Romano, Erica: Characterization Within Technology
- 1. Characterization 8th Grade Language Arts By Erica Romano
- 2. Rationale For Technology Integration • Characterization involves students being able to think creatively, and identify certain traits about people, places, and things within Literature. This can be challenging at times because it is hard for students to step outside of the box and think figuratively. • Technology can help students improve their understanding in characterization, and develop other skills in writing. Teachers can use many different web resources within this presentation to effectively provide a concrete development of characterization and its uses in Literature.
- 3. Internet Content • The Internet can be a wonderful resource to have for educators. By using the Internet, teachers can find many educational tools and resources that can provide guidance for teaching certain topics. The following three slides will display examples of blogs, podcasts, and instructional videos that pertain to Characterization.
- 4. Internet Blog • Middle School Matters is an Internet Blog that provides different resources for teachers to use in a Language Arts classroom. There are many areas of Language Arts within this blog, one specifically being resources for Characterization.
- 5. Podcasts • Character Traits is a Podcast By Paula Neidlinger provides a complete overview of Characterization and its elements. The second portion of this podcast illustrates types of characters that can be found in Literature. This is provided on YouTube and is available for anyone to access.
- 6. Instructional Video 1 • Here is an instructional video from YouTube that discusses Complex Characters in Literature. The information in this video goes hand in hand with the Common Core Standards, along with the development of Characterization.
- 7. Instructional Video 2 • Characterization by Kcalderin is a silent instructional video provided on YouTube that demonstrates different types of characterization through illustrations of people and images. This is fun and interactive for students and teachers to follow because of the animation and illustration on the screen.
- 8. Internet Resources • The Internet is available to teachers and students to access many educational resources. There are many organizations and government agencies that are available to help people learn. The following three slides illustrate three organizations that teachers along with students can use to improve their knowledge on several subjects, especially Language Arts.
- 9. ReadWriteThink • ReadWriteThink is a private organization that focuses on helping teachers find resources for their students. This resource provides different lesson plans and materials for teachers to incorporate within their own classroom. The link above will provide a specific lesson that deals with Characterization, and can be brought into a classroom setting for 8th graders.
- 10. EngageNY • EngageNY is a private organization that provides Common Core Standards for teachers to follow for different subject areas. There are many resources available for teachers to use within their lessons to make sure it follows the Common Core Standards. The link above provides different downloadable resources for 8th grade ELA lesson plans, one being Characterization.
- 11. QC Teach • QC Teach is a private organization that allows secondary teachers to interact with one another, and provide material and lessons to each other. In the link above, teachers have access to a Language Arts lesson plan which illustrates the emphasis on Characterization in Literature.
- 12. Inspiration Diagram Diagram created using Inspiration
- 14. Scholastic
- 15. TeAch-nology TeAch-nology is a website that provides lesson plans and worksheets for teachers to access for their classrooms. Teachers can access printable assignments, stories, word searches, and assessments.
- 16. There’s an App for that! • Simple Mind is an app that allows students to map out their thoughts on several ideas. In this case, it will allow them to break down their thoughts and refine their descriptions and traits for their character. Apple Store Link Google Play Store Link
- 17. Subject Specific Resource • Edsitement – This website offers useful materials for both students and teachers. Teachers can find helpful lesson plans, worksheets, and materials for their class. Students can review topics they learn in school and look up each topic by category.
- 18. Uses of the Internet • The Online Books Page – This website allows students or teachers to find novels, poetry, or stories to read online. It is very convenient for all, as anyone can access the books they have available. • Dictionaries, Thesauri, Acronyms and Encyclopedias – This website allows you to search for words and their meanings, as well as come up with different words for descriptions. You can find similar words related to the original one search to change up how someone can state or describe an object as well.
- 19. Web 2.0 – EduBlogs is an extremely useful resource for a Language Arts classroom. Teachers can create a classroom blog with their students, and specifically help each other learn how to use description and sensual language to communicate what types of characters we produce. – Iconify is a unique application that would work for classrooms that are developing a year long portfolio. This can help consolidate each student’s work onto an online portfolio to share with the class.
