Standard

I am using the following standard as a target of focus this semester:


Discipline: English/Language Arts

Grade Level: 5-8

Producing Texts/Content Standard 2: Students will produce written, oral and visual texts to express, develop and substantiate ideas and experiences.


I find that since the first day of class I have been spending a great deal of time trying to think of effective ways to link visual learning with digital imagery. Following class last week, I was very excited when I found out that not only did my students have access to Kidspiration, but I could access Inspiration from my very own desktop as well. (The school purchased the software a few years ago, but neglected to show anybody how to use it!) I have been using it ever since.


Expository Writing - In the past, I used the "expository pillar," a linear organizer, to help students plan and organize their essays. If, after using the "pillar," their essays still lacked organization, students would write each paragraph on a separate index card in an effort to maintain a separate and distinct focus for each one. Needless to say, students were not happy about rewriting their work, but the visual did help some students understand the format better. Kidspiration eliminates this frustration.


Yesterday, I used it during writing with a student who jumbled together his intro, 3 main ideas, and conclusion in one paragraph. Using Kidspiration, we wrote the intro in the first link, underlining each of the three main ideas. Next, we linked the first main idea to the intro. "This is awesome!" was his response. Almost immediately, he created the last three links to the remaining main ideas and conclusion. Using copy and paste, he moved his relevant details from his word document to the appropriate links in Kidspiration and was delighted with his success. Over the past week, I have also showed my daughter how to use Inspiration to prepare notes for her science and Spanish tests, and brainstorm ideas for an English paper. She told me that the format helps her maintain a focus, or "think INSIDE the box."

Besides writing, I see applications in all the subjects I teach. In science, Inspiration can be used to show cause and effect, or maintain a focus for research. In math, it can be used to isolate digits in large numbers to illustrate the rules for rounding. And in reading, it can show how a plot develops, or trace chararacter change throughout a book. I hope my SmartBoard arrives soon so I can utilize this tool more efficiently.