Classroom Websites

A classroom website is an ideal tool to incorporate into the classroom when integrating technology and to add another line of communication. As an assignment for a graduate class I am taking this summer, I created a classroom website that can be updated to fit my needs and my classroom’s needs. The site at this point is still a work in progress since I don’t have a classroom yet, but it does have the main framework for the site.

In my own teaching I will use a classroom website as a way to give parents information about the class, upcoming events, and class projects with assignment details. I will also use the site to display the students work including podcasts and screencasts that can be viewed and listened to at home or in the classroom. For older grades, such as fourth or fifth grade, I would also include student blogs where students can post their projects, publish their writing, and write summaries of activities and/or concepts that they have learned. Another aspect that I will include on my website will be links to educational/helpful websites for students and parents.The website also includes a form where parents or students can contact me with questions.

I believe that websites can be another tool to engage students in their learning as well as provide a convenient place for parents to get up- to- date information about the class.

Managing Transitions: Word of the Day

While solo teaching in my second grade mentor classroom, I adopted management tool for transitions called “Word of the Day.” My students loved having the word of the day since they were the ones who picked it. The Word of the Day was a way to review the week’s vocabulary from multiple content areas in addition to an effective management technique which requires the students to hear all of the directions before moving.

Students were chosen by pulling Popsicle sticks with their names on them. The first person drawn from the cup of Popsicle sticks chose the content area that the vocabulary word would come from, the second person pulled chose the Word of the Day. Once the Word of the Day was chosen, the class and I would discuss what the word meant and practiced using the word in a sentence with a partner. Students were drawn to this activity because the Word of the Day was chosen by a student; they felt ownership of the word and in turn listened intently for the word to be said before they followed the teacher given directions.

This video is titled Ms. Noonan: Managing Transitions comes from Teachingchannel.com. It is a great example of how to use the Word of the Day technique in upper grades.

Using Technology in ESOL Classrooms

This June I began my Master’s studies in Education: Information Technology. During the program I will also be completing my ESOL endorsement. I believe that technology is a great tool for teachers to incorporate into their classroom. It is something that engages students’ interests and connects them to information in a new way. There are multiple ways to incorporate technology into a classroom that are free to use and are easy to learn. Many of these tools can be an asset to an ESOL teacher, not only will they engage the learner, but engage them in a real world way, allowing them to connect to others, listen and analyze their oral language development, and share their learning.

Having student blogs is one way to interact ESL students in their language learning. Blogs are free to setup and with a knowledgeable instructor easy to learn how to use.  What is wonderful about blogs is that students can process information in a written format or, with podcasts and videos, orally. Blogs also allow students to connect to other language learners throughout the world who they can teach and learn from. 

The following video is a great example of how technology and student blogs can captivate ESL learners and empower them in their learning.

Differentiation: Using Anchor Activities

A strength on mine as an educator is the ways in which I differentiate my instruction. The “normal” classroom has an range of ready levels in multiple aspects of their education. One way that I differentiate my instruction to meet that varying needs of my students is by using anchor activities.

Anchor activities are additional assignments and projects provided at the end of a lesson for students who complete assigned work early. These activities are designed to provide all students with productive choices after completing required class work.

Anchor activities also help differentiate instruction by:

• Expanding on existing an assignment(e.g. add details to existing work)
• Providing challenging activities for students who have mastered the assigned task
• Reviewing for students who need additional practice
• Extension activities more specific to individual learning styles

The following document has elementary anchor activity ideas. Many of the ideas can be used in multiple content areas.

View this document on Scribd

Using Podcasts in ESOL Classrooms

Podcasts are a wonderful web 2.0 tool that can be incorporated into the classroom and a great asset for ESOL teachers. There are several free podcast tools such as http://www.chirbit.com/ and  http://audioboo.fm/.

Podcasts can be used in a number of ways in the classroom, like a presentation option or a way for students to publish their writing. What makes podcasts especially useful in an ESOL classroom is that they allow students to hear how they sound. Podcasts can also be edited so students can fix grammar mistakes or add expression to their speech.

Since podcasts can be listened to by others, they can be great incentives for students to do their best work.

Podcasts are also useful for teachers. Podcasts can be embedded in classroom websites. One way in which I plan to use podcasts is to record directions for projects and to review a concept which students can listen to after school. For younger grades I would use them as a way for students to publish their writing which could be listened to in the classroom with their peers and at home with their parents.

This is a podcast explaining one of my favorite ESL activities/games: Draw a picture.

Check this out on Chirbit