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Font de Music - Rightwork, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Font de Music lets you add sound and movement to words. You write your text, select font, choose color, and add movement to your words by moving your mouse up ...more
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Font de Music lets you add sound and movement to words. You write your text, select font, choose color, and add movement to your words by moving your mouse up and down. Creations can be shared via a link or through Twitter. No limit on words is stated on the site, but it appears that you can put in a few words. Note: this site loads more slowly at high traffic times. You will notice that the site creators are not very good at spelling in English. Some directions are misspelled, but the tool works. Here is an example of a musical vocab word created by TeachersFirst.
tag(s): animation (61), firstday (24), vocabulary (314), word study (77)
In the Classroom
Use this site to spice up some lessons around vocabulary -- what "mood" would you choose for an individual word? Or, if students were to create one of these musical pieces around their name, what decisions would they make for font, color and music? Students can use the site to make online presentations interesting, just link to their creation for inclusion in reports in Prezi reviewed here or other presentations. Use the site as an interesting way to begin a lesson and capture students' attention. Use this site as a first week of school activity. Have students write in their names and favorite hobby or color and put it to music!
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CyberWise - CyberWise
Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites
1 Comments
CyberWise provides tools for parents, educators, and kids to help them understand and use new media tools safely at home and in the classroom. The site provides an extensive collection...more
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CyberWise provides tools for parents, educators, and kids to help them understand and use new media tools safely at home and in the classroom. The site provides an extensive collection of videos and resources that explain current media tools and ways to use them. Guides include Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Blogger, Prezi, Glogster, Facebook, Snapchat, Vine, and many others. Enter any tool name into the search box to see if there is a guide. Find information about media literacy, digital citizenship, cyberbullying, sexting, and more. The CyberCivics blog has the latest issues, trends, and tools to keep you an informed digital citizen. Sign up for the free newsletter and subscribe to the blog to stay current with information included on the site. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable. You could always view them at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as Online Video Converter, reviewed here, to download the videos from YouTube.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): cyberbullying (45), digital citizenship (68), internet safety (118), media literacy (65), tutorials (48)
In the Classroom
Share videos on your interactive whiteboard or projector with students to discuss media tools and how they are using them, or show before assigning projects using current media tools. Challenge students to create an online "scrapbook" on cyber safety using Smilebox, reviewed here, or ask them to create a simple infographic using Piktochart, reviewed here. Share videos with parents to help them understand current media tools and how to use them.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Comments
Great tool- always need all we can find to help teach this with students.Charlotte, AL, Grades: 0 - 12
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Memonic - Nektoon AG
Grades
6 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking to take bits of notes from a variety of web pages? Use Memonic to take notes or clip any web content. Easily take it with you wherever you go ...more
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Looking to take bits of notes from a variety of web pages? Use Memonic to take notes or clip any web content. Easily take it with you wherever you go and share it with others (or the entire world.) Using Memonic allows much more efficient printing. The free plan allows up to 100 notes and 3 groups.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): note taking (43)
In the Classroom
Use this site to collect your thoughts and information for class projects, research, and idea/data gathering. Create a group for others to share information with for a subject area, class, or a common interest. Use with classes to allow students to comment to any page you assign for discussion. Students can find pages of interest about a specific content topic and comment their likes and dislikes. Look at various political, environmental, or ethical viewpoints by adding URL's for both sides of the argument and allow time for commenting and voicing of opinion. Learning support teachers may want to create notes together with students, annotating assigned text to show understanding and learn target vocabulary.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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iDoneThis - idonethis.com
Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Keep track of what you have completed towards a goal. Everyday, iDoneThis sends an email asking what you have accomplished. Reply with a list of things completed. iDoneThis...more
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Keep track of what you have completed towards a goal. Everyday, iDoneThis sends an email asking what you have accomplished. Reply with a list of things completed. iDoneThis posts to your online calendar to keep up with your progress. Send an email to today@idonethis.com and it will post on the calendar day that the email is sent. Note that it does take some time for the information to appear on the online calendar and may not be viewable right away. Choose the time of day for your email to be sent asking you, "What have you done today?"
