Many of us have discovered Google Voice for homework (thanks, Cathy Wiley!). Now I’m finding that this free online phone number can be used for almost everything communicative. It’s basically a tape recorder and, I’m starting to see, a great tool for texting. Students love taking their phones out (I’m very strict about having them put the phones away immediately after), and they take these tangible examples of communication more seriously than book exercises or writing drills. There must be a million ways to use this kind of service. Here are a few, with special thanks to Profesor Thomas Soth and his ideas in AP training:
Homework, spoken -Students call in the work normally done in writing. (Most of them are still writing it, then reading it aloud. Double whammy!) Sample assignments: Tell me three things you did today; be careful to use the preterit tense. Tell me what you ate for dinner.; name at least five items. Call with an excuse for missing the football game; use the phrase, “I couldn’t come because…” Call and tell me a story about an injury. Describe the clothes you are wearing to school tomorrow. Tell what everyone in your house is doing right now. Etc.
Homework, written: Text the teacher. This can be anything — up to 144 characters, of course. I started this year by asking my 2s to to text me their names and one thing they do. “Me llamo Suzy. Toco el piano.” My 4s had to tell me three things they STOPPED doing once school bean. “Dejé de acostarme tarde.”
Conversations in class: Students pass the phone back and forth, recording the conversations you’ve assigned. Play a few for the class, especially the ones you think will be creative or funny. Profesor Soth combined this nicely with a Power Point of conversation-inspiring pictures or video clips. Ask students to talk like the characters they see on the screen. Click for the next slide, and start have them start a new one.
Tip: start this in the classroom, if possible. It helps lower any anxiety about using the service; it’s surprising, but some students are scared to leave a message. Immediately replace the phone numbers that pop up on the transcripts with the students’ names. That will save you grading time in the future, and helps immensely with the kids who later forget to tell you their names as part of the assignment.
nancyteacheslanguage 