Voice Thread

Voice Thread is a website that allows individuals to create a document containing a visual representation accompanied with a verbal explanation of that visual.  When I first entered into this site I was a little confused and frustrated, only due to my lack of knowledge with the sight.  However, after completing the creation of my own voice thread, I found the software and website very easy to operate.  Therefore, I would say I did like and enjoy this technological learning experience.

The value in Voice Thread, I believe is giving individuals as actual voice to speak with rather just through typing words onto a computer screen.  This allows the viewer to get a better understanding of the tone and ideas the publisher wants to express without misinterpreting written information. 

At the beginning of creating my account with Voice Thread, I did have some confusion with how to create, upload and record, only to to my own lack of knowledge with the site.  However,  I  did not encounter any technical problems using this tool and actually found it rather simplistic after the voice thread was completed.

This could be a wonderful tool used to teach students How To assignments.  The students could be giving a How To, to complete and using their voice in a voice thread they could demonstrate their How To.  As well, this could be an amazing tool to utilize to provide experience when giving speeches.  Recording them playing back your own voice thread, could give valuable insight into things to change and how to make a speech better, before having to actually present it.   These are just a few of many instanced where this tool could be implemented into a classroom.  Obviously, the age level of children would be a key concept to consider when using this tool, but as a whole, I feel this could be a very beneficial tool to many age levels.  

Technological Diversities

Technology is a forever changing concept in our society.  From cell phones to highly intellectual software devices technology is all around us in diverse ways and forms, whether we realize it or not.  This is something I have always been aware of however, I did not realize that the vast differences present in internet technology.  When the concept of the internet is brought to my mind I simply think, search engines such as Google, informational websites such as CNN, WALB etc., social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, videos sources such as YouTube, etc.  What I lacked knowledge in was just how different these versions are and how they originated.  The true differences in these different sites are the versions in which they are considered.  There is Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Web 1.0 is more of an informational based website.

In Web 1.0, information is usually used and placed on a site for nothing more than the purpose to inform.  There is no commenting or editing that takes place after a story or column has been placed on a website such as WALB or CNN, which is why these sites are considered under the Web 1.0 category.  Another form of information, in a different form of advertising is Craigslist, this website is used to find and search for information on buying and selling products.  As web 1.0 sites are based more around information, usually anyone can view or enter the site without log in information. 

Other sites such as Facebook or MySpace, are considered in the Web 2.0 category.  Web 2.0 is a more lenient site form that gives the consumer a way creating the site more to his/ her liking.  The flexibility of these sites gives the consumer the options to add photos, videos, comment, friends etc.  Web 2.0 is a very functional and social networking form of site.  These sites consider log in and passwords in order to enter into the site and usually have constant update and changes to the site for customer satisfaction.

I would definitely say that Web 2.0 is the form of internet I use more often, with Facebook and schooling.  However, the availability of Web 1.0 is very useful.  For research, or just simple informational purposes, Web 1.0 is very functional and useful source as well. I believe both versions, Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, are very important attributes to technology. In both instances, as a teacher I could definitely see myself implementing both versions of the Web into my future classroom with myself as well as, with my students.  

What if you lived during the Civil War?

What if you lived during the time of the Civil War?  Wouldn't it be amazing to look through a window and be able to picture the way life during that time frame?  If you answered yes to this question then you are going to fall in love with the book, “If you Lived at the Time of the Civil War.”  This amazing short story is written by Kay Moore and beautifully illustrated by Anni Matsick.

This book begins with an introduction to the Civil War, when it took place, how it started and who was involved.  Each of these points is defined through a question style of writing. The author gives specific as well as interesting facts that would really capture student’s attention.  Maps and correlating keys are even illustrated within the book to visually allow students to see which states were the Confederate States and which states were the Union States.

As well as all of the above information this book also states facts as to what the Union Army was like verses the Confederate Army.   And even gives insight into what the battle fields would have been like.  There are detail explanations as to how families, crops, schools and homes were affected by the Civil War and how things drastically changed.

Finally, this book sums up the Civil War by giving clarification to how the aftermath of the Civil War took a toll on both the North and the South and how families dealt with such changes. 

This book is full of information and even gives specific locations to visit as a field trip or even as a family vacation that are historic landmarks from the Civil War time frame.

Obviously, this would be an wonderful book to incorporate during a Civil War Unit.  The content in this book is unlimited and fun of wonderful ideas and ways to incorporate the theme of the Civil War in a fun and exciting way that could and would really engage students of any age group.  This would be a great addition to anyone classroom library! Hope you enjoy!

Addition Mission!!!

Mathematics is a content area almost every child struggles with at some point in his or her lifetime.  So as a future educator I asked myself, why not make elementary mathematics a fun area for children to explore?  To do so, I found an amazing fiction story titled "The Mission of Addition" written by Brian P. Cleary.  Cleary is so clever in this cute book, where he takes the reader on a journey through addition problems that children see in everyday life.  

For example:

 "6 yellow buses were parked in a line.  3 pulled behind and them and then there were 9." 

 The rhyme and riddles that go along with the story line of addition is fascinating.  There are several examples children could read in this book that they could relate to real life situations.  Another example in this book, reads about the Johnson family.  

