Miscellaneous Use of Technology in the Classroom

Supplementary Activities Resource Site:

With a quick www.google.com search, I came across www.familyeducation.com where I was able to print puzzles, comprehension questions, and other activities that tied in with my thematic unit titled "A Spider's Web".

Word Processed Spelling List:

Microsoft Word and Macintosh Appleworks came in quite handy to word process a clean, clear and quick spelling list.  I was able to save each list to file away for future classroom use.

Modified Spelling List:

Because I had a special needs student in my class, I chose to word process a modified spelling list for him per the advice of the building teacher consultant.  Again, Microsoft Word and Macintosh Appleworks came in handy.  It was interesting, because through repeated use, I found Appleworks to be a better choice when word processing misspelled words, because Microsoft Word would correct them automatically.  I wanted misspelled words; that was the whole idea, for the student to identify the word spelled correctly!  So, it was nice to have both programs handy, and I used the one that best suited each situation or activity.

Charlotte's Web Comprehension Questions:

At the end of each Chapter of Charlotte's Web, I would word process at least ten comprehension questions.  I read the book as well, so I would develop my own literal and inferential questions.  Again, Microsoft Word and Macintosh Appleworks came in handy.

Homework Machine:

I wanted to keep my students accountable for their work, so I put together homework folders that contained a "homework machine".  Each week, the students would get a new copy, and I would check their entries daily.  At the end of the week, "stars" were earned toward participation in a fun class activity.  So, a pre-printed paper and a copy machine assisted me in keeping my students accountable for their own work.  The homework machine can be found in The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers; Scholastic Books, by Jennifer Jacobson and Dottie Raymer.

Job Chart:

This activity was the most fun.  As a group, we decided on a list of classroom jobs.  Using a pocket chart, a digital camera, Macintosh iPhoto, labels, and a marker, a classroom job chart was created.  Some students had their fall pictures saved on a disk (courtesy of Lifetouch) and others needed their picture taken.  While some of us edited and re-sized current photos, other students took digital pictures and imported them into iPhoto for editing.  The pictures were printed, cut out, and placed in the pockets.  I used a cup full of craft sticks with names on them to randomly assign new jobs bi-weekly.