I really enjoyed exploring these tools and wish I had been enrolled in this class at the start of virtual learning. Some of the audio tools would have been perfect for the virtual teaching I’ve been doing for the last few months. That being said, since we are unclear about what school will look like in the fall, I’m grateful I know have these tools to share with coworkers in September!

Above I have shared a clip from my favorite audio tool from the Sandbox, Vocaroo. I liked that you didn’t have to sign up for a free trial and there are no sign-ins, you simply record and share. The sharing options were easy to use and included many options.

The second audio tool that I plan on using in the classroom next year is Voki. I know my second graders will flip out with the animation and the program will help engage them in their learning. I also liked the hangout feature because I can utilize that for small group discussions or to hear my students’ independent reading. A big negative to this tool is that it is only free for up to 5 students, so using it whole class will incur a fee on my part.

Podcasts are the third audio tool I’d like to try to start using in the classroom in the fall. I think the students could again use this tool in small group discussions and to respond to stories read. I also strongly agree with the Mindshift article’s stance that podcasts can improve student reading. I’ve witnessed this not only in my home with my youngest son, but also in the classroom. Students love having the text in front of them while I read and do, in fact, gain confidence with this method.

reference:
MindShift. “Why Listening to Podcasts Helps Kids Improve Reading Skills.” KQED, 18 Mar. 2016, www.kqed.org/mindshift/44389/why-listening-to-podcasts-helps-kids-improve-reading-skills.