Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools

Lesson Idea Name: Capitol B and Lowercase b

Content Area: English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): Kindergarten
Content Standard Addressed:
ELAGSEKRF3: Know and apply grade level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
a. Demonstrate basic knowledge of one to one letter-sound correspondence for each consonant.
Technology Standard Addressed:
ISTE-Standard 5: Computational Thinker

Selected Technology Tool:

☒ Blog ☐ Wiki ☐ Other: Website Creation Tool (list): EduBlogs

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1MfdgzzdHo&frags=pl%2Cwn [How to write the letter B]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzzXROKd-i0&frags=pl%2Cwn [The letter B]

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level): (Level determined by the specific lesson idea)
☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

I could address Universal Design for Learning principles to extend and support the learning
experiences for all students by providing transcripts of each video to the students in large print, allowing the
students to borrow a reading pen for the transcripts, and giving the students the option of typing [Big Keys
Keyboard, if needed] their sentences on the computer using Microsoft Word. The transcripts would be used
for students that need to have a need to see the text and content of the video in written for in order to
comprehend the information presented to them [having their parents along with them]. In addition, making
sure that some of the handout are in large print, if you have any student with a physical disability. Moreover,
allowing the students to use reading pens will help the students that have trouble with dyslexia or another
cognitive disability that can affect their comprehensible skills. In particular, the reading pens will be travel
friendly and give the students the opportunity to work independently without having to worry about the
student skipping words that are important to the text. Finally, by allowing the students the option to type out
their sentences, the teacher is accommodating for the students that have learning disabilities or cognitive
disabilities that make it hard for them to write out handwritten assignments.
Lesson idea implementation:
During “The Letter Bb” lesson idea, the students will access two flipped classroom videos about
identifying what a Bb sounds like and objects that start with the letter Bb, and learning how to write a capitol
B and a lowercase b. While the students are watching the video about how to write the letter Bb, they will be
following and tracing their own capitol and lowercase Bb’s on a graphic organizer with dotted lines for the
letter Bb. Then, the students will locate and draw five objects that start with the letter Bb at home and their
parents will help them write a list of the items they chose (if needed, the teacher can write their list of items
when they get to school). For this lesson idea, the teacher will collaborate with the students’ parents through
EduBlogs asking the parents to help their children watch and complete the videos with the corresponding
assignments about the letter Bb. The flipped classroom should take 10 to 15 minutes a day to complete and
will introduced by the teacher posting a blog assignment on EduBlogs for the parents and their children to
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 Classroom Blog and Website Creation Tools
work on at home. These blog assignments will be due every other day and will come with instructions of how
to complete the take-home tasks. Thus, the learning will be assessed by the materials, or handouts, that are
related to each blog assignment.
Furthermore, this lesson’s final product can be used to inform/differentiate learning by providing the
teacher with data about the students understanding of their letter to sound correspondence. If the student
needs more time and help understanding the letter Bb, then the teacher can properly accommodate the
students’ academic needs depending on how they perform on their blog assignment. To conclude this lesson,
the teacher could have their students present their findings to their classmates and then write the students
“found” items on an anchor chart showcasing the letter Bb.
Importance of technology:
While teaching “The Letter Bb” lesson plan, using EduBlogs and other website-creation tools are
critical to the student’s final product because it allows for two-way communication and collaboration with
parents and the teacher. In addition, this tool provides opportunities to students to practice the curriculum at
home with the ability to communicate misconceptions or confusion on the practice (through comments for
each blog posting). This project could be completed without the website-creation tool, but it would be hard to
communicate the instructions and provide parents a chance to participate in their child’s academics. For
example, the parents are able to have hands on and first-hand knowledge about how their child academic
needs and achievements are progressing throughout the school year. Furthermore, having this Blog is
essential to helping students coming to class prepared to talk about misconceptions or confusion and giving
their parents chances to participate in their child’s education without being in the classroom. Thus, allowing
communication and collaboration with the students, their parents or guardians, and the teacher.
Internet Safety and Student Privacy:
In order to, minimize the risk for invasion of privacy and problems for students and teachers I would
make sure that none of the student’s personal information is posted online and make sure that I credit my
sources. For example, I would make sure to use pseudonym name for each student, communicate each
student’s specific pseudonym name with their parent or guardian, and ask the students’ parents or guardian
permission to post their work. In addition, I would make sure to cite my resources and lesson ideas that I used
for my own lesson plan ideas. In fact, to alleviate any fears for parents I would make sure to schedule a phone
conference or parent-teacher conference to explain how the class blog will work [the student work that will
be posted] and how the blog will never include any student’s personal information [real names, address,
email, phone numbers, ID number, etc.]. Furthermore, to alleviate the fears of administration I would make
sure to collect a form from each student’s parents or guardians stating if they approve or disapprove of
having their child’s work being posted online. Thus, making sure that I am not disregarding any parents or
guardians circumstance or opinion, keeping my students identity and daily lives safe, and following all school
regulations.
Reflective Practice:
While designing this lesson idea, I believe student learning has been impacted by exposing students to
new tools that call for good communication and collaboration between not only teacher and student, but
student and parent or guardians. In particular, students are more responsible for their learning by the teacher
posting assignments online [through EduBlogs] that the students have to take initiative to complete at home
with their parents or guardians. Moreover, to extend and enhance this project I would have the students
write one simple and complete sentence for each item that they found in their home with the help of their
parents.

Summer 2017_SJB