april – iLearn Technology

April Issue of #ProjectPLN: The Mistakes Issue

April 12, 2011Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment1911 views

The April issue of #ProjectPLN is out today! In this issue we asked you to share lessons learned from mistakes made. We had some great contributors this month who generously shared mistakes made, and lessons learned. Thank you to all that contributed!

projectpln10 – The Mistake Issue

Create Your OpenZine

For the May Issue we would love to hear from all of the new teachers out there. You have had a long year and we would love for you to share your experience as a new teacher with everyone out there. Please email your stories to ProjectPLN10@Gmail.com or send us a tweet @ProjectPLN. Be sure to include your name as you would like it to appear, your Twitter ID (if you have one), and a link to your blog (if you have one). We look forward to hearing the joys and struggles from the perspective of a first year teachers!

-Nick (@thenerdyteacher) and Kelly (@ktenkely)

Ollie’s World

April 8, 2010Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment3284 views

What it is: Earth Day is April 22nd, Ollie’s World is a fantastic place to begin the celebration early. Here students will learn about the 4 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink as they apply to the 5 action issues of waste, water, energy, air, and biodiversity. The site is packed full of games, puzzles, information and projects. Students can create web pages using a free (downloadable) version of WebEasy. The information section has kid-friendly reading about the 4 R’s and 5 action issues. In Ollie’s clubhouse, students can play games and work on puzzles. Students can also watch the Mis-adventures of Ollie, 3 animated videos about Ollie and his friends, dealing with issues of sustainability (currently there is only 1 video available). In the movie section, students can watch short flash movies about important environmental issues. This site is loaded with information, games, and video.

How to integrate Ollie’s World into the classroom: Ollie’s World is a nice introduction for students learning about their ecological footprint. Starting out in info, students can read about the 4 R’s and how they apply to the 5 action issues. Students can watch videos and play games that reinforce the lessons they are learning. You can use the videos as discussion starters in your classroom. Download WebEasy to your classroom computers where students can build a webpage about their new learning.

Tips: Check out the educators section of Ollie’s World for professional development opportunities, lesson ideas, and project instructions.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Ollie’s World in your classroom.

Poetry Idea Machine

April 5, 2010Kelly Tenkely1 Comment4008 views

What it is: April is national poetry month, the Poetry Idea Machine is sure to help you infuse your classroom with some inspired poetry writing. Students learn about different kinds of poetry by selecting from Haiku, Limerick, Cinquain, or Free Verse. The Poetry Idea Machine takes students through the steps of making each type of poetry. The Poetry Idea Machine makes an excellent introduction to types of poetry and will have your students writing their own in no time.

How to integrate Poetry Idea Machine into the classroom: The Poetry Idea Machine does a fantastic job of introducing students to different kinds of poetry. After students learn about the poetry, they have a chance to create their own poem with the Poetry Idea Machine interactive. In my classroom, I use the Poetry Idea Machine with the whole class using the interactive whiteboard or projector. I invite students up to create their own poems as we talk through the process. Choose one type of poetry each week so that students have an opportunity to practice writing the poems. During the week, give your students time to write their poems, allowing them access to the Poetry Idea Machine on classroom computers as an idea center. Let students work in small groups to create unique poems using the Poetry Idea Machine.

Tips: Read poems by Jack Prelutsky, Karla Kuskin, and Jean Marzollo for inspiration. Ask students to determine which type of poem each is based on what they have learned with the Idea Machine.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using the Poetry Idea Machine in your classroom.

My Hippo Has the Hiccups

March 27, 2010March 27, 2010Kelly Tenkely1 Comment4037 views

What it is: In honor of national poetry month (April), Kenn Nesbitt is offering his book “My Hippo Has the Hiccups” as a free ebook. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I just opened a “happy spring” present! If you aren’t familiar with Kenn Nesbitt, he writes poetry that hooks kids and makes them instant fans of poetry. It is funny and engaging for readers of all ages. The ebook is available to view online or to download (can you believe it?!).

How to integrate My Hippo Has the Hiccups into the classroom: This ebook is a winner no matter what age group you teach. You can read the poems as a class using an interactive whiteboard or a projector connected computer. Because you can download the ebook, it would also be a wonderful addition to your classroom library on the classroom computers. Students can visit classroom computers with My Hippo Has the Hiccups as a poetry inspiration station. Invite your students to create their own silly Kenn Nesbitt inspired poetry. Make a class book of the silly poems and post them as a class ebook on Issuu.

Tips: You have to have the Zino Reader installed to view this ebook, it is a simple click and download.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using My Hippo Has the Hiccups in your classroom.

Magnetic Poetry

April 6, 2009Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment2424 views

What it is: Magnetic Poetry is a virtual edition of magnetic fridge poetry. Students can choose from four kits to create their ‘magnetic’ poem. There is Kids Kit, First Words, Best Friends, and Storymaker. After students have chosen a kit they can choose from three backgrounds for their poetry (refrigerator, locker, or whiteboard). Students are given a virtual tub of words to choose from that they can drag, arrange, and rearrange to create a poem or story. When they are finished, students can send their Magnetic Poetry to an email address or save it for later viewing on the site.

How to integrate Magnetic Poetry into the classroom: Magnetic Poetry is a great site to use in April as part of national poetry month. This site is wonderful for those students who are hindered by spelling (you know the students who will only write with words they know how to spell). Students can pull from the word bank of words to create a story or poem that can be saved, sent to an email address, or printed out as a draft and turned into a published piece. This would be a fun website to use with the whole class and an interactive whiteboard, encourage your students to take turns adding words to a class poem or story. This would also make a great center activity for students to visit and create with during the week.

Tips: If a student saves their poem, they are granting permission for the site to use their poem as a possible example on the site or on packaging.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Magnetic Poetry in your classroom.