tag(s): calendars (46), organizational skills (122)
In the Classroom
Keep motivation going by listing the little steps that students have achieved towards a bigger goal. Email reminders offer a little nudge gently and with humor when no steps have been taken toward the goal. Boost motivation by going back through the calendar to see all the work that you have finished instead of just focusing on what has not been completed. Use this resource to help students keep track of the baby steps towards the completion of larger projects or goals. Be sure to identify the little steps that need to be completed in order to complete the actual project or goal. Learning support and gifted students alike can benefit from this organizational tool for time management. Let them try this tool to motivate themselves.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Protagonize - Taunt Media
Grades
5 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
As of June 2017 Protagonize is no longer updated, however there is a note that all contents remain for those who would like to explore. Protagonize was originally a ...more
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As of June 2017 Protagonize is no longer updated, however there is a note that all contents remain for those who would like to explore. Protagonize was originally a site for collaborative story creation. However, now you and your students can create your own "linear" or solo stories, poems, song lyrics, etc. Stories are available for others to comment on or add to. You can easily specify two endings like the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series or leave the story's ending unfinished. Alternatively, choose to create different "chapters" of a story. Before writing, choose from many different story genres. If you prefer not to have outside input on the story, you can select "solo" writing. It is easy to change solo to collaborative writing, however. There is also an option to digitally link the chapters. The site is very flexible, and you can write poetry, drama, song lyrics, and writing exercises including role plays. Before writing, students set up "story guidelines" so that future contributors can see the parameters of the piece. Students can also view the work of others. Mature content is marked with a "Mature" marker. Students and other writers have an obligation to report inappropriate content. PDF format or RSS feeds allow the created work to be saved to another format.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (169), digital storytelling (154), expository writing (40), narrative (19), persuasive writing (55), poetry (221), six traits of writing (7), songs (52), stories and storytelling (33), word choice (28), writers workshop (34), writing (363)
In the Classroom
You may wish to set up a group or class account, so that you can keep a careful eye on what outside additions are made (use an RSS feed!) . Students would then need to sign their writing or their comments on other class members writing, with a code known by you. Or you can invite students through email, and then create a group on the program that would include your students; however this group would also be open to the public.Create groups of students who would like to work together on a "Choose Your Own Adventure" story connected to a science or social studies topic. Have the students create the story guidelines and parameters. Once the students have started the story, have them use your projector and interactive whiteboard and get feedback from class members about the different directions the story could take. Publish the final adventures by using the page flipping publishing program, Youblisher, reviewed here.
Have your students create "solo" stories, and then have them switch to "collaborative" to receive comments and input from other members in their writing group or class. Publish the final adventures by using the page flipping publishing program, Youblisher, reviewed here.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Writing Prompts Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
1 to 12
3 Favorites
0 Comments
This collection of reviewed resources includes many types of writing prompts, both visual and verbal, to inspire writing. Whether you want students to try their hand at poetry or informational...more
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This collection of reviewed resources includes many types of writing prompts, both visual and verbal, to inspire writing. Whether you want students to try their hand at poetry or informational writing, there are ideas here to help. Make this collection available for students to find their own inspiration for open-ended, creative writing assignments. Teachers can also use this list to find 2-3 possible choices for a targeted writing assignment. Student choice is key in helping student voice come through in their writing.
tag(s): creative writing (169), writing prompts (92)
In the Classroom
Make this collection available for students to find their own inspiration for open-ended, creative writing assignments. Teachers can also use this list to find 2-3 possible choices for a targeted writing assignment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hotline Plus Grammar and Practice - Oxford University Press
Grades
3 to 8
1 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers two levels of basic grammar practice. You can select one of 14 review lessons from the basic level or one of 12 from the elementary level; each ...more
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This site offers two levels of basic grammar practice. You can select one of 14 review lessons from the basic level or one of 12 from the elementary level; each lesson contains five different reviews. Topics include forms of "be," using past tense, verb form, and much more. Any grammar or English students could also benefit from this review. This site was created in the United Kingdom, so you may notice some slight spelling differences, if you are used to American English.
