Miss Miller's Poetry Unit

Hello there, and welcome back!

Today's post is something rather exciting. So welcome to my online classroom! This post's topic of discussion is a 5th grade English class who is currently in their poetry unit! My tool for today is podcasts! A podcast is an audio recording that can be downloaded and listened to outside of the classroom. For my purposes today I created two series of podcasts. The first discusses different types of literal imagery and the second talks about more figurative imagery devices such as similes, metaphors, and personification! As a teacher I would post this on my classroom blog and assign the students to listen to them as homework, and possibly create a worksheet or activity to go a long with the audio tracks.

Click this link to see my SoundCloud profile or listen to my podcasts below!

Pros: I love the fact that this tool is very different from the other tools we have used before on my previous blog posts. I also like that this tool is strictly audio. I feel as though it would be a nice change of pace in the classroom and would add some variety to in/out of class activities. There are several free apps you can use to do voice recordings, and several places online to upload and store you audio tracks. Podcasts are fun, you even get to feel like a radio talk show host in your own classroom! I can see this tool being very helpful in many subjects,

Cons: It took me awhile to get what I wanted to say just right. This tool takes quite a bit of preparation and know-how. However, if you are good with apps and cloud-type programs this is the tool for you!

• ISTE Standard: Creative Communicator
• I communicate effectively and express myself creatively using different tools, styles, formats, and digital media.
• UEN Content Standard: English Language Arts- 5th Grade
• Standard 4 "Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes"
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 5
• Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom. 

The Elements of Weather

Welcome back fellow teachers!

This post is all about weather here in our 4th Grade Science class! Discussing elements from precipitation to air pressure and everything in between. I LOVE today's tool choice. Emaze is an online, web-based presentation creator that can be used to build and edit presentations on any personal computer. It is a step away from your average slide show and definitely makes the lecture a lot more entertaining! Click here to go to the website or simply watch the slideshow  below!

Pros: Its easy to use, there are tons of templates, its free, and it is SO much fun! The kids will definitely approve of this over the average slideshow any day!

Cons: It is VERY time consuming. Just like any other slideshow.

• UEN Content Standard: 4th Grade Science 
• Students will understand that the elements of weather can be observed, measured, and recorded to make predictions and determine simple weather patterns.

• Ed Tech Standard: Standard 5
• Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• ISTE Standard: Empowered Learner
• I use technology to demonstrate my learning

Butterfly Fly Away!

Hello again,

Today's topic: BUTTERFLIES. Beautiful right? For this post we are talking all about the metamorphosis of butterflies and the steps they take through their life cycle. So come on in and take a seat in our 2nd grade science class! 

Our tool up for discussion is Animoto, an online video creation service that produces video from photos, video clips, and music into video slideshows. See my examples below!

Pros: This is a cool tool to use if you cant quite find the video you are looking for. It is also a nice change from a regular slideshow presentation. The music, pictures, and video will be a fun addition to your classroom. I also think that the kids will stay focused better with the fun animations that some of the templates have. It is easy to use and it has a tutorial as well that I found very helpful.

Cons: The only way I could use the site was through a free trial, after that trial is up you will have to subscribe and pay for your account. I also found the templates to be kind of restricting. The template I used fit perfectly because it contained butterflies and I was talking about, well, butterflies! However, I can see it being an issue finding something that works for every topic.

• UEN Content Standard: 2nd Grade Science
• Standard 4, Objective 1-a. "Compare and contrast the characteristics of living things in different habitats."
• ISTE Standard: Empowered Learner
• I use technology to set goals, work toward achieving them, and demonstrate my learning.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard 5
• Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Lets Talk Food

Welcome back fellow teachers!

I am excited for today's post as we step into a 3rd Grade Health Education class. Today's topic? The Food Pyramid. The platform I chose to teach this subject is called EDpuzzle. This website allows you to choose any video, upload it to the website, crop it down, add audio overlays, insert text, even add mid video quizzes or commentary! This was helpful with my topic because as the students watched the video they were able to fill out questions that coincided with that part of the video. Super helpful! The video itself focuses on the different food groups and what is included in them.

Click here to see the website or look at the video below!

Pros: This website has been, by far, my favorite tool and I can definitely see myself using it in my future classrooms. You can use it in any subject, it is fun to use (as a teacher AND as a student), it allows creativity in your questions, easy access, free, and overall it will help kids focus during any video!

Cons: The only cons I could come up with was how it might be difficult to select a video to use, and that not everyone has internet access at home.

• Content Standard: Health Education- 3rd Grade
• ***Standard 6 Objective 1.a.b. "Record daily food intake. Determine a balanced diet based on the Food Guide Pyramid"
•  ISTE Standard: Empowered Learner
•  I use technology to demonstrate my learning
•   Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 8
• Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

You Learn, YouTube

Hello, or should I say hola! 

