I think my brain is about to explode!
Today was the third 7 hour, all day workshop that I’ve attended over the past four days – have to make the most of my NECC experience!
A plethora of web2.0 tools were presented enthusiastically as a way of teaching various (and varied) reading skills across the grades. From phonic awareness, to vocabulary, to comprehension, to talking and listening – all apects of reading instruction were comprehensively covered.
Linking assessment was always stressed and ways and examples were demonstrated. The importance of always ensuring that the use of a tool is based on its relevance to the learning task and outcomes, was also constantly reinforced.
Ideas and examples of teachers and classes using these tools in a variety of ways was really helpful to visualise the use of web2.0 in the reading classroom:
- Using simple voice recordings (and using Vocaroo to embed on blog or wiki) for multiple purposes – such as identifying rhyming words, syllabification,fluency, reading out loud, oral instructions, books onto a podcast for listening to whenever you like (family members can record books for class to listen to).
- Making simple word/vocabulary alphabets for class topics and units or basic English words for ESL students using Yodio – where you add voice to digital photos.
- ClassTools.net have lots of games that you can adapt to your class’s needs. There’s a random name picker – try matching rhyming words or homophones or opposites.
- Some great hands on and practical examples of using Voicethread were also shown to help students develop fluency when reading, to develop critical thinking and responses.
Thanks for sharing this reflection Kim. I think you’re right it’s not always the introduction of a new tool but the ways in which different educators have used them. I wouldn’t have thought of Vocaroo in this way but can see how it would be engaging and motivational for students.
Love your blog – always find something interesting and useful to read. Thanks!
Thanks Pam,
I hadn’t thought of some of the very basic step by step “older” style reading instruction activities for a while, so it was a great wake up call to realise how some of these activities can be dragged into the 21st century 🙂 (using web2.0 tools of course!)