Actively Learn

Actively Learn is an online e-reader that allows students to interact with text in a unique way. Teachers can upload texts from PDF files and websites and insert questions, comments, and multimedia. Students can work through the text at their own pace, get help when they need it, and share their ideas with other students. Watch the video below to take a quick walk-through of the site.

Pros

·         It’s 100% FREE!

·         The kids love it.

·         Kids can see and respond to other peoples’ posts.

·         Inserting videos and pictures is super easy and adds a lot to the text.

·         You can assign different texts to different classes. If you wanted small groups you could easily create “classes” with just a portion of your students. (Just your AIG students, one literature circle group, etc.)

·         Kids can sign up easily using their ACS Google accounts and a class code or link. If they use Chrome and log into their Google account, they are automatically logged in to Actively Learn. I use a couple different websites with my kids that they have to sign up for, and this one is BY FAR the simplest.

Cons

·         Uploading a file can sometimes be tricky. Some PDFs don’t load or look right. Sometimes links, comments, or captions on websites end up included in the text. Occasionally I’ve had to upload a text multiple times in a few different ways before it really worked right.

·         Once you upload a file, there is no way to edit the text or things like the title.

·         The site can be a little buggy at times. It occasionally freezes up or doesn’t load. Refreshing the page usually fixes it.

·         There are no alerts or anything to let kids know they haven’t finished an assignment. 

Submitted by guest blogger,

Carlie Abercrombie

7th Grade ELA Teacher at North Asheboro Middle

Wing Clips

Recently I was teaching my seventh grade language arts students how to identify the theme of fiction texts.  I wanted them to be able to identify the theme of both print and non-print texts.  We started by identifying themes in well-known fairy tales, and then moved to themes of songs.  Some of the students seemed to understand the concept of identifying theme, but most students were still struggling with the topic.  So, I thought about what kind of text I wanted to use next.  I decided to move to something most students can relate to and get excited about using in the classroom…movie clips.  I was going to use YouTube for the clips, but I always worry about what kinds of “other” videos will show up on the sides, or what kinds of advertisements will pop up before the video actually starts.  After a little research, I found a wonderful website called Wing Clips (http://www.wingclips.com).   Here, I was able to find appropriate and relevant movie clips, and I did not have to worry about “other” videos on the sides or any advertisements.  I created a LiveBinder of the clips I wanted my students to use, and then I created a graphic organizer for the students to use as they watched the clips.  This activity was a success!  During the lesson students were engaged in watching the clips, and after I read their graphic organizers, I learned that they finally understood how to identify the theme of fiction texts.  

Here’s the link to the LiveBinder I created http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1276182    (the access key is “lamb”).   All the clips I used are in the blinder, along with the graphic organizer students were responsible for completing while they watched the clips.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Guest Blogger,

Kerri Lamb, NBCT

SAMS 7th Grade ELA Teacher