Literacy and Technology
December 2015
Smore the Virtual Newsletter
Welcome to our Smore. Smore is an easy to use platform that is great for making newsletters. It is all done online and can be shared online as well. You can change the themes, colors, fonts and the entire look of the page. Feel free to add pictures, videos, audio, calenders, and so much more. This is one tool you are not going to want to miss. It is completely free!! Check out smore here.
Digital Citizenship in the Classroom
One of the biggest fears that many teachers have with bring technology into the classroom is digital citizenship. BrainPop is a fun interactive online platform that helps teachers teach digital citizenship. This is an important that students are reminded how to act and use the technology appropriately. Check out what brainPop has to offer here.
Apps of the Month
ChatterPix
Istore- FREE
Done in 2 steps... Draw a line and record your voice.
Make your story come alive!
Punctuation
$1.99 for the ipad but totally worth it.
Great for elementary students to practice punctuation
Grammaropolis
Free but there is a paid version as well.
Great app for practicing grammar at the elementary level
"Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important." -Bill Gates
Global Read Aloud
What is the Global Read Aloud?
This is a great program to incorporate technology in literacy in the upper grades. This program is made to use one book to connect the world; and they use technology to do so. Each classroom is to pick a book that interests them, and they are told to read it over a six week period. During the six week period the students will have a chance to communicate and have a "book club" with students from around the world that are reading the same book. Types of technology that have been used to connect students and classrooms all across the world are Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, Wiki, Email, and so many mores. This really incorporates technology and literature into the classroom for the students. They get to experience reading, but it makes it more fun and gives it a more personal connection for the students. They will want to be more involved in the book knowing they get to use technology to discuss it; rather than just using the same methods in class. For more information check out this website http://theglobalreadaloud.com/
Storyboard That
Here is a great tool for story boards. There is a free version but if you buy the monthly version it is much better quality. It is a fun interactive way for your students to put together a story with pictures. Check out story board that here.
Making an Old Skill Modern
Teaching letter writing can be very boring for your students when they can not see the connection to their life. In the 21st century, letter sending is not as common now that everything is digital. So why can't we make this old skill a little more modern. Teach letter writing with a virtual pen pal. Send emails back and forth with other students somewhere else in the world. This is a for of communication that all 21 st century learner will need to practice. Want to learn more? Check it out here
Calling All Readers
Are your students struggling to find books of interest? Here is Biblionasium which is a great virtual book shelf where students can share and upload books that they have read. It is a great tool that also has reading levels available for books to help students know if that may be an appropriate book. Create your virtual book shelf today and start sharing with your students. Check it out here
Need a Presentation "Pick Me Up"??
Are your presentations not as great as that 5th grade teacher down the hall? Are you still stuck in the PowerPoint world? Well here is a new tool for presentations to engage and captivate your young learners. It is free and web based so you can use it on any operating system. This tool is called PowToon! Below is an example created to talk about mystery books. Check out the videos on the website here.
Mystery Genre Intoduction