Podcast

The Podcast I listened to....
The Teachers' Podcast episode 1 of the school year mainly covered many different topics. The podcast began with talking about the new improved website that as been created for easy use. They talked about a new devise they have on their website that allows uses to leave voice messages, they emphasis this could be a great tool for students. They talk about a podcast convention that is taking place and how they are going to be attending and covering it. It talks about No Child Left Behind but a majority of the pod cast is spent talking about resources like the new Zoon from Windows that is similar to a ipod, and websites where parents can learn strategies to help their children with homework. It was really useful I thought although I felt like the ideas they covered did not flow together very well.

The Teachers' Podcast http://teacherspodcast.org/2007/09/15/episode-91707-reasons-to-be-cheerful/
The teachers' podcast episode 1 accessed February 25th 2008


What I think About Podcast

I think pod casts are great, they can really add to a classroom. Podcast can be a great resource for teachers. Like the podcast I listened to it can give teachers resources to aid teaching. Pod casts allow teachers to become aware of conventions, breaking news, and new products. Pod casts can also aid students. Podcast can provide students another source of information than their teacher. I know I get sick of listening to the same person talk, a podcast breaks up the monotonous of the teacher's voice. Many podcast I looked at were much like audio books, they allowed students hear many different stories, sometimes with different voices for each character. Podcast also can give students something else to do besides a oral report they can publish a podcast, spreading what they to many more than just a classroom. Podcast can be extremely useful in a classroom but with in reason we do have to remember all students learn differently.

Podcast for Literacy?

Podcasts could be used for literacy as well. There are podcast out there that focus on grammar mechanics. Students could listen to a daily podcast to learn some of this skills. Students if they are making a pod cast based off a book students will have to read the book in order to make the podcast.

Podcast in Kindergarten?

Five ideas for Using podcast in my practicum classroom. Definitely! Podcast can be used to get ideas about what to do in my class. There is so much out there on the Internet. It could be an idea about a new gizmo. It could be an idea for an activity. It could be an idea for a website to visit. I can listen to a podcast on oceans and ocean life when they do their ocean unit. I could listen to doctors, dentist speaking for their unit on healthy lifestyles.

Podcast could also be used to have the students listen to they could listen to other students reading a story. They could listen to interesting news (for Kids) daily. There is probably a pod cast out there with individual lessons for letters, words and sounds that could be used, kind of like Sesame Street.

I think students could make their own pod casts although it would be rather difficult for them as kindergartners I think. They could each read a short short and we could compile them into a little segment called kindergartners favorite stories.

5 ideas for Language Arts unit

Option 1
I'm thinking of doing a unit with my kindergarteners for the literacy unit surrounding the ocean. Students can learn about the many creatures in the ocean. They then can use a paint program and draw pictures of the many animals. Then saving the pictures that class can create a video. They can each do voiceovers for their pictures telling the story of that animal. We can then publish the video onto a site such as youtube. The students will be able to share their knowledge with others while having a ton of fun in all the work they have accomplished to do this project.

Option 2
Another option is for students when they are studying the weather. Student can first be exposed to different books about many different kinds of weather. Then students can take trips to the computer lab and using kids inspiration create a web using pictures of the many weather conditions and how they are related. This will probably be a bit tricky for kindergarteners so it will take a few sessions to exposed students to the program. Then I would probably have students make a hard copy of the web before starting the project.

Option 3
Another option is students can work in small groups each reading a simple story. They can act out that story while being recorded. Students could work on simple fairy tales and stories like Mrs. Wishy Washy and the Three Billy Goats Gruff. They can make sets and get costumes together. After we have recorded their show they can add music for the introduction and conclusion. To display their work we can publish the movie online and or have a neighboring class come into the classroom to watch the finished product with their fellow peers. I have never done this before and I think it would be a fantastic experience for me to learn how to do. Since I am very involved in theatre and music it would be a great way to connect my interests into the classroom.

Option 4
When students are studying dinosaurs I feel that students can read short stories about dinosaurs. After they have a basic idea about what a dinosaur is and a few types I hope to have them use their creativity. I think a great was for them to continue their writing is to have students write their own little short story about a dinosaur. They can write about how dinosaurs died, or a day in the life of a dinosaur. After students have written their story we cold travel to the computer center and have student type their stories. The typing may take a little time. After typing their story students can wither print their story and hand draw pictures or find pictures and paste them to tell the story of their dinosaur.

Option 5
Lastly when students learn about plants and spring I have a project planed. It will probably take a longer time than 2 weeks. I remember being in elementary school and growing plants. It was an amazing feeling to take care of a living thing. For this project I was thinking students could plant flowers. Everyday students will take photos for their plant. After the plants have grown students can take their photos we will create a mini movie of the growth of a plant. Along with the plant students can also read books about plants. I think what would be really interesting for this project would be to give students a variety of plants flowers and vegetables. Students can write a little story about how they took care of their plant. I really think this would be a fun project because I have always wanted to watch plants grow and by taking photos students will really be able to see the process the plant made over the amount of time.