Map Mashup

View Washington D.C. in a larger map

This map is geared toward 3rd or 4th graders to learn more about our nation’s capitol.Google maps are a fun way to present information to a class. It could be used for older students to make their own maps. The map descriptions can have images, video, and links that provide additional information in an engaging way. Maps could be explored together as a class, individually, or students could access the map from home to review what they have learned or to extend their learning further. Children love learning new things, and love using the internet so I believe that any time you can incorporate technology into your lesson the more likely you are to have your students actually learn the information.

Google Calendar

View our class calendar to stay updated with whats going on in the classroom.

visit my website to view a tip sheet on how to access and use the classroom calendar

RSS feeds in the classroom

RSS feed is a way for teachers to provide current resources to their students. These resources can be accessed by students at anytime, form anywhere. A classroom could set up their own RSS feed, and students and their parents could subscribe to it. Teachers could post assignments for those students that are absent. Teachers could also post upcoming due dates and upcoming events. This is also a good way for parents to see what their children are learning in school.Teachers can locate news items on a particular theme, copy them or create links to them onto their classroom blog, then have students read them. The teacher could then create their chosen activity to follow up such as: class discussion, critique, review, debate or perhaps writing onto a class wiki.

video podcast

Here is a video podcast that I created.

audio podcast

Here is a podcast I created.

Creative Commons

Incorporating images into the classroom is an easy way to make lessons more fun and entertaining for children. I plan to teach at the lower elementary level such as kindergarten or first grade so my students will love to see fun pictures like this. I will be able to incorporate images into just about anything. For example, if i were teaching about animals I would insert a picture like this on a worksheet to grab their attention. Also, I could use CC licensing for photos I have taken of my class to post on the class web page.

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Original Image: "Lucy"
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/10/12897037_18c38f14ba_m.jpg
By: AnnaM

Released under an Attribution-Non-Commercial License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en

Check out my flickr page

blogging in the classroom

Blogs are used for communication via the internet. Recently, however, the idea of implementing blogs into classrooms has evolved. I am an elementary education major at Michigan State University and as I prepare to receive my teaching degree I have started to consider the advantages of using blogs in the classroom. I think that using blogs in a classroom would be motivating to students, especially to those who may be shy or have no interest in participating in the classroom.

Benefits of blogging:
•Teachers could use blogs to inform students of class requirements, post handouts and homework assignments.
•Discussion boards would give every student an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions and they would have more time to reflect on learning.
•A question forum would promote scaffold learning and peer mentoring.
•Parents can also access their child's classroom blog to see important dates to remember and also to have another way of communicating with the teacher.
•Gives students opportunities to read and write.