Technology is
one of the most exciting motivating forces for students!
As educators, we face the daily challenge of locating new, current
resources to use with our students.
Included on this site are
links to some excellent educational resources and projects
created to make technology an effective tool for student achievement.
Please feel free to use any resources included on this website.
Microsoft
Labels Did you know that technology can make your job of
getting ready for your students much easier. How about
downloading a label template from Microsoft. Replace the text
with your students' names or numbers. Print out on labels and use
the labels on their textbooks, cubbies, or desks. Some of the
labels even have cute clipart already on them. Finding the right
labels to use is very easy as most labels have an assigned number which
matches one that Microsoft assigns.
Translator sites are awesome!!! Many of
our primary teachers tape sentence strips around their classrooms to
label objects. How about using a translator site and post not
only the English label but perhaps a label from another language such
as Spanish. My favorite translator sites are Google and Babel
Fish. Spanish is the
fastest growing language in the United States. Even if you don't
have ESL students in your classroom, you would be doing your students a
great service by exposing them to a second language.
Bulletin
Board Idea:
Technology is everywhere! Remind your students that technology is
any tool that helps you complete a job. How about taking a
digital camera around the school and shoot pictures of "old
fashioned "technologies. I would inclued the overhead projector,
cd or tape player, typewriter, fax machine, and a pencil. Place
these photos alongside newer technolgies such as an mp3 player, LCD
projector, computer, and word processor. Kids will love comparing
the photos. I will never forget the first year I was at PVES
cleaning out a closet and found an old LP. One student wanted to
know how to put a cd that size in the computer. LOL!!! Teachnology also has some printable bulletin
boards you may want to browse through. And one of my favorite
printable bulletin boards is Homework-opoly from Teachnet.com.
A final suggestion was something that classroom teachers
of all grades use constantly: The Word Wall. he Word Wall is
simply a space in the classroom where teachers post important words.
Ideally, this makes the words visible so students can remember them,
practice them, and use them. Hopefully the Word Wall is a living space:
it should get updated regularly and the students should know where it
is and what it’s used for. If you ask your students where the Word Wall
is, they should know. More importantly, if you ask them how they use
it, they should have lots of answers.
Try to
place pictures next to each word on your word wall. There is clip
art built into any word-processing program. But if you have a digital
camera, you can create your own. Microsoft has some great clip are in
Word that you can download from their site.
A quick Google search for “Word
Walls” (Google is a teacher’s best friend!) will help you make
your Word Wall interactive and exciting. Here are a couple of links to get the ball rolling:
Building
Your ESL Student's Vocabulary
Interactive
Word Wall
Click here
to download this page. Print out several on a color
computer. Paste photos that your take during the first few weeks
of school into the white squares. Place pages into page
protectors and put into a colorful report folder. Keep this
booklet in your classroom library or put it away until the end of the
year and then pull it out again as your think back to the start of the
year.
