Really cool and super sites on the web...
I will try to give you a short explanation of sites that I have added to the Live Binder..."Technology in the Classroom" - http://www.livebinders.com/edit/index/228695
http://www.socrative.com/ - Socrative - This site allows the teacher to create a "room" that students can join to take a quiz, brainstorm, review, etc! It can be accessed from any device that has browsing capabilities! There is also an app for the teacher and the students. (Under Collaborate)
http://www.twurdy.com/ - Twurdy - This is a search engine that will provide 10 indexed levels of reading. It is great for science! This is a great resource that matches the material with the student's reading ability! (Under Research)
http://www.magzinr.com/ - Mazinr - This site allows you to bookmark sites and Tweet them at the same time! If you have a school or class Twitter account, this would be a great way to share resources with parents and students!
http://www.thinglink.com/action/store/thinglink-tabs - Thing Link Tabs...for Facebook - This site allows you to create interactive images and info graphics...another way to add to your school or team Facebook account. (Under Share)
http://www.studyblue.com/ - Study Blue - Create notecards and flashcards! Join for free! Use other peoples' flashcards or create your own. There is also an app...and a Facebook application! (Under Study)
http://classconnect.com/ - Class Connect - Build, store, and share lesson plans! Your own personal lesson plan database! Lessons are aligned to common core! (Under Lesson Planning)
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/ - Woodlands Junior High - They have an amazing site with tons of links for all subjects! (Under Interactive)
http://www.sharendipity.com/ - Sharendipity - This is an online game making site! What a wonderful way to reinforce material...have students to build games around the material that you are studying! (Under Create)
http://www.wikimindmap.org/ - Wiki Mind Map - This is a search tool for wiki content! (Under Research)
http://wikisummarizer.com/Pages/Default.aspx - Wiki Summarizer - This site summarizes Wikipedia articles. This tool could be used for your struggling readers or when you are looking for the main topics or points from an article! (Under Research)
Some of my favorite finds of the week...
Reading:
Check out this article..."103 Things to Do Before/During/After Reading!"
This website also has tons of resources for helping struggling readers...http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/teachers/!
Register to Win a Wireless Lab!!! http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/
If you need something just for fun to grab attention, check out these sites:
http://thisissand.com/ - A neat site! It would be great to use to teach the laws of rock position in Geologic Time in 8th grade science!
http://www.dankatie.com/funstuff/horses/ - Horse Quartet - Click on the various horses to turn them on and off! Just make sure that your sound is on! Play music for students while they are getting into groups! Be creative in how you use it!
http://www.drawastickman.com/ - Draw a Stickman - It will animate your stick man and ask you to add things as the story progresses! This is a great opener to a creative writing lesson! You can talk about how a story progresses and how you envision it in your mind! It could also be used as a writing prompt! There are only 2 episodes...but hopefully more will be added! There is also an app!
http://www.kisstunes.com/m3/kiss3.aspx - Kiss Tunes - This is an online keyboard that can be played with the mouse or with the keyboard. The keyboard allows you to play more than one key at a time! Students can record, playback and publish!
http://www.bgfl.org/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/ - This is a virtual keyboard that has the letters on the keys. After students finish a multiple choice test, have them to come and play their answers to see if they have the correct tune!
http://www.toytheater.com/ - This site could be used with EC students to reinforce basic concepts.
http://www.fuelthebrain.com/ - Fuel the Brain - Educational Games - Great to use with the Smartboard! Jelly Golf is one of the favorites...it teaches fractions! Great resource for EC!
http://bartbonte.com/sugarsugar/ - Sugar, Sugar - This is a great problem solving game! Very addictive! It starts out easy and gets harder as you play!
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug/bugcoord.html - Billy Bug and his Quest for Grub - Again, this site would be great with EC students. It helps them learn to plot points on a coordinate plane.
http://www.scholastic.com/interactivewhiteboards/ - Scholastic Whiteboard Activities - You have to search...but there is some 7th and 8th grade material on this site!
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq - Travel Pod IQ Challenge - Fun Geography Game!
Check out this article..."103 Things to Do Before/During/After Reading!"
This website also has tons of resources for helping struggling readers...http://www.readingrockets.org/audience/teachers/!
