Hello Parents!  Welcome to our classroom blog.  I hope that you have had a chance to "poke" around and learn a little bit about our classroom.  In the coming weeks, your child will be engaging in a WebQuest.  A WebQuest "is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web" (Dodge, 2007).  Your students will be completing a WebQuest that asks them to investigate their disabilities.  Here are some things that you should know about this experience.

Before the WebQuest:

• If you haven't already done so, please talk candidly with your child about his or her disability.  
• Check out the WebQuest here:  Click to View

During the WebQuest:

• Support your students with any tasks that they need to complete.  
• Take your student to the library or allow them to stay for Homework Club if you do not have access to the internet.
• Be open and welcoming to questions and conversations about your students' disabilities.

After the WebQuest:

• Allow your student to practice their presentation with you prior to their next PPT.
• Ask your student about "what's next".  Help your child to do career planning activities that can be found by clicking here I'm Determined.

I hope that this WebQuest is as engaging and exciting for you as parents as it is for the kids.  Please contact me any time if you have any questions, and feel free to comment on this post!

Works Cited:
Dodge, PhD, B. (2007, January 1). Welcome. Retrieved December 21, 2014, from http://www.webquest.org

Have you ever been really worried, but you feel "stuck" and you're not sure how to help yourself be less anxious?  Try out a great app called Mindspace.  You can get it on the App Store!

This is the app icon that will show up on your device when you download it!

This is a screenshot of what the screens look like within the app.

Photos credit:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mindshift/id634684825?mt=8

Check out the cool animation that I made to help kids understand the basics of having an IEP.  Enjoy!

My Video is Here

Educational Value of VoiceThread

My VoiceThread-Laura D

Hello Classmates!  My project this week was made using VoiceThread.  I have never used it, and I must say that it's incredibly user friendly.  My head is already spinning with ways that I could use it within my classroom!  Here are some ideas that I have brainstormed in terms of how to use VoiceThread:

• Students could create a slide show at school-say about Ancient Rome-and then each student could post their verbal comments on the slides before presenting.
• A student with special needs could create a VoiceThread for their IEP Transition meeting-this would help especially shy students to make their needs known!
• As a shy adult, I can see myself using VoiceThread to improve my public speaking skills!  This would also be great for kids who are taking communication classes.
• Students could use VoiceThread as a component of their Speech and Language Therapy to improve their speaking skills.  Students could focus on a topic, and explain the topic in detail.
• Showing students how to navigate new websites using screenshots and voice guidance.

I found a great (semi-bland delivery, but that's okay) link that gives 100 ideas for using VoiceThread in education.  It's a collaborative project so some speakers are more dynamic than others.  You can access it by clicking here: 100 Ideas

References:

Byrne, R. (2010, June 2). Free Technology for Teachers: 100 Ways to Use VoiceThread in Education. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/06/100-ways-to-use-voicethread-in.html#.VICGwWTF8aA