Silvia Lohora

About Me

Name: Silvia Lohora

Site: Ynez

Technology ability: In between proficient and advanced

A little about me:

I have been teaching for a total of 21 years, ten of those here at Ynez elementary in AUSD. I began my educational career, after receiving my BA from UCLA, working for them in the Admissions office. I received a teaching credential in 1994 and taught first, second and third grades in NLMUSD. After receiving my Master's degree in Reading, I transferred to the Alhambra School District and have been teaching middle grades ever since.

I often read educational blogs in history and language arts, and use the interactive Icivic.org website for lessons in writing arguments and opinions.

Lesson

Literature Circle Project

Technology I Recommend

Google classroom, has helped my middle school classroom interact with and collaborate with the common core curriculum to produce writing, presentations, and projects.

Also, Create.kahoot.it. is a fun and interactive site that can be used to preview, or review content curriculum.

I also use Code.org for writing, listening and speaking skills; having the students use the paper-lessons to help students use language in a variety of contexts, to communicate tasks and explain instructions to their peers.

Technology used: Google Classroom and Google Slides

Subject: Reading, writing, Listening and Speaking

Common Core Standard(s):

Speaking and Listening 7.5: Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.

Writing 7.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others.

Reading 7.7: Compare and contrast a fictional portrayal of a time, place or character and historical account of the same period as a means of understanding how authors of fiction use or alter history.

Using the shared school Chrome books; my Language Arts class was given the option to present their group Literature Circle Project to the class using Google Slides. Though most knew how to use PowerPoint, it was the first time many of them created a shared working presentation. I demonstrated how to access their Google Drive; and how they could share the Presentation with their group. At that point students worked in their Literature Groups to read, discuss, and present their analysis of the book. The more tech savvy students were able to assist, explain, and demonstrate to their group and to individuals how to share, access, and type directly on the slides. Many were familiar with regular PowerPoint so they were able to transfer that knowledge to Google Slides.

Technology Insight & Tips

Ask for student experts. Some students know how to add animation, background, and insert video. And many can create a short presentation about "Google apps". Also, online "how-to's" videos about Google Slides, Google Classroom, Google Drive, are a big help.