry publicly for several years. She gave a four minute extemporaneous speech in 4-H on how to memorize poetry and won 1st place. I have incorporated poetry into our regular curriculum and into her school work including math and copywork. I believe it helps to make poetry reading an enjoyable habit that she is not likely to forget. I will also share this unit with other parents in the home school group that I belong. The following Produce Post/Print activities I made go along with my poetry unit.
Produce and Print
1. Wordle - I used this program to develop a wordle cloud of important poets and some of the various forms of poetry that we will be studying. I think this would make a nice poster to display in the room. 2. Puzzlemaker - I used this program to develop a word search using Poetry Terminology. I used 18 common vocabulary terms associated with poetry. I am looking forward to exploring and using this site to its fullest. 3. Casa Notes - I used this program to develop an Outstanding Performance Certificate for my daughter for a poetry recitation she did at the Oklahoma History Center over spring break. I got to choose my own color schemes and graphics. Most of the text is already present so I simply had to fill in the blanks with my information to make them applicable to my needs.
Produce and Post
4. Rubistar - I used this program to create a rubric to score an oral poetry recitation. I will use it as a scoring tool for a public poetry recitation. I used 7 categories on my rubric with the scoring method of each category ranging from 1 - 4. I will be using the site to develop more rubrics.
These links were provided by Dr. Stansberry for EDTC 5103. These are worth exploring:
Produce & Print
LetterPop http://letterpop.com
Excellent template-driven printable newsletters, etc.
Casa Notes http://casanotes.4teachers.org
Quickly create and customize notes to send home to parents or give to students. Teachers choose from templates and customize some of the content, choose a color scheme and add a graphic.
Create a Graph http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph
A tool with a tutorial to input data and create just the right kind of graph to communicate information visually.
EdHelper http://www.edhelper.com/
Choose from a wide variety of ready-made and customizable worksheets covering a variety of subject areas.
Flashcard Exchange http://flashcardexchange.com
Create your own or use those in the "world's largest flashcard library"
Puzzlemaker http://www.puzzlemaker.com
Create and print customized word search, crossword and math puzzles using your own word lists. Build your own maze or print specialty hand-drawn mazes created around holidays and classroom topics. Also try Equation Search, Word Merge Puzzle, Fallen Phrases, Letter Tiles, Cryptograms, Double Puzzle, Math Square, Number Blocks, Criss-Cross Puzzle, Hidden Message, Word Search, Mazes, and Mazed Things.
Rubistar http://rubistar.4teachers.org
Create your own rubrics (scoring tools) for Oral Projects, Multimedia, Research & Writing, or Work Skills quickly and easily. This online tool, developed by the High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium, makes developing rubrics a snap. Built-in features let you go back and edit or customize your rubrics, and gives you a URL so parents and students can view or print the rubrics anywhere.
Teach-nology Tools http://teachers.teach-nology.com
Generate your own award certificate, bingo cards, bus pass, bookmarks, behavior assessment, hall pass, lesson plans, parent-teacher conference plan, personal education plan, progress report, student learning contract, teacher’s weekly schedule, testing modification chart, time line, weekly progress report, crossword puzzles, graphic organizers, rubrics, word games, etc.
Big Huge Labs Motivational Posters http://bighugelabs.com/motivator.php
Teach students to create posters, cards, puzzles, and more for classroom projects, notes, letters, or programs. Digital photography and the ability to use limited, yet powerful words to grab attention, can be used for various subjects at the 4-12 grade levels.
Textorizer http://textorizer.whatfettle.com/
This is fun . . . put in the URL of an image and your text, and the site combines the two.
Toondoo http://toondoo.com
A fun cartoon maker. It's amazing how difficult it is to condense a detailed message into a short cartoon.
Wordle http://wordle.net
Create a variety of word clouds to use in assessing student comprehension, for vocabulary, or just for conceptual images.
