If you asked any student in my classroom about the technology they used, they probably mention devices like computers, cameras, video games, DVD's, e-readers, and the phone that never leaves their side. Chances are they'd never mention the technologies that aren't as much "fun." None would say microwave or watch, calculator or paintbrush even though these technologies probably make an appearance in their life quite frequently. Does that make these technologies less valuable? Of course not! In fact, without them student's lives would be greatly affected. There would be no more Easy Mac or beautiful paintings. Multiplying and dividing would take significantly longer, but they couldn't say by how much because they'd have no way of keeping time.
Sometimes thinking outside of the box with technology is a good thing for a teacher and a librarian. That's why this week I learned how to make homemade scratch-off tickets from this website http://www.moredesignplease.com/moredesignplease/2010/6/22/diy-scratcher-lotto-ticket.html. These easy to make technologies could been used in tons of fun and educational ways. Students could earn them for reading books, returning books, or recommending a good book. Students could share favorite titles, which are then put on the scratch-offs. Every day or week the teacher than scratches off a ticket and the winning title is briefly read aloud or book-talked by the nominator. The uses are endless, but the anticipation of what could be will keep students interested - proof that simple and crafty is just as useful to teachers as flashy and digital.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Favorite Places to Read
Last week, a couple of bloggers for Nerdy Book Club wrote posts about places to read and write: http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/reading-and-writing-in-strange-places-by-jane-nickerson/ and http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/top-10-best-places-to-read-books-by-darlene-beck-jacobson/. These blogs got me thinking about the most obvious place to read books: libraries. Why had these writers briefly mentioned libraries or passed them altogether?
As a reader, I myself don't spend much time reading in libraries. The chairs aren't always comfortable or available. The people talking about books can sometimes be distracting. I'm constantly thirsty while reading and the water fountains always seem so far away from where I'm sitting. . Also, I feel like I'm trapped indoors missing out on all the sunshine. As you can guess, my favorite place to read is on a lounge chair on my back porch in the middle of summer. I get everything I love: sunshine, comfort, and books!
Thinking about my own favorite place to read made me realize how personal a favorite reading (or writing) place can be. That's why public or school libraries probably don't appeal to all. There's no way a library could be the perfect place for everyone. However, libraries should be perfect in one way - people of all ages and groups should be able to find the the books they love so they can read it in the place they love.
As a reader, I myself don't spend much time reading in libraries. The chairs aren't always comfortable or available. The people talking about books can sometimes be distracting. I'm constantly thirsty while reading and the water fountains always seem so far away from where I'm sitting. . Also, I feel like I'm trapped indoors missing out on all the sunshine. As you can guess, my favorite place to read is on a lounge chair on my back porch in the middle of summer. I get everything I love: sunshine, comfort, and books!
Thinking about my own favorite place to read made me realize how personal a favorite reading (or writing) place can be. That's why public or school libraries probably don't appeal to all. There's no way a library could be the perfect place for everyone. However, libraries should be perfect in one way - people of all ages and groups should be able to find the the books they love so they can read it in the place they love.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Good News about GoodReads
I've debated getting a "GoodReads" account for quite a while now. In theory, I love the idea. I'd get to share what I'm reading, see what my friends are currently loving, and keep track of the all the titles that I can't wait to read. It's like a dream website for book lovers everywhere! In reality, I know that I rarely check my home email because my school email occasionally overwhelms me. Some of my Facebook friends think I've fallen of the face of the Earth because of my lack of activity, and my Google Readers account currently has 35 new blog posts that I'm yet to read. As you can see, technology in my social life is sometimes non-existent, so I've been hesitant to add one more account to update. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and join GoodReads. While I'm still developing my personal page, the benefits are already obvious. I'm stoked about the perks of being a GoodRead member, because it's like writing to all my favorite book friends about books.