Register to Win a Wireless Lab!!! http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/
If you need something just for fun to grab attention, check out these sites:
http://thisissand.com/ - A neat site! It would be great to use to teach the laws of rock position in Geologic Time in 8th grade science!
http://www.dankatie.com/funstuff/horses/ - Horse Quartet - Click on the various horses to turn them on and off! Just make sure that your sound is on! Play music for students while they are getting into groups! Be creative in how you use it!
http://www.drawastickman.com/ - Draw a Stickman - It will animate your stick man and ask you to add things as the story progresses! This is a great opener to a creative writing lesson! You can talk about how a story progresses and how you envision it in your mind! It could also be used as a writing prompt! There are only 2 episodes...but hopefully more will be added! There is also an app!
http://www.kisstunes.com/m3/kiss3.aspx - Kiss Tunes - This is an online keyboard that can be played with the mouse or with the keyboard. The keyboard allows you to play more than one key at a time! Students can record, playback and publish!
http://www.bgfl.org/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks2/music/piano/ - This is a virtual keyboard that has the letters on the keys. After students finish a multiple choice test, have them to come and play their answers to see if they have the correct tune!
http://www.toytheater.com/ - This site could be used with EC students to reinforce basic concepts.
http://www.fuelthebrain.com/ - Fuel the Brain - Educational Games - Great to use with the Smartboard! Jelly Golf is one of the favorites...it teaches fractions! Great resource for EC!
http://bartbonte.com/sugarsugar/ - Sugar, Sugar - This is a great problem solving game! Very addictive! It starts out easy and gets harder as you play!
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/BillyBug/bugcoord.html - Billy Bug and his Quest for Grub - Again, this site would be great with EC students. It helps them learn to plot points on a coordinate plane.
http://www.scholastic.com/interactivewhiteboards/ - Scholastic Whiteboard Activities - You have to search...but there is some 7th and 8th grade material on this site!
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq - Travel Pod IQ Challenge - Fun Geography Game!
Tech News for 2/3/12
SMARTBOARD TIPS
Reminder - - - Smartboard Training on the 22nd!
You can post Notebook lessons on your website for students to access at home. Be sure to include a link to this Smart Notebook Online site: http://express.smarttech.com/#. When posting them to your First Class account, either upload them in a listing folder or drag them from your desktop to a page in your site. This is a great resource for students that are absent or that may need to review the lesson material at home. The site also has a “Create a new Notebook file” option. Have your students create projects using the software...and then share them with the class!
The Magic Pen—Remember to use this neat tool! You can draw a circle and it will put a spotlight on the circular spot and gray out the rest of the screen. If you draw a rectangle, it will zoom in on the rectangular spot. If you want to perform magic...write your notes with the magic pen and they will eventually fade away. This would be a great way to get students into groups. When the ink goes away, they must be seated and ready to go!
Tons of Smartboard Resources!
If you would like to download the full version of Smart Notebook software on your home computer or other classroom computer, visit this link...http://smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Download+Software! If you need a code, please email me!
From the link above, you can also download Smart Notebook Express software that will allow you to open, edit, save and share notebook files from anywhere, at any time!
IPADS IN THE CLASSROOM
"Redefining Instruction with Technology: Five Essential Steps" - This is a great article. It talks about iPads but applies to any type of technology that you are using in your classroom!
FREE WEBINAR - "20 Free iPad Apps Educators Can't Live Without" - You can register at this site...http://simplek12.com/tlc/webinars_ipad/! If you would like to participate in the webinar but it conflicts with your class schedule, I would be glad to cover your class...first come, first serve!
APPS FOR EDUCATION
Top sites for Educational Apps:
· iPad Apps for student with special needs—http://ipadappsclarkstown.wikispaces.com/iPad+apps+for+students
SCIENCE
7th grade science teachers - There is a live webinar that you and your class can join! It is "The Science and Technology Behind Storm Chasing" and it is provided by Discovery Education! The interview is with Reed Timmer...the star of Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers! The date is Monday, February 14th. If you are interested but not able to attend on that day, the webinar will be archived for viewing at a later date. For more info, visit this site...http://stem.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?event=showResource&resourceId=f6fb9b22-1438-bbfa-6071-578af5531f85!
Discovery Education also has other free webinars and resources for teachers of all subject areas! http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/
GRANTS
- 2012 Music Matters Grant Program—up to $6000—Deadline 2/17/12—http://heart.muzak.com/what/grants.aspx
- Adopt-a-Classroom - average amount $500 - no deadline - http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/index.aspx - Teachers who register at the Adopt-a-Classroom website can be adopted by an individual, a business, or a foundation. Once adopted, teachers will receive credit to purchase items that enrich the learning environment, including classroom technology.
- From Failure to Promise K-12 Literacy Grant - $1000 - Deadline July 31, 2012 - http://www.fromfailuretopromise.com/K-12--Educator-s-Literacy-Grant.html - For K-12 schools and libraries - To assist educators in moving students from "Failure to Promise" in literacy, math, science and/or technology.
