Week+5

Some are sites to learn more about DI and Tech integration, some are the sites I want to use in my lessons to support using DI in my classroom.
1.) Wow! This site has it all :) [] I love this site! It has graphic organizers for all subject areas. I like how it links to other websites ([|www.readwritethink.org]) to brainstorm for writing prompts.-- James 2.) [] (Differentiating by readiness)

Missy: This is fantastic! Students can work at their own pace and the graphics would keep them engaged. I could certainly use this in reading/composition class but could also use it in other content areas, such as science. As we study animals, students could write a poem based upon a particular animal of interest. Thanks! (Krista)

[|3.) http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm] (Diff by readiness, next level) Missy: I love this website- it is perfect for lang arts when we study poetry. Instead of writing out several drafts and forms of poetry on paper, students can just click the mouse and start over or see their poem on the computer. So neat and clean- no mess, no fuss! Also, the site acts asa graphic organizer that can be easy for students who are struggling to see how different poems are set up! Thanks :) (connie) 4.) [] 5.) [] 6.) [|http://www.ted.com](Differentiating by interest, students can choose their own talks to investigate) ﻿This is an interesting site, but I am not sure how I would use it. What do you plan on doing with it?

7.) Tools for Differentiating by Learning Profiles (Glogster, Voicethread, Wordle.net, Windows Movie Maker, Vuvox, 8.) [|www.60secondrecap.com]is a fun site to give students quick insight into classic novels. The speaker is engaging and she speaks to students in a way they can comprehend (aside from the fact she is talking fast!). If you have some students who need a refresher or if you are setting up some foundational information this site may be of use in your classroom!
 * // From Missy~ I use this site for students to view media and make reflections/connections. For example, at the beginning of the year, we watched the one on William who helped build a power generating windmill in his village and the I have students compare/contrast the theme of personal journey/perseverance with novels we arereading in class. Now, we are on to a nonfiction unit and a student proudly came in with the book written about William and his windmill! :) Typically, I use them for students to consider theme and extend their understanding of our class novels. //**

James
James Resources: [|www.youtube.com] (has a lot of videos for science and social studies topics, also video critiques for English classes)

1) [] 2) []. James: I thought this software, Dragon, sounded great. I heard a radio commercial for it and thought it would be so helpful in my classes. It goes without saying that it would be beneficial for auditory learners and students that have problems decoding. I think having voice recognition software would make navigating and creating on the computer so much easier. (Krista) James: You haven't seen my presentation because I am having a problem getting the movie to upload. However, I mention Dragon in my presentation. We got Dragon at our school last year to help with some special needs students. I have wanted to try using it with some of my students who have difficulty in writing. I would like for them to speak their ideas first having the software create the text. I would then have them come back and edit from the text Dragon produced. (Wesley)

3) [|www.readwritethink.org] 4) []

James - This website was a good find. I love the fact that the differnt topics are broken down with the information being presented so the students gain an understanding of the material followed immediately by an activity for them to work through. This self guided learning exercise will greatly help many of my students through the material while allowing them to work at their own pace. I can't wait to see if my students can cross the ocean by themselves similar to the vikings. - Randy

5) Jigsaw Activity through WebQuest 6) WebQuest visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners 7) [] 8) []

Randy
Randy's Resources Heres a handful of resources I have located, all over the board but many on social studies.

1) [] From Missy~ THANK YOU! What a great resource...we do an interdisciplinary unit on the Renaissance in 7th grade and the webquest found on your resource would be a great addition to our curriculum. In keeping with DI, it will be of great value for many, if not all, of our students. I'm super excited to offer this option to my team!

2) [] 3)[] Great website! I love that it has activities/questions for young and older students. The initial background reader is greate for a wide range of ages and readiness. Paired reading would work well with middle school students. Definitely actives the affective part of the brain and differentiated based on readiness with young and older student activities. 4) [] 5) [] Rand: Thanks so much for this resource. I have been wanting to do more with having my students create posters and had hoped to find something like this. This is just great, and I'm already thinking of how I will use it. I think I could go ahead and try it as we get started in //To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960).// Thanks so much. (Wesley) Randy: This looks like a great resource, especially since it's all online. I would think that students would be very engaged to make posters here for any content area. I could also use it for worksheets which would be awesome. I could easily see using it in reading class to make a movie poster for the book we're reading, //Loser//, by Jerry Spinelli. (Krista)

6) [] I like the idea, but I think IMovie or MovieMaker are similar. The plus is you do not have to upload your video and worry about it being compatible. Is it user friendly? Are there different features than the two softwares I mentioned?

