Electronic Portfolio

Please visit my electronic portfolio for more ideas about integrating technology into elementary classrooms!

Podcast Describing Touch Math Approach

Today, I created a Podcast where I talked about the Touch Math method. This strategy seems to really help children solve algorithms. Instead of relying on manipulatives and/or finger counting, the children simply count the number of dots that correspond to the numbers one through nine.

Picture courtesy of TouchMath

Interactive Flashcards

Cobocards is an excellent CAI website for teachers or students to create interactive flashcards. The students can practice alone or with other classmates to memorize key vocabulary words for all content areas. After completing the practice session, there is a score report given that describes the percentage of terms which were answered correctly/incorrectly. I created a set of flashcards based on types of precipitation.

Kidspiration Tutorial

Tutorials are a component of Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI). Also included in the CAI category are simulations, games, drill and practice activities, exploratory environments, and reference software. These types of lessons help students learn from the program, whereas tools help students learn with the software through the construction of a product. For example, the VoiceThread tool, as illustrated in my blog, allows students to manipulate and organize information, such as pictures and text, into a coherent product that explains the topic. However, a tutorial (CAI), as shown above, teaches learners about or how to do something. This video tutorial was created using CamStudio.

Dipity Timeline

Study Abroad on Dipity.

The above timeline was created using Dipity. This could be implemented in the classroom by students or the teacher to sequence events in content areas, such as history, science, and reading. It could also be used to depict a student's life story.

Paris Slide Show

This slide show was created using Slide. It could be used in a compare and contrast lesson where students find similarities and differences between Paris and their cities or towns. If music is incorporated into the slide show, it should be played at a very low volume, or it could be turned off to prevent distractions. These pictures are photographs that I took in Paris, France.

Landforms Guessing Game

This album was created using the tool, VoiceThread. It is a guessing game designed for elementary students learning about the six main landforms including mountain, hill, ocean, lake, river, and stream. This engaging activity could be used as an introduction or at the end of the unit to review the characteristics of each of the landforms. All the pictures are actual photographs that I took while studying abroad in Innsbruck, Austria.

Yearly Calendar

Ooples and Boonoonoos

This is an example of a mash-up, which is a fun way to teach students the vowel sounds. The monkey has taken on my ALTERED voice to sing the song.

Welcome to Melissa's Blog

I graduated in December 2008 from Stetson University which is located in DeLand, Florida. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with ESOL Endorsement. Immediately following graduation, I was hired as a long-term substitute at the school where I student taught. Unfortunately, with the economy the way it is, I have not been able to find another teaching job. Therefore, I have decided to earn my Master's Degree in the CDIT program at University at Albany. Since I enjoy technology and implementing it into the classroom, I will share projects from the past and new ideas that I learn.