n 3: Differentiated Writing Tasks
These writing tasks ask students to write well-planned, thorough responses that are just one paragraph in length. They are differentiated to help young and/or struggling writers and readers, and actively guide students as they write. Grading rubrics and textual evidence organizers are included!
"Read and Write for Google is an excellent Chrome app that provides text-to-speech functions from your browser. They have just released a free iPad and Android app. The apps provide text to speech functions, which are great for ESL, learning disabled, visually challenged and struggling readers, on your device, just like the web app does in the Chrome Browser and Chromebooks.
"It is pretty much a given these days that students have mobile phones, tablets, and e-readers. Leveraging what your students already have and already know how to use is a smart idea - even if you aren't implementing a full-on BYOD classroom environment. There are many ways to have students use their mobile devices in the classroom in a format geared towards learning rather than for leisure. The infographic in this post takes a look at ten fairly general ways to use devices in the classroom. The general nature of some of the recommendations makes it a great starting point if this is a newer concept for you or for a particular group that you're working. "
" since I wrote my post on Google Reader replacements, I've had a lot of people ask me what benefits I gain using Flipboard that they missed! So I've put together this information to help you get started using Flipboard or get more out of using Flipboard."
A long list of places on the Internet from where you can download free (and legal) eBooks. If we are aiming to have improved access, with everyone knowing and understanding how to access and find what they want to read, then we are opening up a new world for some an and using technology to create better readers. This is in a listly from Fasal Khan.
Article from TheGuardian " Students use Wikipedia extensively, probably more than any other social group. Although the website's founder Jimmy Wales once warned readers not to use the website for academic purposes, American research shows that the majority of students browse its pages when researching essays. Most universities and academics distrust the service, warning us: "Never cite Wikipedia." Why is the academic world so hostile to this vast information resource? And why do students find it so hard to stay away?"
Ebooks outlawed in class. The September issue of School Library Journal addressed not one, but two reader issues pertaining to digital access by K-12 students. Pat Scales, chair of the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee, has dealt with many a book challenge and attempts to ban library materials. In her column, "Scales on Censorship," she addresses situations faced by readers. But "this is the first I've encountered in which a book's format has been censored," she writes.
"The Innovator's DNA" is a motivational read - from chapter to chapter, the authors dish out exercises designed to help readers strengthen each of the five skills necessary for innovation.
Feeed is a simple and elegant web-service which allows you to easily create a visual magazine by aggregating any number of blogs or RSS feeds. You input the URL of your blog, Twitter channel, and any other site or feed you may want to include (up to 8) and Feeed will automatically aggregate and display all of the incoming content into a neat visual page.