Engage Students:
1. Students are able to write and reflect in writer's notebooks/journals on a daily basis. Some entries are about themselves, some entries are about what we are reading and some entries are where they make connections to content we are learning to help develop vocabulary. Students are at various stages of writing and it allows for them to express themselves at the level they, are such as: scribbling, drawing, letters, words, sentences, etc. Progress is easily documented and observed.
2. Students participate in centers where they get to work cooperatively together. This helps with language and social development. They participate in reading/writing/math learning games, read to one another, participate in pocket chart activities, parallel play, and other hands on opportunities.
3. Students get to use technology in a variety of ways in order to actively engage them in the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Some of the ways my students get to use technology are:
- use the computers independently and/or with a partner to practice reading, writing and math skills by visiting various websites and using microsoft word
- use the smart board during centers or large group instruction for active engagement/involvement
- listen to stories via the web or listening center
- use the document camera to share/demonstrate/model work for other student
- use the microphone to share stories, ideas, sing, etc.
- participate in blogs later in the school year
Your last comment on this post was about having your kindergarteners participate in blogs. I've been thinking about how to use blogs in the classroom the last couple of days. Do the students blog during the school day or after? What kinds of things do the students blog about? I teach first grade, so it would be great to hear more details about what you do with blogs. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI just got around to having them use it the end of May. We worked with the second grade class to help us navigate. We type often, so most were ok with that. Our first entry was on our trip to the zoo. Next year I am thinking students will post the letter they write to the star of the week on the blog instead of typing it in word. Another ideas is to comment about books read, why they liked it, favorite part, etc. Use kind of like a journal format but then they can comment on each other and families can get involved. For students who have family and friends who live far away this would be fun. I want them to be able to post work too, but have not experimented with that yet. One student has entered a couple entries at home and I have commented on them. He thought it was cool. Students could use it to share things about themselves and things they have done. Our second grade teacher post weekly assignments, I think. I want to use it more next year. I found the kidblog.org to be user friendly and is where I set up my class blog upon our 2nd grade teachers suggestion. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the ideas. Kidblog.org looks fabulous. Now I just need to work on getting some more computers!! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with getting computers.
ReplyDeleteHey girl, nice blog! I need to put more on mine. Centers are a nice way to keep students engaged and self-learners. I also like your idea of having your kindergarten students using blogs. I would like to try it with my students. Did you create some sort of visual instruction sheet for the students to help them navigate through the blogging process?
ReplyDeleteI did not do a visual. I sent home directions and waited to see if I need to supply more specific directions. The second grade teacher did provide a visual for us when she shared how she used the blog with her class. I will have to ask how presentation. We could get together to work on this as I would like to start this with students and families at the beginning of the year.
ReplyDelete