While reading this chapter I was once again reminded how important and effective using technology can be for my English Learners. When I was a classroom teacher, I considered myself to be a very competent user of “all things” technology. However, since becoming a push-in teacher, I have, regretfully, let technology take a backseat in my small group instruction. This chapter appeared just in time to refresh my vigor for using technology even with my small groups!
Last week in class, when our classmate showed us how to voice record using our laptops, I immediately knew I wanted to use this tool right away. My fourth grade students are currently learning about poetry, including rhythm and rhyme. I shared with them several books by one of my favorite poets, Shel Silverstein, and also gave them time to read and explore various poems. It turns out that I was not the only Shel Silverstein fan in the classroom! When I gave them the opportunity to choose any poem they would like to practice and recite, they all chose a poem by Shel!
Throughout the next week, we continued our reading groups while leaving a little time at the end to practice reading our self-selected poems aloud. Then, I had each student record their poem using the Sound Recorder on my laptop. The students’ responses to recording their own voice were a great experience! They were allowed to record their poem as many times as needed until they were pleased with how it sounded. I enjoyed seeing the motivation the students had to improve their fluency and expression once they heard their first version of their poem!
I would like to continue this use of technology, while taking it to the next level. I think one component in recording the students’ voices, whether it be reading poems or stories, will serve as a collection of evidence to use and reflect on how their fluency continues to improve throughout the rest of the year. Also, I would like to see if there is a way to use their voices and create an avatar, so that the recordings could be integrated throughout the subjects and with various language uses.
I wish I was as savvy with technology as you are. I want to integrate it more. I think the chapter had lots of good ideas/sites for technology and I look forward to exploring them. I would love to be able to record the students' reading like you have suggested. They grow so much as readers in kindergarten. Thanks for the encouragement.
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