1st short story, olıvıa's daıly routıne!

    Hi again kids and fellas! 

Today, I'm happy to announce that we're starting a new series, Noah's Life. Noah is an 8-year-old boy who has a big sister and a small family. In the first story, his sister, Olivia, talks about her daily routine and introduces her family to us! 

I'm planning to share different stories from their lives from different mouths! I believe Noah has so much to tell you in the second story!♡ 

If the resolution is not good enough, you can reach the story through this link: CLICK ON ME !♡

ENJOY READING and STAY TUNED!!!♡♡♡

return to my land

Hey guys, it's me Ms. Sagra!♡ I used to use this blog to tell you about the applications and websites I discovered, but now I am a teacher and I want to tell you about my own teaching experiences and share my own materials along with these applications and create a memory for myself.♡

I've been going through big changes in my life in the last couple of years. After my graduation, I had no idea what to do next because I was so focused on my current academic career and I had no long-term plans. That's why,  after graduation, I panicked. I went to Europe to decide what to do. Then, I started teaching in Turkey. Now, I feel like an independent woman on one side and a 7-year-old on the other side. I'm saying all these things because, after a couple of years, I want to look back and remember how I felt. 

Now, I work as a primary school teacher. I'm not only an English teacher but also a class teacher! It is a bit exhausting but mostly fun! Whenever I get a new class, I think that they are the cutest kids in the whole world! This year was also the same! 1/D, my class, was the cutest class in the school! They loved me and I loved them! - We still have one and a half month but I miss them already- Yes, teaching is difficult but seeing your kids smile, talking to them, and having fun with them is priceless! 

Long story short, I'm planning to tell you about the ''fun moments'' we have in class, share my experiences and create my own teaching materials with you! 

Even if no one reads this blog, from time to time I want to go back and remember what I did, remember my feelings, and create a diary as a teacher. 

AND.. If you read this to the end, thank you so much! Be well, take care, and stay tuned!♡♡

5TH GRADE ENGLISH BOOKLET

Some of the pages of the booklet I prepared with my colleague SUDE GUNDUZ! 

Don't forget to leave a comment and take our survey after reviewing our booklet!

Link to the survey : SURVEY :)

Leave a comment if you use the booklet! 

Click on the link if you want to access the full book! :)  BOOKLET :)

QUIZLET!

 Quizlet is an online flashcard application. The most beautiful aspect of the application is that it can be used not only for teaching but also for individual learning. Also, many features of Quizlet are free!
 You can create study sets, create folders and classes.
 You don't have to join a class if you want to study on Quizlet. You can search different flashcards depending on your need.
 You can use this application for your reading activities. You can learn the unknown words of your reading here!
 If you are a teacher, you can create cards for different purposes!
 If you are a student, you can use different ways for learning new words or topics! You can learn with flashcards or by writing or matching or you can have a multiple choice test!
You can make learning more permanent and fun with the cards and games in the work sets!
Also, I think this application shortens the vocabulary learning time!

TRY THIS APP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT!



You can find different flashcards about a specific topic.      You can memorize vocabulary.

                      

You can use different ways to learn something.

FLIPGRID

  Flipgrid is a web 2.0 tool that enables us to share videos with our friends. In the free version, you can create a page for just one class and communicate with your students through blog. The duration of the video is limited to 90 seconds, unfortunately. Your students are able to respond to you with videos. Also, it is very easy and fast to use. The paid version is $ 65 a year for educators and it includes unlimited class creation. Been a membership doesn't require much information. Your name, surname, e-mail and password are enough to become a member. In order to attend a class, you need to take the class code from your teacher. It is a great opportunity for students to listen to each other and communicate with each other.
 I think students of all ages can use this application without getting bored.
 You can find my video here ---flipgrid video

HOT POTATOES

 Hot Potatoes is a freeware that you can prepare tests, quizzes and transfer them to web environment.  It is a way of improving comprehension. The purpose of the HotPotatoes is to enable us to create interactive web-based teaching exercises. Also, you don't need internet connection later!
  It includes five applications that can create exercises for the World Wide Web. The applications are;
-JCloze                                                -JCross
         

-JMatch,                                           -JQuiz

        

-JMix.

-There is also a sixth application called the Masher, that will compile all the Hot Potatoes into one unit.

How can we get this program?
- go to http://hotpot.uvic.ca/ 
- click the Download button
click the Instaler button
-It is easy to set up :) (if you're a MacOS user, you need to allow applications downloaded from other sites).

