Aug 15, 2011

QR Codes

Have you seen a QR code? The answer is probably yes even if you didn't know it. A QR Code looks like a square bar code and can be found in many places. Target posts them by the price of their items on the shelves. Cracker Barrel has a QR Code on the advertisement fliers on their tables. Using a QR Code scanner (an app for smart phones) you can scan the QR Code and be taken to more information about the item.

Where do QR Codes fit in education? One way I hope to use QR Codes this year is by having my students create a QR Code for their Book Trailers. The QR Code can be attached to the cover of the book and students can use our iTouch to view the trailer before reading the book. Visit this site for more information on using QR Codes in the classroom: QR Codes in Education. Visit this link to view a QR Code generator: Using Google to Create QR Codes

Aug 9, 2011

Book Trailers

Paper book reports are a thing of the past! With Book Trailers students can create a short movie about their book using Photo Story or Windows Movie Maker. In my classroom last year, students were eager to finish a book so they could make a trailer about it and post it online for others to view. Students were engaged and were allowed to be creative during the process. You can view some book trailers by visiting this wiki: Book Trailers for Readers.

Aug 2, 2011

Using Glogster in the Classroom

One of my favorite Web 2.0 tools is Glogster. Glogster is a collaborative online learning platform where students creativity can be expressed. I often refer to Glogster as an online multimedia poster. Videos, images, text and graphics can be added easily to allow students to create amazing presentations. My students use Glogster to create book reviews, science projects, and study guides. The uses of Glogster in the classroom are limitless. I can't wait to share Glogster with my students this year! Here is a link to my Glog that is featured on my class webpage: Nelson's News

Jul 26, 2011

Google Apps in the Classroom

As I was researching ways to use Google Apps in my classroom this year I came across this helpful presentation. This is a great overview of how many of the Google apps can be used with students and with educators. 35 Ways to Use Google Apps

Jul 20, 2011

Using an iTouch in the Classroom

An iTouch is not just a music player! There are numerous apps and ways it can be used to enhance and enrich instruction in the classroom. The list of educational apps is growing and does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. I have written a grant (see my earlier post) in an effort to acquire 5 iTouch devices for our classroom. You can visit this link to see a plethora of ways to use the devices in the classroom: ITouch in the Classroom. Have you used an iTouch in the classroom before? If yes, how did it go?

Jul 19, 2011

Donors Choose Grant

Visit this link to view our grant: iTouch Means I Can! We are trying to get 5 iTouch devices to enrich our reading experiences this year. Thanks for checking it out!

Jul 16, 2011

Maniac Magee Podcasts

Click to listen to chapter one of our novel Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli.

 

Jul 13, 2011

Summer Reading

This summer I have enjoyed catching up on some reading. I don't have a lot of time to read during the school year and it is something I really enjoy. Nothing compares to sitting on the beach with my Nook and being transformed to another world. I recently finished the Hunger Games series and found them captivating. They reminded me of the Twilight series which was hard to put down once I got started. Suzanne Collins is the author of The Hunger Games series. Click the link to visit her website to learn more about her. http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/ What have you been reading this summer?

Jul 8, 2011

Jul 5, 2011

Patrick Carman's 3:15

Do you get bored when you read? Are you ready to take your reading to the next level? Check out Patrick Carman's 3:15 series. Carman is one of the authors of the popular 39 Clues Series. He is known for making reading interactive and keeping readers interested in the story. If you have a smart phone, you can get the 3:15 app for free. The 3 stands for read, listen, and watch and the 15 represents the amount of time the whole story will take to complete. Check it out!