tag(s): grammar (210), grammar review (41), verbs (38), word choice (28), word order (5)
In the Classroom
This is a great site to use with ELL/ESL students or in any elementary/middle school classroom, especially those who may need additional practice. Share this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students try one of the activities on individual computers as a learning stations (most activities are about 10 questions.) Consider posting this link on your class website for students to access both in and out of the classroom. You might also assign a specific review to a student based upon recurring problems in their written expression.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learning Objects - Wisconsin Technical College System
Grades
7 to 12
2 Favorites
0 Comments
Looking for review materials for a variety of classes? Use Learning Objects for a wide range of curriculum topics. (A "learning object" is any kind interactive activity, animation,...more
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Looking for review materials for a variety of classes? Use Learning Objects for a wide range of curriculum topics. (A "learning object" is any kind interactive activity, animation, video, audio file, etc, that can be used for learning.) This site is great for introductory, reinforcement, or review materials. Find most of the relevant topics under "General Education." Choose from many subjects such as biology, biochemistry, chemistry, math, sociology, world languages, and written communication, among others. Gifted students or those who learn well independently can study Chinese and other topics not easily available in their school using these learning objects.
tag(s): animals (320), business (58), cells (99), chinese (49), grammar (210), grammar review (41), life cycles (25), microscopes (13), plants (176), psychology (64), sentences (49), sociology (22), speech (87)
In the Classroom
Find a variety of topics for each subject area. For example, use learning objects in biology topics: How to use a Microscope, Life Cycles of Animals and Plants, and Cell Division. Choose from many others. Use as an introduction to a new unit. Additionally, these learning objects can be used for reinforcement or as a review. Under the Written Communication subject you will find 50 Learning Objects from parts of speech, commonly confused words, to how to summarize, brainstorm, and many others. Share direct urls to specific review activities to help students who need extra practice or as links on a class web page or wiki for all students to access outside of class. Encourage students to comment on your wiki about the learning objects they found most helpful in explaining tough concepts (use the discussion tab).
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Dvolver - Movie Maker - Ben Rigby
Grades
7 to 12
1 Favorites
1 Comments
Dvolver creates animated movies online. In no time at all, there is an animation of your topic. No membership is needed to create movies. Membership is free. Some content choices ...more
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Dvolver creates animated movies online. In no time at all, there is an animation of your topic. No membership is needed to create movies. Membership is free. Some content choices may be inappropriate for the classroom. The scene descriptions include things like "freeze your butt off" at the mountain scene, so less mature students will not manage this tool well. Always preview or use under supervision, depending on your teaching situation and students' maturity level. Here is a sample Dvolver movie made by our review team. Tip: email the finished movie to yourself to obtain the url or find it amid the embed code, if you are enough of a "geek."
Devolvr content may be problematic in some middle school/junior high settings, depending on community standards and student maturity levels. Teachers should preview to determine suitability at their own school or use only in a teacher-supervised setting.
This site includes advertising.
