Hello Everyone!

My name is Janet Bown.   I teach reading in grades 3, 4, and 6.

 

 

GOOGLE:

On Day 1 we focused on Google and setting up a Google account.   Although I used Google before, only as a means of searching for info or images, I knew nothing about what we did in class.  The thing I learned that impressed me the most was using Google in place of Microsoft Word.  I understand that this could be a very beneficial tool for creating things such as documents.

 

I am happy to have gone through the unfamiliar process of creating a Google account.  If I practice, I will probably be able to do this myself.  That is a goal I hope to achieve.

 

 

DEL.ICIO.US:

This is a link to del.icio.us for our group project.

 

On Day 2 we compared and contrasted Microsoft Word and Desk Top Publishing.  I learned that Publisher is a unique set of tools that allows you to put print and pictures together as you wish.  When using Publisher, everything has to be positioned on the page.  This allows for great flexibility in placing pictures and print wherever they meet your need the best.  This is not easily done in Microsoft Word.   The later is better used for anything involving mostly print; letters, worksheets, paragraphs, stories, etc. 

 

 

PUBLISHER:

Bown Welcome Banner.pdf

 

 

EXCEL:

We continued Day 2 with instruction on the Excel program and learned about spreadsheets.  Spreadsheets are used for organizing and calculating.  It is set up in columns and rows for organizing data.  Therefore, Excel is not used for "printed" information in paragraphs.  We created a basic spreadsheet together in class by listing all of our names, the highest grade we teach, the school where we work, and the university from which we graduated.  The information was then used and filtered in a variety of ways to show different things.  We learned about "Chart Wizard," and created a chart, able to change it by sorting the information.  Another thing we learned was how to create a chart and hide some of the columns.  We even learned how to make them reappear.  Magic! 

 

 

PICTURE EDITING:

On Day 3 we learned how to edit pictures - changing size, cropping, etc. in "Picture Manager."  

This is the picture I edited:

 

 

 

 

FINAL PROJECT:

For my final project, I have chosen to share information about the Interactive White Board.  I do not currently have a Smartboard in my classroom.  However, many of the teachers with whom I work have them in their rooms, giving me access to one during the times I teach lessons in their classrooms.  I have to admit that this information is simply based on what I have observed and learned from teachers who have used this technology.  I have no experience using it myself.  I would like to incorporate the use of the Smartboard into my teaching.

I teach reading in grades 3, 4, and 6.  Most of my lessons revolve around skill work.  Although some phonics is done in grade 3, much of the reading curriculum beyond that level deals with vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and writing skills.  I have seen the Smartboard used effectively in the classroom for the recording of reading vocabulary words and their meanings.  I have also observed a teacher using a Smartboard for comparing and contrasting characters from a story through the use of a Venn diagram.  While working on another page, she referred to the diagram several times to update with students' responses.  (...a lot easier than using a chalkboard and erasing it to have the needed space to write something else.)  She may have even used it the next day or week.  - Seems like a "little thing," but this feature is convenient and time efficient!

The information could be saved and printed out for any student who was absent that day, which would also be helpful.

Another teacher incorporated the smartboard's capability when introducing a novel to her class.  She shared background information in a game format, which got the students involved and interested.  Websites offering appropriate materials to accompany the novel were also available. 

I have observed that anything that is saved on a computer can be brought up on a classroom Smartboard.  This is helpful in using teacher prepared worksheets as well as anything from websites on the internet.  The teacher can use the activity with the whole class and have students record answers on paper, or students can answer by writing on the Smartboard.  (They loved doing that.)

Websites providing reading skills practice seem endless.  I've found that doing a Google search for any reading skill produces countless results, which can be used easily with a Smartboard in a classroom.

A few websites offering reading games in many skill areas are:

www.gamequarium.com (readquarium)

www.toonuniversity.com

www.rif.org/readingplanet

www.brainpopjr.com