In this video, you see the test I prepared with JQuiz :)

What is Storybird?

Today's subject is for people who love reading and writing! 

Storybird is a wonderful learner-based online tool for readers and writers. It provides images and stories based on author's activity. 

Students can design picture books on their own. 

It's free and very easy to use. You choose a topic and the website provides you images depending on your topic or category. Although the interface is English, it is useful for language teachers.

To read any book published on the website, click on the ''READ'' button at the top of the site and select one of the books. 

If you have a projection in your classroom, you can also use this site in the classroom in order to do your reading activities.

I strongly recommend this website to beginners to make them read more. 

To create a class, 

-You need to click on the ''create class'' button.

-Then you need to name your class. 

-After that you need to write the names and e-mail addresses of your students. (class code is not required). 

With this website, 

-You can give group or individual assignments to your students.

-You can subscribe to the authors and follow their stories.

- It is suitable for students of all ages and levels.

-Students can create their own library with the books they read and read, they can share it in social platforms.

YOU CAN READ MY STORY --- CASEY'S PACKING ADVENTURE

PIXTON

Pixton is one of the easiest ways to make lessons fun! It is a cartoon creation tool that allows users to create comics. It is very easy to use. Unfortunately, it is not free. Although it may seem free, you need to pay to customize your cartoons.

You are able to change the facial expressions of your character but variety of backgrounds are limited.

You can introduce this app to your students and let them to create their own comics!

Besides the free individual accounts, Pixton offers a service designed specifically for schools called Pixton for School which is not free. This service enable teachers to create private rooms for their students in which they can collaboratively create and share their comics. (Classcode is required).

You can do reading practice with your students, teach grammar to your students! Students between the ages 7-12 will love this application! 

You can reach the comic I've created here -- My Daily Routine

I hope you'll like my cartoon! :)

SEE YOU NEXT TIME! 

PADLET

Padlet is a digital canvas where we can add images, videos, texts. It's an effective tool that allows us to create online material. Padlet is a web 2.0 tool. (is a tool that does not require any coding). Also, it has paid and free options! PadletPro is $8.99/per month.

  You can work in a common area with your students or with people you tutor. You can share the board you create and create a working environment with the people you want. Students are given a link or a QR code and access it from their phones, computers, or tablets. 

•  It can be used as a warming activity. Students can post something about themselves. (they can share their ideas, likes, dislikes).

•  They can design their own activities instead of using textbooks. Teachers give them feedback, it helps develop their self-confidence.

•  It can be used as a forum. Teachers can post a particular topic or issue, and students can post their opinions about the subject.

• Also, it can be used as a question board. Students can post their questions anonymously. Teacher reads and answers the questions.

• Teachers can use it in order to summarize the subject that students have learned. (they can add photos, graphics, texts and share the board with the students before an exam). 

• Also it is a very good way for collaboration. It increases interaction between students. they learn to ask each other when they have problem.

As you see, it's a very colorful way to get students involved to the classroom!

VIRTUAL REALITY

 You remember the term ''Virtual Reality'' from my previous post. I told you that it looks similar to Augmented Reality but they are different.
The term ''Virtual Reality'' is used for computer-based 3-D environments where individuals feel the sense of being there. Using VR devices such as HTC Vive, Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard, users can be transported into a number of real-world and imagined environments.

We tried an application that is called rollercoaster simulation. It was very exciting and realistic.
We used cardboards to try this app.
Dizziness and nauseation is normal.

You can see the development of VR headsets.

  Sensorama is considered one of the oldest virtual reality systems.

You are probably wondering how this technology is used in education.

 The history of this technology goes back 70 years. We, as teachers, need to find different/interesting ways to teach something because each student's learning method is different. We need to bring diversity to the classroom to attract students' attention.

 Now, every kid has the opportunity to access educational tools that exist in the world.In the classroom, students can learn history, biology, English with VR glasses. Students think that using VR technology in classrooms. Instead of learning through reading a textbook, this way of learning is more effective on students. In the video, Beyond The Frame: The New Classroom,  students look at a skeleton using VR technology. They can see the muscles, bones... They visit different countries and they learn the history of different countries. We can also support our students' language learning with the help of a virtual assistant or we can use animations to teach a subject. 

 Integrating this technology into classes depends on our imagination. :)))


Also, you can watch this video!:)
VR in Education

AUGMENTED REALITY

                      

 Hello again, today I will tell you about an augmented reality application and its effects on language acquisition. The name of the application is Mondly AR.

