Monday, April 22, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Website Wednesday
WARNING! Some of the following sites are not for the squeamish!
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Don't let the name fool you - this site contains science and math activities that you could use tomorrow morning. Lessons provide you with age appropriateness, materials (w/cost) for the activity and a detailed activity sheet that you can download or print.
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Great collection of photos and video footage from wildlife photographers. Site provides lessons and activities for the classroom. If you want to be grossed out, watch the African rock python eat lunch! You'll grab the attention of your reluctant learners.
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Library of short how-to videos produced to help students and teachers in the digital classroom. All videos are based on Web 2.0 technology tools & demonstrate how-to use the applications.
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Graph! (WSHS Math Rap Song) - SchoolTube
Rap song about graphing - could be used to introduce or reinforce graphing for those musical learners
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Website Wednesday
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Lesson plans centered around articles from the New York Times. Provides great resources beyond their article content too. Ties to Common Core as primary sources.
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Short educational video segments group by elementary, middle school and high school. These videos help students connect classroom content to the real world. Great for Common Core.
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Free Technology for Teachers: Ten Good Video Sources for Science Students and Teachers
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Collection of music videos for each part of speech - similar to the SchoolHouse Rock videos. Good for elementary, but older students might find some of the tunes catchy.
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A common core lesson plan on Fact or Opinion for Grades 3-5. Provides objectives, standards, materials, suggested text list, website resources and lesson activities.
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Book review site for 5th grade readers. Recommended books are within the correct Lexile range and content range appropriate for 5th graders.
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Common Core State Standards Checklists for the Classroom
Checklists for the teacher to keep track of what has been taught throughout the year. Covers K-6
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"I Can" Common Core Standards for Second Grade
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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"I Can" Common Core Standards For Fifth Grade
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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“I Can” Common Core Standards for First Grade
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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"I Can" Common Core Standards for Third Grade
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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"I Can" Common Core Standards for Fourth Grade
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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"I Can" Common Core Standards for Kindergarten
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
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I Can Common Core Standards for K – 5
I Can Common Core Standards were created for a kid-friendly format to help students and parents understand the common core standards and to self-assess their progress.
Lots on the Common Core this week!
Choosing the Right Tool
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| photo credit: fixedgear via photo pin cc |
The same is true when working with technology. There so many cool hardware and software tools to try out that when it is time to choose one for a class project with your students it is hard to make the best choice. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding on a tool:
1. What are the objectives of the lesson? - Will the tool enhance or improve instruction?
2. What are the objectives or purpose of the project you are having your students complete? - What knowledge should students gain through the project? Will the tool you choose help students apply the content and learn new material?
3. How the end product will be shared? - Is it a stand-alone piece? Is it a visual add for a speaking presentation? Will it be published online? Is it on an iPad and you want to move it to the computer or publish it online?
4. What type of learner are your students? - Are they good in front of a camera? What level of technology skills do they have? This doesn't mean students shouldn't step out of their comfort zone and try new tools, but maybe you can give them a few options so they can choose one that seems less threatening to them.
5. Is the tool accessible? - Does the tool need to be purchased? Does the tool require you to create an account? Does the tool work on the student filter?
Here are a few final points not to forget when working with technology tools:
2. Allow students time to learn to use the tool. Before they use the tool on a major project, create a small project for them to use that tool. One teacher introduced her students to Glogster and had them create a fact/opinion Glog for their first project on Glogster. Later they used Glogster to create a book report (see samples). The first assignment helped the student learn the tool and it helped the teacher work out issues with the tool relating to the filtering system. It made the book report project run smoother and the students produced better projects.
3. Allow for peer editing. Sometimes we forget that a technology project is no different than a written Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything.
essay. We take time in class for peer editing on essays, but we don't think about that option with a tech project. Allow one day in class for students to present the content of their project and obtain feedback on how to improve the product. There are some great rubric templates for technology projects at Thursday, April 4, 2013
Website Wednesday
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Digital Differentiation Tools for Teachers
Take differentiated instruction, add technology and you get digital differentiation.
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10 Presentation Facts You Should Know
Slideshow with 10 presentations facts to improve public speaking for yourself and students.
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20 Chrome Apps & Extensions for Teachers and Students
From Free Technology for Teachers - Flip through the slides to view the 20 apps and extensions. I haven't tried them all out, but some of them I use on a regular basis.
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Primary source photos from the Mars Rover.
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Primary photos from the Denver Post covering the Dirty 30s. Would be great to use in history or English.
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FUN Critical Thinking Activities
Great reminder poster on collaboration and differentiated instruction activities.
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The wheel features action words, activities and iPad apps for the five levels of Bloom's Taxonomy.
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Google Earth files from the USGS focusing on earthquakes and fault lines.
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Public domain images perfect for digital projects. If you do a keyword search, make sure you don't choose the shutterstock images that show up first. Those images are not free for use.