Right, this week I've been having a play with some different things that I can use in classroom situations. I've interested in storytelling at the moment and affording children an opportunity to share their work.
1. Storybird
This is by no means new, but I've found it really useful for a range of topics and year groups. It's ability to pitch at specific age ranges is great for focusing upper juniors into writing for an audience.
The pictures are emotive and the vast selection of topics ensures individuality in the finished product. It's really easy to make an account & the kids get loads of enjoyment out of it.
2. Zooburst
I've only had a quick play on this, but the possibilities of this for classroom use are quite varied.
To sign up for an account, you simply fill in a quick form and Craig, who I think created it, emails you back within a day.
The bit I like is that you can use your own pictures or photos so, combine this with a visualiser or a class camera, and you can start to really personalise it.
It would be useful in topic lessons, where you could create non-fiction pop-up books, or recounts of learning. In fact, it could be used as a review tool, asking children to create a book based on their learning of the unit.
3. Voicethread
This is a great website for both staff & pupils to develop speaking and listening. For examples of how this has been best used, you need to go to www.primarypete.net the website of Peter Richardson, a Year 4 teacher in Preston. He's created peer assessment opportunities and we, as teachers, have moderated work to ensure consistent levels. It's a really adaptable tool which affords collaborative approaches to learning.
Right, more to come at some point, but these are a few of my favourite things!
1. Storybird
This is by no means new, but I've found it really useful for a range of topics and year groups. It's ability to pitch at specific age ranges is great for focusing upper juniors into writing for an audience.
The pictures are emotive and the vast selection of topics ensures individuality in the finished product. It's really easy to make an account & the kids get loads of enjoyment out of it.
2. Zooburst
I've only had a quick play on this, but the possibilities of this for classroom use are quite varied.
To sign up for an account, you simply fill in a quick form and Craig, who I think created it, emails you back within a day.
The bit I like is that you can use your own pictures or photos so, combine this with a visualiser or a class camera, and you can start to really personalise it.
It would be useful in topic lessons, where you could create non-fiction pop-up books, or recounts of learning. In fact, it could be used as a review tool, asking children to create a book based on their learning of the unit.
3. Voicethread
This is a great website for both staff & pupils to develop speaking and listening. For examples of how this has been best used, you need to go to www.primarypete.net the website of Peter Richardson, a Year 4 teacher in Preston. He's created peer assessment opportunities and we, as teachers, have moderated work to ensure consistent levels. It's a really adaptable tool which affords collaborative approaches to learning.
Right, more to come at some point, but these are a few of my favourite things!
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