Teaching with Tradebooks Experience

I have to make a Book Trailer?!

This was my first thought when I saw this assignment, I can't lie and say I wasn't intimidated...at first. Once I got my book and began the book trailer it was surprisingly much easier than I thought it would be, all thanks to the great digital resources that Dr. Smirnova provided for us. I chose Animoto as my platform and I had a lot of fun making mine. At first I was thinking there is NO way I am using my voice in this thing, but I ended up doing 2 voiceovers! I really got into creating this book trailer, even though I had been dreading it for quite some time.

I did feel a little limited when searching for books that related to my Unit Plan topic, the 5 senses. I realized that I was looking at  it the wrong way, I was so set on fiding a book that was specifically about the senses that I was overlooking the wonderful books that involved the senses without ONLY being about them. This opened up a new door of options for me and made it a more enjoyable experience.



After completing my trailer for Farley Follows His Nose I began thinking about the ways I could use this in my classroom one day. Obviously I could use it in a 5 senses unit since I have already done that; but there are other ways to use it. In the book the dog,  Farley, smells alot of delicious food and uses descriptive words when describing them. It could be a great book to teach new vocabulary, or to make a word wall with the words we come up with to describe certain smells. There could be a scavenger hunt where the students walk around finding items that could fit the described scent (i.e:  food from cafeteria, scented soap, scented markers, lotions.)

Although I grew up with computers and technology, I still get intimidated when it comes to using technology for a project from start to finish. Thanks to sites like Animoto or Powtoon for example, It makes the whole process much less daunting. It guides you step by step which is SO helpful! I wouldn't say that I am anti- tech, but I would admit that I can be tech-hesitant. This class has pushed me out of my comfort zone for many assignements and I am grateful for that. I am grateful for that and I am proud of the work I have done that I normally would have done in a different, probably more boring way!

Take a look at my finished project here:
My Book Trailer!