Blog Post 4

1st Graders Create Their Own Read Along Audiobook

In this blog, the teacher tells us about her experience with creating a podcast with first graders. She talks about how she did it in small groups with the children one group at a time. The children were very excited and engaged in this project and it thrilled her to see the children were so interested in something. They liked hearing their voice and following along with the story. These were the skills that were addressed:

• listening
• speaking
• presenting
• comprehension
• storytelling
• performance
• voice acting
• oral fluency
• media
• technology

To me, this is such an excellent way to teach children a story in a fun way. They will remember the story and they will have something to keep to show their parents/family when they get home. Instead of just reading the story aloud and having them become bored with just sitting there, this activity engages them and helps them stay focused on the task at hand. It also gives them a worldwide audience so they can feel accomplished with the work they have done.

Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting

This blog explained the importance of podcasting. The author was a foreign language teacher so she encourages teachers to do podcasting because it helps students learn by saying the word and hearing themselves say the word. I think that podcasting is a wonderful tool especially when trying to learn to say things you have never said or heard before. It helps the children remember the words and put them together easier because they can get engaged and excited when they hear themselves talking over a speaker.

Flat Stanley Podcast

These six-year-olds brainstormed with their teacher to create a story they could each talk about in the recording and send to their friends and family around the world. They each picked a location from around the world, researched their location, and created a short script about that location. The script had to include how they got there, what they did, and how they got back home. This is such a creative experience for these children! It helps them learn and research other places around the world in a fun way! They could share their experiences with a world wide audience and get feedback. What a positive teaching method!

Benefits of Podcasting

This video explores the benefits of podcasting. It starts off by explaining that a Millenial is anyone born after 1980 and we must know technology in order to live in the modern day world. Because of the iPod, podcasting has become more popular and effective. Podcasting allows students to have something they can create and something they can keep and listen to over and over. The video shows that if a student has to miss school due to being sick, they can download their teacher's podcast of the study materials so that they don't miss too much. It also shows the importance of blogging in the classroom so that the students can have a worldwide audience and connect with other students all over the world. The video allows students to share their opinion on podcasts and how much they enjoyed the experience. They can tell the world who they have shared their learning experience with. The principal also has a chance to give her opinion on podcasting. She explains that it allows students to be innovative and creative and it also gives parents a look at what their students are doing in the classroom.

Podcasting is definitely something I would like to use in my classroom because I think the students would have fun with it and learn a lot about the subject I am teaching. I think that it is an excellent way to share their learning experiences with not only their friends and families, but also others around the world. I can't imagine how excited they will be when someone they don't know comments on it and tells them how excellent their work is! This creates positive reinforcement and also encourages them to learn.