Web Tools!!!
Tools that may make your teaching a little easier. 5.9.13
What are Web Tools?
Jim's "Pick-O-The-Week"
Penzu
Jim shares: "This is a wonderful site to give students the opportunity to write in an electronic document. The quality of typing "on paper" is a really awesome experience and feels natural."
Make Beliefs Comix!
Jim shares: "This is a FANTASTIC way to give the students the opportunity to write in a fun and creative way. Make Beliefs Comix is easy to use, intuitive, and entertaining. Your students need to provide a little bit of creativity and they are off and running. There are templates that may restrict some of your most creative students but, over-all, this is a wonderful tool to add to your writing corner."
Forvo
Jim shares: "I had entirely too much fun at this site. You are able to search for a word and have a variety of voices speak the word. The teacher would need to login to his or her account (for those who teach 13 and under) and then the students can choose the language they would like to hear words pronounced. I like that I am able to download the mp3 file and keep a "library" of the words which could prove to be very helpful.
The possibilities for the teacher are awesome with this Web Tool. Imagine keeping a vocabulary library for books so the students could access the vocabulary words they have troubles with. Or imagine studying different cultures and being able to hear words spoken in the culture's native tongue.
It's all free. It can be a bit confusing at first but once you catch on it's easy to navigate."
Padlet
Jim shares: "Padlet can transform the communication you have with your students in the classroom environment. It is simple, can be modified, and provides many choices for classroom sharing.
I would recommend this for Middle School and High School students simply because it may be confusing for the average Elementary student. I particularly like the "Wall" feature which allows students to share their thoughts and feedback. (Those of you who used "Wall Wisher" will recognize this.) What a fantastic way to learn and discuss vocabulary!
Not only can you use the wall to post notes, with a simple click you can turn your wall into a standard "blog-look". Padlet has been the easiest way I can find to create a blog.
This could be a solution to the Plus/Deltas some of you use: Just have the students post them here."
TeacherTube
Jim shares: "You know how you get so used to something that you forget how great it really is? That's what has happened to me with TeacherTube.
There are many, many video resources (plus a few others) available at TeacherTube. The best part is that they are screened so, in theory, questionable content material will not be shared with your students.
If you haven't visited TeacherTube lately, check it out. You may be surprised at the quality content you can integrate into your lessons."