This week I have found some great examples of using multimedia in the classroom! There are several ways to incorporate media in the classroom; such as blogs, journals, movies, and websites. However, I have found blogs to be one of the most helpful. Teachers share some great ideas, post pictures, and also link great websites that they use.
For example, one blog that I have chosen to follow for the google reader project is called Mrs. Kilburn's Kiddos. This is a great blog because is has resources ranging from lesson plans to creative bulletin board ideas. Another thing that I love about her blog is it has thematic units to use throughout the year. For example, she linked a back to school packet that she gives parents at the beginning of the year. Click on this link and it will take you straight to the packet: http://mrskilburnkiddos.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/back-to-school-packet.pdf Since I am a first year teacher, this is such a great resource to use! I have gathered a few things over the years and had an idea of what information to send home, but this is fabulous because it has everything in one place and I can check to see if there is anything I have might not thought about. Another wonderful resource on this blog is the printables. There is a printable on every letter of the alphabet where the kids can cut and paste pictures that begin with same letter and then glue the pictures onto a big letter. Here is the example for the letter E: http://mrskilburnkiddos.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/the-letter-e-cut-and-paste.pdf. I will definitely be using this blog in the future for a variety of activities and ideas!!
Another blog I found was created by a teacher named Kathy Cassidy. It is called Mrs. Cassidy's Classroom Blog. She teaches first grade in Canada. I loved her blog because she incorporates so much technology into her classroom and then posts it on the blog. It looks like her classroom is so fun and the kids get to do some great projects! The great thing about it is she records them with a flip camera or she does a voice thread of the kids work. For example, they had feasant eggs in their classroom, and when the eggs started to hatch she recorded in and got the kids to do the commentary! It was so cool because the kids will remember this forever and she can post it on her blog and the parents would be able to see it as well. Here is the link to the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7bdJ6YwOWY&feature=player_embedded#at=190. I had never really thought about it before, but you tube is a great resource for the classroom. Kids love to be on camera and it is also great for parents! I will probably be using this idea especially when we do the unit on animals and we get our own eggs to watch! Here is another link to a video, but this time the kids created "Jack and the Beanstalk" and they used clay to represent the characters and the kids narrated the story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y15G55k2jv8&feature=player_embedded#at=10. I will be saving this blog under favorites as well, because it has loads of great ideas for using technology in the classroom and the kids seemed to love it!!!
I liked both of the blogs that you listed. I know several people that have used Ms. Cassidy's blog. I like the back to school packet on Ms. Kilburn's blog. You can always come up with your own, but if it has already been done it sure saves a lot of time. I wanted to share two good websites with you. They are www.atozteacherstuff.com and www.ilovethatteachingidea.com. Both of these have tons of ideas and resources that you may find useful. This class has been a lot of work, but I am excited about the things I am learning and looking forward to incorporating them in my classroom Thanks for sharing your blogs.
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