Our iPods are helping us engage more with literacy objectives.
Over the next fortnight all the pupils will be producing two pieces of writing on a Spooky theme. One will be a non-chronological report and the other a piece of descriptive/narrative writing. These will be assessed pieces and pupils will be assessing each other's work using the APP criteria.
So how have we used the iPods to help us achieve our literacy objectives?
Word level learning. We have used the thesaurus (Chambers) on the iPod to improve vocabulary and discuss word choices that create mood and atmosphere. Pupils have used an App called SimpleMinds plus to make mind maps to organise new vocabulary and the Poster template in Pages to select pictures and words to illustrate ideas.
Non-chronological report. We have researched and prepared reports on bats and spiders. We have used Safari to research the topics and selected pictures for the report. Pupils have a choice of word processing or writing the reort by hand. Many have chosen to use Pages to present a report consisting of words and pictures using the Visual Report or Flyer template.
Narrative/descriptive writing. To guide pupils through the process of writing their own chilling tale I have used Book Creator to make an epub document that I have published in iBooks. Pupils can use this to guide them through the writing process.
Poetic devices. Shakespeare, J K Rowling, and other poets have provided our examples and given us inspiration, but the spookiness is all in the way you read the text. The voice recording facility on the iPod gives children a chance to record their own reading and listen to themselves (often for the very first time). Pupils listen to their first recording and decide what they need to do to improve. They then make a second recording after they have adjusted and practised their reading.
So how have we used the iPods to help us achieve our literacy objectives?
Word level learning. We have used the thesaurus (Chambers) on the iPod to improve vocabulary and discuss word choices that create mood and atmosphere. Pupils have used an App called SimpleMinds plus to make mind maps to organise new vocabulary and the Poster template in Pages to select pictures and words to illustrate ideas.
Non-chronological report. We have researched and prepared reports on bats and spiders. We have used Safari to research the topics and selected pictures for the report. Pupils have a choice of word processing or writing the reort by hand. Many have chosen to use Pages to present a report consisting of words and pictures using the Visual Report or Flyer template.
Narrative/descriptive writing. To guide pupils through the process of writing their own chilling tale I have used Book Creator to make an epub document that I have published in iBooks. Pupils can use this to guide them through the writing process.
Poetic devices. Shakespeare, J K Rowling, and other poets have provided our examples and given us inspiration, but the spookiness is all in the way you read the text. The voice recording facility on the iPod gives children a chance to record their own reading and listen to themselves (often for the very first time). Pupils listen to their first recording and decide what they need to do to improve. They then make a second recording after they have adjusted and practised their reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment