Materials Generators (Week 4)

According to Robyler and Doering (2013), materials generators include desktop publishing software, web page editors, whiteboard activity software, test and rubric generators, worksheet and puzzle generators, IEP generators, graphic document makers, and PDF and forms makers (p. 143). These tools have a variety of uses in the classroom. Below I have listed a few of the materials generators with an explanation of how I would use them.

1) Online rubric generators allow educators to create rubrics from scratch, entering their own standards. Several of them have pre-created rubrics with the option of editing. As a teacher, there are several ways I would use a rubric. The first way is probably the most common: projects. The project rubric would list the requirements or standards I would expect upon the completion of the project. It would give students the option to be creative with their work, as well as create a quality project. The rubric would outline my expectations including some or all of these aspects: presentation, appearance, organization, information, and mechanics. The students would be given a copy and we would discuss the outline of the rubric. Here is an example of an oral presentation rubric for a middle school humanities project. As a student, I loved to use collaboration rubrics. This is another way I would use rubrics in the classroom. The rubric would outline the expectations of the students as a team member. Each student would get a rubric for each of their other team members, and they would be required to honestly grade their team members. There would also be a note section for any comments the students want to leave. Team members would not be allowed to see the grades or comments that their other teammates gave them. The individual student's final collaboration grade would be based on what I observed as well as the input from their other group members. Here is an example of a collaboration rubric. There are several other ways rubrics can be used in the classroom. Below is a list of links to other types of rubrics.

Other Rubrics
Math Problem-Solving Rubric
Discussion Participation Rubric

2) Teaching students with learning disabilities definitely requires using an IEP generator. Individualized education plans (IEP's) are used with students that have delayed skills or other disabilities and need special services, support, or accommodations. An IEP generator would me to create a plan specific to the student’s needs. It would include any accommodations the student need, whether they need services such as speech or occupational therapy, etc. Some IEP generators allow you to edit and make changes or include other information. This is helpful when tracking the child's progress. It also helps when recording notes of IEP meetings. Below is a list of different IEP generators with links to their websites.

IEP Generators
IEP4U
DDtrac
IEP Planet

3) Web design software would have to be my favorite! I love the idea of having a classroom website. Like most websites, my classroom website will be a source of information. It will keep parents and students up-to-date on current events in the classroom and contain links to pertinent information for parents. Photos from class trips and activities will be uploaded here. Students will be able to access links to high-quality resources and activities on the website. This saves time and paper. There will also be updates on the curriculum, including resources for parents to help their children with homework. Below are links to a few classroom websites that I found.

Classroom Websites
Midland Academy, Georgia: 3rd grade
Resurrection Catholic School, Pennsylvania: 4th grade
David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center, FL: 4th grade