Blogs “Are we going to watch a movie today?” My students would squirm in their seats with excitement whenever I would pull down the projector screen. Videos can certainly breathe new life into lesson plans; even short video clips seemed to perk up my most reluctant learners.
Videos can be inspiring for students. We know that Schoolhouse Rock worked wonders for a whole generation of people-some of us remember pronouns or adjectives (or how a bill is created) because of video clips shown on Saturday morning TV. Videos are never intended to replace teaching, but it’s a way to engage or “hook” learners. Videos often pique students’ interests and motivate them to continue learning beyond the classroom. My students loved going on virtual field tripsall over the world, learning about current events, and singing along to music videos about topics such as alliteration and onomatopoeia to solidify and retain learning.
YouTube is my preferred video provider because it’s so user-friendly and keeps me organized. After creating an account, I was able to personalize my library by adding favorite videos, subscribe to relevant channels, create playlists, and share videos with my students via my website. You can even organize videos by topic or content, so you have everything you need in one easy-to-access location.
YouTube is certainly the go-to of all video sites. However, plenty of other sites have valuable and plentiful offerings to support teaching and learning. The following are a few amazing resources that can help you as you continue to add videos to your toolbox.
- PBS Learning Media: http://tpt.pbslearningmedia.org/The high standards of PBS-in searchable content to support lessons
- GoNoodle: www.gonoodle.comThis website offers a plethoraof videos to get your students moving, focused, and energized.
- TeachHub: www.teachub.com This website offers several video writing prompts with suggested activities at every grade level.
In addition, check out this article which features The 100 Best Video Sites for Educators: http://www.edudemic.com/best-video-sites-for-teachers/
There are so many engaging videos from YouTube and other valuable video providers online. Most sites are free, so why not tap their potential?! Your students will squirm with appreciation.
Interested in learning more about using YouTube in your classroom? Sign up for Course 802: YouTube in the Classroom: Beyond Cute Cat Videos.
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