Blog Post #4

Around the World in a Podcast

Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting

The first podcast I read was the Langwitches World Language Podcast. The instructor was a former world language teacher who had become a K-6 teacher and specifically teaching reading at this point.  What was really interesting about it what she integrated different programs like GarageBand to construct a lesson which in turn, was created by the students themselves.  She uses the podcast editing and recording, which I believe great tool, especially for language learners to play with the mechanics.  The students also use a Smartboard themselves which allow them to use physical motions to place the recordings and pause, start, and listen.  I would use the tools exactly the same way.  Allowing the children to analyze what they spoken and allowing them to add it as well.


Flat Stanley Podcast

This blog post is from a teacher in Istanbul who decides to follow in the footsteps of another first grade class and create their own Flat Stanley Project.  The last project being so successful, they decide to step it up a notch and become a "worldwide" success.  Each child has their own segment in the recording and they were also able to use a Smartboard for editing their pieces.  Homework was given, in conjunction with their parents, to choose a location, the type of transportation used, what did they do at that location, and how did they get back home.  The teacher allowed to use their senses and sound effects as a better way to portray the mood of the story. It seemed by all of the pictures and the voices of the children in the podcast that they were all excited to get to be a part of this.  I hope that I can find something in the classroom maybe this add podcast to type to encourage excitement in reading and writing each day in class.  In our podcast I hope to use the creativity that the children had by tying in the senses and sounds to the piece we have designed.

Click this video for a break from reading, plus I just wanted to say hey! Also, thanks to our lab assistants for showing me how to place videos into my blog.



Podcasting with First Grade

The realization that everyone has an audience when your posting on the web is exactly what I hope that I can remember as a teacher, and the vast amount of Influence technology has on children.  In the podcast with the first grade students the discussed a Magic Treehouse Book. Each class meeting they would read one chapter at a time and discuss that same chapter.  The teacher would allow each boy or girl to read a script from the actual text and then allow the students to edit that script using garage band or another form of software.  The result was one continuous podcast of the children as they put the story together through their own interpretation of the text.  The function of each child was key, and I hope that through the podcast our group will be assembling, that each member will have their key roles as well.