Produce & Post
Filamentality http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil
Create Hotlists, Treasure Hunts, WebQuests, Scrapbooks, and Subject Samplers through an interactive website that guides you through picking a topic, searching the Web, gathering appropriate Internet resources, and turning Web resources into learning activities.
Lesson Planner http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/lessonplanner/
Create and store your lesson plans in your Custom Classroom account at Discovery School. Edit, print or download your lesson plan to your computer with a click of the mouse. Link to puzzles, worksheets and quizzes that you have created.
4Teachers Family of Tools http://4teachers.org
A whole host of tools -- Rubistar, PBL Checklists, Classroom Architect, TrackStar, Web Poster Wizard, KidsVid
Carmun http://www.carmun.com
Provides tools that will make researching and writing your paper a lot less painful.
1. Bookmark URLs and save sources from anywhere online
2. Create bibliographies in seconds from new or old sources in any format!!!
3. Insert footnotes easily into your papers as you write
4. Ask and answer questions posted by other students and much more. It takes longer to read this than to join.
Poll Everywhere http://polleverywhere.com
Create a poll and ask your classes or friends to respond with a text.
Google Earth: Image Overlays
I'd like to show how students can create images with editing software, and then insert these into Google Earth as image overlays. These can be exported as KMZ files, and shared with each other or compiled into a single Google Earth database. Many instructional uses can be drawn from this functionality. Google Earth KML Gallery
Google for Educators: http://www.google.com/educators/all_grades.html
Imbee http://www.imbee.com/teacher
This is a great tool for creating your own secure social network for your students.
Jog the Web http://jogtheweb.com
Create "guided tours" of websites you would like users to visit (similar to Trackstar).
Loggel http://www.loggel.com
Create a "lifelog" for a variety of activities (literature study, timeline, digital story, etc.)
Poll Everywhere This is a great site to use with cell phones in a classroom -- works much like clickers. http://polleverywhere.com
Read the Words http://www.readthewords.com
Submit your text document and choose a digitized voice to read and save your text.
Smilebox http://smilebox.com
Want to make your next booktalk a bit more jazzy? Looking for a way to introduce the Sequoyah books to your students? See how Smilebox can help you create a fast and fun way to showcase your new books.
Stixy http://stixy.com
Users can create tasks, appointments, files, photos, notes, and bookmarks on their Stixyboards, organized in whatever way makes sense to them. Then they can share Stixyboards with friends, family, and colleagues.
Survey Monkey http://www.surveymonkey.com/
Use this tool to collection information quickly within the class or around your school. Find out the results within seconds! Forget counting paper ballots for your next Sequoyah Book Award voting...use Survey Monkey instead.
Wiziq http://www.wiziq.com
WiZiQ is a web-based platform for anyone and everyone who wants to teach and learn live, online. Teachers and students use WiZiQ for its state-of-the-art virtual classroom, to create and share online educational content and tests, and to connect with persons having similar subject interests.
XtraNormal http://www.xtranormal.com
This site allows you to make a 3D movie with the text you type in as the audio and use their 3D characters. This would be great to use as a storyboarding activity!
Glogster http://glogster.com
Create online posters with images, video, and music. This might be alternative to any "poster-type" assignment you might use -- book report, persuasive argument, etc.
KeeBoo http://keeboo.com
Create and publish an e-book that you can actually read by "flipping through."
Rubistar http://rubistar.4teachers.org
Create your own rubrics (scoring tools) for Oral Projects, Multimedia, Research & Writing, or Work Skills quickly and easily. This online tool, developed by the High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium, makes developing rubrics a snap. Built-in features let you go back and edit or customize your rubrics, and gives you a URL so parents and students can view or print the rubrics anywhere.
Trackstar http://trackstar.4teachers.org
TrackStar is an online interface that helps teachers organize and annotate websites into lessons. The list of resources can serve as a guided tour through a lesson using web resources and offers students an interactive quiz at the end of the lesson.
