Kristine Spencer Uses Tech Tools to Teach Writing Opinions

Kristine Spencer Uses Tech Tools to Teach Writing Opinions

 

Offering Opinions

 

Kristine Spencer, 1st Grade

Teaching Point: Writers agree or disagree with their partner’s opinion by giving a reason.

 

Common Core State Standards:
  • W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion and provide some sense of closure.
  • SL.1.1.B Build on each other’s talk in conversations by responding to the comments of other student’s through multiple exchanges.
  • SL.1.6 Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation.

 

Tools Used:
  • Popplet: is a map-like presentation application designed for the web, tablet, and mobile devices. The app lets visual learners create thought bubbles (or Popplets as they are called) to map out their thoughts, organize, and connect ideas. The Popplets can be filled with text, photos, or videos and when finished, edited for presentations and sharing.
  • SeeSaw: is an educational application designed for computers and tablets. The app is a digital portfolio for students of all ages, giving students the ability to save and share their assignments with their teachers, parents, and classmates. Tools in SeeSaw give students the ability to snap photos or videos, draw, and type. They can also add audio narration or doodle annotations on photos of their homework to show how they got their answers.

 

Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition (SAMR) Model: (Learn more here)
  • Modification: Popplet and SeeSaw gives students the ability to view and listen to their partner’s opinion multiple times to be able to form a quality comment reflecting their own opinions. They are also able to collaborate and share feedback using these applications.

 

Lesson Background:

The first-grade authors recently gathered ideas for their opinion pieces by creating a Popplet that they return to throughout the unit. They rehearsed their opinion, with reasons, by telling it across their fingers and then writing a draft. As students created drafts, they added craft moves such as adding details and using sparkly words (action and descriptive words). Students then recorded their opinions and reasons with supporting details in SeeSaw.

On the day of the Cotsen visit, students gave feedback to their writing partners by commenting on their partner’s opinion video in SeeSaw. The students could type, use speech to text, or leave a voice recording for their comments. When giving feedback, the students stated whether they agreed or disagreed and gave a reason. When students finished, they went to their SeeSaw profile and read the comments left for them. After the Cotsen visit, students used the agreements or disagreements to strengthen their argument.

 

Other Information:

Recording in the classroom with the built-in iPad microphone captures disruptive background noise. These are the headsets Acacia uses for recording voice: http://ithinkwrite.com/headsets/

 

 

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