Blog Post #4

Listening-Comprehension-Podcasting

In order to fully understand a new vocabulary word, you have to hear it at least 70+ times. You need to not only know the sounds of the letters but also the context the word is embedded in, the melody of the sentence that embraces the word, the words that lead up to it and the words that follow it to make meaning and conclude the sentence. It also helps when you attach a feeling to that word so in the future they will know how it is used. Podcasting gives the students/learners many opportunities to help better their vocabulary and their reading ability.The children really get into it wanting to make sure their voices sound just right. 


Podcasting with First Grade

I never thought about podcasting with my elementary school students until I started reading this article. After listening and reading the class's podcast, I think podcasting is a wonderful idea to incorporate into story telling. This podcast was about a book called Vacation under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne from the Magic Tree House series. They were pretending to interview the two main characters, Annie and Jack, about their latest adventure to Pompeii. 

I think it was a great idea to incorporate the entire class instead of having just 2 or 3 students do it, that way everyone gets involved with the speaking parts and editing! The shy students are able to break out of their shell while the outgoing students get to feel like they are the center of attention. Podcasting helps the students with listening, speaking, presenting, comprehension, storytelling, performance, voice acting, oral fluency, media, and technology. If this interests you, I would advise you to go listen to it! It's pretty neat!
http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/12/11/podcasting-with-first-grade/


The Benefits of Podcasting in the Classroom

Joe Dale made a podcast on how podcasts are very useful and beneficial for classroom settings. Podcasting is a very effective way of interacting with the students in and outside the classroom. They learn how to create and edit audio files or how to read scripts and boost up their self-confidence. The students are using their creativity and broadening their imaginations. It is also great in the classroom because the parents get to see and actually listen to what the child is learning and doing in the classroom!