Interactive Word Wall: Glogster

Another variation of a tech savvy approach to word walls is the interactive website Glogster.  Think of Glogster as an online bulletin board where teachers (or students) can connect vocabulary with pictures or media clips.

A website has been generated to include several helpful online resources; to access Glogster, you can connect to this link first.

Foster's Web Resources Weebly

PollEverywhere: A New Approach to Openers and Discussion

Let's spice up our Openers and class discussion using a cell phone or computer!

In order to increase participation when it comes to our Openers, try creating a PollEverywhere survey.  First, register for the services; a free educators' edition is available.  Click on the link below.  Below the main page's sample poll, the site describes how K-12 teachers can use this service in the classroom.  Click on the blue hyperlink "K-12 teachers."

PollEverywhere

Ok, now that you are registered, create your first poll by clicking on the 'Create your first poll" link on the right. 

In the title of the poll, type your question.  At this point, you should consider how many answer options you will give for your question; you can have as many as you want, but I would not give anymore than four.  You also may create a discussion question where students can response with their own original sentences/ thoughts.

Sample: Multiple Choice

Sample: Discussion

Also, consider the DOK level of the question.  You may also use this as an opportunity to create acuity-based Opener questions.

DOK Levels

Sample Acuity Questions

Wordle: The Virtual Word Wall

Ah, the Word Wall, one of Midland's first vocabulary initiatives, functions as a visual model of how your current unit vocabulary work within the unit's concept(s).  Word Walls are more than just words on a wall or decorated bulletin boards; words are to be placed in a thoughtful manner that moves or engages the student through a learning process.

Many of our Word Walls change weekly or, perhaps, daily.  An easy way to adjust to the constantly changing Word Wall is the use of an Internet program called Wordle.  Wordle is a virtual word cloud that allows the user to change the size of words in conjunction to its importance.  Wordle is best used for daily vocabulary exercises such at Tic-Tac-Toe or cloze reading.

Wordle

Vocab Tic-Tac-Toe handout

Below, post other uses or best practices you have found for Wordle.

Welcome, Friends!

Come one, come all!  Welcome to Cabell Midland's technology blog. 

Consider this site 'one-stop-shopping' for integrating technology with our school's initiatives.  Keep refering to the left-hand side of the blog (Blog Archive) for technology-based programs and how to correlate the programs to building vocabulary retention, reading comprehension, and writing skills within the realm of your content and classroom.

As always, feel free to post any 'new finds' to the appropriate pages of this blog.  (Or, even use the idea of blogging in your classroom! Create a Blogspot Blog)

Sincerely,
The Professional Development Team