Effective Word Work Time

I re-posted this from another blog I host, but added a list of apps that can be used to teach word work.....

I've recently become interested in activities that take place during word work time. Pretty soon I found myself searching for activities that seem to be the most effective instructional practices to use in the classroom. 

Sorting 
Students sort words into according to certain criteria, which helps them learn patterns within words. According to the Words Their Way word study program, there are different types of sorts that can be used during word work time.

• Sound sort -- using the phonemes in the words or pictures
• Pattern sort -- grouping words following a certain pattern
• Meaning sort -- words with same meanings have similar spelling patterns
• Concept sort -- link vocabulary with student understanding
• Closed sort -- teacher gives students the categories/headers to use with this sort.
• Open sort -- student determine categories and sort own words
• Repeated sort -- allow student to work through the sort more than one time.
• Buddy sort -- sort, read, and discuss collaboratively throughout the sort with another student.
• Blind sort -- headers are used and student indicates where the word belongs.
• Writing sort -- writing words into categories, students are paying attention to sounds or patterns.
• Word sort -- student hunt through their reading and writing  words for additional examples
• Speed sort -- using a timer and comparing their own speeds with sorts

Resources to use with sorting:

• Speed Sort Documentation Template
• Instructional Sheets for the Different Sorts (scroll to the bottom of page for links)
• Word Sort Center Packet (Google Doc.)
• Powerpoint for WTW Sorts (check this out!)

Practicing Words

• Whiteboards (use with a buddy, one student says the word and the other student writes the word on whiteboard)
• Write with dry erase marker on desktop
• Spelling City website or app
• Bang Game...drawing cards out of container, read word, keep if right, put back if wrong, if bang card all your cards go back in container.

Apps for Word Work
Magnetic Board for teachers and students 
Magnetic ABC
Alphabetizing
ABC Ninja
Spelling Sight Words With Scaffolding
Sight Words
Sound Sorting Beginning Sounds

Additional Resources

Words Their Way Activities

Sound Board for Beginning Consonants (black/white)

Sound Board for Beginning Consonants (color)

Sound Board for Beginning Blends (black/white)

Sound Board for Beginning Blends (color)
Spelling Chunks & Chunk Strips

Word Families and Examples

Long Vowel Word Race & Long Vowel Dominoes (scroll down to links)

Spin a Word -- Prefix Word Building Game (scroll down to link)

SMART board Games (scroll for link)

Phonogram Connect Four Game

Consonant Digraph Board Game

WTW Board Variety Games -- Google Doc.

ABC Teach Word Family Slides

Creative Word Study Activities

Carl's Corner

Can anyone suggest further effective activities?

Book Trailers for Readers

(Video from www.booktrailersforreaders.com)

Book Trailers for Readers (www.booktrailersforreaders.com) is a great way to get students excited about their reading. This website displays book trailers created by students, which got me thinking. What apps on the iPad could help in the creation of a movie trailer? Here's what I came up with.....

If your students need to watch a sample movie trailer to learn how the pros do it...use the iTunes Movie Trailer app (FREE). I would be careful just letting students go free on this app, but instead, choose a few student-friendly movie trailers to watch. As you watch the trailers, have students fill out this organizer (Movie Trailer Analysis Organizer).

(Resource found at http://sblc.registereastconn.org/BookMovieTrailerAnalysizingWorksheet.pdf)

After you have analyzed a few movie trailers together as a group, they are ready to create on themselves. Here are some resources to help with the planning process:

Book Trailer Planning Document

Book Storyboard Template

Here is a movie that explains why storyboards are important in movie making. It talks about the different types of shots for each scene and that your pictures aren't elaborate, stick figures work just fine too.

List of apps to help create storyboards:
iBrainstorm
Strip Designer
Popplet
Story Me
iBrainstorm

Now that your students have their storyboards created, they are ready to make their movie trailer. Here is a list of apps that students can use to create a movie trailer:
iMovie App and Directions on how to use
Lego Movie Maker
Puppet Pals
Toontastic

And the last piece...assessing student work. 
Book Trailer Rubric

List of CCSS Math Apps

This page has each of the Common Core Mathematics strands with a list of apps that can be used with these concepts.

CCSS Math App Page

Math vs. Zombies

Math vs. Zombies

You can find this app in the iTunes store for FREE!! Zombies are attacking and you can turn them back into children by solving math problems. This app gives good practice for 2-3 digit mental math addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. 

Teaching Symmetry

Teaching Symmetry

In the new Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, symmetry is mentioned in the fourth grade 4.G.3 standard:

Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify shapes by properties of their lines and angles.

3. Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry.

Thinking about how to add technology to enhance teaching symmetry, here are a few ideas.......

