Lou's Blog

Fun Brain

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:42:38 +0000

I have found a really fantastic website for kids and teachers called FunBrain. This site has lots of fun activities for kids, and it also covers a range of subjects. I believe that it is important to make learning fun for students and it is sites like these which make this possible.

There are also links for teachers of activities and games. Some of these things do cost but they are fairly inexpensive. However there are lots of free games and activities for students. I highly recommend you check it out.

Learner-Centered Teaching

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:32:24 +0000

I have just viewed a really interesting video on Ayesha's blog i highly recomment you take a look.

Useful Programs for Primary Students

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:24:01 +0000

I have just read a very useful blog by Kimberly. it lists some interesting and useful programs which would be used in the primary school. They are as follows:

KidsCulture: The Great Explorers, by Susan W. Hixson (3/99)

Curious George Learns to Spell, by Michele Sands (1/99)

Thinkology: Clarity, by Susan W. Hixson (11/98)

Oxford Children’s Encyclopedia on CD-ROM, by Michele Sands (9/98)

First-Start Biography, by Susan Hixson (5/98)

Readers’ Guide for Young People, by Gale Mostacciuolo (5/98)

That’s a Fact, Jack!, by Sandy Scroggs (3/98)

Mrs. Murphy’s Media Center, by Sandy Scroggs (1/98)

CornerStone Language Arts, by Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain (11/97)

Magic Tales II: Sleeping Cub’s Test of Courage, by Charles Doe (9/97)

Dinosaur Hunter, by Gale Mostacciuolo (5/97)

Tenth Planet Explores Math: Shapes Within Shapes and Mirror Symmetry, by Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain (5/97)

Adventures of Ricky Raccoon: Lost in the Woods, by Charles Doe (3/97)

CCCnet, by Sally Finley (1/97)

Tesselmania! Deluxe CD, by Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain (1/97)

Grammar Games, by Jodi Prchal (11/96)

Trudy’s Time & Place House, by Fay L. Matsunaga (9/96)

A to Zap!, by Fay L. Matsunaga (5/96)

Storybook Weaver Deluxe, by Susan W. Hixon (5/96)

Favorite Greek Myths (Scholastic Smart Books Series), by Mary Alice Anderson (3/96)

With Open Eyes, by Ellen Baru and Jennifer Howland (3/96)

School Font Collection, by Susan W. Hixson (1/96)

The World of Nature (Microsoft Explorapedia Series), by Susan Eblen (1/96)

This has been a great posting from Kimberly!

Making Websites

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:45:57 +0000

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/puckman/247365323/

I have found a very useful article on Ayesha’s blog.

This site gives teahcers some great guidelines on what makes a good website for kids. It is really worth a read.

Visual literacy

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:41:41 +0000

I have just found a interesting article on Jo’s blog. This article gives some guidelines to teachers in relation to visual literacy which i think are very useful. The article suggests that teachers need a clear understanding and an effective approach to visual literacy and this is when students will be able to excel with the new technologies.

I think that this article is a very useful read for teachers. It will really open your eyes to how to incororate visual literact into your teaching.

Foundation Handwriting

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:29:54 +0000

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/banlon1964/581881935/

I have just found a fantastic and useful website on Ayesha’s blog. This website allows you to download the NSW foundation handwriting for $9.95. This would be very helpful if you needed to create your own worksheets.

I highly recommed you look at this site as i believe it would be very useful.

Computerr games and learning?

louise08 — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:19:19 +0000

I have come across a very interesting post which i found on Loren’s blog. It is suggesting that kids computer games are not just mindless fun, it actually suggests that there are several elements of learning through playing computer games.

This article suggested that children as young as 2 can benefit from computer games as it introduces them to words and helps in their fine motor coordination. The article states ‘children as young as 2 could benefit as it marked the start of their ability to read and allowed them to express creativity without being limited by their handwriting’.

This was a very interesting article and i support it’s findings, However I strongly believe that computers can benefit students learning as long as parents and teachers ensue that students have a balance in their learning and that the games that they are playing are benefiting their education.

The next generation….

louise08 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:52:54 +0000

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/galina135/523385629/

My mum always tells me how different life was when she was younger, no TV, no computers, but at the age of 21 I am feeling very old as i can actually see where she is coming from. I have viewed a vodcast which i found on Jessica’s blog. It is of a young girl, about the age of 2, who is using an iphone with ease. This girl would not yet be able to read however she can use this complicated technology. with technology expanding it is clear that the young children of today have been emerged in this ever changing phenomenon.

I highly recommend you view this site, it is truely a frightening eye opener!

One Laptop Per Child?

louise08 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:32:57 +0000

I have just viewed a very interesting article which i found on Loren’s blog. I recommend that you read this, it is introducing the concept that a laptop has been developed in a way which ensures it is affordable to all. This laptop whilst basic will have wireless Internet access to allow students to view the wide world web.

A VERY interesting concept, which can hopefully be put into action.

Useful Techology based lessons

louise08 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:28:43 +0000

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/extraketchup/408727666/

I have just viewed Jessica’s blog where she posted a great link to a website which provides teachers with lesson plans and ideas for some technology lessons. I feel that this website could be very useful to teachers.

Click here to view