It seems to be user friendly and I have a lesson slated for the end of next week that will give it a try. I'll let everyone know how it works. - Randy I'm looking forward to seeing what success you have with this next week. I have Sony Vegas on my classroom computers. Great software but I have to spend a deal of time teaching my students how to use it first. (Wesley) 7) [] 8) [|www.greenwichschools.org/.../**Differentiation**/**Differentiation**.ppt] 9) ) [Lessons-Differentiated-by-Learning-Profile.aspx]

10) []  Created by the Regional Technology in Education Consortium, this is an excellent website that provides tips on how to differentiate classroom instruction using technology that is available in the classroom. The site is geared towards all learners with a specific focus on middle school students and providing opportunities for them to learn and thrive in the classroom. The site begins with an explanation of differentiated instructionand its use in the classroom. Particularly useful are the links to the left hand side of the page that break down differentiation into specific arenas such as portable devices, graphic organizers and digital cameras among others. This website although good in its own right, is like a hub of information to find additional sources as each area provides a link to other websites and ideas that use the same form of technology. 11) []  This website, entitled simply Lesson Plans Page, lists dozens of social studies lessons that include some form of differentiation. All of these lessons are geared towards junior and senior high school and should provide both an opportunity for students to show what they know and a challenge for many individuals in the classroom. The lessons are broken down per large topics such as culture, community, economics and family among others. I found the lesson on the renaissance particularly useful with the information being presented through audio and visual methods and brings in kinesthetic methods as well through the writing exercise. Overall, a useful site that includes many different ideas for a social studies teacher.    12) [|www.lankutis.com/documents/TechDiffInstruction.doc] This is a link to a document on differentiated instruction that breaks down specific areas of the instruction into seven different areas. Various topics are explained such as finding electronic text and using a word processor to help differentiate the classroom material. The author of this document shows the reason for using the method, why it will be helpful, the research that backs up the method and finally suggestions on how to bring the method into the classroom. The strategies can be used for any grade of students and help provide the teacher with realistic ideas on how to use the seven areas toward success in their specific content area.

Connie
Connie's Resources: 1) The URL is: [] This website allows the teacher to personalize learning through technology by providing scaffolds to support and enhance learning. Teachers can provide several different GO’s that offer more avenues for learning. (Readiness)

From Missy~ Thanks for this resource...it's obvious to me that I have a habit of reinventing the wheel - so much of what my students can use is right here! As my schedule gets more crunched next year, it will be great to have a resource like this at my fingertips. If my planning time is spent working to integrate technology, I'm hopeful I can use sites like this to help save time with creating organizers. It occurs to me that it would be a great lesson to show a site like this to my students, give them information (ex. a chapter in their Science text), and then have them analyze which GO would best serve their needs. I think I'm totally going to try that! :)

2) The URL to look at is: [] This is a survey that asks questions about what interests students. By using this survey tool online, teachers can easily generate a questionnaire and find out what their students are most interested in. (Interest)  3) One URL that can be used is: [] Internet 4 Classrooms provides PowerPoint tutorials with ideas for students and examples of presentations. Using this tutorial resource in class would be a great idea to help students learn the software program. Then, they can take what they have learned from class and incorporate it into what they learned to do with technology to create a presentation for class. (Interest) 4) At Postcard Creator, [], students can turn information into a postcard and add their own design or artwork on the front. This appeals to multiple intelligences. (Learning Profile)

From Missy~ Dear dear Connie, yet ANOTHER site that I can use within my classroom instead of making my own darn templates from scratch! Writing postcards is an option during our multi-genre memoir unit and surprisingly there are many students who can't even envision the concept of how to make one when I hand them a blank postcard sized piece of oaktag! This site is perfect for building knowledge while offering interactive technology to increase engagement. Thank you!

Connie: I am so excited about this resource! You could use it in every subject. In social studies, as we study ancient Egypt, the students could send a postcard after finding Tut's tomb or visiting the Sphinx. This is fantastic! (Krista)

Connie = Amazing website. The postcard idea I have done, but to be able to do it interactively online is even better. I was thinking of using through the year by sending "postcards" from each ancient civilization about geography, culture, and legacy. Just added it to my favorites! --James

Connie: This is a great website, so easy to use and the students will love in in my 9th grade global studies classroom. I forsee the students using this resource when we complete our virtual trip to the middle east next week. -Randy