Devolvr content may be problematic in some middle school/junior high settings, depending on community standards and student maturity levels. Teachers should preview to determine suitability at their own school or use only in a teacher-supervised setting.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): comics and cartoons (62), video (272)
In the Classroom
Model how to use this site safely on your projector or interactive whiteboard so students can learn how to act wisely online. Doing this also provides you with the ability to point out specific features students should not use and to spell out consequences. Some districts may filter this site. Follow district policy to see if you can request it be unblocked for educational purposes. Have students create commercials for any or all content areas. The videos are short and limited in the number of characters for text. This means they take very little time to create which makes the tool very versatile. Use this to create beginning of the year "do's and dont's" for your classes instead of rule lectures. Try one for open house to let parents know quickly what is going on in your class. Embedding results in a class wiki or web page will avoid issues with students venturing into undesirable areas of the site. Primary teachers could make quick "movies" as a class using sight words in the speech bubbles so students can practice reading them at a center.Comments
Not appropriate for elementary or middle school students. Options suggest or lend themselves to inappropriate content. Characters are overtly sexual and scantily clad. Editors Note: Thank you for your comment. We have raised the grade level and added a strong warning.Dwight, , Grades: 3 - 7
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EasyDefine - Prabbav Jain
Grades
4 to 12
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0 Comments
Create definition lists easily and completely. Simply enter the terms, and click "generate" to create a list of words with definitions. View synonyms, download as a document, or email...more
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Create definition lists easily and completely. Simply enter the terms, and click "generate" to create a list of words with definitions. View synonyms, download as a document, or email your list to others. Be aware: there are no filters on this definition site, so ANY word (appropriate or not) can easily be searched by students. Use under teacher supervision with students likely to enter inappropriate terms for immature reactions.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): dictionaries (58), synonyms (36), vocabulary (314), vocabulary development (119), word study (77)
In the Classroom
You must know where you are saving downloads on your computer to save the list as a document. Pay attention and name files with meaningful file names, such as "chapter17vocab." Enter your list with one term per line or separated by commas, etc. Click on advanced options to add other options to the search: number or alphabetize the definition results, maximum definitions, and hiding parts of speech.Create definitions easily for word lists in any subject area. Have students enter a series of similar words to see variations in connotations. For example, enter various words that mean "fat" and discover the variability in positive and negative connotations. Follow up with a ranking or sorting activity with the same words on interactive whiteboard to build word choice options. Have students generate individualized reading vocabulary lists for content are reading chapters or literature. Click on the synonyms tab to find related words. Save as a document for easy sharing in groups. Advise students to collect definitions and compare to those they write in their own words. As with any other reference, students should be cautioned to be sure these are accurate definitions needed for the context in which they are studying the words.
Edge Features:
Includes Interaction w general public/ public galleries with unmoderated content
Products can be shared by URL
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iRubric - Reazon Systems, Inc.
Grades
K to 12
4 Favorites
0 Comments
Create your own rubric for multimedia and other projects or search the gallery from many that already exist for all grade levels. (Also use the gallery to get great ...more
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Create your own rubric for multimedia and other projects or search the gallery from many that already exist for all grade levels. (Also use the gallery to get great project ideas!) Search the type of rubric or project to find a related rubric. Use the buttons at the bottom to preview, edit (customize and save your own version from existing ones), or copy. Share by URL or embed code in a wiki, blog, or site. Keep bookmarked rubrics in your account on the site. Create free personal or group accounts (for educators). Create classes, join educator groups, and more.
tag(s): assessment (117), rubrics (29)
In the Classroom
To save rubrics and modify existing ones, educators must create an account. Find great project ideas, rubric examples and criteria. Build on the expertise of others to create excellent rubrics. Consider creating categories and using the advice of students to help identify criteria that is important to the project. You might even want to create differentiated rubrics to match multiple intelligences, learning styles, or varied ability levels. With such easy adaptations, you can start alter different versions very easily.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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K-2 Writing Interactives - Utah Education Network
Grades
K to 2
4 Favorites
0 Comments
This site offers links to 10 interactive activities designed to help students learn how to write letters and practice making and reading words. Activities include the Magic Writing...more
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This site offers links to 10 interactive activities designed to help students learn how to write letters and practice making and reading words. Activities include the Magic Writing Slate - students use a virtual pencil to make letters, StoryMaker to create personalized stories, and Poetry Splatter to create fill-in-the-blank poems. Be sure to also visit the K-2 homepage link located near the top of the page to visit other pages with activities for all K-2 subjects.
