Thursday, June 27, 2013

Integrating Technology into Reading and Bloglovin' Giveaway!

Good morning!  I'm joining Amanda and Aylin from Learning to the Core for their Tune into Technology Linky!  This week's theme is for how to integrate technology into reading.  I think this linky is great timing since the summer is the best time to explore new sites, apps, etc. and actually have time to play around with them!

After perusing my Twitter feed, I came across an awesome new website called ThingLink.  What I love about ThingLink is that it is super easy to use!  The whole purpose of ThingLink is to make your images interactive.

While reading The Other Side last year, we talked a lot about symbolism and what the fence meant in the story.  I wrote about this book on Sunday if you want more information.  With ThingLink, I found a picture of a white fence and uploaded it to my creation.  From there, it will let you tag anywhere on the image to add more information.  I tagged a place to describe the fence, talk about my favorite moment in the book, and add a link to the author's website.

Here is my ThingLink! It's pretty simple with only a few tags, but remember, this is my time to play!  I can refine later!  The colored dots reflect different tags that I have added about the book.  You may click on it to go to the actual page so that the tags work.



I also wanted to share another one that I found that is all about the song Wagon Wheel, a summer favorite of mine!  This lady has created a great ThingLink with lots of links, information, and even the song. I can't take any credit for it, but notice all of the tags!  Click on it for some good time fun with this song.


So...how can you use this for reading? Let me count the ways!
1.  Symbolism - I find this is the easiest connection since the whole premise is to make an image interactive.

2. Character Traits - We've all seen those organizers that point to different parts of a character's body and students write about what they are thinking, doing with their hands, feel with their heart, etc.  With this site, you can have them copy an image of the character or someone they think looks like the character and tag different parts.  

3. Book Retell or Report - What a great way to tell about a story while embedding links or just typing different parts of the book.  

4. Book Talks - An option with ThingLink is to embed video.  What better way to have students share what they know by video taping themselves and including it in their ThingLink. 

Here are just a few of the different ways I've thought of, but I can't wait to get started with my kiddos this year!  I hope you've enjoyed this!

Bloglovin' Giveaway!
I don't know about you all, but I'm loving my daily Bloglovin' emails!  It's helped so much so that I don't miss great posts!  I'm joining the rest of the Bloglovin' crew for a giveaway of one of my TPT products!



Link up and find all the great people who are doing giveaways!  What a fun way to meet new bloggers, and maybe win a giveaway!  


Alrighty, I gotta run, but don't forget to link up!
Photobucket

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for sharing ThingLink! I have never heard of it but can't wait to use it now.


Jamie
Sixth Grade Tales

A Teacher Without a Class said...

I've giving you some blog lovin! I am also having a linky! Come check it out! Share anything you buy, love, make or sell that's a dollar!

www.ateacherwithoutaclass.com

Matt said...

ThingLink looks pretty great. I'm a big fan of visual literacy and having pictures tell stories. I'm defintely checking this out to use next year.

I got you followed all the way around, I found you through the tech link up.

a fellow runner,
matt
Digital: Divide & Conquer

Unknown said...

Thank you!

Crystal Shepherd
lucytumnus@gmail.com
Lamppost in a STEM classroom

Charlotte said...

I love all the ideas with Thinglink! This site has been on my "I'm going to get to this someday!" site! No more excuses due to all your great ideas! Thanks!
Fabulous Fifth Grade Fun

Erin said...

I'm excited to check out Thinglink! Thank you for sharing all of the fun ideas! Happy to be your newest follower on bloglovin' :)
Erin
Short and Sassy Teacher

YearntoLearn said...

I put the book The Other Side on my wish list. Thanks for introducing it to me.

iTeach 1:1 said...

Love that book and your ideas for using Thinglink. I have to check it out- the possibilities seem endless. Thanks for sharing!:)

Kristin
iTeach 1:1

Brandee Green said...

I love your ideas for how to use Thinklink! I'm pinning and following using Bloglovin. :)
~Brandee
Creating Lifelong Learners

Cheryllhoff said...

Oh my goodness. Just one? Alice in Wonderland, the ABC Murders, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Giver.

cheryllhoff@yahoo.com

dbednars said...

Charlotte's Web is definitely a favorite, as a child & as a teacher. dbednarsk@yahoo.com

Aylin Claahsen said...

Hi MB,
Wow- thinglink looks SO awesome! I'm thinking I would have tons and tons of things to use this for with my little readers (starting with all those ideas you mentioned). Anything that can be tagged with a label is perfect for my little friends! Just added this to my list of tech ideas to check out this summer. :)
Thanks so much for linking up with us!
Aylin
Learning to the Core

tclark90 said...

Im following you on bloglovin.
dutchandtracy@hotmail.com
Tracy

Mrs. Johnson said...

I already followed your blog, so I'm glad it was easy to transfer over so I'm following you on Bloglovin!

My favorite book of all time if I had to pick one, is probably Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. :)

Check out my blog and enter my giveaway at Thinking in Third Grade with Mrs. Johnson's Little Prowlers
Lindsey :)

Markisha said...

My favorite book is Where the Red Fern Grows.

Melissa M. said...

I cannot tell which one is my favorite because I love them all. I suppose it is Charlotte's Web.

Melissa Mize
Creations by Mrs. Mouse

mizemelissa@gmail.com

Unknown said...

There are so many to choose from, but I really love The Giver.

Unknown said...

The Giving Tree

Amy said...

Favorite Book: The Giving Tree

Love, love, love....Thinglink. I am definitely going to use that during my shared reading lessons.

Thanks,
Amy
Turtley Loving Teaching

Rachel said...

My all time favorite book is the Count of Monte Cristo. It gets better each time I read it :)