Get students to move around the classroom, school, or playground with the iPad and take pictures of objects they believe contain a "line of symmetry". Then use the Explain Everything ($2.99) to place the picture on the screen while placing a line of symmetry through the object. The nice aspect of this app is creating a video recording of the student placing the line of symmetry through the photo. Here is a simple sample video of this activity:

Geoboard (Free) Students can create shapes with the Geoboard app, take photo by clicking on the home button and power button at the same time. Then use the Explain Everything app to create lines of symmetry on the shapes that were created through Geoboard.

Concept Mapping is another strategy when learning symmetry. The following free versions of Sticky Notes (Free) and Inspiration Map (Free) will give you a start. Both of apps can be updated and give more options that may be useful when working with concept maps.

Inspiration Map Example (the lite version does give you the options to embed photos):

Sticky Notes Example (the free version does not allow you to embed photos):

Symmetry Shuffle ($1.99) The app explores line and rotational symmetry through the use of turns, flips, and slides. This app may look like a no-brainer, but trust me it takes some thoughtful thinking to work through each level. Teachers watching their students use this app can periodically have their students demonstrate which move would be a slide, flip, or turn and even give the alternate vocabulary word (translation, reflection, rotation).

Mandalar ($.99) is an inexpensive app if you are looking for virtual pattern block manipulatives. If students were in pairs, the first student could create a shape using the blocks and the second student would create a symmetrical image right next to the original.

This and That

Sorry that I haven't posted for awhile, I was in the process of finishing my Scholarly Project to complete my Master's degree. I noticed some activity on my TNT page and realized people are still using this blog as a resource...so I better start posting!

Well I've come across some apps to add to my collection and thought I would share....

5 Dice: Order of Operations Game

iLive Farm Fresh

~~word problems with vivid pictures and video links

iBrainstorm

~~I wonder if teachers could use this to create lesson plans, I've seen a sticky note lesson plan book, it might work

Have you ever heard of IPad Direction Sheets? Here is a link to a wonderful website with interesting ways to use your IPads. Technology Tailgate

Cover Up Math

 

Cover Up Math  (Free) is a great app that works with students on solving multi-step algebra problems. To begin, the player chooses a level and pulls down the lever, which spins and gives the player a problem. 

If students are not yet fluent, they can use the "cover up" feature to work each step of the problems. These problems can be a good way to work on mental math with higher-level algebraic problems.

   

Algebra Card Clutter

Algebra Card Clutter  (Free) gives users a fun way to practice fluency of a variety of rational numbers. The object of this activity is to touch the cards in the lowest to highest order. This app gets more challenging as the player makes their way through each level. Players have the option to select levels with a list of each level and their focus.  

What a great way to practice with rational numbers...Enjoy!

How to "Zite"

The Zite Personalized Magazine App (Free) can be an educator's best friend when locating the latest professional development, lesson plans, or trends in education. This fairly new app is a fun way to create your own "personalized magazine".

After purchasing the free app you will see how easy it is to set up your Zite. You will pick sections to go into your magazine, along with enter some of your own. Some sections I recommend are shown in the following screenshot. 

This app gives you clear pictures of each article and has easy personalization options. Summer is dwindling and it's almost time to get back in the swing of school, hopefully you will find this app one that will get you motivated. Enjoy!

One Video A Day App

It's time to start blogging! I stumbled onto this app and wanted to share some ideas on how to use it in your classroom with students.

One Video A Day (Free)

The first step before opening this app is to decide what type of video will be taking of your students. Here is a quick brainstorm of video ideas I came up with....

• Students reading leveled text
• Student book talks
• Student explanations of math problems
• Student math fact fluency activities
• Student/Teacher Conferences
• Video diary of student reflections on activities, assignments, and projects
• Student behavior tracking and reflection
• Students reflecting on quarter/semester grades 
• Class trips or Virtual Tours

Now that you have an idea of the type of video that will be taken, let's create some calendars. Open up the app on your iPad and you should see a screen like the one below:

The next step is to set up calendars by entering a title and start date. You will need to decide if you will have one calendar for your classroom or have one calendar for each student in your classroom. This might depend on who and what devices you will be using this app. If you plan to use it as a teacher tool on a teacher iPad, set up a calendar for each of your students. If you would like to use this app on student devices and allow the students to take the video, set up calendars that are labeled "reading", "math", or "class journal". 

Start setting up calendars by entering the title and start date of your first calendar in the box at the top of the screen. If you would like to add additional calendars, click on the plus sign in the upper right hand corner of the home screen. To view the calendars that you have created click on the image beside the title and you will get to a screen like the one below.

This app also allows an online web link to view your calendar and videos (photo below). I noticed that if you have multiple titles (calendars) it only shows the current calendar that you are viewing. There are many settings to this app, which will give some different options to the teacher. 

If you think that videos might be something you are not quite ready for, this company also has an app called One Photo A Day and does exactly the same thing, except with photos. Might be fun to try with student work, journal entries, or writing samples.

One Photo A Day (Free)

2011 Summer Trip

2011 Summer Trip, a set on Flickr.

Testing out the Flickr app (Free)