World of Teaching (2008). Retrieved April 16 from http://www.worldofteaching.com/
In my search to find resources to use with my IWB, I came across this great site full of links to already made PowerPoints I can use with my classes. As I went through my teacher preparation courses and during my first three years teaching, I can't tell you how many times I've heard teachers and professors tell me that there's no need to go out and create something new when you find something from somewhere else that works. I sometimes feel like a slacker because of this but really, what is the point in making something if someone has already done a better job than I would probably do in the first place?
If I want to change the content on the PowerPoints I can modify a presentation after I save it. Then I can make it fit the standards and information my students need to know. The hard part is done, I just have to tweak it. I found some great presentations on the Cold War, ancient civiliazations of Latin America, Industrial Revolution, and more. These are all topics we cover in sixth grade social studies.
One thing I don't like about the PowerPoints though is that they are not very interactive. I really don't need an IWB to use these, a projector would do. But, since I do have an IWB, I don't have to sit behind my computer to change slides, I can move around the room and simply click on the board when I am ready to move on. I really wish I had an ACTIVslate so I could manipulate the board from all over the room but we aren't fortunate to have those yet!
I want to find more sites though that do allow the children to be more interactive. I love the sites I have found for science (dissect a frog, pump blood through the human body). I really want to find something like that for social studies. I'll keep looking!
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3 comments:
This is so true! People told me this so many times and I often felt bad for redoing something that had already been done for the sake of wanting to do it myself. That was the first few years (before pregnancy and graduate school). Now I've come to find the wealth of wonderful activities out there that I'd been missing. As you said, you can stil make these your own by adjusting them or simply by taking your own approach to presenting them. I think this is a very valuable link which I've bookmarked. Thanks for all your terrific tips and information these past 6 weeks. I've learned a tremendous amount from you!
What a fun site. The best part is the ability to customize the power points. I know I am always telling my interns that they do not have to recreate the wheel. What I love about my team is that we are all willing to share and do not worry about getting the credit. Its all about what is best for the children and I know sharing is a good thing. I want to thank you so much for all your wonderful posts, they have lead me to some of my own posts. I have enjoyed working with you and hope we are in class together again. I think you mentioned in the beginning that we were at the same juncture. Let me know what you learn about your IWB as we go along. Its great to have young teachers with such enthusiasm.
Like you, I always felt I was cheating in some way by using the materials of others. I no longer feel that way, and have especially learned so much from all of you this class. I love using PPT in my teaching and agree with you that interactivity is important. I can see me modifying many of the power points from this site and making them my own. Thank you for sharing this great resource.
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