FV-Final Video

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Follow this link to see the video.

PE6-Garage Band

In lesson 4, the focus was on playing your notes with a rhythm.  The quarter, half and whole notes were introduced as well as the quarter rest.  I found that when reading music, knowing what each note represents  makes a definite difference in the sound of the song.  More practice is needed!

PE5-Garage Band

In this lesson, the focus was on the left hand.  I learned to names of the notes on the Bass Clef - CBAGF.  This hand was a little more difficult for me.  This lesson incorporated playing both hands at your own pace.

Minor Chords were also introduced.

PE4-Garage Band

This week I tried piano lesson 2.  In this lesson, the right hand was the focus.  Tim introduces the notes and the position of the fingers on the keys- notes EGBDF.  In order to identify the notes it is good to use this sentence in reading notes Every Good Boy Does Fine.    Chords were also taught.

Wk4_Reading

PE3_Google Docs

I have watched some tutorials.  I have not created anything yet on my own.

PE2-imovie

I really want to learn more about imovie.  When watching the tutorials, there is so much to learn.  I used a few of my photos to create a movie for the family.  I am having difficulty with volume and ducking sounds I do not want to utilize.    It is not a job to do quickly- must leave time to create the way you want.

PE1-Garage Band

I tried garage band.  I always said that creating my own music for slideshows would be fun, but have not found the time until now.  I selected my first piano lesson.  This lesson taught me the names of the black and white keys, correct sitting position when playing, chords and position of fingers when playing the chords.  Of course, I am not ready for a concert, but it was fun following along with my own keyboard.

BP12_OMM_Brain Pop

Try Brain Pop for your classroom.  Ideal for whole group as well as individual students.

BP11_Comments to Deborah

Follow this Link to my comments on Deborah's blog

BP10_Comment to Ashlee

Follow this link to my comments on Ashlee's blog.

BP_9 Web Tool of the Week

  Brain Pop is an ideal 2.0 Tool to use in your classroom.   There is a free trial, however you will have to pay ( 9.95 per month) once the trial is over.  This site contains 8 subjects.  Subjects such as English, Math, Technology, Health, just to name  a few.  These subjects are designed for grades three (3) through twelve (12).   Each subject has many animated movies.  Once you choose your subject and activity you can show it on your smart board for whole class or on individual computers. You can pause and ask questions as well as check for understanding.   Each animated activity contains a quiz.  My class  always enjoy taking the quiz.  It keeps them engaged while focused on the selected standard or objective.  Brain Pop includes a state standard tool which can help you match your selected standard.  For individual centers, student are able to follow up with a variety of activities for clarity of the standard.  This is great, helps to monitor student's understanding.

This 2.0 tool also contains an educators' portal and video tutorials.  This includes event news, lesson plans, academic standards, curriculum calendar features, resource, training videos, link to face book and more.  It also offers closed captions for each movie.  This is great to help the struggling reader.  It also offers worksheets to use with the selected standard.

Tim and Toby always introduce the concept.  Children may get bored with the same introducing characters.  The  variety of activities however, will keep the students engaged.

Wk3_Reading

 4 articles related to my AR Project:

1.  Ensuring Equal Access to technology:  Providing Assisted Technology for Student with Disabilities
2.  Research and Practice
3.  Computer-based teaching of Word Construction and Reading in two students with developmental
      disabilities.
4.  Computer-Based Reading Instruction for Young Children with Disabilities
    
    

W2_Reading

Here are 4 articles that are related to my AR project:

BP8__OMM_Xtranormal

BP7_Comments to Jamie

Follow this link to my comment on Jamie's blog.

BP6_Comment to Jeannine

Follow this link to my comment on  Jeannine's  blog.

BP5_Web 2.0 Tool

http://www.learnboost.com
Another Grading Book- There are many grading books, but  I like this web 2.0 Tool  because it includes the lesson page template which includes the standard. All lessons are taught from standards, so this is great. This can be printed out and displayed for incoming visitors.  It also includes a student report page- which includes the grade and assignment--- Great for  Parent -Teacher Conferences.  This would give your meetings such a professional look.   It also includes a grading scale to refer to as you grade.  You can make additional comments under add assignments. It also includes an event slot for each day with the monthly calendar.  You are able to plan your month or week. It is up to you.  One can also include your schedule and print it out if necessary.  Ideal for the educator on the move. This is an amazing grade book for tracking attendance as well.   When you refer a friend, you will receive points for free gifts and prizes.  Try it!

