Document cameras and teaching writing and reading

[Judy Jester]

Hey folks,

I'm writing a grant this week for an Elmo document camera for my classroom. I'm looking to steal some ideas for how to use them beyond being able to put just created student work on the Board for us to discuss. How else have you used them?

Thanks,
Judy

[Rina Kasper]

I use mine for the picture books I read to my class. No more, "I can't see! I can't see!" Everyone can see the enlarged view of the book as I read it aloud.

Hope you get the grant!

[Judy Jester]

Thanks, Rina.

[Robert Zakrzewski]

Judy,
I had one in my classroom last year and gradually found myself using it more and more--especially with my ELL students. I think one of the most effective ways I used it was to model how I take notes on a text while I read, and then have other students do the same. It also was a great tool do do the sort of writing based on photos or art like we did this summer in PAWLP.
Good luck with the grant--hope it goes through!
-Bob

[Judy Jester]

Thanks, Bob. I posted this question on the English Companion Ning too, but no one talked about using it to model reading think alouds. Don Graves would be very proud of you. I'll be sure to include it in my grant.

By the way, I just finished reading Tom Romano's memoir, Zigzag: A Life of Reading, Writing, Teaching, and Learning, cover to cover. I bought it in November but wouldn't let myself read it until now since I had so much else to read and write. It was worth the wait. I love his writing. Have you read his Clearing the Way: Working With Teenage Writers? He's also the guru on multi-genre.

Here's hoping you have a few more days of sunshine to play with your daughter before heading back to school.

Judy

[Brenda Krupp]

Judy,
Is the Elmo the same as a "visualizer"? That would be the thing that lets you put documents, books, etc under it and it projects them? If yes...Lynne Dorfman owns one and she would be happy to give you numerous ways she used it not only in the classroom but also for staff development which may get you more "bang for their buck".

Bren

[Judy Jester]

Sounds like it. I'll shoot her a line even though I already submitted the grant. They may have questions before they approve it.

Thanks,
J.

[Judy Jester]

Hi guys,

Just thought you'd want to know I got the grant! Thanks for all of your help.

Judy

[Robert Zakrzewski]

That's great--congrats!

Judy Jester said:

Hi guys,

Just thought you'd want to know I got the grant! Thanks for all of your help.

Judy

[David Tesch]

Judy,

I was lucky enough to get one from my school. I have been using it to show students examples of different work, different pictures, reading a book to them whole group (talk about your Big Book!). It is also useful when just comparing and contrasting two different objects (for Science or just discussion). Since I teach first grade, I use it a lot for choral reading. I hope this was helpful. Good luck!

[Judy Jester]

Thanks, David. I did get the grant and am really reaping the benefits of the camera as everyone said I would.