RDNG654 - Lampton

       As an ELA teacher, I find myself using a lot of graphic organizers. Often times they are included in the curriculum and I also make my own. When I am tasked with making my own GOs, I use Google Docs to create digital versions. For this reason, the assignment using Google Draw made a lot of sense to me. I have also used Canva and Google Slides to create GOs. Interestingly, I prefer to make GOs with a paper and pencil. It seems like digital tools would be easier, however, I find the opposite. I run into issues especially when using Canva. I cannot get the shapes, lines, and text in the GO in the position I would like them in. I find it very frustrating, especially when I am on a time crunch (like, if my lesson plans are late 😬). When using paper and pencil, I find it easier to get things the way that I like them and in the position they need to be.     I often use paper and pencil to create GOs in order to teach students how to create their own. When ...

       I have used a number of different audio tools over the course of my teaching career. When the COVID-19 restrictions were first put into place, the co-teacher I worked with used Flip Grid in place of a morning meeting. Students were given the prompt, they recorded their answers, and shared them with the class. While this app did have a visual component (students recorded video along with audio), it mimics many of the podcasts that I see online. These podcasts almost always include a video of the recording process that is posted along with the audio. Another way I have experiences audio tools in my classroom the option on most school issued chromebooks to use speech-to-text. In 4th grade, many of my students struggle with foundational reading (and therefore, spelling) skills. I have noticed them using the speech to text button to perform searches on the Internet. While I do agree that foundational skills need to be taught so that students do not rely on speech t...

     I use this image to teach about two things: the Boston Massacre and propaganda. I show this image to students, asking them to share things they see in the image. We then have a discussion about how this image makes them feel and what they believe based on this image. We use this conversation to lead the way into our discussion about propaganda. Many of my students are unaware of what that word means and I believe that this image is helpful in showing it.     Propaganda is defined as biased information used to promote a certain point of view (especially political). The image above was used to promote the American colonist's belief that the British government was harming them in unlawful ways. When discussing this image, we compare the description of the Boston Massacre from both perspectives. It becomes clear that this newspaper was attempting to gain favor for their cause. This image led many colonists to join the Patriot side, so it is a wonderful example ...

       When I began teaching at my current school, I was introduced to Scholastic Literacy Pro and Epic. There were two programs that allowed students to have access to ebooks. In addition to my in-person classroom library, I started using both of these programs during my instruction. When the district failed to provide copies of the text, A River of Words, I found the e-book version. I was able to assign it to my students so that they could re-read the text after our whole class reading. I used the online library as a tool for research projects and an exploratory introduction to units. And finally, I instituted a daily 20 minute independent reading block where students were able to engage with texts that interested them.     All of the e-book platforms that I have used in my classroom have come with a long list of pros and cons. For the sake of this blog, I will focus on the one I use more frequently: Epic. As far as educational programs go, this one has t...

       I believe there is a disconnect between the idea of the Gen Z being the digital generation and their actually ability with digital literacies. Every other article I read refers to students who are Gen Z and younger as "tech gurus" that have the ability to navigate apps, tablets, and games with ease. This idea has given schools the license to cut technology classes from the curriculum while simultaneously expecting students to be able to navigate educational technology. In Indiana, students are required to take all standardized tests on school-issued Chromebooks. Curriculums have a digital component where students are required to complete assignments and access texts online. Technology in education has done a lot of good, however, many students still fall short of the mark. With a lack of instruction on how to use these technologies, students will fall further behind their peers who are enrolled in digital literacy courses.     For this reason, I alwa...