tag(s): creative writing (169), handwriting (16), interactive stories (28), poetry (221)
In the Classroom
Choose activities for students individual needs to play during computer centers or in computer labs. Share the link with parents through your newsletter or classroom webpage as a resource for students to practice at home. Create poems on your interactive whiteboard or projector using the Poetry Splatter game, then have students work together to create their own poetry.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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The Writing Site - Stephanie Krajicek
Grades
6 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
This site is a valuable resource for teachers to use for cross-curricular writing tips. Articles are added daily. Topics include Affect vs Effect, Writing Numbers - 5 Rules to Remember,...more
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This site is a valuable resource for teachers to use for cross-curricular writing tips. Articles are added daily. Topics include Affect vs Effect, Writing Numbers - 5 Rules to Remember, What is an Oxymoron, and many others. Click previous entries to access additional articles of interest.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): grammar (210), grammar review (41), journals (21), writing (363)
In the Classroom
Print articles to use in class for writing lessons in class. Use several articles and have students present information to the class. Have each student in your class read one article and report back to the class. Challenge students to create electronic "posters" or word graphics for adopted word using tools such as Piclits (reviewed here) or Typogenerator (reviewed here). Another idea, use the articles as examples for students to write their own writing tips articles. Check the site weekly and share one article per week with students to use in writing journals.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Exam General - Examgeneral.com
Grades
6 to 12
0 Favorites
0 Comments
Create and administer tests easily with this resource. ExamGeneral is free to use (unless you decide to sell your tests). ExamGeneral receives a portion of the revenue as well as ...more
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Create and administer tests easily with this resource. ExamGeneral is free to use (unless you decide to sell your tests). ExamGeneral receives a portion of the revenue as well as a nominal up-front fee if you do sell. Follow the detailed tutorial for help in using the site. Create a class and even define whether students require a subscription. Use the class ID for students to use to join your class. Create test templates, tests, schedule tests, and view results from your dashboard. Secret URL's are generated for each exam. Choose to auto grade your exam, create a time limit, and other parameters of the exam.
In the Classroom
Create an easy way to enter tests and grade them. Create pre- and post- assessment tests as well as unit tests. Create practice rest for end of the year type exams. Be sure to save this site in your favorites! Students could also create peer "tests" as review activities or as follow up after student presentations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Portfoliovillage - Site Maker Software Company
Grades
4 to 12
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0 Comments
PortfolioVillage is a powerful eportfolio site where you or your students can showcase all types of work. PortfolioVillage is a free and easy to use program. Their unique drag and ...more
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PortfolioVillage is a powerful eportfolio site where you or your students can showcase all types of work. PortfolioVillage is a free and easy to use program. Their unique drag and drop editor makes it easy. There are also editable flash widgets and the thousands of stock images and animations. You can create a flash portfolio website with media rich components: videos, audio, a play list, create forms, chats, and blogs. Be sure to watch the introduction video and read about the features provided.
PortfolioVillage must be updated every six months to stay free. Your portfolio will be deleted if not updated.
For those of you with iPads, this Flash site won't work for you. However, you might try Google Swiffy reviewed here. Google Swiffy is a tool that lets you convert Flash SWF files to HTML5 to view on non-Flash devices such as iTouch, iPad, and iPhone.
PortfolioVillage must be updated every six months to stay free. Your portfolio will be deleted if not updated.
For those of you with iPads, this Flash site won't work for you. However, you might try Google Swiffy reviewed here. Google Swiffy is a tool that lets you convert Flash SWF files to HTML5 to view on non-Flash devices such as iTouch, iPad, and iPhone.
tag(s): creativity (119), portfolios (30)
In the Classroom
There are a gazillion ways to use an eportfolio! Have your students upload their current and past work that they think they might want to showcase. They can have an area for all their different talents whether it is drawing, writing, acting, creating games or codes, designing anything, or athletic prowess. Students could create an online presence to share in college or job applications.You may want to start out slowly, allowing your students to choose a talent that may fit within traditional curriculum. Have students select several pieces to demonstrate their talent and upload it to a working portfolio. You can then have the students reflect on each piece in writing. Students should then choose one artifact to showcase; have them write about why that was their choice. The eportfolio can be presented in class by students using a projector or an interactive whiteboard. Teachers who have students for more than one year (such as in a gifted program or Art classes) can encourage students to show growth in their talents.
Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Tammy Worcester's Tech Tip of the Week - Tammy Worcester
Grades
K to 12
1 Favorites
0 Comments
Find a wealth of ideas and tips for using technology in your classroom. Tammy Worcester, an instructional technology specialist for ESSDACK and ISTE presenter, compiles her tips of...more
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Find a wealth of ideas and tips for using technology in your classroom. Tammy Worcester, an instructional technology specialist for ESSDACK and ISTE presenter, compiles her tips of the week here. Other portions of the site include her book sales and paid training and consultation services. See a list of over 100 technology of the week tips, such as creating lesson plans as a Google spreadsheet, sharing lesson plans using Google, as well as publishing them. Follow simple step by step instructions with screen shots embedded for even the most wary technology user. You will also find lists of internet resources given by category. Find 18 ideas and activities explained in simple formats. Some activities include: All about me scavenger hunt, idiom slide show, multiplication charts, Tall Tales, and poetry. This site is ever-growing, so check back often.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): folktales (50), idioms (42), number sense (94), operations (122), tutorials (48)
In the Classroom
Trying to think of new ways to use technology with your students (in all grades?). Want to learn just one small tip each week? The weekly tips are a great ice-breaker to using technology and new teaching ideas in your classroom. Try that one tip that is suggested and explore more as you feel comfortable.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Magnetic Poetry - Dave Kappell
Grades
K to 6
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1 Comments
As part of the commercial site for Dave Kappell's Magnetic Poetry kits, The Kids Poetry Page extends the original idea of Magnetic Poetry online. This engaging site features the commercial...more
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As part of the commercial site for Dave Kappell's Magnetic Poetry kits, The Kids Poetry Page extends the original idea of Magnetic Poetry online. This engaging site features the commercial venture to further the sale of Magnetic Poetry and other products. The Kids' Poetry Page lets you can play online (FREE) with several of the kits. Moving the word tiles, you create poetry to save, print, or publish online. An email address is necessary to publish online, but it is not shared with the poem. A gallery highlights poems created by kids. A similar adult section is available with the use of different poetry kits. A detailed teachers' section includes multiple ideas for classroom use submitted by educators. As with any tool that allows students to work with words, it is possible to create suggestive or inappropriate "poetry." Be sure to spell out consequences for inappropriate content, just as you would with pencil/paper assignments. A few of the words available could be used to refer to body parts, however, it took our editors quite a while to find any. If your list shows up with a word that you feel is not appropriate, simply click to get a new set of words.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creative writing (169), iwb (33), poetry (221), sight words (36)
In the Classroom
Share the magnetic poetry on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Once students have created their poem, challenge students to read it to the class by creating a podcast. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here). This is an excellent resource to share during Poetry Month. Why note make a poetry center on your interactive whiteboard for students to work with a partner? While this site is intended for poetry writing, it could also be used by younger students learning sight words, as many of these words are on most "sight word" lists for kindergartners and first graders (it, is, the, etc.). Be sure to share this link on your class website for students (and parents) to try at home.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
Comments
I am wondering if the kit I looked at was intended for adults. With words like breast, lie, bed... Note from the editorial staff: we have updated our review and included a disclaimer. We did find one set of words that included the words listed above, after clicking through several sets of words. If you stumble upon this set and feel it is not appropriate for your students, simply click to get a new set of words. There are several different sets of word lists.Doris, MI, Grades: 0 - 3
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A Dog's Life - Scholastic
Grades
2 to 5
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At this site, you help to create a story about a dog following easy directions. Learn about setting, characters, and more. Select your characters, scenes, other objects, and use ...more
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At this site, you help to create a story about a dog following easy directions. Learn about setting, characters, and more. Select your characters, scenes, other objects, and use conversation bubbles to do the work of the story. Story starters help you begin the story and inform you about the resulting point of view of the final creation. You can always edit any scene or text when you have finished the 5 scenes. The final story is available online or can be printed scene by scene.
tag(s): characterization (16), plot (10), point of view (10), setting (10)
In the Classroom
This activity would work well for individual or pairs of students in a lab or on laptops. This is a great way for students to learn more about point of view in writing. Have students click on the extra information buttons. Students may enjoy converting their printable copy to share in a presentation to the class.
