Virtual Book Clubs

Here's an article on virtual book clubs in a fifth grade classroom. Edmoto is the platform for the call interaction.

Podcasting

I'm not there yet, but I did find a podcast on ReadWriteThink that I can have students listen to.  Next year I want to add a class podcast to the book reports I do.  I use the SCR for the book report form (getting them used to the form for the Periodic Assessment has worked well this year), adding the podcasting would add some creativity that I feel is missing.

Laptops in the Classrooom

Note: This post was created last Thursday. I decided to wait to post to see if my opinion improved. However, I feel my annoyances are still warranted. The computers have been "updated," yet still freeze, turn-off randomly, and are simply s...l...o...w... Get  my drift?

This is NOT technology. So, all ten laptops are now set up and today is our first day using them. Thus far, four actually work, though painfully slow. We are simply typing in Google docs, but four are constantly "Trying to reach Google..." Where is Google? Why can it not be reached? Is it hiding? Only the most patient students have remained at the computers since they are so trying. I will not be canceling my scheduled Mondays at the lab. They are the only ones that seem to work. It is much less of a headache to work in the lab. Unfortunately, we cannot access this on a daily basis. Frankly, these laptops are a bit of a joke, which reflects on...us...the tech crew? Either way, completely frustrating. All these hopes met with frustration on a daily basis. Interestingly, it is in a place of education where the technology shortfall is forthcoming. Hmm...  

Value of Literature Article

Here's a great article on the value of literature. It's a great inner city perspective I know we have all felt.
Teach the Books, Touch the Heart