Today I begin working on my first technology goal: starting a summer reading blog. With this challenge, I began to think of many questions I have for my upcoming school year. The most relevant question being: How can I use technology to motivate my kids to read? Motivating kids to read is something that is very important to me. The benefits of reading are endless. However, I still come across children and adults (including my boyfriend, Patrick) who hate to read. Why would someone hate to read? Through the children I have taught over the past 6 years, I have found that students who hate to read hate reading for several reasons: 1. It is difficult for them 2. They have been forced to read books in the past that they find boring 3. They believe that reading is simply not for cool kids or (adults).
Reason number one is something that I can work on with them in my reading classroom. I have helped many a child find that reading is a fun activity after learning reading strategies or discovering technology that helps them overcome reading disabilities. However, helping students with numbers 2 and 3 are a little bit more challenging. As much as I can try to sell books to hesitant readers, I need to recruit the help of technology to help me with this endeavor.
Take a book like the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I just started reading this book yesterday and OMG is it awesome. I can't put it down. I rather read this book than be on my smartphone. That is saying a lot! How can I engage my students in this book in the fall so that they enjoy it as much as I do? Here are my ideas:
1. Have students research topics in the book (greek mythology) and create a website on it.
2. Create a discussion board with engaging questions about the book. For example: What greek god would you want to be your mother/father?
3. Show kids the movie trailer before reading the book. When they are finished, have them create their own movie trailer.
4. Motivate kids to read, don't force them to read. Make the book come alive. If they are absolutely not feeling the book, give them options for reading other books.
Overall, I think it is part of my job to hook children on books for life. I will always be grateful to my fourth grade teacher for hooking me! If you have any suggestions for how to motivate kids to read with technology, let me know.
http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/READ.jpg
The last day of school is always a whirlwind of emotions for me. Last year, the last day of school was the last day at a school that I loved. I think I went through an entire box of Kleenex. This year, the last day marked the end of a wonderful year at a new school with amazing kids. As I finished cleaning out my classroom today, I was overcome with a sense of exhaustion. Being in my classroom on any other day of the year would mean me being surrounded by noise, excitement and learning. However, being in a somewhat empty classroom with no children, made me reflect on what a long and amazing year it has been. I am excited for the pending relaxation that summer brings (I already took a 3 hour nap today and am still tired). Nevertheless, I have already started my list of summer to-do's and goals. Here are my goals related to technology:
1. Start a summer reading blog
2. Plan technology related projects for my students related to the new curriculum
3. Come up with a way to plan with my teammates over the summer using technology
4. Research strategies to use technology to motivate my students in reading and writing.
This list is just a start. What are your summer goals? Stay tuned for updates on mine, as well as tips related to technology. I am excited to have more time to work on this blog!
(Above are keepsakes that I made for my students on the last day. I will miss my kids over the summer!)
Here I am, blogging. FINALLY. I must say that I am a little bit late in writing this entry because I have been consumed by end of the year activities, grades, comments....the list goes on. (I know, excuses, excuses...I would be shaking my finger at my kids for all of these excuses) *Note to self--find time everyday to blog. After reading a bit about blogging over the past two weeks, I am excited about it. Very excited. I tend to get very excited about using technology in the classroom, especially new technology (I will discuss this in later entries). My latest and greatest idea is that I want to create a summer reading blog that my kids can follow throughout the summer. I will post the blog on this site once I have gotten it up and running. Meanwhile, I am searching the internet for blogs that teachers have created for their students related to summer reading. Of course, I resorted to my all time favorite source for ideas: Pinterest. Honestly, I really didn't find much that excited me. I found a blog that listed book favorites and a blog about a teacher who got a concussion and had six months off of work to read...and blogged about it. Needless to say, I am excited to start my own blog for kids that is interactive! I am teaching a 4/5 combo this year and will have some of my kids again next year. I am excited to be able to follow them over the summer and encourage them to read! Until then I have 4 more days of teaching to get me to summer. Please stay tuned for more information on my blogging experience and trouble shooting that occurs along the way.
