Teachers can now access the Notebook lessons from SMART that correspond to the NC Standard Course of Study Competency Objectives. They had been unavailable since the redesign of the SMART website. The lessons are now housed on the SMART Exchange along with the non-vetted ones from teachers in the SMART Community.

 

Below is a quick link directly to the lessons that meet curriculum standards:
http://exchange.smarttech.com/curriculum.html
 

Each week, Tween Tribune searches the Web to find news stories that will hopefully appeal to tweens (students between the ages of 8-14). Students are then able to make comments about news articles. The best part about this site is the FREE options that are available to teachers! Teachers can set up a FREE account. When students create an account, they simply select the appropriate teacher to join! The teacher will (1)get a record of the stories that his/her students have responded to; (2)be able to see individual student comments on his/her page; (3)get a list of all comments that can then be sorted; (4)have the ability to moderate responses before they are published. There is a Faculty Lounge where you can share lesson plan ideas with other teachers. Stories are relevant to any subject matter and the site can be used throughout the curriculum! When you visit the website, be sure to click on the "For Teachers" link at the top of the page!

Skype



Skype will allow you to:
network with other instructional technology teachers
connect students with experts worldwide
connect students who are learning similar & related content
allow parents to see their students presenting
allow students who are absent a chance to participate
allow teams of teachers to meet virtually
allow administrators to connect with classrooms from their office
become the "teacher as facilitator"

How can I use Skype:
Paying for an author to come and visit with your students can be a very expensive event! However, it is a great way to get students interested in a certain genre, to introduce a novel study or to build excitement about a particular series of books! You can bring an author into your classroom through the use of Skype! There is a great site that will help you to find authors willing to Skype with teachers and students. Skype an Author Network
“The mission of the Skype an Author Network is to provide K-12 teachers and librarians with a way to connect authors, books, and young readers through virtual visits.” Contact authors early before calendars are full!

Check out this website for many more ways to use Skype in the classroom!
50 Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom

How to Use Skype in the Classroom:
http://www.lincolnschool.org/uploaded/faculty/ehunt//Skype_workshop_handout.pdf

Asynchronous Tools:
Voice Thread
YackPack

Connect with other classrooms:
ePals
iEarn
Center for Interactive Learning and Collaborating
Global Schoolhouse Projects Registry
TWICE - Two Way Interactive Connections in Education
K-12 Online Conference

Ideas are everywhere! This is a list of some really great blogs for teachers!
http://www.onlinecourses.org/2009/09/13/100-best-blogs-for-tech-savvy-teachers/
Find some to follow! Try out new ideas and share with us how they are working in your classroom!