Once again I found these sites and applications on www.freetech4teachers.com by Richard Byrne. I will focus on 2 sites one for writing and one for timelines. Be sure to check out the links below because Richard has multiple links to similar apps.
On app.wizer.me/ you can create interactive writing assignments in a couple of ways. You can create fill-in-the-blank activities that provide students with instant feedback as they work. The other style of writing assignment that you can create on Wizer is an interactive image assignment. You can upload an image and have students label it. As they write their labels they can receive feedback as to whether or not they labeled the image correctly.
Next up is an application from www.historyinmotion.org/ that lets you use interactive maps to teach historical events. Obviously this would be great for history classes but you might be able to adapt it for a language classroom. We recently had exams at my school with such content containing historical figures such as Amelia Earhart, Dr. Martin Luther King, and Abraham Lincoln and this app would have made the activity much more meaningful. This app would be great for timelines and to show where and how events played out.
Now you can do it in cyber space. The post Creating Self-Checking “Scavenger Hunts” Using Google Forms by Stephanie Perretta is a great way to move this activity off the printed page and into blended learning environment. It lets the students use multiple learning stations and with Google forms it is self checking, which cuts down on teacher marking time. We all like that don't we? Click on the link below for more information. https://www.synergyse.com/blog/creating-self-checking-scavenger-hunts-using-google-forms/
This post is mainly for teachers who have ESL students mixed in with their mainstream students in the USA. But check out the links in this post some might be useful. ESL Students in Mainstream: 10 Online Resources for Teachers. With the continuing growth of international students in the United States, many institutions (both K–12 and colleges) find themselves in the position where they have to provide instructors with appropriate training that would prepare them to meet the needs of this student population. Unfortunately, time and financial resources are just not always available to achieve these goals. As a result, many mainstream teachers gain experience by trial and error http://blog.tesol.org/esl-students-in-mainstream-10-online-resources-for-teachers/#more-7464
Technology continues to improve and we as educators have to improve with it. Check out these materials from Common Sense Media.
Digital Citizenship Materials From Common Sense Media.
While we may not be technology or computer science teachers, the fact of the matter is that most of us probably require students to use technology in one way or another. As an example, my students make videos, create audio recordings, participate in online discussions, view content online, and use an LMS not only to check on homework assignments, but also to submit assignments, view feedback, interact with classmates, and check grades. Even at schools that are not 1-to-1, teachers and students typically still rely on technology some of the time, and that is what makes digital citizenship such an important topic. http://blog.tesol.org/digital-citizenship-materials-from-common-sense-media/#more-7491
Teachers enter the profession for a multitude of reasons: The experience of making a difference in the lives of children, to be a lifelong learner, because it is their chosen vocation, or even because they like having the nights, weekends, and summers off. More information from this post at www.teachhub.com
You know the content, you understand pedagogy, and you can navigate the minefield of diplomacy when dealing with parents, students, administrators, literacy coaches, and the local news station when they want to see the iPads glow on the students faces. Check out this post from www.teachthought.com
The persistent failing of core subject examinations by Thai students, despite higher budgets every year, reflects glaring discrepancies in the country’s education, according to specialists. Check out this story from the Bangkok Post.
In this post from BusyTeacher.Org, there are five ups and downs to working in ESL schools. We all know about these, but how do we deal with it all? Check out the solutions at the end of the post.
Vicky Blackwell's Internet guide for educators has free resources and templates for common tasks in the classroom. Not all of it is for the ESL classroom but there are some useful things. Click on the link below for more information.
We teachers have always used films in the classroom in different ways. Here is a post from TESOL International that has three ways that are practical for the language classroom.
I found this great blog that has free or nearly free technology resources for teachers. It is filled to the brim with links and tutorials for the tech minded educator. For more information click on the link below.