- Innovations in Reading Prize Grant - $2,500 - Deadline February 21, 2012 - For individuals and institutions that have developed innovative means of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading. http://www.nationalbook.org/innovations_in_reading.html
REALLY COOL TOOLS
- Fantastic Contraption - If you are teaching physics or problem solving, this is a really neat tool! Students must build a contraption to solve the problem...and it is a process of trial and error! It also a great exercise to get your students to think outside of the box! It is mind boggling and addictive! http://fantasticcontraption.com/index.php
- Jeopardy Labs - http://www.jeopardylabs.com/ - This site allows you to create your own jeopardy template online or browse templates created by others. It is easy to use and best of all...it is free! This would be a great resource to use with the Smartboard!
- Sometimes I receive things in PDF form and would really like to edit them to make them my own! I use http://www.convertpdftoword.org/ to do the job! After you upload your pdf file, it will convert it and send you a link to it in an email...easy as pie!
FREE WEBINARS
http://simplek12.com/tlc/webinars/#ipad
Tech News for 1/20/2012
Smartboard TOOLS
If you are new to using the Smartboard, begin by simply using websites that are interactive.
Tool for ELA:
http://www.wordcentral.com/games/alpha-bot.html
http://www.wordcentral.com/games/bigbot.html
Tools for Science:
http://phet.colorado.edu/
http://www.succeedingwithscience.com/
Tools for Math:
http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/?localeset=en_us
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
General Tools...for many subject areas:
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Category.aspx?CategoryID=86
http://www.teacherled.com/all-interactive-whiteboard-resources/
http://www.teacherslovesmartboards.com/#tp
Online Training:
http://www.teacheronlinetraining.com/
http://rmtc.fsdb.k12.fl.us/tutorials/whiteboards.html#resources
Smart Exchange:
If you have not already done so, sign up for the Smart Exchange, and find lesson plans for your Smartboard and connect with teachers!
http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0
More onsite training coming soon!
Share your story...
There is a new section on the KMMS website for Curriculum News/Spotlight. We need to put forth our best effort to inform parents and community members of all the great stuff going on in own classrooms! You are the best ones to do that! I have started creating logins for everyone. Some of you have been alerted already! Directions for using this login are attached in this email and staff development will also be provided. The date for the training will be on Monday, February 6th from 3:15—4:15. Mark your calendar...and I hope you will be able to attend! I will do a make-up session if it is needed!
Promoting 21st century skills
Things to think about when you are focusing on the best ways to teach and assess 21st century skills…
http://www.thinkquest.org/en/projects/index.html
Tools from Intel:
http://www.intel.com/about/corporateresponsibility/education/k12/index.htm
3 Steps for 21st Century Learning (video):
http://www.schooltube.com/video/2e22586e9b8d4adab5bb/3%20Steps%20for%2021st%20Century%20Learning
Student Website
Connecting Classrooms
Missy Short used Skype to connect her students with a professional in the field. This is a wonderful tool that is easy to use with your students. The hardest part is finding the person or class that you can develop a project with. Check out these sites that can connect you with others:
Skype an Author Network—http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/
ePals—http://www.epals.com/
Email and phone calls are also great ways to get in touch with professionals in the field!
All about using Skype:
http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/
http://theedublogger.com/2011/04/03/the-complete-educators-guide-to-using-skype-effectively-in-the-classroom/
E-Readers for Christmas
Students are allowed to bring e-readers to school. However, they must fill out a “Contract for Use” form before doing so. There is a place for the teacher to sign...this can be any team teacher. Please put completed forms in my box. I will pass them by a principal and then file them in my office. Please make sure that the student includes the model and serial number. Also encourage each student to mark his/her device with personal information. I will attach a copy of the form in the email.
APPS for education
eInstruction has announced it is releasing an IPAD App that allows you to control everything on your computer, annotate over any digital material and to instantly assess students in formative assessment situations. Right now, we are waiting for Apple to release the App to the iTunes Store. It will be a free download, but you will need the new software, called Insight 360.
We have a brand new place on our CCS website for educational apps. You can get there by going to the Technology page and click the link for CCS Apps— http://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/index.php/ccs-app-list
Top 10 Best Apps for Educ. (eSchool News) - http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/01/07/10-of-the-best-apps-for-education/?
There is a Common Core Standards App...Check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/common-core-standards/id439424555?mt=8
Grant information
If you are new to using the Smartboard, begin by simply using websites that are interactive.
