Podcast #160 - Read the Words - Text to Audio Tool for the Classroom

Hello. Today's podcast is a very quick review of a free online application called "Read The Words". Many of you are probably already familiar with this application but I wanted to do a quick podcast to let everyone know about it. Read the Words allows you to convert word documents, PDF files, blogs, web sites, etc. into MP3 audio files. I think this application has some powerful potential in the classroom.

Please let me know what you think of this application by leaving a comment to this blog entry. I would also be interested in any comments from teachers who have already used Read the Words in their classrooms.

Direct link to Podcast #160 - Read the Words - Convert Text to Audio - MP3 Audio File

Pearson's 2008 Teachers of the Year Videos

Several weeks ago I was in New York with the other state teachers of the year and attended our last activity as a group. We were the guests of Pearson and had the opportunity to create a short video answering the question "Why Do I Teach?" It was a great experience as each of us created a short video in one afternoon of work. The videos of all the 2008 state teachers of the year are now posted online.

Link to see all the 2008 Teacher of the Year Videos from Pearson

I encourage you to visit the site and view some of the videos. Over the past 10 months this group of teachers became incredibly close and I have enjoyed viewing each of the videos and recalling conversations I have had with each of them. These teachers have so much to share and hearing their stories is truly inspiring.

I would like to thank Pearson for the opportunity to capture our stories and allow us as a group to experience digital storytelling. Pearson also provided each of us with a Flip videocam to use for future projects and I have truly enjoyed using this device which I think should be in the hands of each teacher in America.

2008 Missouri State Teachers Association State Convention Presentations

Tips From the Trenches

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: teaching langhorst)

Mp3 Players In The Classroom

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: mp3 players)

What Would You Tell Mr. Obama in 100 Words or Less?

This blog post is a special assignment for my 8th grade American History class but anyone is free to join us.

If you could tell Mr. Obama anything in 100 words or less what would it be? Would it be advice? Would it be words of wisdom? Would you tell him what you would like to see him do as President? Would you tell him which issue is most important to you? Here is his official website as he transitions to the presidency.

Please leave a comment on this blog post. I am asking my students to leave their comment as "anonymous" but leave their first name at the end of the post. No last names please. Thanks.

Election Day 2008 Report

Hello. Hope everyone is enjoying Election Day 2008. I woke up around 5:00 AM and took my 5 year old daughter with me to vote. We were in line at 5:45 AM, polls opened at 6:00 AM and we were on our way home at 6:45 AM. Not too long of a wait and everyone was pleasant.

The students of South Valley Junior High School here in Liberty, Missouri participated in the Kid's Voting Project taking place across the Kansas City. Our results will be available on Tuesday night here.

I'm participating in the US Voting project with the students of Diana Laufenberg of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadlephia, Pennsylvania and Kyle Steven's students at the Bishop Dunne Catholic School in Dallas, Texas. Here is my video report on how the voting went this morning.

Teaching the Declaration of Independence as a Break Up Letter - Podcast and Video

NOTE : This post is an update of my podcast and post from about a year ago describing how I use a fictional break up letter to help teach the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. In the original podcast, from September 2007, I included audio of my class while doing this activity. Today - October 30, 2008 - I did this activity with my 8th graders and instead of capturing their reaction using audio, I used my Flip video camera and took video of the activity while it was happening. It was great and really shows how the activity works in a real classroom. I have embedded the video with this post.

Hello. Today's podcast describes one of the activities I use in class to teach about the Declaration of Independence. Students often don't really understand the purpose of the document and this activity usually helps. I act as if I have found a note on the floor of my class the day before after school and then I read it to the class. It is a break up letter and at the end the students are stunned to learn that it is from "the American Colonies". I have included the text of the letter that I use below and the podcast has a recording of what happens when I read the letter in class and the discussion that follows. The podcast also has some hints and suggestions if you would like to replicate this activity in your classroom. I'm sure someone out there does something similar but I have not been able to find it anywhere else. I really enjoy this activity and my students have fun with it as well.

