Part II: Free,Web-based Tools Diverse Learners CoP Integrating Technology Tools into the Literacy Curriculum April 26, 2007 Part II: Free,Web-based Tools Facilitator: Donna Lupatkin Guest: Judy Zorfass, PEJE and EDC

Students’ Abilities and Needs Curriculum & Instructional Goals Software Tools

Discuss Entry Points Curriculum and Instructional Goals What are the curriculum goals for that grade and content area? What are the instructional strategies will you use? Student’s Abilities and Needs What are the student’s abilities and needs? What are the implications for the content area? Software Tools What are the features of the tools? How do these features align with the curriculum goals and student’s abilities and needs? Where and when can students access the technology tools?

Free, Web-based Tools

Resource # 1 Read, Write, Think http://www.readwritethink.org/student_mat/index.asp Created by NCTE, IRA, and Marco Polo; provides many activities and lessons.

Example # 1 Bio-Cube http://readwritethink.org/materials/bio_cube/

Example # 2 Acrostic Poems http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/acrostic/

Example # 3 Character Trading Cards http://readwritethink.org/materials/trading_cards/

Example # 4 Comic Creator http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/index.html

Resource # 2 Literacy Matters http://www.literacymatters.org Focuses on literacy development in grades 4-12, provides links to articles, tools, and other resources.

Example # 1 (from Technology and Writing) RhymeZone http://www.rhymezone.com/ Tool to locate rhymes, synonyms, and definitions.

Example # 2 (from Technology and Writing) Voycabulary http://www.voycabulary.com/ Makes the words on any webpage into links, so you can look them up with just a click, in a dictionary of your choice.

Example # 3 (from Adolescent Literature, e-books) Aesop’s Fables: Online Collection http://www.aesopfables.com/ Provides access to many fables, and the moral; many of which are read aloud.

Example # 4 (from Content Literacy, Research) 2learn.ca http://www.2learn.ca/webauthoringtool/kidscreateyourpage.html Provides students with tools for developing a webpage.

Example # 5 (from 18 and Under) Student Activity for Teaching Text Structure http://www.literacymatters.org/teachers/activity.htm Three different tutorials to teach text structure (compare and contrast; cause and effect).

Toward Implementation

Factors to Consider Staffing Budget Access to Resources Professional Development Home-School Connection

Planning What tools are you interested in pursuing? What will it take? Why? For whom? What will it take? For you? For staff? For students? For parents?

Future CoP Activities

Follow-up on vBulletin http://community.peje.org What did you try? What happened? What other software tools and websites can you recommend? What implementation issues do you face? How do you fund technology acquisition?

Next Conference Call Date: Monday, June 4, 2007; 4:00 Eastern time Guest: Jane Cohen, South Area Solomon Schechter Topic: First Steps to Starting a Program: What to think about in planning for your 07-08 diverse learners programming and service delivery?

Upcoming vBulletin Training Sessions Thurs. April 26th  7:00-7:30 pm Wed. May 2nd  3:00-3:30 pm Thurs. May 3rd  3:00-3:30 pm Directions: Call 1-866-266 3378; punch in 617-367-0110; and type in 7353. We will send you a password so that you can log onto vBulletin while on the call. Mary Baker will walk you through the steps for using vBulletin.

PEJE wishes to thank the sponsor of Diverse Learners CoP