Hello everyone!
This week we learned about new tools that can help as with the teaching of speaking or writing skills.
I would like to recommend you about the five tools that I think are the most useful.
Storybird-
this is a very cool website that enables students to write stories and poems. I
choose this tool because it provides the option to improve writing skills in a unique,
creative and enjoyable way. These are the steps to use the site; first, you
choose an illustration from the wide verity offered in the site. Then you choose whether you want to create a
poem or a story. Later you add words and
pictures into your picture book. You can also publish your work to the site
public library. I would ask the students
to create a story/poem at home. The next lesson they will present it in front
of the class. Eventually I would ask them to enter the website again and to
comment to some of their friends' stories.
Spelling Bee – this website is great for practicing listening
and spelling skills and that is the reason I chose it. The activities in the
website are divided into levels. For example, high schools students will listen
to separate sentences and then spell the words from each sentence. At the end
of the activity, the student gets a grade and the opportunity to see the right answers.
I would let the students using this tool in the class as well as at home as
homework.
Graphic Organizers
– this website contains different types of graphic organized forms. I chose
this tool because I think that it can assist students in generating ideas and
planning their essay. Graphic organizers enable the students to organize
information logically and to present their ideas in an effective way. I would
present the students to several graphic organizers before the actual writing
stage.
Idebate – this website contains a collection of hundreds debates topics. It also
provides for and against arguments for each topic. I believe that this tool can
be very useful for students who need to prepare for a debate. I would introduce
this website to the class before the debates, so that they would be able to
learn the arguments before the debate and focus more on their speaking skills.
Voice chat – Skype – I have never thought of using Skype in the classroom. I have to
admit that I really like the ways that were presented this week regarding using
it in the classroom. I strongly believe that as English teachers our main goal
should be teaching the students to communicate orally in English with other
people. That is why Skype can be very useful. For instance, I can ask the
students to use Skype in order to discuss with other students about a specific
topic. For more ideas you can click here.
