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