UDL In our classroom

Principles 2.4 & 2.5: Integrating language into the classroom and using multiple media to meet student needs.

I was able to find a lot of great resources on the UDL website for both of these principles but I was also able to find 2 additional sites and sources that can be helpful. The first, Tagxedo is a site that allows anyone to create a word map or a concept map in any language. This is another way for students to display their thinking but I love that this is not language exclusive. I know in my classroom there are some students who are stressed when they have to use technology, this site seems easy to manage but it could be better for some to have the option to create a hard copy rather than a technology copy, this is a modification that can easily be made. Like I said, there is not a language barrier so students are able to create or learn vocabulary through this site. Personally, I see myself using this site to create some class posters!
Tagxedo is UDL friendly because it meets a variety of languages and allows students to display their learning and knowledge in another format.
The second resource I found that is UDL friendly is audiobooks. I sourced LearningAlly and iBooks as two great resources. I am under the impression that LearningAlly is language exclusive in English right now but hearing and following an English book is helpful for English Language Learners. iBooks does have a medium library of bilingual audio books and other language audio books. Over the years, I expect both of these resources to multiply in their offerings to students. These two sources are UDL friendly because they present written material in an oral way, as I stated in my video for many language learners, when we allow them to hear and see the word and remove the pronunciation or decoding process they are able to comprehend more. These are both great resources to embrace languages in the classroom and to use multiple media strategies to help students learn, no matter their first language.

Here's my Vlog:

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying:

• What is it: Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that happens using an online platform. I define bullying as an action that hurts or belittles another human which is able to occur in a variety of platforms. 
• Image resource of an overview of Michigan's Cyberbully Laws:
• Cyberbullying statistic: "More than half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying" (Guardchild.com) 
• Resources: Media Smarts
• Media Smarts is a website that provides lesson plans for teachers on a variety of subjects including:
• Virtual vs. Physical Worlds
• Avatars & Identity
• Ethical Online Behavior 
• The lessons are for grades 5-9 and include a detailed lesson plan with thinking prompts and questions and ethical questions to ask a class to have a discussion about cyberbullying and the possible effects students' actions can have.