First off, I just want to say how extremely EXCITED that I am that Kelley Wilson is MY intern teacher! We spent a lot of time on Friday talking about her Pirate Unit and the articles/workshops that she has worked on with Dr. Frye! Mrs. Wilson is so passionate about everything she does, and I am so stoked that I will be able to watch and participate in the Pirate Unit myself with all her wonderful 4th grade students!!
Now, about the article….I loved it. It is a rather lengthy article, but it includes so much helpful and beneficial information that is important to read it all! Technology and introducing the internet and how it works are GREAT ways to help with the Social Studies content. I believe that this engages the students so much more. Having the unit structured in two units (1. Assisting students on how to use internet resources to gather and organize material, and 2. Having students display, share, and publish their work.) Blogs are important to children because they allow for students to share their work to others besides just the teacher and other classmates!
Social Bookmarking by the teacher is another very important thing. The teachers need to search and find child-friendly websites that the students will be able to comprehend. You can also go back and see the information that each site offered. It is also crucial to find activities that match the content and goals/objectives that you are wanting your students to learn. Including a “navigational” strategy allows students to become familiar with “moving” around the internet. Internet workshops are the way to go because they are all inquiry based! When possible, teachers should model what process of internet workshop with their students. Then students all share their information after they have done their research.
Blogging is key to may activities and units. Blogging allows students to practice their writing, while also sharing information with their classmates. Young students love it when they know their work is going to be seen by others, and this is a type of motivation for them. I saw first-hand the “I” poems that this article talks about. Mrs. Wilson had her 4th graders write “I am” poems on Blackbeard, and it went very well. This article gives several websites to go to that allows students to record and video their poems.
The examples of students poems and artwork at the end of the article are so cute and just show what the finished work can look like after the end of an internet workshop!
Good work adding the Social Studies sites…I like your new theme, too!
Comment by Beth Frye — February 10, 2010 @ 2:24 pm