Technology with writing

Today in class we experimented with different technology strategies we can use with writing in the classroom. I have been frustrated with my students storyboarding because many cannot draw well. I really liked the toondo.com website. This is a great tool to include each student. This also lets each student create drawings on the same level. I thought I could use this as a end project as well for a Lit circle.

This I believe about writing...

I believe that everyone is a writer. It is a skill, like reading, that can be taught. However, it is a skill that must be practiced. No one is born being a great writer. I started writing daily when I was eight years old. Had I not received a diary as a present I would probably not be a teacher. Since that time I have been reading and writing constantly. Good writers know you have to be aware of what everyone else is writing and how they are writing it. Although many people may argue that writing is a solo activity, I disagree. A writer reads and discusses ideas before the process begins, whether it is intentional or not.

"The writer faces the writing process fearless, not knowing where the writing will take them..." (BPR ch.11) Coming from the perspective of a Language Arts teacher this is very true. I encourage my students to dive in, especially on a creative piece, and let the words lead them. I discourage outlines and other forms of pre-writing that box them in. Sometimes it is okay to not know how your story will end. I agree as well that teachers should be writers. How can I teach something if I don't model or practice it in class?
My success as a writer only came from practicing. You cannot pick up a book, read about writing then magically write. Just like a musical instrument, it takes practice. My students write daily, and even if writing was not my content area I would still find a way to practice that skill.

I Liked listening to the vocabulary podcasts that the students created. What a clever way to teach and display knowledge of vocabulary. I also recognized that there was a set pattern to how the students podcasted. They first used the word in a sentence and then clarified for the second person who used it in another sentence. I think other students would like to listen to their peers podcast and this will help them learn in a more creative way. My sixth graders that are not as motivated in this area would benefit from this style of teaching.

My group just finished our book trailer on Thursday and we are very pleased with how it turned out. Getting used to the technology took up most of the time. It was also difficult for us to write our script because we kept analyzing our book (The Lion , The Witch, and The Wardrobe).We decided to approach our trailer from a different perspective. This also caused us to get involved in some pretty deep discussions. I am looking forward to viewing all the others this coming week. This is definitely something I could do with my students!

I thought our podcast went really well aside from the technical challenges we had (we overcame them!). It was a learning experience and I felt a great way to monitor your students conversations when you can't be there. That lead me to my other small group topic on "Using Comprehension Strategies." This article discussed taking literature circles one step further by making them more student driven. I really liked the idea of letting your students come up with the questions. Recording conversations was also mentioned in the article. Pod casting is a new way to do that where the students may be more likely to participate. This is also another way to keep them on track. That is always a challenge of mine when I have a class discussion.

Here is a link to our podcast.

Chris Webb
Shannon Shaver
Stacy Sina

link: ssina1.podomatic.com