Best Practices in Using Technology in Language Arts

Meet Kathy Briggs

Katy Briggs teaches sixth grade English/Language Arts at Fort Johnson Middle School. This is her first year teaching. Katy believes that one of the most effective teaching practices is engaging students in learning. She tries to capture her students' interests by relating curricula to their current interests through technology. Katy assigns numerous group projects where the students have to use computers for research. She realizes the importance of students' learning how to work together using various forms of technology in order to prepare for the demands of today's workforce.

Katy Brigg's Best Practice Strategy:
Motivating students to read current literature by creating a book talk presentation.

Lesson Plan Overview:
To motivate students to read current literature, Katy introduces her students to the books developed by the South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees for 2002. In teams, the students select one book from the list of the South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees. Each partner reads his/her book independently. After students have had time to read and discuss the book with his/her partner, the students will create PowerPoint slides that will be used for a book talk presentation. In their presentations, students must include the title of the book, the author's name, the presenters' names, scanned pictures of the book's cover, the publishing company, the city of publication, the copyright date, a brief summary of the book, their reaction to the book,
and a book recommendation.

According to Katy, she hopes that throughout her PowerPoint project the students not only are introduced to new authors, but are learning how to use vital tools that they will need to be competitive and cooperative workers of the future. This innovative lesson addresses reading and writing 6th grade language arts standards.

SAIL student handout
Honors handout
SAIL lesson plan
Honors lesson plan
Sample student PowerPoint