 First of all, I'd like to start with the definition of Augmented Reality. Have you ever considered the difference between Augmented and Virtual Reality? The two are actually different, even if they look like very similar.
 Augmented Realirty (AR), refers to a simple combination of real and virtual (computer-generated) worlds. Superimposing virtual objects on real images by using object recognition feature of devices is called Augmented Reality. You need to have access to the internet, to have a device that is suitable for applying augmented reality and to download the application developed for augmented reality to your device. 

 The area of usage is very large of Augmented Reality. It can be used in many fields such as education, decoration, tourism, arts and museums, logistics, real estate, games, shopping...
  I first saw it in Ikea's application but I didn't know that it was called augmented reality. With that application, you can virtually place the furniture you want to buy and you can see if it fits or not. 
Here is the link of the application--- APPLICATON OF IKEA





   Augmented reality is also used in the area of education.
 (You see me and my virtual friend on the left:)) ). I believe 
that augmented reality enhances learning but to a certain point. I mean, elementary level students can improve their English to some extent. They can learn animals, colors, basic/common words. After some point, they need to support their learning process with other resources.
   I tried the app ''MondlyAR'' last week. I chose to learn Italian because I take Italian courses this year. This application helped me learn the names of several animals. It changes the way we learn, the application is unusual. It is available for both Android and iOS users. 
-You have to pay if you want to learn more. 
-Also, it offers limited learning opportunity. 
+ It gives us the opportunity to interact with the character. 
+Virtual assistant uses a human voice in order to give a realistic effect.

  Application made me feel like a kid. After a while, I was bored.

 This technology can be improved much more and applications can cost less if producers/developers are supported by the government. 





THANK YOU FOR READING! NEXT TIME I'LL EXPLAIN VIRTUAL REALITY. 
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,  YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW or YOU CAN SEND ME AN E-MAIL. :)

sagrakaracan98@gmail.com

Powtoon

 Powtoon is a user-friendly tool that allows you to create an animation using speech bubbles, shapes, images, characters, and more. It has both paid and free options. You can be sure that the products youcan create for free are enough for your courses! Creating different, interesting animations is totally up to you! You can create various animations by using your creativity and imagination. If you want to make
your lessons more fun and to add diversity to the lessons, POWTOON is for you!

HOW TO USE POWTOON? / HOW TO CREATE ANIMATIONS?

 It seems a little bit complicated but you'll see it's not that hard to create animations. Also, there are different language options. (You're reading this article in English, and English option is available in Powtoon. That's why you don't need other language options, I guess:) ) In the free version of Powtoon, you can share the animations that you've created on YouTube or on other video sharing websites and you can let your students watch your animations through these websites.

 Now I want to show you how to get started step by step : 

1.Go to the Powtoon homepage.

2.Click Sign Up.

3.Sign up using one of the options.

POWTOON HOMEPAGE LOOKS LIKE THIS.

 

CREATING SLIDES LOOKS LIKE THIS

You can choose different templates depending on your purpose. You can teach a grammar topic, animate a story, support your story with slides and pictures. I decided to introdruce myself with a video on Powtoon. I chose a characters that looks like me. 

I choose to introduce myself when I try to produce a content on a website because I rehearse my first day in class and meeting my students a lot. :))

I'll try to upload my Powtoon video above but if there's any problem with the video, you can click on the link below!

Teacher Intro Video!

I hope you'll like my video!! HAVE A NICE WEEK :)

Using the Socrative in English Language Teaching Classes

 

 New technological applications come into our life almost every day. It is inevitable to use those technological devices in the field of education for efficient teaching and learning. Socrative is a way of giving students an immediate feedback. It's a platform that you can create quizzes for your students in the forms of ''multiple choice'', ''true/false'', ''short answers''. It was created by teachers and it saves time when grading students. This platform gives teachers the opportunity to collect data from their student, and to assess them immediately via smartphones, tablets and laptops. Also, It creates a competitive area for students.

  Teachers login and select an activity appropriate to the topic described in the classroom.
  Students login with their device and interact real time with the content (room number is required).

Now, I'll show you how to create quizzes step by step:

As you see, it is very simple to create quizzes!
It is also a very effective way to increase students participation, in addition being useful for the teacher.

YOU ARE ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR IMAGINATION! YOUR STUDENTS WILL LOVE IT!

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MY FIRST SOCRATIVE QUIZ, PLEASE CLICK HERE!