Technology in the Classroom at BMS
Great Ideas from your ITRT - Heidi Overfelt
Want to get your class engaged in writing?
FYI: All titles are links. Click on them to go to the sites.
The Smithsonian has searched the internet for news articles (from bonafide news sources) that would interest students and posted them with writing prompts. If you sign up for a free account with your students, you can have the students comment on a private classroom blog that only you can see and grade their responses. There are lots and lots of topics from sports to civics to science to, of course, history. Super cool.
If you don't want to take the time to sign up your class, have the students read the article (display it on your SmartBoard or have them go to the site on the ipads) and comment via pencil and paper. But I know they will be engaged by the content!
A Blog! What a great idea! But that is too hard...
Use any of these resources to set up a student blog. Have the students read the article, watch the video and discuss the ideas via writing. Blogs are EASY to set up! You can use a service like KidBlog that is TOTALLY safe (only you see their responses and decide what to post) or even just share a Google Document. The students will LOVE "talking" to each other via the internet on the news or issue of the day. Think scholastic texts!
You can blog on anything - science experiments, the news, book chats, classroom behavior, health decisions, alternate histories - ANYTHING! Get students to practice their writing and typing in your subject area which will help SOL scores across the board.
I will be glad to help you set it up and sit in on the first few times. EVERY time I have done this with a class they were excited by writing and typed more than they have ever written before in class - from first graders to high schoolers. Just send me an email and I will be glad to help you set it up.
If you need any more help or information, make sure to email me at hoverfelt@bedford.k12.va.us anytime!