Direct link to Podcast #120 - Teaching the Declaration of Independence as a Break Up Letter - MP3 File - 16:57 Minutes

If you have any comments or questions please leave a comment on the blog or send me an e-mail at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

You can subscribe directly to the Speaking of History podcast via i-Tunes here

Text of the letter that I read to my class this year:

I'm not sure how to start this letter but I feel we need to talk. I've been thinking about us a lot lately. Things used to be so great - it was like we were M.F.E.O. I mean everyone said it was perfect. I really thought we would be together forever but then things changed.
I feel like you started to take me for granted. You just started to do whatever you wanted and never even asked me about anything or how I felt.
I've been thinking about this for a while and I don't want to hurt you but I think it is time we broke up. I mean it's just not going to work. I need some time by myself to see what it is like on my own. I'm sorry things didn't work out but I do think YOU are the one to blame. Sorry but "US" is over.
The American Colonies

Podcast #159 - Online Resources for Teaching the 2008 Election

Hello. A week from tonight we will elect a new president and many teachers across the nation are implementing online resources to explain the process to their students. I recently wrote an article which was published in School Library Journal magazine (September 2008 issue) describing a variety of resources. The article is available in print or you can view the entire article online here.

In today's podcast I discuss the resources listed below. If you use an additional online resource to teach the election please share it by adding a comment to this blog post.

Budget Hero

CNN Student News

Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonist Index

eLECTIONS Online Game

The Living Room Candidate

Select A Candidate

270 To Win

Direct link to Podcast #159 - Online Resources for Teaching the 2008 Election - MP3 Audio File

2008 T+L Conference in Seattle - Visiting the Space Needle

Hello. After I presented my preconference session on Monday afternoon I decided to visit the Space Needle. Everyone in Seattle has to visit the Space Needle right? I took the Monorail over to the Space Needle and as I paid $16 for my ticket to ride the elevator to the top I had doubts that it would be worth it but I must say that I was not disappointed. I arrived at the top of the Space Needle at about 5:30 PM right as the sun was setting over Elliott Bay. The sky turned several shades of red as ships moved in the bay. The city came alive as it grew darker and the lights began to show a city alive. I spent about an hour at the top and even watched part of a football game below - as I watched one team even scored a touchdown.

I have included some pictures from my visit and also took along my trusty Flip cam to record some video. I made a video Monday night and have posted it so my students can share in my visit to the Space Needle.

If you have any comments or would like to share your experience in visiting the Space Needle please leave a comment to this post. Thanks.

2008 T+L Conference in Seattle - A Tour of the Pike Place Market

Hello from Seattle. I'm in Seattle to present at the 2008 T+L Conference. My presentation is Monday afternoon but I did get into town on Sunday afternoon. After checking in to my hotel, I walked down to my favorite Seattle location - The Pike Place Market.

I took some pictures and video with my Flip. I created this short video on Sunday night so that my students back in Liberty, Missouri could watch it in class. It has some video of the original Starbucks, buskers and the "wall of gum".

Podcast #158 - Visiting Ellis Island

Above - Grandpa's name on the wall at Ellis Island

Above - Great Hall in 1924 - same year my grandfather came through Ellis Island

Above - Great Hall as it appears today in 2008

Above - Sitting on the original benches in the Great Hall

Above - Statue of Liberty framed by a door in the Great Hall

Above - My first view of the Statue of Liberty

Hello. A couple of weeks ago while attending a national teacher of the year workshop in New York City I was able to visit a location that I knew I needed to visit at some point in my life - Ellis Island. My grandfather, Henry C Langhorst, immigrated to America in 1924 as a 26 year old German who knew no English and came through Ellis Island. I spent about 5 hours soaking in the history at Ellis Island on September 30th and recall the experience in my podcast. It was an emotional experience for me and I was moved to tears on several occasions that day. I have also included some pictures and a video from my Flip video recorder.

Direct link to Podcast #158 - Visiting Ellis Island - MP3 Audio File

If you have any comments or questions about the podcast please leave a comment or e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com