App Review and ePortfolio Review

1. My two apps that I will be discussing is Homework Planner and Sticky Notes. I will go into futher details when I review them with the class.
2. I have read several other ePortfolio's. I think these are a great idea. I have gotten several ideas to use in my classroom just by reading what others are using.
*I had never heard of Wordle...I use it every week as a vocabulary tool and spelling tool.
*I also had not used iMovie until this class. I have watched some excellent links to other peoples iMovies. This would be a great tool to use at the end of a unit...instead of a "stand up in front of everyone presentation."
*I have also found some awesome apps that are free to download off of others ePortfolio's.
These are great ideas because I can always refer back to them at any time of need.

Differentiation

ALL of my students need differentiation. :) I teach BD (behavioral disorder). In special education I think that we often do this without really thinking about it. Each student is different and we all have to take that into consideration. I use these strategies to group my students. I do not want to put all the auditory learners in the same group. Not a whole lot would get accomplished if they all learn better by listening. Who would do the talking? The 2 apps that I found that would be beneficial for my students would be...
(Homework Planner)  (Sticky Notes)
I would use the homework planner for exactly how it sounds. If I had an iPad for each student I would use this app for every single class. I would take like the last 5 minutes of class and have them open this app. I would help so much!
I would use the sticky note app for organization. I would have them use it for writing down directions. My student often have a hard time remembering what step to do next (lab, writing a paper...etc.) This would be a great tool to use for their organization skills.

I teach BD and I have all kinds of collaborative work for my students. I am having them write a descriptive paper together. However, most of them struggle with the idea of descriptive. I created a prezi with pictures that the kids will use to describe to their partner what it looks like without telling what the picture is...most of them struggle. If their partner does not get it within a few minutes they can use hand jestures. However, the whole object of the game is to use descriptive words to explain what they are seeing. They will use google docs to write the paper together.This is just a pre-assignment to get them started on descriptive writing. Descriptive Debate Prezi

App Review and Rubric

Part 1:

 Colorbox HD (app)  Weather Bug (app)

Part 2:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22418209/Collaborative%20Work%20Skills.docx

 

 

Rubric- Web 2.0

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/22418209/Collaborative%20Work%20Skills.docx (Collabroative Work Skills rubric)
I use this tool/rubric to grade my students on their behavior. I teach in the behavior classroom and we have to document their behavior. This is the tool that I use to show my students parents their progress on behavior. This type of documentation is part of their IEP.

Here is another tool that I have used. It's called Wordle and I just used several different words to help my students get started. My Wordle

My Digital Story from iMovie

I did my digital story on iMovie on my students Washington, DC trip to the White House.

Flipped Classroom and Social Media

I like the flipped classroom concept but I just don't think it will work. Kids are taught these days that homework can be made up at anytime (in class or out of class). Yes, I do think that the students would benefit from it but are they really going to do the work outside of the classroom? Is the drive for the concept there in the students? Probably in AP but not in regular or below classes. I love the use of social medias. I am friends with my students on Facebook and Twitter. I do not see anything wrong with it. Lots of my students will miss a day of school and message me and ask what they missed. So, by the time that they come back in class the next day...they are caught up. Also, this county is pushing the 3 R's. Is this not a way of building relationships? I have actually heard principals tell teachers that they can not be friends with students on Facebook/Twitter. That is personal and they by law can not tell you what to do. Not to get on my soap box but I love the idea of social medias with students.