Some teachers struggle to effectively use technology in the classroom. During a program I did in Columbus, OH, I met Amanda. She told me about how she uses Google Images to support vocabulary. Amanda was kind enough to outline her strategies so that I could share them here.
At the heart of all the theories, ideas, and different labels; regardless of the vernacular, what we're really talking about is adjusting our teaching to respect the way our students learn. It's about employing strategies that have been proven to work, and adjusting the way we offer learning, based upon the feedback we receive from constant progress monitoring. Ultimately, it is about applying What I like to refer to as Really Terrific Instruction.
Many students who may need a vocabulary intervention are Bodily-Kinesthetic learners, meaning they learn through their bodies and they need to "move" their bodies in order to learn at their highest potential.
it is important that we, as teachers, especially those of us who work with kids with special needs or learning disabilities, don’t assume anything about what they know. Assuming that students understand our words is a path for failure with our students. Their home lives and experiences are often very different from ours, and we need to be mindful of that if we are to give them the best possible learning experience in our classrooms.
To me there is no reason that I, or a student, should have to remain sitting when working or studying. Sitting when uncomfortable, or when just plain tired of sitting, could actually be more distracting to your student, and those around her, than moving around. In fact, motion is a very useful study tool! Movement oxygenates the brain and involves a deeper part of your brain in the memory process.