"Web Resources For Your Classroom" Response

After viewing all the different websites listed in Free Web Resources, the two sites that I would consider using in my first grade classroom were, “The Literacy Web at Uconn” and “National Library of Virtual Manipulatives”.  I really liked that both the web sites were specifically organized around the grade level that you teach, for example Pre-K-2.  Each website is tailored to one specific content area, reading or math.  According to the NETS-T  Standard 2 “teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes” (ISTE NETS, 2008).  I am always looking for websites for my students to explore and use during our computer lab time.  Since I do teach five and six year olds, I also wanted to find sites that my students could easily access and manipulate on their own, whether at school or at home.  

I found that the “The Literacy Web” offered a lot of valuable information and resources.  This site offers easy access to a wide assortment of literacy ideas customized for use by students and teachers in the primary grades (2007).  Through this homepage, students can visit websites appropriate for their grade level, visit other K-2 classrooms around the world, and even learn more about their favorite books and authors.  I would specifically use this website when conducting an author study.  The authors listed on this website are age appropriate, and authors that my students have been exposed to.  When conducting an author study on Robert Munsch, I would first use this website to gain information about the author to share with my students, and then I would have the students explore his website individually, by looking through his books as well as listening to stories read by the author himself, http://robertmunsch.com/books.  Most of the sites provide interactive games for students to use, while learning about a particular author’s books. 

I really liked the “National Library of Virtual Manipulatives” because it provides interactive games for students to complete on their own. It also covers a wide variety of important math topics that first grade students will be exposed to throughout the year.  The site is very kid friendly and applicable to all students.  The topics vary, so this could site could be easily be differentiated based on the needs of the student.  I would use this website in my classroom when I take my class to the computer lab.  I would use the skill that I am currently teaching at the time and have my students complete the activities on that topic, for further reinforcement.  For example, my students are currently exploring the number line in order to solve addition equations.  I would have them all visit this site to get additional support. I am always looking for free math sites for my students to access at school, and would love to share this site with parents so that they too can have their children practice at home.    

References

The ISTE Nets and Performance Indicators for Teachers (2008). Retrieved from http://www.itse.org

The Literacy Web at the University of Connecticut (2007). Retrieved from www.literacy.uconn.edu/index.htm.

My Life

New Literacies

New Literacies

New literacies are forms of reading and writing through technological developments, such as the internet.  New literacies are rapidly evolving and becoming more and more prevalent in schools to help teachers and students communicate to share ideas and thoughts. New literacies can be as common as instant messaging, emailing, blogging, and social networking spaces including Facebook, which so many of us rely on to communicate and keep in contact with.  According to Leu, Leu and Coiro (2004) new literacies allow us to identify, navigate, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate. By utilizing these five functions, students can be successful with these technological developments. 

NETS for Students/Teachers

NETS are expectancies that both students and teachers will be able to apply in our advanced digital age of learning. We as teachers have to integrate technology into the classroom in order to give our students the skills they will need to succeed and learn in this new digital age. 

New literacies and NETS in my classroom

According to NETS-T Standard 3, teachers communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (2008). In my classroom, I would love to create a blog or website to effectively communicate with parents.  I think it would be great to have pictures of my students up so parents can see the different things their children are doing in the classroom.  I would include links on my page including, Starfall, an interactive phonics website, which all students can access from home, as well as engaging literacy and math resources for children to use. 

I also think it would be great to pair my first grade students up with their 5^th grade book buddies to have them create their own digital story through Storybird.  We do not have computers in the classroom, but we do have a computer lab that we can access, as well as a SMART board, where the students can share their stories with one another.  I think they would find this so exciting!