Student-Use Websites

Time for Kids

TimeforKids.com is the children’s version of Time Magazine, found online.  The website is well-organized, inviting, and easy to maneuver.  TimeforKids.com is broken down into sections including:  News, Kid Reporters, Around the World, Homework Helper, Photos & Videos, and TFK Extras.  The variety of categories offers a few options for use in the classroom.  One way I could use TimeforKids.com is that the news articles and videos could be used to create a common experience for the class.  As a class, we could either watch a video, or read an article, and then everyone could write an assigned response to the piece.  Some of the news articles offer topics that students could take a position on, such as whether or not the dollar coin should replace the dollar bill, and other videos and articles could be used for students to practice reflecting, summarizing, and identifying key information.  The website could also be used as a resource for students when working on homework.  I could provide the students with the website information at the beginning of the school year, and they could use the flashcard maker or the essay guides in the homework helper section to help them with studying and homework for my class.  TimeforKids.com offers a lot of educational information written at an accessible level for eighth grade students.

Word Central

WordCentral.com is Merriam-Webster’s website designed for middle school students.  The website is student friendly and offers, a dictionary, rhyming dictionary, thesaurus, build your own dictionary, daily buzzword, and games.  I was pleased to see that high-level words are included in the dictionary and on the daily buzzword, but definitions are accessible to lower reading levels.  A great source for improving students’ vocabularies, I can see using WordCentral.com in two different ways in my classroom.  When students complete work early, or have earned a reward, the website could be an approved website for students to visit for playing games.  There are a variety of games on the website that are intended to build vocabulary and build spelling skills with fun graphics and activities.  Also, the rhyming dictionary could be a lot of fun for the poetry unit.  When students are creating their own poetry, they could use the rhyming dictionary for brainstorming and for ideas when they cannot think of a rhyme on their own.  When a word is entered, rhyming words appear, and then when clicked on the students can see the definitions of the rhyming words.

Link to Daily Buzzword

Link to Games

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Young Adult Literature #2

Does young adult literature hold value in classrooms outside of English Language Arts?

Though there are few studies that explore the true value of young adult literature across content areas other than English, those few existing studies provide reasons why students benefit from the incorporation of young adult literature in content areas.  Reasons for using young adult literature include the appeal to students, illumination of content, synthesis of concepts, and the creation of a shared experience for all students and teacher.

It is easy for a math, science, or social studies teacher to use the textbook to teach content; the text follows the curriculum and explores the factual information that needs to be presented to the student.  The problem with this single faceted approach is that it ignores the different learning styles of students and lacks variety for the developing brains of teenagers.  Many students enjoy reading young adult literature, and the use of novels to supplement curriculum provides incentive for reading outside of the content.  Students become emotionally involved with events and characters, deepening understanding and involvement.

Young adult literature can bring concepts to life for the students.  Though students may not have experienced the concept being taught in their own lives, a novel can explore “real world” applications of materials in a way that a textbook does not.  Some students may have experienced content related curriculum, but a novel can bring to life personal connections to the content area.  Teachers often ask students to think about how content applies to real life, and novels provide an exploration of that connection.

Students experience curriculum in textbooks, through media, on the internet, and in newspapers, so young adult literature provides another textual presentation of content.  The variety of texts gives students the chance to synthesize concepts and explore the content from different perspectives.

Though content areas outside of English are not traditionally taught through literature, young adult literature offers a unique way to introduce, explore, and experience curriculum and deepen understanding.

The following video provides examples of novels that could accompany a social studies unit.

 video obtained from:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F2AV2DrN24&feature=related

Sources:

Bean, T. W. (2003). Using young adult literature to enhance comprehension in the content areas. American Institutes for Research. Retrieved October 18, 2011, from www.learningpt.org/pdfs/literacy/young.pdf

Bucher, K., & Manning, M. (n.d.). Young adult literature and the school curriculum. Education.com An Education & Child Development Site for Parents. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/young-adult-literature-school-curriculum/

youthliterature. (n.d.). Young Adult Literature Booktalk: The Holocaust. YouTube. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F2AV2DrN24&feature=related

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Student-Use Websites

Teen Reads

“ULTIMATE Reading List”
 

Teenreads.com is a site designed for teenagers to learn about and discuss their favorite books, authors, poets, and characters.  The site allows students to filter the many reviews, previews, blogs, videos, and reading guides in a variety of ways to find the kind of literature that they are interested in or explore new genres.  Website visitors have the opportunity to share their opinions on works that they have read and get recommendations from other young readers.  For individuals who do not want to read through the reviews, video reviews and previews are also available for viewing.  The following is an example of a video posted on the site; author Harlan Coben discussing his book Shelter.

From:  http://www.teenreads.com/videos/coben-shelter.asp

In the classroom, I can imagine using teenreads.com to encourage students to find independent reading books that interest them and to provide students access to study guides that accompany books.  Students are more likely to read and enjoy reading if they find books that spark their interest and curiosity; watching the videos or reading the reviews and blogs may be enough to motivate students to dive into a book.  The study guides can give students access to books that they may not be able to access without the aid.

Teen Ink

TeenInk.com is the website portion of a national magazine and book series for teens.  The website and magazine are designed to provide a place for students to publish their creative work, including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and art.  In addition to publishing the work of teens, teenink.com also provides information on young adult literature and an opportunity for students to comment on the writing of peers and professionals.  A great feature of the website is the section of teen-submitted videos, like the following:

From:  http://www.teenink.com/video/poetry_readings/67559/Can-We

In the classroom, teenink.com could be used to help students brainstorm before creative writing, to help students choose independent reading books, to inspire students to submit work of their own, and to get students talking about and responding to peer writing.  Students could visit the site if they finish classwork early, in the computer lab as a class for the purpose of brainstorming, or on the SMART Board to bring the work of teenagers into instruction.  Getting students thinking and talking about writing can be a challenge, but the work of peers could prove to be inspiring.


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Inquiry Project Foci

Matt:  The use of YAL in English curriculum.

Katie:  Effects of social media on YAL

Beth:  The use of YAL in content areas outside of ELA.