The advantages for my students will allow them to grow tremendously as readers also. GoodReads gives them an opportunity to join a community of readers, who are just as excited about books as they are. The website also encourages many of the same things I do in my classroom, like keeping track of finished books and books on the "someday list." Talking about books is also highly valued on GoodReads. The problem with this tool is that almost anyone can be a member on the website, and even though we teach the importance of digital safety, mistakes can still occur. Because of this, I think it would be best to get parent permission before students join the site. Testing it out with a small group of students may also be a good idea to see how it would work in the classroom. GoodReads is full of classroom potential, but I think educators will need to make it work for their students and classroom on their own.
The advantages for my students will allow them to grow tremendously as readers also. GoodReads gives them an opportunity to join a community of readers, who are just as excited about books as they are. The website also encourages many of the same things I do in my classroom, like keeping track of finished books and books on the "someday list." Talking about books is also highly valued on GoodReads. The problem with this tool is that almost anyone can be a member on the website, and even though we teach the importance of digital safety, mistakes can still occur. Because of this, I think it would be best to get parent permission before students join the site. Testing it out with a small group of students may also be a good idea to see how it would work in the classroom. GoodReads is full of classroom potential, but I think educators will need to make it work for their students and classroom on their own.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Author Visits 2.0
As I was reading some of my favorite blogs this week, I came across one that made a lightbulb shine bright in my mind. The blogger behind "YA Love" wrote the following blog about Skyping with an author: http://yaloveblog.com/2013/03/04/skyping-with-geoff-herbach/. While this may seem amazingly obvious to many other people out there, the idea of Skyping with an author blew my mind!
I keep thinking of it as Author Visits Version 2.0. Instead of paying for the author to travel to your schooland finding a time that works in both the author's and your school's schedules, why not use technology to bring the author into your classroom through the internet. What's even better is that the meeting is so much more personal for the author and the students. With a smaller group of students, more questions can be asked and answered, and the conversation can tie directly into what you're teaching. For example, Mrs. Anderson focused the conversations in her author visits around the idea of revising your writing, something she had been working on with her students. Since many students don't believe teachers when they say that revising is something all really good authors do, Mrs Anderson decided to bring the real deal into her classroom. As Geoff Herbach (a real life author!) was looking her students in the face and sharing examples of his own revising, the students couldn't help but start to believe in it's power.
Now, I realize that authors can't Skype with classes all the time, but there are plenty of other options out there for educators looking for unique ways to bring authors to their class or library. Creating a twitter account and following a favorite author is one way technology can bring you closer to your favorite writer. Tons of authors have blogs also. One of my favorite blogs to follow is Veronica Roth's, http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/. She not only blogs about her writing, but also adds tidbits about her personal life, which helps readers relate to her a little bit better.
As budgets get tighter, teachers and librarians are going to need to be creative when bringing reading and writing to life for our students. Skyping, tweeting, and following blogs are just a few ways that authors can be at the tip of our student's fingers.
I keep thinking of it as Author Visits Version 2.0. Instead of paying for the author to travel to your schooland finding a time that works in both the author's and your school's schedules, why not use technology to bring the author into your classroom through the internet. What's even better is that the meeting is so much more personal for the author and the students. With a smaller group of students, more questions can be asked and answered, and the conversation can tie directly into what you're teaching. For example, Mrs. Anderson focused the conversations in her author visits around the idea of revising your writing, something she had been working on with her students. Since many students don't believe teachers when they say that revising is something all really good authors do, Mrs Anderson decided to bring the real deal into her classroom. As Geoff Herbach (a real life author!) was looking her students in the face and sharing examples of his own revising, the students couldn't help but start to believe in it's power.
Now, I realize that authors can't Skype with classes all the time, but there are plenty of other options out there for educators looking for unique ways to bring authors to their class or library. Creating a twitter account and following a favorite author is one way technology can bring you closer to your favorite writer. Tons of authors have blogs also. One of my favorite blogs to follow is Veronica Roth's, http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/. She not only blogs about her writing, but also adds tidbits about her personal life, which helps readers relate to her a little bit better.
As budgets get tighter, teachers and librarians are going to need to be creative when bringing reading and writing to life for our students. Skyping, tweeting, and following blogs are just a few ways that authors can be at the tip of our student's fingers.
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