Tool for ELA:
http://www.wordcentral.com/games/alpha-bot.html
http://www.wordcentral.com/games/bigbot.html
Tools for Science:
http://phet.colorado.edu/
http://www.succeedingwithscience.com/
Tools for Math:
http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/?localeset=en_us
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/
General Tools...for many subject areas:
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Category.aspx?CategoryID=86
http://www.teacherled.com/all-interactive-whiteboard-resources/
http://www.teacherslovesmartboards.com/#tp
Online Training:
http://www.teacheronlinetraining.com/
http://rmtc.fsdb.k12.fl.us/tutorials/whiteboards.html#resources
Smart Exchange:
If you have not already done so, sign up for the Smart Exchange, and find lesson plans for your Smartboard and connect with teachers!
http://exchange.smarttech.com/#tab=0
More onsite training coming soon!
Share your story...
There is a new section on the KMMS website for Curriculum News/Spotlight. We need to put forth our best effort to inform parents and community members of all the great stuff going on in own classrooms! You are the best ones to do that! I have started creating logins for everyone. Some of you have been alerted already! Directions for using this login are attached in this email and staff development will also be provided. The date for the training will be on Monday, February 6th from 3:15—4:15. Mark your calendar...and I hope you will be able to attend! I will do a make-up session if it is needed!
Promoting 21st century skills
Things to think about when you are focusing on the best ways to teach and assess 21st century skills…
- Real-world skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and decision making
- Core subjects and 21st century themes
- Learning and innovation skills
- Information literacy, media literacy, and technology skills
- College and career readiness
- Communication skills
http://www.thinkquest.org/en/projects/index.html
Tools from Intel:
http://www.intel.com/about/corporateresponsibility/education/k12/index.htm
3 Steps for 21st Century Learning (video):
http://www.schooltube.com/video/2e22586e9b8d4adab5bb/3%20Steps%20for%2021st%20Century%20Learning
Student Website
Please encourage your students to visit the student website...P Cubed! P Cubed stands for Past...Present...Patriots. The site name was created by Destinee McClain and then developed with the yearbook staff. This site is created by students for students. Hopefully, as the yearbook students learn more about web design, the website will grow and become more interactive for student readers! If you have student work that you would like to highlight on this site, please send it to me or put it in my box. If you hear of topics that would make good student interest stories...please let us know. This could be unique hobbies or talents that one or more of your students express. It could also be student involvement in community service outside of school. We love new ideas! Thank you so much for your support!
Connecting Classrooms
Missy Short used Skype to connect her students with a professional in the field. This is a wonderful tool that is easy to use with your students. The hardest part is finding the person or class that you can develop a project with. Check out these sites that can connect you with others:
Skype an Author Network—http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/
ePals—http://www.epals.com/
Email and phone calls are also great ways to get in touch with professionals in the field!
All about using Skype:
http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-classroom/
http://theedublogger.com/2011/04/03/the-complete-educators-guide-to-using-skype-effectively-in-the-classroom/
E-Readers for Christmas
Students are allowed to bring e-readers to school. However, they must fill out a “Contract for Use” form before doing so. There is a place for the teacher to sign...this can be any team teacher. Please put completed forms in my box. I will pass them by a principal and then file them in my office. Please make sure that the student includes the model and serial number. Also encourage each student to mark his/her device with personal information. I will attach a copy of the form in the email.
APPS for education
eInstruction has announced it is releasing an IPAD App that allows you to control everything on your computer, annotate over any digital material and to instantly assess students in formative assessment situations. Right now, we are waiting for Apple to release the App to the iTunes Store. It will be a free download, but you will need the new software, called Insight 360.
We have a brand new place on our CCS website for educational apps. You can get there by going to the Technology page and click the link for CCS Apps— http://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/index.php/ccs-app-list
Top 10 Best Apps for Educ. (eSchool News) - http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/01/07/10-of-the-best-apps-for-education/?
There is a Common Core Standards App...Check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/common-core-standards/id439424555?mt=8
Grant information
- Win a Wireless Lab Sweepstakes— http://cdwg.discoveryeducation.com/wawl/
- Toyota Teacher of the Year Award Selection—$20,000—Deadline is 11:59p.m. EST on February 1, 2012— http://www.famlit.org/award-grant-opportunities/toyota-teacher-of-the-year-award/toyota-teacher-of-the-year-award-selection-criteria/
- Classroom Improvement Technology Grant—$3,600/classroom— must be submitted by 4:30p.m. ET on Feb. 15, 2012.—http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystem/turningfoundation/k12grants/
- Fuel Up to Play 60—(Great for PE) - $4000—Deadline is February 1, 2012—http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/home.php
- Other—http://www.eschoolnews.com/category/funding/education-grants-and-school-funding/education-grants-deadline/
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