W1_Reading

http://www.ldonline.org/article/6380
Tech Tools for Student with Learning Disabilities:  Infusion into Inclusive Classrooms
This article was interesting because it gives insight to enhancing achievement in reading and other courses with the support of technology devices.  It notes that the use of technology is a collaborative effort in the general education classroom settings.


Overcome Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities With Modern Technology
This article discusses people with reading disabilities and how they can become successful in reading.Through the use of tape recorders, software programs, electronic devices and other devices as well as proper training can help improve this reader.

http://www.neirtec.org/reading_report/report.htm
Technology and Teaching Children to Read:  What does the research say?
This article focuses on technology to help children in the elementary grades learn to read. It is intended to provide information that will help general educators, technology specialist and special education teachers work together to implement effective technology practices.

Critical Issue:  Using Technology to Enhance Engaged Learning for At-Risk Students
This article focuses on involving students  in learning who are at risk. The use of technology is used to support student in designing their own projects rather than drill and practice.

BP4_Web 2.0 Tools

This is an animation site called Xtranormal.  This site can create movies with real characters.  You can create your own text for the characters.  Choose the free characters and you are on your way to creating a movie.  I used two robots for my first animation.  This site is user friendly and easy to use.  There are about ten free characters you can choose from.  As I evaluate, my first animation, I could have changed the characters voices and added more movement and music.  I choose to do a lesson on "self esteem" for the students - feeling good about yourself!

This tool is great when introducing a concept.  It can be the engaging activity before the lesson.

BP3_Diigo Group

http://groups.diigo.com/group/jo_anns-action-research-project

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

This My FSO Page.

This is my Home Page.

                                                                          














             .

This is my ETC Page.

                                                                

This is My AR Page.

BP1_EMDT Google Reader

It is amazing to see a struggling reader blossom into a fluent reader.  No better vision - A teacher wants to be a part of this amazing event.  Finding ways to teach learning disabled students to learn to become good readers can be challenging.  These students have a difficult time in connecting sounds and can struggle on every other word.  It is my desire to use this blog to get ideas from educators, computer specialist,  classmates and parents to gain strategies to help these children succeed in reading with the use of technology. 


In this blog, I am featuring several websites that are helpful for my Action Research Topic.  I am hoping that I will help other educators as well as parents to gain insight .


www.studyisland.com
This website is a web-based program built from state standards.  Educators and student users must have a login name and pass word to access this site.  The goal is help students master the standards.  The student earns blue ribbons when he/she has mastered the standard.  This program is great for students with specials needs. It has an option in which text to speech can be activated.  So if you have a struggling reader, the text can be read to the student.  Games, lessons, test and limited answer choices are available in this program. 



http://mrsdell.org/reading/
This website has a wealth of information as it relates to reading and technology.  It is ideal for educators using technology to increase achievement in reading.  It offers lesson plans, tutorials in photography in the classroom, power-points, movies and much more and plenty of instructional activities that incorporate technology.  This site is ideal to meet specific needs of students in reading.


http://www.Storyit.com
This website has been very useful for the challenged reader.  It includes online word games, story starters, write on shapes and much more.  It provides lots of activities which stimulate reading for the beginner as  well as the struggling reader.  


http://www.wordway.us.com
This website is designed for the beginner reader, which in turn can also help the struggling reader.  This site includes basic word families that include pictures, songs, print friendly text (comic sans), vowels sounds, diphthongs, diagraphs and much more.  It includes a CD that can be purchased.




I have included some blog sites that have interesting content in this area:
special-needs.families.com/blog/

Could my Child have Dyslexia-- Focuses on the Characteristics of dyslexia- Your First Grader a Poor Reader?  You better act Fast: What a parent should do to help the struggling reader-Teaching Learning Disabled Kids to Read:Strategies to help the learning disabled students-Help Your Learning Disabled Child with Letters and  Words:Strategies to help children in the beginning stage of reading