Webtools+and+Online+Resources

=__**Suggested websites and tools for Spanish teachers:**__=

[|www.wordreference.com] - the BEST multilingual dictionary available. Extensive user forums will answer most questions about specific phrases, slang, and regional variations. Not recommended for student use in lower grades due to inappropriate slang listings.

[|Keepvid.com] - allows you to download and save YouTube videos in a variety of formats so that you can access the clips in school without worrying about school website blocks.

[] - An online "magazine" written entirely in Spanish by native speakers for second language learners. The articles focus on language and cultural topics in Spain and Latin America. You can subscribe for free for the monthly publications. Each article has an audio component so students can hear a native speaker read the selection. Cultural terms and keywords have Spanish definitions, and English translations for individual words are also available when clicked. A huge improvement on textbook audio and culture articles!

@http://www.mendycolbert.com/index.htm - Mendy Colbert's "Roxana Shells" Website. Spanish I or Spanish II. LOTS of resources, youtube links, worksheets, games...etc. All laid out by chapters / topics. Includes access to student version of text and student workbook online in PDF format.

[] - "Mi Clase Es Tu Clase" - A teacher's site for other teachers, with a variety of printable worksheets and activity ideas. Activities are organized according to the Buen Viaje textbook chapters, but can easily be used in any Spanish I or II classroom.

[] - An impressive collection of PowerPoints for various topics in Spanish, including interactive games. All are free and ready to go!

[|engrade.com] - Free online grading system that allows students to view their grades and assignments online. Teachers can also attach files to assignments for students to view. This site is constantly being updated with more features.

= __WEB 2.0 TOOLS:__ The next ten links are free webtools that can be used to incorporate technology into your instruction and activities. Though I tested several other webtools, these are the 10 that impressed me most! You will see a range of tools that can be used by a teacher to prepare instructional materials and stay organized, and by students to create projects and demonstrate knowledge in novel ways. =

[|toondoo.com] Free sign-up required
 * Toon Doo **
 * Purpose:** Use premade backgrounds, characters, props and call-outs to create original cartoons
 * Why use it?:** This site provides a quick and easy way to show dialogues and conversations in a "fun" way. You can use this to model the use of vocabulary, grammar, and phrase,s and/or have students use it to demonstrate their knowledge.

[|wordle.com] Free, no sign-up necessary
 * Wordle**
 * Purpose**: Create visually appealing word displays
 * Why use it?:** This tool can be used to show word families or other thematic sets of words (for example, chapter vocabulary, verb conjugations, etc.). The word displays are attractive but not interactive. The displays could possibly be used to have students find word(s) that do not belong or to have students identify connections between the words in the set, to incorporate higher level thinking skills.

[|Museumbox.com] Free sign-up required to upload and save files
 * Museum Box**
 * Purpose**: Create "museum displays" with pictures, documents, sounds, etc., to represent a topic
 * Why use it?:** Teacher created "museum boxes" could be used to present information in an appealing, interactive way online. By clicking on the items you post in each "box," students can gather information about the topic at hand. Alternatively, students could create their own "museum box" to display their knowledge of culture or language. Lends itself well to a group project.

[|Google Voice] Free sign-up required
 * Google Voice**
 * Purpose**: Use this site to create an online "voicemail" with its own phone number.
 * Why use it?:** Have students call the phone number for your google voice account and leave a message in Spanish. You can configure the account to forward the message to an email account; each message appears as an email with an audio clip attached that you can listen to at your convenience. A great way to incorporate speaking practice into homework assignments, and also allows students to contact you without giving away your actual cell phone number. The main perk is that students do not need internet or computer access to use this tool - any phone will work.

[|Vocaroo.com] Free sign-up available, not required
 * Vocaroo**
 * Purpose**: Create voice recordings online that can be sent to an email account or posted to websites easily
 * Why use it?:** This site allows students to record themselves speaking, and then allows them to send the recording to you (or other students/teachers) via email or post to a website. Unlike Google Voice, this site requires students to use a computer to make the recording, but offers the advantage of allowing them to listen to the recording and re-record if needed.

[|voicethread.com] Free sign-up required
 * Voice Thread**
 * Purpose**: This site allows users to post images, documents and videos to share with other users. In addition, users can record voice comments and add "doodles" and written comments to each post.
 * Why use it?:** This site could easily be used to have students discuss cultural topics (for example, art, geography, etc.) or to use vocabulary in the target language to comment on a thematic video or set of pictures. This site also offers a new, high-tech variation of the pen pal, allowing users to share discussions with native speakers or other language students in other schools/states/countries.

[|Voki.com] Free, sign-up required
 * Voki**
 * Purpose**: Create a custsomized, animated, speaking cartoon
 * Why use it?:** Vokis are a visually appealing way to relate short messages (including vocab, homework, or short dictation activities) to your students in oral language. You can set the language to "Spanish" and select from a variety of characters, accessories, settings, and voices to personalize.

Here is a Voki I created. I customized the character to be a virtual version of myself. This voki could be used to introduce students to a class webpage or blog. By changing the script of the character, I could also have it dictate vocabulary to help students practice at home, or have it read a short passage to use for an at-home listening activity (something that is usually hard to do!).

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[|Mindmeister] Free sign-up required for basic membership, upgrades cost annual fee.
 * Mind Meister**
 * Purpose**: Create online, visually appealing mind-maps
 * Why use it?:** This could be a presentation tool or a student activity. Mind maps show connections between words and ideas. Often done with markers and paper, these mindmaps have a more "professional" feel.

[|Assignaday.4teachers.org] Free sign-up required
 * Assign-A-Day**
 * Purpose**: Create an online calendar to keep track of classroom events and assignments. Students can view the calendar to view missed assignments and keep track of deadlines.
 * Why use it?:** This site allows you to post assignments and deadlines on a website, so that students can easily view an up-to-date schedule of coursework from any computer with internet access, saving you from hearing the "I didn't know that was due" or "I wasn't here..." excuses. This is especially easy to help absent students get the information and assignments they missed.

[|ClassTools.net] No sign-up required to create activities
 * Class Tools**
 * Purpose**: Create free online games, quizzes, and activities that can easily be posted to a website or printed out for in-class use.
 * Why use it?:** This site has 19 different templates available that allow you to quickly make an impressive looking online game or printable. Formatting is visually appealing - all you have to do is choose a template and type in your content, and the site does the rest for you!

Try the game below that I created. This is a sample game that checks comprehension of vocabulary (color words in Spanish). This could make a great "test review" or study tool for students to use at home. Also, the site keeps track of the high scores and who is playing (players who complete a round have to enter a name), so it could also be tied in with extra credit for high-scoring students.

The same set of vocabulary words automatically generates several different games. On the bottom of the game page, click the word "Word Shoot" to see the menu of options. Select the game you want, then click "Play".

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