Good integration leads to great memories.  One of my favorite teaching integration moments happened when I worked with a speech teacher and her very speech-shy student.  The memory of that moment inspired this post.

We gave her student an opportunity to select a Voki character and then used the phone so the student could provide a voice for his character. The smile on the student’s face as he heard his character talk online in a personified voice was simply priceless. If you haven’t used Voki to give your students a voice (or should I say their characters a voice) you really need to check out this free and simple to use online tool. Of course, the success of using Voki with a speech student led me to wonder what other technology resources could be used to help speech students. So, today’s column is dedicated to speech teachers and their students. You can view my Voki sample on the left of this post or learn more about Voki by reading my previous Voki post. Below, I have posted some additional resources that could also be used to help speech students:

• Take time to download the free program Photo Story 3 as a motivational software option that could be used to give students an opportunity to practice speaking (via a microphone). Photo Story 3 can only be used on PC computers, but it is a great wizard-driven presentation program that students can use to turn images into movies (in .wmv format). Students can easily record their voices, add music and transitions to photographs and/or images to create a .wmv movie. You can learn more about Photo Story 3 when you access a resource site I created to supplement a workshop I gave a couple of years ago…simply click on the screen shot below to learn more about the program:

• Audiopal is a free online “service that gives individuals an easy and effective way to add audio to their online message.” While this Web 2.0 tool does not have the “glam” factor that Voki has, it does a fine job of adding voice to a site and could be used to record digital speech samples that could be posted to a student portfolio, accessed from the site, or sent to a parent via email. Audiopal was simple to use and did not require registration. Voice can be recorded with a microphone or via phone using a toll free number. I have embedded a sample recording below:
  
• Cinch is another tool that records a voice, image (photo of a student, maybe?), and text. When you register for a Cinch account you can save your Cinch recordings on your page. You can even organize recordings in albums…create an album for each speech student so you can track student progress and provide samplings. Cinch recordings can be shared via Twitter or Facebookor kept private. Recordings can be made via a microphone connected to your computer or you can call a phone number to record (the phone number was not toll free). Recordings can be twittered, posted on Facebook, posted to the Cinch site, saved on your personal Cinch page, or embedded on a webpage or blog.  UPDATE!!!! – PLEASE NOTE: this is no longer a free product I’m sad to report.
• Wetoku is another online recording service that presumably makes it simple and easy to record interviews…like…a speech teacher interviewing his/her student. I’ll be honest. I did not test this online tool, but the sample interviews looked interesting and I would classify this resource as a Web 2.0 tool that holds promise. If you take Wetoku for a test drive let us know what you think! (It has been receiving some great reviews…see a sample on The 16th Minute blog).

“A timeline is the presentation of a chronological sequence of related events along a drawn line that enables the reader to quickly understand relationships relating to, or limited by, time.” (see Timeline Examples to read an expanded definition ). Timelines help us understand history and intervals of time. It is often difficult for students to visualize when events in history have taken place and the spans of time between events. A timeline can also help students understand a sequence of events. Today I am sharing timeline resources that you can share with your students to help them sequence and understand events in history.

Web 2.0 Timeline Generators

1. Dipity.com – This marvelous online timeline creator makes it easy to pull in videos, pictures, and updates from hundreds of sources instantly so that students can create their own virtual timelines. The site also features a number of marvelous timelines created by other people who subscribe to this free service. Individuals can comment on the posted timelines making it a perfect vehicle for peer review of student-completed timelines. Timelines can also be turned into widgets that could be posted on a webpage or in a classroom blog. This is a great Web 2.0 Timeline tool!
2. Capzels – this is one of my favorite timeline generators to date. Explores some of the timelines posted on the site and you will understand why! You can create a timeline that includes text, images, sound, and more. In addition, you can set privacy options… all for free with registration. A great timeline resource
3. Timeline Index – this interactive timeline gives you an opportunity to drill down to a timeline of your choice. Select a person, event, timeframe, location, or object; then, keep clicking until you have refined your timeline. Timelines can be printed or turned into a widget (see sample below). Create a free account if you would like to save your timelines. Timelines created with this tool could be used with an Interactive whiteboard since many of the events/people link to expanded information.
   
4. Our Story- “Our Story is here to help you build and enrich your relationships and connections by guiding you (and others in your circle) to recall, write about, and illustrate life’s most important memories.” View the video below for details about this fantastic timeline generator…
5. xtimeline – xtimeline is a free web-based timeline. Easily create and share timelines with pictures and videos. Registration is free and required if you want to create and comment on timelines…great for providing feedback to students who develop timelines.
6. Preceden – this online tool lets you you make simple, powerful timelines for just about anything and you can set the permissions for each timeline. Free registration is required to create a timeline.
7. Lifeblob – Build your Social Timeline using RSS feeds, photographs, text or a combination of all on Lifeblob and see how your life intersects with those of your family and friends.
8. Timetoast – this online tool can be used to create interactive timelines, which can be shared anywhere on the web. Anyone can join Timetoast and start creating and sharing their own timelines. Free registration requires a valid email address.
9. Classtools.net – “A timeline is a great way of getting students to select and summarize key events across a defined period. This online tool allows them to do this simply and effectively, and to color-code the events if they choose to do so. They can also add a background image before printing off their work and / or saving it as a webpage for the school intranet / website!”
10. Fantasist Timeline Generator – simple and fun to use (but limited in scope), create a timeline by creating a name for your generator; then, establish a time span of years and determine how many events you would like to see each year.
11. Freetimeline – Free timeline allows you to build, save, share, and print arbitrary timelines absolutely free. Registration for an account is fast and free… no email required.
12. Center for History and New Media Timeline Builder – create a timeline after you have set up a free account. The timeline creator is straight-forward with few bells and whistles…great for text-based timeline creation.
13. Teachnology – create a vertical or horizontal timeline using the simple generators found at this site. The generators found at this site are probably best suited to younger students since there are minimal events available for each timeline.
14. Thinkport – “This builder will help you construct a timeline, adding events, descriptions, and images that help bring content alive.”
15. Our Timelines.com – create a text-based personal timeline of your life using this generator to see what important events in history mix in with your personal history.
16. Read*Write*Think Timeline Student Tool – use this online generator to make simple, text-based timelines with a limited number of events. This generator is probably best suited to younger students since there are minimal events available for each timeline.

