Tagxedo

Amazing Web Tool!  Thank you to KHaggs07 and her blog for introducing me to Tagxedo and all the wonderful things this website can do.  First thing that came to mind is art for my classroom using children's names.  Here is the Tagxedo I created using my blog posts...

The Pinterest Addictions

So I admit, I have an addiction.  Pinterest.  But how can you not be addicted?  All these ideas at your finger tips... from recipes to household DIY ideas but even better lesson ideas galore.  I often find my first stop in planning these days is a trip to Pinterest.  In fact I have even started to create various "boards" matching topics and themes for my classroom.  As a preschool teacher I often have to think outside the box for lesson planning as I don't have a full set of prescribed curriculums I follow.  I have found Pinterest to be a great tool in developing lessons and ideas for use in my classroom.  Take a look... follow me on Pinterest.

Digital Storytelling in the Preschool Classroom

In trying to figure out how to incorporate digital storytelling in my preschool classroom, the example provided from the Gryphon House Blog really helped clear the air on what a digital story is and can be. 

"Have you watched a wedding video lately? Many times the video starts with music playing in the background while visually zooming in on still photographs, such as pictures of the spouses’ childhood homes and baby pictures, then moves seamlessly to actual video of the ceremony and reception. That is an example of how digital storytelling works."

This blog posts continues to provide ideas and resources to use when creating digital stories in the classroom including Voki, StoryBird, and StoryCenter.org.  It also provides an example of a digital story that was created by a teacher in New Jersey using Voice Thread.  This teacher was national recognized for her the digital story her class created about polar bears.

Circle Time Rules

Everyday with my little kiddos we go over our circle time rules:

eyes watching

ears listening

voices quiet

bodies calm

We frequently sing a song that goes with these rules.  In setting out to create an Animoto I decided what would be better than giving my students a visual to correspond with the song and circle time rules.  To make it more personal for my kiddos I also took pictures of them doing the motions to use for the Animoto.

Now everyday the first thing I do with each of my classes is watch this video.  The kids actually ask for it.  We play it on our eno board and the kiddos sing along, do the hand motions and even my most distracted student is engaged and following along.  I absolutely love the final product and the visual it provides for my students.  Will certainly be continuing the use Animoto in my classroom.

A digital story telling the process of making a digital story...

Start to finish how elementary kiddos create digital stories.  Kids and technology these days, its their way of life.

Empowering Digital Story

Digital Storytelling with the Littles

“Digital storytelling incorporates a variety of multimedia such as audio narration, music, video, and still images to tell a story.”



"Digital storytelling has taken the educational world by storm, due in part to the power it has to engage and motivate the learner. Digital storytelling can also be used by any age group from pre-k to college level. Young children can be involved in the making of a digital story in a variety of ways, such as taking photographs with a digital camera, acting out scenes, drawing pictures and scanning the images, and narrating the story with their own words. When the students are involved in the creation of the digital story it becomes very meaningful to them and, thus, a very effective teaching tool."

Formative Assessment in the preschool classroom using Digital Storytelling

Early Childhood Teacher: Digital Storytelling