This is my 7th year teaching full time in a public school. I have taught 2nd grade for 2 years and am now teaching my 5th year of 5th grade. This is our second year departmentalized, so I am currently teaching ELA to 3 classes. Teaching ELA, I use some technology with my instruction. Unfortunately, my students do not have a lot of opportunity to use technology in my class. I share a computer cart with 5 other teachers, so access to computers is a problem.
Courtesy of GIPHY
I feel very comfortable using the Microsoft Office software but am hesitant (feeling old) when creating a web site or blog. My district set up a school web page for all teachers, that is currently optional, so I have no information on it but a short welcome message. Hopefully, I will be able to update it while working in this class!
Common Sense Media: I like to review movies, television shows, and video games making sure they are appropriate for my students. I don't want to refer to something in class that my be inappropriate. I have had my students log on to this site so that they can check out things on their own.
Edutopia: Founded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, is a wealth of information. They also have monthly giveaways!
Khan Academy: Per the website, their mission is to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. They provide resources for all ages! However, not a lot ELA resources.
If you know of any other resources, especially for ELA, please share. Thanks!
Nice to meet you Geri!
ReplyDeleteI too am nervous about setting up a blog, I take more of a viewer role when it comes to social media and the internet rather than a partaker. However, I am excited for this course to take me out of my shell and make me come an active participant in the internet world!
I cannot imagine sharing one cart for 5 classrooms (my school is fortunate enough where we are 1 : 1 with ipads in kinder). Especially in 5th grade, I am sure technology could be a great tool for your students in ELA. Hopefully you can learn some good ideas from this course so when you do have access to the cart, you can use the technology beneficially for the students!
Can't wait to hear more!
Hi, Geri. This is a great introduction! I love how your profile says "with no blogging experience" yet you met all of the requirements! Thanks for sharing some of the resources you use with your 5th graders. I have no doubt you'll find some more along the way. Looking forward to learning with you this fall.
ReplyDeleteHi Geri! Thanks for sharing. I do hope that as your blog progresses, you'll be able to link this blog to your current school's website so that your school community can get a better sense of who you are what you have accomplished and hope to accomplish in the school year.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to sharing a computer cart, I understand how that can be tough but please press on in trying to incorporate those computers as tools for your students. I firmly believe that if you are able to showcase what your students are able to do with those computers, it will give you more leverage when speaking with your admin/LSC in why there is a need for more technology in the classroom. Plus, the cost of chromebooks are significantly cheaper than computers nowadays.
Another alternative if you haven't thought about it yet would be to write a Donors Choose grant to get your classroom a set of chromebooks. The grants are super easy to write, and if you post your grants on select days, corporations/organizations are willing to match what individual donors put in.
Here's a sample grant for 5 chromebooks:
https://www.donorschoose.org/project/critical-thinking-through-chromebooks/4362936/
Here is more information about match offers through Donors Choose:
https://help.donorschoose.org/hc/en-us/articles/202032496-Funding-Opportunities
David, Thanks so much for the information and support! I am going to look into the Chromebook grant and check out the links you provided.
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