Some of the instructional tools I use in my classroom are the Funnix Reading Program, News-2-you, and Intellitools Classroom Suite, among many others. All three of these are multi-faceted and incorporate technology.
Funnix is a research based reading program that is a Cd-rom that we have been displaying on the large screen in the classroom, the students take turns hold the pointer to come up and point to certain things I ask of them. For some it may be pointing to a picture, others are identifying letters, letter sounds, or even sounding out words and listening comprehension. Once we complete the computer portion 10-20min, there is a simple worksheet to complete that is demonstrated for them. You'll see these in the graded work folders. It has been working great and we are seeing a lot of growth from it.
News-2-you is an online 'magazine' that I print out each week for the students. It is available in four different levels, with three different levels of worksheets that go with it. We read these as a group using our 'reading fingers' as our guide, following along as our 'readers' or myself read. The students are usually asked to find certain pictures and words and circle or color them. The worksheets are used in the work stations (independent work) or at their desks. These worksheets will also been seen in the graded work folders, you'll notice that they follow the same format each week using different pictures, words, and numbers. This consistency is something most students thrive on.
Another interactive tool I've been using is Classroom Suite, again displayed on the white board, however this program has activities for all subject areas and thematic units. We've been using it a lot for math and for thematic activities.
Each student has been so motivated to be part of the group whether sitting on the floor or on a ball chair, or clasrsoom chair, they are sitting wonderfully and attending to the activity.
TECHNOLOGY IS A WONDERFUL THING!
We are so blessed to be in this new facility, this is just one reason why.
