Ms. Caitlyn Tuma

Bio

A super nice member!

Reviews

March 17, 2014

How do you use this tool?
I would use this tool as a fun way to brainstorm for writing prompts and to get students thinking about their responses. This would also be really great to use with English Language Learners and provides them with a platform for practicing both receptive (listening) and productive (speaking) skills.

What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths: this app is very easy to use, and can be customized by the teacher to correlate with any literacy unit.
Weaknesses: the free version of this app is pretty limited; however, there is one prompt per category that students can use in the free version.

How do you customize it for your situation?
This app is customizable in the sense that teachers, or students, can create their own prompts using a picture and sentence. Students can create their own profiles where their responses are saved.

Would you recommend it to a colleague? Why or why not?
Yes, I would recommend this to a colleague. This app is great for literacy, as well as for ELL teachers wanting to increase their students language practice in the classroom.

March 11, 2014

How do you use this tool?
This tool can be used and incorporated into multiple different literacy lessons where teachers choose the focus of the learning goals and objectives for students. This tool can be used across various curriculum content areas, because students can have the freedom to create a book on many different topics. Students could create books of various genres to enhance social studies, science, etc.

What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths: this site is fun! Students are becoming authors and interacting with the illustrations and creating text that is appropriate for the content area goals. This website is free and can be used across grade levels. Stories can be shared through a link online and even ordered online for fee.
Weaknesses: this is a long process, so student engagement may be challenging. Breaking the story structure up into multiple days for a project would probably best suite the students. Not clear how many stories can be created for free.

How do you customize it for your situation?
This is extremely customizable in the sense that students are creating their own story books. There is the option for students to create their book in 7 steps (characters, challenges, motivation, setting, obstacles, climax, closing) or they are able to start on their own. Teachers can create appropriate guidelines and learning goals and objectives for their students to use when creating their own stories.

Would you recommend it to a colleague? Why or why not?
Yes, I would recommend this website to colleagues, especially those looking to integrate literacy into multiple subjects. Students can create stories for just about any subject and have a lot of fun putting it all together. This is a great way for students to interact with technology in the classroom and provides them with the platform to share their project by link with teachers or even take it home to share with family.

March 11, 2014

How do you use this tool?
This tool can be used in a Daily 5 rotation to work with words and vocabulary. This can also be used to specifically target vocabulary lists for all learners, especially ELL students. The games and interactive activities provide an engaging way for students to interact with vocabulary and practice at the same time.

What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths: customizable, multiple ways for students to interact with one topic/vocab list, in-app download options from a ‘bitsboard’ (words lists, flash cards, etc.)
Weaknesses: the app can be hard for students to access, because there are SO many options if the teacher chooses to download them. Not sure if there is a way to track student progress directly through the app to see how they are interacting with the selected words.

How do you customize it for your situation?
This app can be customized through downloading specific games for vocabulary for specific levels of students. For example, there are multiple levels of Fry word lists for students to interact with.

Would you recommend it to a colleague? Why or why not?
Yes, I would recommend this app to a colleague. Especially for those who have English Language Learners in their class who need to work on expanding their vocabulary. This would also be a great app to work into a Daily 5 rotation for students to work with words and interact with vocabulary through games.

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