Portfolio+for+Elaine+Dephouse

Elaine A. Dephouse 6th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher Carolina Day School Asheville, NC

I am not a new teacher, but I am interested in incorporating a variety of technology tools into my instruction. I have used Wordle once before in my sixth grade classroom during a literature unit on //The Watsons Go To Birmingham//. The assignment was to create a Wordle about a character from //Watsons// using adjectives as well as specific examples from the book. I allowed them to work in pairs. To demonstrate the technology, I modeled how to create a Wordle by using their class as my topic. I asked the class for a list of words that would describe them. Then, using my LCD projector, I created the Wordle while they watched and then I showed them the finished product. My students practically ran me down to get to the computer lab to create their own Wordles. They loved the assignment! I was just learning how to use Wordle when I assigned this, so I do not have any of the student created examples because at that point I did not know how to save their images. We just printed them out. I loved watching my students engage in great discussion about which exact words or phrases should go into the Wordle and enthusiastically flipping through their novels to find specific examples to include. They exceeded my expectations by creating Wordles not just about characters, but also about segregation, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing, fighting the "Wool Pooh", and taking long road trips. It was a successful tool. From this boot camp, I was happy to learn how to save my Wordle as an image. I also liked the idea of using Wordle as an introductory activity and as a get to know you assignment at the beginning of the year. I will definitely use this tool again next year.
 * Week One: Wordle**

For my boot camp assignment, I have recreated as best as I can the Wordle I created as an example for the lesson last year.

**Week Two: Voicethread** I loved going through the process of setting up a Voicethread on my own. I was a little intimidated, but it was easy and I love the results! I had my children comment to see that process as well. That was a little trickier, and there are still some things I need to figure out, but overall this is a great tool. I will definitely use this next year! http://voicethread.com/share/2157439/