Today's tool is YouTube! On this platform you can upload your own videos, watch endless content on literally ANY subject, and create playlists for your classroom. The possibilities are endless! In today's posts we are going to discuss how I decided to use YouTube in a World Language class teaching Spanish.

Click here to see my playlist!

1. For this playlist I chose to stick to the basics. Colors, months, food, you name it!I am positive you could find a video for it on YouTube. This particular video is directed towards a younger crowd and works well because it includes something that all kids love-- toys!

2. I loved these next videos. The YouTube channel where I found them covers several subjects from English to Spanish, even mathematics! 

3. This next video is one of my favorites and I can really see the kids enjoying the silly but educational video clip. Videos help kids stay focused! Break up your day-to-day routine with a quick clip. 

4. I wanted to include this video to show the different styles you can find as well. If you try a video for one class and it doesn't seem to work, try again! There are so many to choose from. This one is also quite a bit longer than the other clips I found.

5. Another way I could implement this in my classroom is by assigning the videos as homework! Don't have time in class? Just assign it for home and regroup the next day to discuss what you learned.

6. Some videos are less exciting than others however their simplicity could really benefit the learning styles of some students.

7. One of my favorite things about using YouTube is the accessibility to music in learning! Songs help with memorization of vocabulary, and they are a lot of fun too. 😉 

8. This video is specifically to learn food vocabulary. The benefit here is that you can take one particular point or objective in your lesson and find a video to compliment your other activities and routine. 

9. I included this video (also talking about food vocab) to contrast two different styles of videos you can find/include in teaching.

10. As you can see, its a nice change from the everyday teaching methods, and its easy!

Pros: This platform has many benefits. Its free, easy to use, and with a gmail account you automatically have access to your own YouTube channel. 

Cons: This site is a double edged sword. It can be SO helpful, but at the same time it can be distracting. YouTube has ads, and a sidebar that shows several other videos that might be tempting for your class to click on. However, there are age restrictions you can use to minimize the appearance of inappropriate content, and by using it as a class will also take away its distracting properties.

• UEN Content Standard: World Language- Spanish
• Learning Indicator NL.IL.2 I can occasionally understand isolated words that I have memorized, particularly when accompanied by gestures or pictures.

• ISTE Standard: Creative Communicator
• I communicate effectively and express myself creatively using different tools, styles, formats, and digital media.

• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 8
• Use technology resources for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities

Map Your Mind!

Welcome back to another blog post!

Brainstorming, Mind Mapping, Idea sharing-- All of these things are important in the classroom! Allowing your students to take there ideas and organize them into something visual will help them way beyond their school years. Today we will be discussing the idea of mind mapping through a platform called Popplet. Mind mapping is taking a central idea or topic and creating web-like branches connecting your ideas to your central thought. Popplet is a website that allows you to make an account, create a mind map, and share it with your students or classmates.

Click here to see my mind map!

Pros: Something I love about this site is the freedom. It literally starts with a blank canvas and you can go about choosing colors, font size, thought bubbles, etc. It really allows you or your students to be creative and expand upon your own thoughts. I love that it is free to use as well as easy! This platform is user friendly as well as kid friendly. All of those features are great, however, my favorite feature would have to be the "share options" you can even add a collaborator and work in groups! 

Cons: To be honest it was hard for me to come up with something I didn't like about this site. One thing that I wish could happen would be a way to print or save a PDF of your project so you could have a physical copy of it. My reason being, if you don't have access to a computer you wouldn't be able to see your project. 

• UEN Content Standard: 5th Grade Science
• Standard no. 2 objective 1 & 2 "Students will understand that volcanoes, earthquakes, uplift, weathering, and erosion reshape Earth's surface." 
• ISTE Standard: Global Collaborator 
• Broaden perspective, understand others, work effectively in teams.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard no. 5
• Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Timeline Tiki-Toki Presidents:

Welcome back!

Our post today is teaching our 5th graders more about Social Studies! We are focusing on the presidents of the United States. Our tool of choice today is the online platform Tiki-Toki. This tool was new for me however I was impressed by its usefulness. This platform allows you to create timelines for whatever subject you need. Like I said, choosing social studies, I created a timeline teaching about the first 15 presidents. It has a brief intro to the presidents on the timeline and if you click on the icons a screen will pop up telling you more. There is even a place to link videos or other materials!




Click here to see my Tiki-Toki

Pros: A benefit to using this website is its adaptability. Timelines can be useful in almost every subject we teach. It also has you create an account so you can save or edit the project you make as well as keep all of them in the same spot! Thumbs up for staying organized!

Cons: I feel as though this is a tool that would better benefit upper grade elementary students. It might be difficult for the younger kids to understand or navigate. It also takes a good chunk of time creating each timeline.

• UEN Content Standard: 5th Grade Social Studies Standard 5 Objective 3
• Identify leaders of social and political movements 
• ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor 
• Critically select, evaluate and synthesize digital resources into a collection that reflects learning and builds knowledge.
• Ed Tech Standard: Standard 8
• Use technology resources for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.