Teaching Language and Grammar with Technology

Incorporating technology into your language lessons can be a challenge! However, there are several ways to make your digital language activities more effective and engaging. This blog will highlight digital ideas and resources that will help you teach those language and grammar skills in your techy classroom setting.

Digital Mini Lesson Options

Firstly, pre-record video lessons. This is simple, but it may take a bit of your planning time. For pre-recording video lessons, I would simply gather the materials needed for the lesson and teach to your screen as if students were there. After recording the lesson, you can post it to your online dashboard with the materials linked or attached. This is great for if you guidance or instruction for centers, small group activities, etc. It is also nice for students to have a video reference to look back at if they are struggling with a concept. The pros for this are 1. Each student is able to watch the video as many times as they need. 2. You will be free to assist your students as they watch the video/complete the activities.

Get Another Introduction with Videos

Similarly, you can use pre-made videos to supplement your mini-lessons. Platforms like BrainPop, BrainPop, Jr., and even YouTube have a variety of educational videos that you can use!

With language and grammar, students need lots of examples and practice. So, instead of you having to make extra videos (in addition to your mini-lesson), you can simply find one to share. BrainPop is a great place to start because the videos provide a clear explanation of the skill and come with additional tools. For example, you can access the video’s script, there are quizzes and activities that are tied to the skill, vocabulary, graphic organizers, and more!

YouTube also has many high-quality videos of language and grammar skill instruction. There are some wonderful teachers out there whose videos will keep you from having to reinvent the wheel! A quick tip: be sure to purify all YouTube videos through ViewPure so that you can send your students the link without fear of inappropriate ads or suggested videos.

Seesaw and Google Classroom Digital Language Activities

Interactive, virtual, google and seesaw lessons and activities

After creating your mini-lesson and finding supplemental videos, you are going to need some interactive skill practice for your students. Students can implement these skills using digital language activities on their devices.

This may look like a digital worksheet or an interactive graphic organizer. As you can see in the example, this digital language activity allows students to practice using commas in a series. To get a closer look at this and other digital language activities, click here!

Assign Time on Gamifying Websites

Skill practice with IXL learning quizzes, grammar and language for virtual learning

Another digital language activity that I recommend is IXL. You’ve taught your mini-lesson, You may have provided a supplemental video. You assigned an interactive activity. Now, it is time for your students to practice their skills.

If you’ve never used IXL before, go check it out! IXL is a personalized learning site that has interactive practice quizzes for all of the skills that you teach! From Kindergarten to 12th Grade, English to Calculus! Coincidentally, my favorite section of IXL is their language sets. It is great skill practice for students because it provides real-time feedback and personalized guidance. So, if a student is working on a set of nouns and they get a question incorrect, IXL has a descriptive “lesson” to correct the students’ misconception!

Education.com learning games for virtual language activities

You can find more digital language activities on Education.com. This is another interactive game-type site for skill practice. It does require a membership/login, but it has lessons, worksheets, games, and more! Students enjoy the games and when they are struggling with a concept, it directs you to resources that can help them!

Learninggames.com skill practice games

Learninggamesforkids.com is a collection of games from other websites. If you’re looking for educational games for skill practice that are username and login-free, here is a great place to start!

Finally, your incorporation of digital lesson elements is up to you! Do what makes you feel comfortable. If there is something you can switch for a digital activity to make your life easier, go for it! If you’re more comfortable with traditional instruction, do that!

Suggested Resources That Will Make Your Life Easier

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