Since April is National Poetry Month I chose poetry as my curriculum unit. I prepared this unit for my daughter as I am home schooling her. She is in the 4th grade. She is a natural public speaker and has been memorizing and reciting poetry publicly for several years. She gave a four minute extemporaneous speech in 4-H on how to memorize poetry and won 1st place. I have incorporated poetry into our regular curriculum and into her school work including math and copywork. I believe it helps to make poetry reading an enjoyable habit that she is not likely to forget. I will also share this unit with other parents in the home school group that I belong. The following Produce Post/Print activities I made go along with my poetry unit.Produce and Print
1. Wordle - I used this program to develop a wordle cloud of important poets and some of the various forms of poetry that we will be studying. I think this would make a nice poster to display in the room.2. Puzzlemaker - I used this program to develop a word search using Poetry Terminology. I used 18 common vocabulary terms associated with poetry. I am looking forward to exploring and using this site to its fullest.
3. Casa Notes - I used this program to develop an Outstanding Performance Certificate for my daughter for a poetry recitation she did at the Oklahoma History Center over spring break. I got to choose my own color schemes and graphics. Most of the text is already present so I simply had to fill in the blanks with my information to make them applicable to my needs.
Produce and Post
4. Rubistar - I used this program to create a rubric to score an oral poetry recitation. I will use it as a scoring tool for a public poetry recitation. I used 7 categories on my rubric with the scoring method of each category ranging from 1 - 4. I will be using the site to develop more rubrics.Wordle (Wordle)
Rubistar (Rubistar)
These links were provided by Dr. Stansberry for EDTC 5103. These are worth exploring:
Produce & Print
http://letterpop.com
Excellent template-driven printable newsletters, etc.
http://casanotes.4teachers.org
Quickly create and customize notes to send home to parents or give to students. Teachers choose from templates and customize some of the content, choose a color scheme and add a graphic.
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph
A tool with a tutorial to input data and create just the right kind of graph to communicate information visually.
http://www.edhelper.com/
Choose from a wide variety of ready-made and customizable worksheets covering a variety of subject areas.
http://flashcardexchange.com
Create your own or use those in the "world's largest flashcard library"
http://www.puzzlemaker.com
Create and print customized word search, crossword and math puzzles using your own word lists. Build your own maze or print specialty hand-drawn mazes created around holidays and classroom topics. Also try Equation Search, Word Merge Puzzle, Fallen Phrases, Letter Tiles, Cryptograms, Double Puzzle, Math Square, Number Blocks, Criss-Cross Puzzle, Hidden Message, Word Search, Mazes, and Mazed Things.
http://rubistar.4teachers.org
Create your own rubrics (scoring tools) for Oral Projects, Multimedia, Research & Writing, or Work Skills quickly and easily. This online tool, developed by the High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium, makes developing rubrics a snap. Built-in features let you go back and edit or customize your rubrics, and gives you a URL so parents and students can view or print the rubrics anywhere.
http://teachers.teach-nology.com
Generate your own award certificate, bingo cards, bus pass, bookmarks, behavior assessment, hall pass, lesson plans, parent-teacher conference plan, personal education plan, progress report, student learning contract, teacher’s weekly schedule, testing modification chart, time line, weekly progress report, crossword puzzles, graphic organizers, rubrics, word games, etc.
http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/worksheetgenerator/
Create customized vocabulary or math worksheets or print out ready-made worksheets for a variety of subject areas.
http://bighugelabs.com/motivator.php
Teach students to create posters, cards, puzzles, and more for classroom projects, notes, letters, or programs. Digital photography and the ability to use limited, yet powerful words to grab attention, can be used for various subjects at the 4-12 grade levels.
http://textorizer.whatfettle.com/
This is fun . . . put in the URL of an image and your text, and the site combines the two.
http://toondoo.com
A fun cartoon maker. It's amazing how difficult it is to condense a detailed message into a short cartoon.
http://wordle.net
Create a variety of word clouds to use in assessing student comprehension, for vocabulary, or just for conceptual images.