Encompassing Timelines

1. HyperHistory Online – this timeline provides extensive information about world history during the last 3,000 years and abbreviated timelines for the years before that. The site is separated into five categories: People, History, Events, Maps, and Options (which covers the items that don’t fit into the other categories). This site links the timeline events and their dates with scientific, cultural, and religious facts and events. This is a great timeline to explore and share with students.
2. The History Place – explore several different timelines that are subject-specific. Topics include: American Revolution, The Civil War, 20th Century Topics (like Natives of North America, Apollo 11, etc), World War II timelines, Presidents of the U.S., and World History.
3. Timelines of History – this site is initially a bit confusing as you presented with a number of date-specific hyperlinks. The presentation of data is a bit dry, but very informative. Don’t miss the On This Day Video with Randy Barton, which is part of the site. The video incorporates a timeline and Randy shares highlights in history that are fun and interesting.
4. Historical Timeline – “Here you will find 5 timelines featuring some of the key events, inventions, and leaders which had a major impact on the world’s history.”

Subject-specific Timelines that can be explored online…

1. Edison Invents! – view a timeline featuring the life and innovations of Thomas Edison.
2. The Presidential Timeline of the Twentieth Century – explore the lives and administrations of twelve Presidents of the United States. The timeline features resources from the presidential libraries.
3. Fact Monster Timeline Archive – students can explore a number of diverse timelines using this portal page.
4. Alternatime – Students could spend hours exploring this huge portal of links to timelines.
5. Google News Timeline – view news headlines in a calendar/timeline fashion.
6. Timeline of Computer History – click on a year to see some great vintage photos and read some interesting information about computer technology.
7. A Teacher’s Guide to the Holocaust Timeline – this timeline focuses on the history of the Holocaust, chronicling the years from 1918 to 2003.
8. PBS Educational Resources – Many of the PBS Program Links incorporate timelines. Visit the PBS program link using the link I provided and perform a search for the word timeline.
9. Infoplease Archive Timelines – a portal of timeline links.
10. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History – a great resource for art teachers and students, timelines can be viewed by geographic area or time period.

Miscellaneous Timeline Resources

1. Footnote.com – While this site is not a timeline creation site, it is a marvelous companion site that could be used to develop timelines that include digitally archived artifacts. Through a partnership with The Library of Congress National Archives and other institutions, this site will help you and your students find document-based materials. Students will also discover several timelines dispersed throughout the site as they research.
2. Excel Timeline Templates – use the marvelous Excel templates found on this site to create some great looking and informative timelines.
3. Word Timeline Template – create a basic timeline in Word using this free template from Microsoft.

Teaching with Timelines

1. Timeline Helps – This timeline teaching site targets home-school educators, but the information is relevant for all educators.
2. Timeline Graphic Organizer
3. Printable Blank Timeline
4. Printable Blank Timeline Pieces
5. Scholastic Vertical Timeline Worksheet
6. Make a Timeline Worksheet
7. Time for Kids Timeline Worksheets – nine different worksheets
8. EdHelper Ready Made Timelines for Bulletin Boards – several multi-page timelines that can be used for bulletin boards
9. Enchanted Learning Make Your Own Timeline Worksheets

What kind of book-lover/mother/educator would I be if I did not acknowledge Dr. Seuss’s birthday today? I dedicate this post to the memory of the man who made so many children and adults happy, successful readers.

Click on the screenshot image (found at the top of this post) to access the Happy Birthday Dr Seuss portal site I researched and developed as we celebrated Dr. Seuss day in our school. The site includes information about Dr. Seuss, his books, quotes (with buttons that students can use to have the phrases read to them), and links to games and online activities that feature the characters and imagination of the beloved Seuss. Explore the orange circles found at the top of the site to access the numerous links and resources I put together.

You can also gain access to four free digital Seuss books when you download and open a free kidthing account (you do need to download and install the program on your classroom or home computer). Use the code KTCODE-NEA5RAA to receive free books that you can project from your computer. The offer is good through March 30th, do don’t wait too long! I have pasted a copy of the offer I received below. I know it sounds too good to be true, but believe me these books are free!  Click on the image below to go to the site and register for your free account. And, yes, they are trying to sell books, but I have to tell you I was impressed with kidthing. Let us know what you think by using the comment link found at the bottom of this post.

In addition to being a Dr. Seuss fan, I have been a long-time fan of the International Children’s Digital Library site. Whenever I share this site with librarians, foreign language teachers, general education teachers, and of course students we are all in awe at the number, quality, and diversity of books found on this site. Registration is optional, but if you register you can…

• select the language you prefer to use
• return to the last page you were reading
• save your favorite books in a personal bookshelf
• access these features from any computer

Enjoy the books and resources I have shared today and send happy thoughts upward (and around you) as you think of all the wonderful men and women who have shared their writing talent over the years.  Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!