Using Alabama Virtual Library as a Teaching Tool

The Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) “provides teacher, students, and all citizens of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources”. The AVL is a group of online databases that has magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research. The AVL is a free website that is available to all Alabama residents. To have access to this website you must register for an AVL card. You may register for the AVL cards at any Alabama public library. The card will expire three years from the date that you receive it and another card may be issued by going through the same procedures.

The AVL can be accessed at any computer in schools, libraries, or even from your house. The availability of this website makes it a very useful tool for teachers and students. The AVL offers a variety of search items from different age groups to a variety of subject areas. I believe that this website can be a very useful tool to use in and out of the classroom.

Using Educational Websites to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

There are many educational websites for children. The websites allow children to explore and learn new ideas, while still having fun. Examples of some learning websites for children are Starfall, Funschool and Funbrain. These websites offer many learning tools for the children. Some of the learning tools are math games, reading tutorials and learning links.

One of the websites that I chose to further explore was the Funbrain website. This website offers many great resources for students, teachers and parents. One learning link on this website was the reading link. This feature allowed the student to choose a reading game that looked interesting. I chose to look at one of the games to see how it worked. The game that I chose was called Mad Libs Junior. This game was made to teach students their adjectives, nouns, verbs, pronouns and etc. All of the websites were able to be accessed through their home computer.

Using Alabama Learning Exchange as a Teacher Tool

I think that the Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX) is a great resource to use in the classroom. ALEX is a website for students, teachers and administrators. Tools that are available on this website include course of study, lesson plans and other helpful teacher links. I think that the most valuable tool on this website for new teachers is the lesson plans link. The lesson plans link allows teachers to search through numerous lesson plans based on grade level, subject area, or by using keywords. The lesson plans link also provides teachers with information about national, state and local standards as well as learning objectives. I think that the ALEX website is resourceful because the lesson plans provide teachers with all of the necessary information to carry out lessons. For example, all resources, materials and equipment needed such as computers, paper, pencils and etc. are listed. I know that this website will be a great tool for me to use as I complete my degree in Elementary Education.

Using iGoogle to Enhance Learning in the Classroom

I believe that iGoogle is a great resource to use in the classroom. What is so great about having an iGoogle account is that it is free. This account is easy to set up and only requires a Google email address. This iGoogle account offers different features that you may use to benefit your class. The features on my iGoogle account are upcoming events, birthday count downs, assignments, and learning tools. The learning tools include Math and Reading activities and educational games. The iGoogle website is a resource used to help the students learn while having fun. I plan to use the iGoogle website on a daily basis for my classroom.

Using Blogs as a Teaching Tool

I believe that using blogs as a teaching tool in the classroom is a great idea. Blogs allow teachers, parents, and students to communicate with one another online. Blogs are free tools that can be used by anyone who has access to an Internet connection. The main reason I like the use of blogs in the classroom is because it allow the teachers and students, to communicate with schools worldwide.

Blogs can also be used to give information about upcoming events in the classroom and at the school. I will use classroom blog to communicate with parents, post newsletters, assignments, upcoming events, and communicate with other teachers and students around the world. I believe that a blog is a good technology to incorporate into the classroom because it teaches the students to communicate via the Internet.