Tool #10

I have used an iTouch at school. Some of the apps I looked through were ABA flashcards, ABC pocket phonics, Math drills lite, Shape builder lite, and lots more. My class loved using them. We used the application for sight word flash cards, classifying farm sounds, and a matching game also. We also used it to review letter sounds and numbers. My students also liked looking at a weather application we had on the iTouches. It is amazing how a 5 year old has no fear and can manage and use an iTouch with little instruction. They so freely explore. It is awesome to see. I can not wait to have ours in the classroom this coming year. I am going to ouse it as a literacy center and hopefully the students could learn a how to use a new application each week or so. They are going to love it!

Tool #9

I have used skype before to talk to my sister who has recently moved to San Antonio. My teen age daughter uses it all the time to talk to her friends and to review and go over homework. There are so many things we could do in the classroom with skype. We could "pen pal" with other kindergartners in the district or even state. Students could discuss books and have a "book talk" over a book that both classes have read. Maybe if a class was learning about the rain forest we could skype with someone who actually had been to one or lives near one to hear about their experiences. What a fun tool to use in the classroom. I have never used jinga but looking at the video, it would be lots of fun also. Using the screencast to show the students on the other line what we are "seeing" and created. A great way to share with others.

Tool #8 Video Resources

This video I found on School Tube. I just searched for gravity. I thought this was simple video that 5 year olds would like watching, giving an example of gravity. Children love videos and I think different ways of presenting information is always great. You can reach that visual learner in your class, using videos. The video below is a song about the letter sounds. I used google to find this video, and it is one on youtube. This would be something I would use at the beginning of the year. The colors and music are catchy, and grab the learners attention. This video would easily help teach the visual and auditory learner.

Tool #7

This is a photostory I created last year for my daughters birthday. It was lots of fun to do and very easy. I did an iMovie this year for our kindergarten classes at the end of the year. It had all the pictures we took through out the year. It was, in my opinion, so much easier than photostory. Either program could be used in the classroom. Students could retell and react stories that they have read. They could also take pictures on our field trips and then put words to it, to retell the experience.

TOOL #6-WIKIS

Last year when I did 23 tools , I created a WIKI for my classroom. I didn't ever get a chance to use it, because I created a blog and kept up with that. I can see where a WIKI would be a great place for me to interact with the parents in my classroom. By posting newletters and forms that are sent home for review, ie- monthly newsletter, permission slips, information about upcoming events. I like it because everyone can add to it. Great tool to use with your team for discussions on things we are working on in class.

Tool #5

I have used Delicious before and have my bookmarks loaded. I love the fact that you can find your favorites from any computer you use. I searched for word family poems in delicious, and found a website with games, poems, and lots of other things. It was from a link from a site called Live Binder. I signed up for it, and it seems to be a place to share resources with other educators. On it I found giggle poetry- has lots of games-word searches, hangman, etc. It will be a great site for my students to "play" on in a literacy center. Here is the link http://www.gigglepoetry.com/
I also searched on Delicious for some new recipes for July 4th. I wanted something different and fruity. I found this recipe,-A fruitful crisp .http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/07/nectarine-raspberry-crisp-with-spiced-oatmeal-crumb-topping.htmlI am going to try it this weekend. I searched for july 4th recipes and found this site. It looks like they have all kinds of recipes and ideas.
I could see how students could use Delicious in the classroom. They could create their favorites on their delicious account, and which ever computer they are using they would be able to bring up their favorite sites. I like Delicious alot!

Tool #4

I love google reader. It is such an easy place to go to and catch up on the blogs you follow. It is all there in one place. I added some new subscriptions, and realized that anytime I added a blog to my blogger, it was added in google reader. I can definetley see how a student can use this, a place to find all the sites they frequent. In google docs I created our schedule for next year and sent it to my team. I am familiar with google docs, but never thought to use it when making and sending documents to my team to approve and check over. How easy it is to use. I WILL use this tool during the school year, and with my personal documents.