The internet abounds with information for shaping classroom instruction, and the advent of web 2.0 tools like blogs means that people all over the world are now sharing their classroom experiences with others. It can be time-consuming, however, to hop from site to site to review what's out there on a daily basis.
Google Reader can help by bringing valuable content right to you. Here's a Common Craft video offering a brief explanation of the tool:
Reader is similar to a magazine subscription: sign up and you don't have to pick up your copy at the store anymore - it comes to you. The following video shows step-by-step instructions for getting started with Google Reader, from creating a Google account to adding subscriptions.
Note that if you already have a Gmail account, you already have access to Google Reader. It's available via a link at the top of the screen when you are logged in to Gmail, or you can visit the Google Reader site directly and log in using your Gmail username and password.
Once you're signed in to Reader and ready to build your subscription list, consider getting started with these sites:
LWP Tech Blog: Keep track of updates to this blog
News of NWP: Up-to-date info on the National Writing Project
Websites of the Day: Larry Ferlazzo's collection of some of the best online classroom resources
Any time someone adds new content to a site you've subscribed to, that content will come to you automatically. All you have to do is log in to Google Reader to check it out.
In the next post, learn ideas for using Google Reader in the classroom!
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