Tool 9

I think screencasts are a great tool for students and teachers.  As teachers, we can create screencasts to help supplements instruction.  Students can create screencasts to teach each other how to do different tasks on the computer.  I might use this in my classroom to show students how to navigate the web to a website like Odyssey, Easy Tech, Brainpop or tumblebooks.  I could even highlight the steps for a Wordle.  For language arts, the opportunities are endless!

Skype is another useful tool for the classroom.  Videoconferencing is a perfect example of students being able to instantly interact with others without ever leaving the classroom.  One of my goals this year is to Skype in bookclubs with other classrooms across the state.  In addition, currently I'm using it with a colleague who couldn't be with me to learn the ins and outs of sharing information through Jing and Skype.  It is like she was never away from us.  Taking it a step further, parent conferences are coming up and she will easily be able to participate even though she can't be on campus!  Skype is just another example of one of many numerous ways the Internet brings people together across campus, towns, nations and even the world!

Tool 8

Videos have always been a helpful aid in the classroom. They can grab the students attention and keep them focused on the material...sometimes better than the teacher.  This video is perfect for our author study of Eve Bunting in language arts.  With Halloween right around the corner, this video allows us to see a fun book and celebrate the season as well!  Check out In the Haunted House and see for yourself!!

Tool 7

Photostory is an incredible classroom tool.  I've actually already had the pleasure of seeing it in action in my language arts classroom.  It was especially useful during our author study of Eve Bunting and her picture books.  Here is my fun photostory based on our "Pie Your Teacher in the Face" day in fifth grade.  I thought I could show the kids and give them something fun to look forward to...