Choice Lit Topic: Digital Literacy
Thoreau once wrote we are in danger of becoming the “tool of our tools,” but it’s doubtful he envisioned a day when there would be so much technology hardware and software to distract and empower us at the same time. Teachers who are grappling with iPads, laptops, kid blogs and cellphones in classrooms share their triumphs and struggles here.
Results
Digital Boards for Formative Assessment
Formative assessment drives instruction. Without it, we would have no idea what to teach to whom we are teaching. However, with grades and standardized tests bombarding our classrooms, I find...
Many Possibilities for Student Podcasting
I enjoy trying out different technology ideas in our classroom, but one thing I always struggle with is whether the technology is an authentic response to reading and writing. If...
Getting Ready for Summer Reading: A Lesson Cycle
I used to spend a lesson or two getting students ready for summer reading. We’d have a visit from the local librarian about their summer reading program, and we’d have...
Creating Video with Students: Tools and Tips
During my many years in the English classroom, I often tried to capture my students’ interest and help to depict their interpretation of the literature and topics we covered by...
Connecting Class Social Media in Eight Simple Steps
I have always wanted to have a great class blog, one that parents check daily so they can see all the cool things that we are doing in class. This...
Getting Started with Blogging in Fifth Grade
We’ve all heard that kids today have no fear when it comes to technology. I have found that to be true for some children. However, many of my students seem...
Expanding the Literacy Classroom with Flipped Minilessons
When I first heard about the “flipped” classroom learning model, I was absolutely against it. I could not wrap my mind around the idea that watching a video at home...
Deeper Writing: The Story Behind the Selfie
My students tend to skim the surface with their writing, covering a lot of ground in not a lot of detail. Come to think of it, my young adolescents are...
Kindle Highlights: Conferring with Nicole
Franki Sibberson confers with fourth grader Nicole using Kindle Highlights as a teaching tool.
Shared Blogging in the Primary Classroom
Several years ago I discovered blogging as a way to build our first-grade learning community. Blogging changed our community as it opened the conversations between students, gave quieter students a...
Using Wonderopolis in Classrooms
Franki Sibberson uses the website Wonderopolis with her fourth-grade students. By modeling how to navigate the site, she encourages her students to use the web in more thoughtful ways.
Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet
Keeping our kids safe is always foremost on our minds. When children are little, we teach them how to cross the street by looking both ways. We teach them not...
Using Pinterest for Professional Development
A few weeks ago, I noticed this tweet from Chris Lehman, “I'm tiptoeing back into Pinterest. Just opened an account. Still feel so overwhelmed though. Tips?” I knew exactly how...
Helping Students Evaluate Online Video for Research
At some point during the 2005-2006 school year, my students introduced me to an online video sharing site where anyone could upload and share a video with the world. At...
Using Technology to Connect Young Readers and Writers
We are stronger together than we are apart. Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach I’ve always been one of those people who likes to talk about books with others. I’ve always read voraciously,...
Fourth Grade Writing Workshop Minilesson on Focusing
Franki Sibberson shares some tips and strategies with her fourth graders from the web for focusing and organizing their writing.
Whole Group Writing Share
Franki Sibberson leads a whole-class writing share session with her fourth graders, with students focusing on their process and collaboration rather than drafts.
Using Instagram to Sell Summer Reading Options
During this past school year Instagram, a picture sharing social media platform, became very popular with my fourth-grade students. About half of my class had Instagram on their phones or...
Conferring with Ben
Franki Sibberson confers with Ben, a fourth-grade writer trying to figure out the best audience for his writing when technology presents many options.
Staying Connected with Students All Summer Long
To say the last days of school are my favorite days would be a bit of a stretch. It's not the crazy end of year events, the incredible buzz of...
Conferring with Pierce
Franki Sibberson confers with Pierce, and in this three minute conference tackles audience, integrating visuals with blog posts, and teaching new skills to others.
