Annotation (VoiceThread)

Creator of the project: Randi Vaseleck

Identified Grade Level (For this specific VoiceThread): Third

For a third grade classroom, a lesson involving verbs, nouns, and adjectives can be centered around this VoiceThread. Assuming that the students have previously had a lesson on this topic, and truly understand what verbs, nouns, and adjectives are, they would be able to successfully complete the lesson in this VoiceThread.

By using a VoiceThread, teachers can integrate technology with content knowledge. For example, the students are not just sitting at their desks and thinking of different words, they are doing so through technological means. Some children see technology as a "treat," so this would get many students highly engaged. Also, they have the option of interacting with one another if the teacher wants to do so. For my project, I did not have them communicating with each other through the VoiceThread just yet. Depending on how advanced the class is, it may be best to have them experience the VoiceThread itself first, and move on to communicating through it later on. Some ethical/social issues may get in the way if the student has no access to a computer at home. They will see this as something new, and may struggle in the beginning. However, if they are taught how to use this correctly, it is quite simple, and they should be able to catch on quickly.

This addresses literacy issues, by having the students write lists of verbs, nouns, and adjectives, and then form them into sentences. Students are not reading throughout the project, but they are writing which will better their literacy.

The objectves of this project/lesson is to have students become familiar with VoiceThread and other fun ways of using technology in the classroom, and also to strenthen their language arts skills.

The learning style to most benefit from this lesson is visual, and tactile. Students will be looking at the picture, and then writing down their thoughts. This will integrate both visual and tactile learning styles.

The instructional strategies that have been utilized in this lesson are brainstorming, cooperative learning, and visual imaging. This is both a self-paced and teacher-directed media projected. It is teacher-directed throughout the VoiceThread and then becomes self-paced when it is handed over to the student. The lesson begins as an individual project and then emerges into a group project when the students share their sentences with others.

Informal and formal assessment will be used. Students will be formally assessed by their engagement and participation throughout the VoiceThread and while their sharing their sentences. They will be formally assessed by their worksheet that they complete.