"The Johnsons' had 1 babysitter Gretchen was her name.  She cried "Help!" So number 2, Miss Higgenbottom came....5th was Caitlyn Macnamee and 6th was Mr. Lee, and 4 more totalled 10 in all to watch that crew of 3."

Giving these situations where addition is used is a fun way of not only telling what addition means and entails but also gives the read a look into how easy addition can really be.  Through these pages, in almost every instance, the writer refers to addition in other terms such as, plus or and which is a huge aspect in expanding vocabulary as well as understanding addition . 

I would definitely recommend this book for any math lesson that deals with adding obviously, but I would also recommend it to be incorporated when teaching children about word problems.  This story is a excellent example of how word problems work.  This book I believe would really excite the children because it almost takes them on a journey through all of these different addition experiences and does so in a fun way.  Hope you enjoy and add this to your book collection!  

Water, Water Everywhere!

Saving water is a concept that many misunderstand or are even uninformed about its importance.  The book "Saving Water" is a cute story/ information text written by Neil Morris.  This book is a non-fiction book based on facts about the importance of where water comes from, all the uses of water, dirty water, and most importantly collecting and recycling water.  In the end of this book there is even a section of notes for parents and teachers.  There are many sections of this book with captions of "DID YOU KNOW?"  these sections are filled with creative ways of introducing concepts with fun facts about water, such as "Did you know...2/3 of our body is made of water." or "It is impossible to think of a drink without water!" There are even captions that contain fun experiments such as, "You can do it...you can see how much rain falls by leaving an empty pot, such as a glass jar, outside."  These fun experiments would even be fun activities to do in the classroom setting on a rainy day.   

Saving water is a wonderful science concept to introduce to children.  Not only the fun facts but lessons that can be brought about by this book are unlimited.  This book is filled with content and information that children of all ages could understand and find interesting.  Some lessons for example would be the life cycle of water or even the importance of recycling and conserving water.  I would defiantly recommend this book to be added to a classroom library for any age group.  Hope you enjoy! 

How Do You Feel Today?

Have you ever really considered how many different emotions and feelings you go through in one day? I know I, personally, go through more than I can count. There are moments in the day where I am excited about something, angry at something, sad about something.  Although, I am award of the different emotions I feel and can understand what emotions are young children are unsure of what exactly to call the feeling that they experience.  Therefore, a wonderful way to introduce and explain the concept of feeling I have chosen the cute fiction book, "The Way I Feel".
"The Way I Feel", is written and illustrated by Janan Cain.  Not only are the illustrations spot on in their message but the flow or words and explanations of feeling is exquisite.  This story uses all different characters and settings, with the turn of each page, to explain and give meaning to the different feelings we have. One page reads,
"I'm shaking because I am SCARED.  All alone in the dark at night.  The thunder and lightning crash and roar!  Hold me close and turn on the light!"
 This is just one of the many examples this book gives on the different feels we have.  And not only are the explanations of the feelings accurate they are realistic and give realistic situations that any child and/ or adult could relate to.

In order to introduce this concept and make a lasting impression, I chose the strategy f making an accordion book.  Making an accordion book is basically where the child will fold a sheet of paper into an accordion style shape then write or draw something from the book on each individual fold.  This strategy would open up so many doors for children to write about all of the different feelings in the book but as the teacher,for this particular book I would defiantly recommend drawing a picture to represent the different  feeling and giving that feeling a face to associate it with, just as the book did with its illustrations.  The children's explainations and drawings from this book would be amazing.  We go through so many different emotions it would be exciting to have the children share the way they feel about certain things and how certain things make them feel. 

I really enjoyed this book because it is a great read and a fun way to bring about the concept of feelings.  I would defiantly recommend this book and will use this book and strategy in my future classroom to incorporate and explain feelings! :)  

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Itsy Bitsy Spider, after he/she climber up the water spout again?

The selection for today's blog is a fiction book, written as an addition to the renowned story of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider."  Written by Iza Trapani, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" is a wonderful children's story that not only tells the historical story of the Itsy Bitsy Spider climbing up the water spout, but the story also tells the following journeys the Itsy Bitsy Spider experiences.  For example,
"The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Climber up the kitchen wall.
Swoosh! went the fan
And made the spider fall."
This is just one example how the story leads into the spiders life after the water spout.  Not only does this book introduce a new concept of the Itsy Bitsy Spider, but it also exercises rhymes and patterns with words.

Reading the story of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" is not only a cherished childhood memory for myself but it is one I would enjoy passing on to future generations as well.  Therefore, my passing on of this story would be in a play writing strategy.  For this strategy, the children could use the examples this story gives to what happens to the Itsy Bitsy Spider, or create there own ending as to what happened to the spider and act that ending out with the classroom.  This activity would be very exciting to see what their little imaginations would come up with as the story but also as to how they would act their stories out.  In creating their own versions of, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" The children would also be exposed to rhymes and creating a poet rhythm.

In its entirety, I love the whole concept of this book and the twist it gives on the classic story of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".  We all know how much we love acting out just one version of this classic story so why not change the game up a little and venture out into the life of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" through play writing.