Nik Peachy's Reviews of Website Reviews

The first blog I read was a review of "Read the Words" website. I never knew this type of website existed. The user can choose a reader to read various texts. This should help ESL students and adults with listening and pronunciation.

The second post was also a website review. At this site, Wordle, students can create 'word clouds'. The potential for these word clouds is endless. They can be used for definitions, expressing feelings, antonyms/synonyms and art projects. This would be appealing for anyone that is a visual learner.

The last review was on a website that compares words and sayings. On this site, GoogleBattle, a user can type in two versions of a saying, e.g. idiom or colloquialism, and this site will advise which is the most popular saying. The website suggests that this tool can be used to check spellings. However, when I put in consistent vs. consistant, consistant won and this is the incorrect spelling, so go to the dictionary for this. The most popular is not necessarily the most correct! This website could also be used for making predictions.

Cyber Book Writing Website

This website, Tikatok, allows students to create and publish their own books. There are many topics to choose from including dragons, cars, princesses and fairy tales. This is a site for younger students. Students can either create their own book or use the story frames provided to help. There are illustrations available for students to choose from. This will get students excited about writing and publishing. An online version of the book is free and a hard back book can be ordered for a fee (about $20). This website was found on Larry Ferlazzo's Best of the Series website.

Reading Activities for Older Beginning Readers

Reading Skills Stories Group 1 and Group 2 are excellent websites for adult beginning readers. The topics address mature interests, such as completing an application, a child being sick or reasons to stop smoking. The readings are leveled from 0.7 to 8.0 in increments of 0.5. I can only deduce from browsing some of the readings that these levels are consistent with grade levels.

Once a reading is chosen, pre-reading questions are given to stimulate schema. Vocabulary and definitions are provided. Each reading is timed and should be read two to three times before moving on to comprehension questions and a writing assignment. This is an excellent website for ELL adults or illiterate English speakers.  This website was reviewed on Larry Ferlazzo's, Best of the Series web page.

Listening Activities for ELL's

On the website ESL's Cyber Listening Lab, there are many listening quizzes that are engaging for students. Students can choose from easy, medium, difficult and very difficult listening activities. There are general, basic and academic listening activities among others. This is a great website to practice and "assess" listening skills for all students. Students choose a listening activity. Each selection has pre-listening, listening, and post-listening activities. Some selections include a vocabulary section, as well.  This website was reviewed on Larry Ferlazzo's, Best of the Series web page.

Podcasting How Tos

I went to the article about podcasting because I get a few podcasts on my IPod and I was curious how it was done.  I am still curious about how it is done.  This article explained how it's done however, in order for something like this to stick with me, I would have to do it a couple of times.  I am not very comfortable with viewing myself anyway.  This is one technology skill that I may have to pass.

Web 2.What???

This article defines and describes Web 2.0.   I had no idea what this was and now I know!

Blogging Phases

This article discusses the six blog phases one person encountered when discovering how to blog.  The first phase, the phase I am currently in, is reading other blogs and testing the "blog" waters.  I am reading and commenting on other blogs and becoming accustomed to various formats.

Reasons Why Students Should Blog

"20 Reasons Why" describes reasons why teachers should blog.  The reason I love the most is that blogging is appropriate for all levels of students, TAG, special education, ESL...all students can use blogs effectively.  This is great because everyone can be working at the same time and no feel like the work is specialized for them.

file:///Users/teachers/Desktop/spaceball.gif

Shift Happens

This video, Did You Know, made me very aware of the fact that technology can no longer be ignored in the classroom.  All teachers have access to the technology tools (e.g. laptops, computers in class) but many never use them. Many teachers are LD when it comes to the use of computers ;-)

Commenting on Eat Like a Bird, Poop Like an Elephant

When I went to the website, I couldn't resist clicking on this title 'Eat like a bird...".  This is the concept; birds eat a lot and elephants poop a lot.  This is equivalent to taking in a great amount of knowledge and sharing a great amount of knowledge.  In other words, don't keep the wealth of knowledge we gain to ourselves.

I was surprised, as a first year teacher, how many of my colleagues refused to share information that could make or break me.  I quickly learned the teachers who were resources and which ones were 'tight-lipped'.  I have never understood why some teachers keep great ideas to themselves.  I was so happy when something went well in my class, I sang it from the mountaintops.  I was overjoyed if a teacher reported that one of my ideas really helped them out.  Is this some character trait we are born with? It should be at the very heart of anyone who carries the title of teacher.

Another very interesting concept discussed in this article is the idea of self-teaching.  This explained that our 'generation' is one that relies on being taught and not discovering for ones' self.  I thought about this and I definitely prefer to be told.  However, when I 'suffer' through something, I end up learning so much more and I am in a far better position to teach others.

Case in point--when I studied for the ESL Praxis, I had not been exposed to any ESL course work.  I went to a short series of study sessions, studied on my own and figured it out.  I performed so well on the test, that I was invited to teach the study session.  I am able to teach the study session with confidence and many teachers have passed the ESL Praxis as a result.  I would never have been an effective instructor without the 'pain' of learning on my own.

There are many other examples like this in my life and I wonder why I prefer to be told when I learn so deeply when I do it myself.  I had never thought about this before.  However, I will take these thoughts along with me as I continue to pursue my career as a lifelong learner.   Perhaps, I will become a better learner as well as a better teacher despite the agony of having to do it myself.

Computer Accessibility at School

I don't have a classroom.  I share a space with other employees in both schools.  I have been issued a laptop, which I use at home.  There are a few computers in the library and throughout the buildings that I can access.  

I would love to have a space that I could claim and provide a place for a desktop.  Unfortunately,  due to the nature of my position, I am often not considered when it comes to computers and spaces to work.