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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SlateBox - SlateBox
Grades
4 to 12
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Use this free site for mind mapping (concept maps) and collaboration. Sign up is easy by using existing Google/OpenID/Facebook logins or creating a new login. Review the simple tutorial...more
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Use this free site for mind mapping (concept maps) and collaboration. Sign up is easy by using existing Google/OpenID/Facebook logins or creating a new login. Review the simple tutorial after sign up for the basics. The FREE account is only for ONE user. So if you plan to have students use the site, you will have to have each student register individually, or each group create an individual account. Note that free accounts make all your "slates" public for others to collaborate/change.
View the video for a quick introduction on copying, moving, and linking boxes. Use the template panel to drop nodes needed for your new slate into the drop panel. Hovering over the box shows tools for editing text, creating links to other boxes (click and hold on the icon while dragging to another box.) Control the colors, borders, template, etc. in the right navigation pane. Export your slate to a pdf document or create an embed code to place into a wiki or blog.
View the video for a quick introduction on copying, moving, and linking boxes. Use the template panel to drop nodes needed for your new slate into the drop panel. Hovering over the box shows tools for editing text, creating links to other boxes (click and hold on the icon while dragging to another box.) Control the colors, borders, template, etc. in the right navigation pane. Export your slate to a pdf document or create an embed code to place into a wiki or blog.
tag(s): concept mapping (20), mind map (24)
In the Classroom
Create a template mindmap and add collaborator leaders (perhaps one in each group) who can --in turn-- add the rest of the group to collaborate. Assign portions of a template to a group of students. Groups can collaborate on paper or your whiteboard and then choose the best ideas for the slate being created. You can also use Slatebox with a whole-class account. Show SlateBox creations using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Edit or change elements easily with class input. Use for mapping content being studied in the current unit, problem solving, vocabulary, and more. Use this site to help students interact with and organize ideas. Construct points of a short story, identify main points of passages, or generate a map of the basic points of paragraph development. Wrap up a lesson by having the students create a "diagram of the day" (the main points of the lesson). Students can use this site to map ideas in passages of a textbook. If each student or group maps a specific passage, ideas from chapters can be seen visually. Be sure to include the links to student-created "diagrams" on a class wiki or web page so students can use them for review. If your students have Internet access outside of class, assign them to create a simple diagram of an assigned reading as homework and embed it into a wiki or blog.Edge Features:
Parent permission advised before posting student work created using this tool
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be embedded
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
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Wiggio - Dana Lampert and Lance Polivy
Grades
K to 12
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0 Comments
Wiggio makes communicating in groups extremely easy (and free.) Use Wiggio for messaging, creating a calendar, polling, sharing and editing, and conferencing. Use a shared folder for...more
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Wiggio makes communicating in groups extremely easy (and free.) Use Wiggio for messaging, creating a calendar, polling, sharing and editing, and conferencing. Use a shared folder for files and links. Wiggio boasts of the ease of use of its application which allows novice and more skilled users an easy to understand and use interface. How can it be so easy? It is actually very simplified collaboration.
tag(s): calendars (46), forum (8), microblogging (39), organizational skills (122)
In the Classroom
Create a password for others to join groups you create. Students enter the group name and password to join. All groups appear on your dashboard page. Click on your group to use the tools. Messages to the group can also be posted by email or text message. Click on the green arrow below the post field to choose who the message can be sent to. Click on various tools along the top to open. Tools such as calendar, folder, meeting, poll, message, and to-do lists are very easy to follow. Videos on using Wiggio can also be found on the site. Change all information within your group in the Group Settings. Group information can also be viewed directly on the Wiggio site.Use this simple tool for academic and extra-curricular groups who need to plan meetings, create schedules, or collaborate through messaging. Try this site with teachers and parents for solving transportation issues or with younger students by using the polling or messaging tool. Use this resource with high school students working on group projects for better group communication, managing work flow, and more. Take the time to model how to plan and manage group process using such a tool. What a study and life skill!
Edge Features:
Includes social features, such as "friends," comments, ratings by others
Requires registration/log-in (WITH email)
Products can be shared by URL
Multiple users can collaborate on the same project
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
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