Produce & Post
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil
Create Hotlists, Treasure Hunts, WebQuests, Scrapbooks, and Subject Samplers through an interactive website that guides you through picking a topic, searching the Web, gathering appropriate Internet resources, and turning Web resources into learning activities.
http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/lessonplanner/
Create and store your lesson plans in your Custom Classroom account at Discovery School. Edit, print or download your lesson plan to your computer with a click of the mouse. Link to puzzles, worksheets and quizzes that you have created.
http://4teachers.org
A whole host of tools -- Rubistar, PBL Checklists, Classroom Architect, TrackStar, Web Poster Wizard, KidsVid
http://www.carmun.com
Provides tools that will make researching and writing your paper a lot less painful.
1. Bookmark URLs and save sources from anywhere online
2. Create bibliographies in seconds from new or old sources in any format!!!
3. Insert footnotes easily into your papers as you write
4. Ask and answer questions posted by other students and much more. It takes longer to read this than to join.
http://polleverywhere.com
Create a poll and ask your classes or friends to respond with a text.
I'd like to show how students can create images with editing software, and then insert these into Google Earth as image overlays. These can be exported as KMZ files, and shared with each other or compiled into a single Google Earth database. Many instructional uses can be drawn from this functionality. Google Earth KML Gallery
Google for Educators: http://www.google.com/educators/all_grades.html
http://www.imbee.com/teacher
This is a great tool for creating your own secure social network for your students.
http://jogtheweb.com
Create "guided tours" of websites you would like users to visit (similar to Trackstar).
http://www.loggel.com
Create a "lifelog" for a variety of activities (literature study, timeline, digital story, etc.)
http://polleverywhere.com
http://www.readthewords.com
Submit your text document and choose a digitized voice to read and save your text.
http://smilebox.com
Want to make your next booktalk a bit more jazzy? Looking for a way to introduce the Sequoyah books to your students? See how Smilebox can help you create a fast and fun way to showcase your new books.
http://stixy.com
Users can create tasks, appointments, files, photos, notes, and bookmarks on their Stixyboards, organized in whatever way makes sense to them. Then they can share Stixyboards with friends, family, and colleagues.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/
Use this tool to collection information quickly within the class or around your school. Find out the results within seconds! Forget counting paper ballots for your next Sequoyah Book Award voting...use Survey Monkey instead.
http://www.wiziq.com
WiZiQ is a web-based platform for anyone and everyone who wants to teach and learn live, online. Teachers and students use WiZiQ for its state-of-the-art virtual classroom, to create and share online educational content and tests, and to connect with persons having similar subject interests.
http://www.xtimeline.com
Online timeline tool for multimedia
http://www.xtranormal.com
This site allows you to make a 3D movie with the text you type in as the audio and use their 3D characters. This would be great to use as a storyboarding activity!
http://school.discovery.com/quizcenter/quizcenter.html
Create, administer, and grade quizzes online.
http://glogster.com
Create online posters with images, video, and music. This might be alternative to any "poster-type" assignment you might use -- book report, persuasive argument, etc.
http://keeboo.com
Create and publish an e-book that you can actually read by "flipping through."
http://rubistar.4teachers.org
Create your own rubrics (scoring tools) for Oral Projects, Multimedia, Research & Writing, or Work Skills quickly and easily. This online tool, developed by the High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium, makes developing rubrics a snap. Built-in features let you go back and edit or customize your rubrics, and gives you a URL so parents and students can view or print the rubrics anywhere.
http://trackstar.4teachers.org
TrackStar is an online interface that helps teachers organize and annotate websites into lessons. The list of resources can serve as a guided tour through a lesson using web resources and offers students an interactive quiz at the end of the lesson.