Editor's Notes
- #2: Source for Image: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/results.aspx?qu=school%20books&ex=2&av=zpp150#ai:TC102787940|
- #5: Source: http://middleschoolmattersblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/characterization-freebie.htmlFor other Language Arts resources, take a look at the Middle School Matters Homepage: http://middleschoolmattersblog.blogspot.com
- #6: This is helpful for 8th grade Language Arts because it provides way to infer different character traits based on the what the literature provides. These go hand in hand with an in depth explanation of Characterization for different levels. It can be used for 8th grade and modified to the specific language arts class. You can find this podcast at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMmxP7Zcyh4
- #10: ReadWriteThink helps teachers find useful resources to incorporate within their classroom. This specific lesson will allow teachers to find materials such as worksheets and assignments for their own classroom, as well as lesson plans and objectives that deal with describing characters within the literature they are exploring, and finding adjectives that provides description. This is one of many lessons focused in the area of characterization, and can be differentiated and modified based on the type of the classroom. It also includes materials, printouts, websites, preparations, objectives and standards for this particular lesson so teachers can follow this with the Common Core Standards.
- #11: There are many great features to this private organization.EngageNY allows teacher to follow the common core standards, and use resources to incorporate within the classroom. As you can see, there are different categories that are given to teachers so they can focus their area on different content areas within Language Arts. When clicking this link, you will see the downloadable pdfs that illustrate the content and lesson that teachers can use with specific literature provided. Image Found: http://www.engageny.org/resource/grade-8-ela-module-2a
- #12: This private organization is a great portal for teachers to use with one another. It is a great resource to see what works within the classroom of different subject areas, and what needs to be improved. Teacher to teacher interaction is the best way to improve classrooms and how students are educated. This link provides the topic of Characterization, and downloadable links for teachers to use and differentiate.
- #13: This diagram would be used in a lesson after reading different parts of To Kill A Mockingbird. Characterization as a literary element would start off this overall topic of our literature section. One of the books read in 8th Grade is To Kill A Mockingbird and would fit very well with characterization. After each character is introduced, students would take their Characterization Chart (In picture) and use it to break down the types of characters in the novel. Students would be given this before the novel is started so they have references to how many traits they should look out for while they read. This topic goes hand in hand with many lessons that can be taught which is why it can be very versatile. This diagram can also be used when learning about characterization in a more broad sense, and can also be used in the future when writing short stories in class. This visual will enhance student learning because it will break down the types of characters they are reading about in novels and short stories, and help them develop skills towards organizing their thoughts about different concepts and ideas. This will allow them to come full circle, as they will know how to use characterization in other aspects of literature.
- #14: Worksheet found at: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson175/RWT186-2.pdf
- #15: Lesson Plan found at: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/understanding-character
- #16: This specific story on Teach-nology provides a reading comprehension set for students to read and answer questions. This story can be used within the area of characterization because it describes a type of dragon, where students could practice identifying traits and connecting them to the overall plot of the story. Within this set there are several other stories that can be used as a guided practice for students.
- #17: Simple Mind is available for both Android and iOS mobile devices, and available on Google Play and Apple for FREE. Students can access this from anywhere and create maps for different characters they are reading about, or for future projects when they create their own characters in personal narratives.
- #18: Source: http://edsitement.neh.gov/subject/literature-language-arts. For students, Click “Student Resources” on top right of page. For Teachers, click “Lesson Plans” on the top of the page.
- #19: Online Books Page would be useful because it would allow students to find short stories or novels to analyze the type of descriptions famous authors use when using characterization. They could take notes of the different types of words and description they apply to their prose, and would have students pick out what type of physical, intellectual, and sensual descriptions are present. Dictionaries, Thesauri, Acronyms, and Encyclopedias would allow students to search for good descriptive words to use when describing characters, as well as find new ways of describing something by using the Thesaurus. This is a useful way for students to learn new words and to refine their descriptions for characterization.
- #20: Source One: http://edublogs-org.appappeal.comSource Two: http://www.iconify.co