Language arts
#28: My Storybook
Create a ten-sentence story, using characters, setting, plot, rising action, climax and resolution. One sentence per page with a picture to communicate the idea. Include a cover, About the Author. Use this lesson to teach students how to use Publisher’s design gallery
Click on lessons for a full size alternative. (more…)
Weekend Website #29: Storybook Maker
Drop by every Friday to discover what wonderful website my classes and parents loved this week. I think you’ll find they’ll be a favorite of yours as they are of mine.
#32: How to Use Art to Teach Grammar
Here’s a great lesson that uses every child’s innate love of color to learn grammar. All you need is MS Word, a quick introduction to the toolbars and tools, and about 25 minutes to complete. If you’re the tech lab teacher, this gives you a chance to reinforce the grammar lesson the classroom is teaching:
[caption id="attachment_1026" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="From Structured Learning's Tech Lab Toolkit Volume I"]
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Click for more great FREE lesson plans.
Tech Tip #18: No Excuse for Spelling Errors
As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. Each week, I’ll share one with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy! (more…)
#20: A Holiday Card in KidPix
Create a holiday card in KidPix and reinforce early writing skills while teaching mouse skills, toolbars and tool use: (more…)
#16: A Holiday Memory in Word or KidPix
Use this not only to create a gift for parents, but to practice writing skills, grammar, MS Word’s spell check. I have student compose the memory one week and we format it the next. For beginning writers, use KidPix and its text tools. (more…)
#15: A Holiday Letter for Grades 2-6
This holiday letter can be as simple (for 2nd graders) or sophisticated (middle school) as your students can handle. There are a gamut of skills–
- text
- borders
- pictures (from the internet, from clip art, from a separate file folder on your school server)
- different fonts, font colors, font sizes
I’ve included a grading rubric to guide students in accomplishing as much as they can. Start with the basics (text, a border, some pictures) and add more skills as students get used to the early ones: (more…)
#112: 10 Ways Twitter Makes You a Better Writer
I wrote a post on how Blogs and Wikis make students better writers–teachers too for that matter–and wanted to follow it up with how tweeting improves writing. Then I found Jennifer’s summary. It pretty well covers what I’d say:
- You learn to be concise
- You learn to be focused
- You have time to check for grammar and spelling
#24: A Holiday Newsletter in Publisher for Elementary School
This is another great holiday project for 5th graders (see the holiday calendar here). Publisher templates lay out the columns, headings, articles. All students must do is fill in with their topics and pictures. Be sure that they delete the extra pages at the end before printing. (more…)
