Podcasts: I have a bright idea of creating a weekly podcast for my future 5th graders. In this podcast, I would talk about the upcoming events in the classroom and other announcements that need to be addressed. I would also include a monthly (depending on how much work it would take) interview with a friend who has an interesting hobby or career they could share with my students. I might even interview a student in the class as a way for everyone to get to know them a little better. I would like to link this podcast to a quick write or another follow up activity where students could respond. Perhaps they could comment on each podcast. Furthermore, I think it could be interesting to show students how to make a podcast and then use it as a final project option to go with a unit we are covering in class.
I have two questions -- How can I include those who do not have access to the internet at home? How can I monitor those who are not taking the time to listen and stay current each week with this assignment?
Blogs: I also would like each week to have a space for students to read current events and practice developing ideas and opinions of what they read. I want them to be informed globally and locally. To encourage this, we could have a class blog where students are the reporters in the classroom and then learn how to report events that happen at school, in their community and abroad. This would take time and scaffolding, but could be fun and motivating for the class as a whole. This could also be a great way to learn how to write informational text.