And she's back!

I know it's been a couple months, but I'm back and ready to share more things that I have found around the web.  Check out the Lawrence Hall of Science Kids Site for some great activities and teacher resources for Science.  Very Cool!   While looking for interactives and activities for the Living Things Unit, I also found Animal Planet has a lot a great resources for students and teachers.  Be sure to check under the Wild Animals A-Z for great info for teaching.  More coming! 

I have been busy with our local CUE affiliate for the past couple months, working on our 2nd annual Kern CUE Technology Conference that we held in November.  If you are an educator interested in using technology, check out the websites.

My class has also been fundraising to attend Camp KEEP (Kern Environmental Education Program)  We will be going to stay at Camp KEEP Ocean next week and learning great things about the environment and the living things in it. 

I have been trying to catch up on my list of online resources, so more to come!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 - May it find you and your family happy, healthy, and prosperous! 

Top 100 Tools for Learning

Top100 Tools for Learning 2010

View more presentations from Jane Hart.

Let Students Make Maps

Let students make their own maps for class assignments!  A great FREE website lets teachers sign up their students and then lets them create maps from an existing set of outline maps.  Students can add colors, words, lines, keys, and icons.  Icons include maps, capitals, road markings, and landmarks.  Students can save, embed in a blog, or print out their map.  Easy for students to access and use!  Try it out!

An Inspiring Message Regarding Language and Technology

Thank you to Ana Maria Menezes (http://lifefeast.blogspot.com/)  for sharing this video. 

I saw this video posted on Ana's blog and decided to watch it.  I was thinking about it from two different perspectives - teaching with technology and teaching deaf students.  There is a lot to ponder.  I found it especially interesting that not having the language of the topic did not impede the acquisition of knowledge. 
 A couple of his quotes that I especially find interesting:
"If children have interest then education happens."
"Children will learn to do what they want to learn to do."

What can you do with this information?

Building Math Skills

I have used a great Math supplement for the past few years, Mastering Essential Math Skills (http://mathessentials.net ).  I LOVE the set up of the pages.  A page begins at the top with review of previous lessons- 4 problems, then a great way to review mastery of addition and multiplication facts -see the two circles.  In the middle of the page is key vocabulary and an explanation of what is being taught on this page.  At the bottom is guided practice - 2 samples, and independent practice.  At the bottom is a word problem that uses skills used that day or in that unit.  It is such a great way to cover it all in an efficient and organized way.  There are no extra pictures or fluff, just straight forward math skills.  Check out the website (http://mathessentials.net ).  Just over a year ago, the author Richard Fischer, added a DVD element. The DVD could be used for students who would benefit from getting the lesson again at home or in a pull-out situation.  There are two main levels, 4-5th grade and middle school-high school, and there are books for extra practice on topics like decimals, fractions, whole numbers, and more.  I have found the format works well for my students.  You can order off of the website or on Amazon.com.  Look it over - it's worth it!
Search Amazon.com for Mastering Essential Math Skills grades 4-5

Powerpoints: More Than Just a Presentation

Some of us are lucky enough to have an Interactive White Board or another projectable technology.  Powerpoints can be a great way to organize and present material to your students and you don't even have to project them. 
Here are some other ways to use Powerpoints:

• Powerpoints are a great way for a teacher to collect and organize information.  Many other teachers offer their Powerpoints free for you to use.  Check Pete's Powerpoint Station (http://pppst.com ) for a FREE, organized, and searchable place to find educational Powerpoints. Another place that is great to look is Jefferson County Schools in Tennesee (http://jc-schools.net/PPTs-la.html ) It is well organized and there are other great menu items for educational resources to check out.
• Print the Powerpoint in a variety of ways-  handouts, note taking, full page, half page.
• Half or Full page printouts can be used to make booklets for your students.
• If you have a classroom computer, you can use a Powerpoint for a center activity
• Tammy Worcester has some great activity books, one exclusive to Powerpoints.  She has a great website http://www.tammyworcester.com . 
• And if you already use Powerpoints and want to take it to another level, check out a FREE plug-in from Microsoft for MOUSE MISCHIEF.  It allows you to use multiple mice on your Powerpoint presentation with a couple of ways to use them.  Want more info?  Check out... http://www.microsoft.com/multipoint/mouse-mischief/default.aspx .

I hope this gets you started on some ideas for your classroom!  

 

Coupon for Reading A-Z, RAZ-Kids, and more

I have used Reading A-Z and RAZ-Kids in my classroom for years.  Reading A-Z offers leveled readers to print off and share with worksheets, comprehension questions, and a projectable version that is quick and easy for use with a projector or Interactive White Board. 

RAZ-Kids offers leveled readers that have a listening component.  Kids can listen to a book being read as it highlights the words.  Books can also be read and a comprehension quiz taken. The books could be projected to view as a class also.

If you have an elementary class or a special education class, it is worth checking out.