Blog Post #4

I started my reading with Langwitches. I had not thought about recording the students and playing it back for them. I thought that was a very unique idea and also very effective. I like that after she recorded the students she gave them scripts to follow along. That way that are not only hearing the word they are seeing the word. Relating the spelling to sound, hearing the meaning, and learning the context of the word. For younger students this is one of the most important tools for language. I also like how she showed how to use this same strategy with older students. Reading Edgar Allen Poe I could hear the students getting involved in the story. When they are reading they are reading with excitement and feeling. Lastly on Langwitches I really appreciated the photos, with how they showed what they had written on the board, the students following along and more. These showed us where to begin with trying to use this assignment in our classroom.

Second I read Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom by Joe Dale. Mr. Dale is the teacher I had been following for C4T. He has so many great ideas for the classroom and is so involved with many things. In the video he gave us some ideas of how to use the podcast with the students. I agree that podcast for when a student misses class is an amazing idea. Also some students need a little extra work after being in the classroom this will help them once they are at home trying to do homework they can play back the lesson from their teacher for help. With some podcast they can have videos and text some students are visual learners and need to read the text to learn, and some need to hear the lecture. With podcast you are catering to all kinds of learners.

Judy Scharf Podcast Collection
I knew that the term "podcast" had something to do with iPod but I had never put broadcast and iPod together to make "podcast" neat. I loved that Ms. Scharf started with the terms, told us what podcast meant, how it came about and what sites find the software to start our own . Then she gave seven tips to success on using podcast in the classroom. These will be very helpful she told us to start with making sure we learn the software which in theory is common sense but can be over looked by thinking on the lines of learning as we go. Most importantly in her steps she tells us to let our students make the decisions on, who they want to work with, their topics, and giving them a time frame. Then Ms. Scharf broke down a time frame of how to teach students how to make their own podcast, Amazing! She gave step by step ideas to an amazing process. She did a wonderful job on her page to show us by breaking down all the procedures to making a great podcast even giving us examples. Thank you so much Ms. Scharf.