tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39598560015823089352024-03-12T16:08:22.594-07:00Tech Teach Seminar UpdatesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-24678937074801324462010-10-24T14:39:00.001-07:002010-10-24T14:52:40.953-07:00Virtual Pumpkin Carving SitesI know I have not posted for quite a long time. I was in the process of retiring from the workshop routine, but have found my interest renewed with some upcoming opportunities and have "dived" back in to it. As I am catching up on websites, I thought I would just start up blogging again. I know I get visitors to all of my older posts, so maybe there will be some interest as I start up again. Another problem was that my Comment Section was being spammed - but I finally figured out how to correct that.<br />I hope all of you have been fine and trying new things in your classrooms.<br />Today I came across a list of Virtual Pumpkin Carving Websites posted by <a href="http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=6039">Kevin Jarrett</a> . Your students should really enjoy these:<br /><a href="http://www.ncs-tech.org/pub/carve_pumpkin.swf">Virtual Pumpkin Carving</a><br /><a href="http://www.theoworlds.com/halloween/">Theoworld's Virtuial Pumpkins</a><br /><a href="http://www.cyberhaunt.com/site/fun/attractions/pumpkin.html">Cyberhaunts Virtual Pumpkin Carving</a><br /><a href="http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/halloween/carving/start.htm">Carve-A-Pumpkin</a><br /><a href="http://www.thepumpkinfarm.com/carve_pumpkin.html">Virtual Jack-O-Lantern</a><br /><br />There should be no mess with these pumpkin carvings.<br /><br />JidiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-71510181665539811022010-03-25T15:53:00.000-07:002010-03-25T16:04:13.771-07:00Grammaropolis<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I know I have not posted to this blog for quite a while as I have been doing quite a bit of traveling. I am trying to catch up now and am noticing, as keeps happening when I think it is going to slow down, there are more and more really good websites available for teachers.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I was catching up with one of my favorite blogs,</span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://ilearntechnology.com/"> iLearn Teachnology</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> this afternoon and have been playing with a suggested site for way too long. It is called </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.grammaropolis.com/index.html">Grammaropolis</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> and is the cleverest way of teaching the parts of speech since </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Conjunction.html">Conjunction Junction</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> from </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/">School House Rock</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. You must start off by watching the video and you will see what I mean. The site then allows you to use segments of it to teach each part of speech. There are additional videos, songs, and games to provide a good understanding of grammar. Maybe this will counteract some of the raps our kids are listening to and the lack of decent grammar in their text messages. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-35926265262707522322010-02-25T06:54:00.000-08:002010-02-25T07:02:22.274-08:00Make Your Own Online Jigsaw PuzzlesI have always recommended <a href="http://www.jigzone.com/">Jigzone</a> as the best website for solving online jigsaw puzzles. This addictive site is still a favorite of mine and it did offer an opportunity to upload your own pictures to create personalized puzzles. However, Pete McKay, of <a href="http://www.theteacherlist.ca/">The Teacher List</a>, made me aware of an even better site for creating and solving online jigsaw puzzles. On <a href="http://jigsawplanet.com/">The Jigsaw Planet</a> you have an easier upload of your pictures, image size did not seem to be a problem, and a much bigger space to solve the puzzle. In the Advanced Mode you can also select the number of pieces as well as the shape of the pieces. By using the URL of the puzzle you create, you can link the puzzles to a website and have the students solve their own puzzles at home. All of this comes with no sign up and is free. One more thing, <a href="http://www.jigzone.com/">Jigzone</a> is filled with distracting adverstisements and <a href="http://jigsawplanet.com/">The Jigsaw Planet</a> has none. Love this new site!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-7170826920488062502010-02-23T18:16:00.000-08:002010-02-23T18:19:46.993-08:00New project Open For RegistrationThis project is for K-3rd. Grade Classes. It is a simple project but is filled with ideas of using math, graphing, counting, and categorizing. It is a St. Patrick's Day project and will involve activities with a box of Lucky Charms. Only Jen Wagner can put together a project that does so much with something as simple as a box of cereal. Take a look and register <a href="http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/st2010/sp2010_information.htm">HERE</a>. You and your students will have so much fun and really benefit from being a part of a project done by other students and with other students from all over the world!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-2769568441600221742010-02-19T11:36:00.000-08:002010-02-19T11:44:44.370-08:00The Digital Storytelling Teacher Guide - Yours For Downloading!<a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/">Free Technology For Teachers</a> a blog that I try to read every day, certainly lives up to its name as it guides me right to the newest tools and/or resources that are available for teachers and, most importantly, FREE! Today Mr. Byrne, the author of this blog introduced us to a wonderful PDF free publication about Digital Storytelling in the Classroom. It is called <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/education/teachers/guides/digital_storytelling.aspx">The Digital Storytelling Teacher Guide</a>. It includes information on using Microsoft Movie Maker and Microsoft Photo Story 3, but even if you are a Mac User or you don't choose to use the free Microsoft software tools, there is still so much contained within the guide to help you engage your students in digital story telling. The writing, storyboarding, preparation for creating their stories really builds a lot of skills that will help them in all fields of learning. I am a true believer in using digital storytelling in the classroom and this guide will certainly do much to get you started or to provide you with many new ideas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-81594734087990578802010-02-14T09:36:00.000-08:002010-02-14T09:43:36.866-08:00TES IBoard - Interactivities for Computer or WhiteboardI just came across a wonderful website with lots of interactive learning activities for K-3rd. graders. All of these activities are suitable for and interactive whiteboard. I first read about this when they were charging for the site, however, now it has been purchased by part of the United Kingdom schools and they have made it free for everyone. It is called <a href="http://tes.iboard.co.uk/">TES IBoard</a> and is loaded with activities for every discipline. I like the way the sites are almost full screen and have no surrounding distractions. There is something here for everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-92158019146273484872010-02-04T14:37:00.000-08:002010-02-04T14:42:17.075-08:00World Math Day<a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/Default.aspx?">World Math Day</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> is coming up on March 3, 2010. This is a day when students can compete online with students from all over the world. The content is math skills and use mental math. Each session lasts for 60 seconds. Registration is now open on the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.worldmathsday.com/2010/Default.aspx?">Math World Day Website</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. There are over 500 games and those who score well are put into a Hall of Fame. Everyday until March 3rd., students can practice on the website. This is absolutely free. Last year 2 million students from 204 countries participated. Won't this be great for your students?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-17795665269150799782010-01-31T08:39:00.001-08:002010-01-31T08:53:34.288-08:00100th. Day of School Math Activities<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Reading </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm">Teachers First</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> this morning (I used to go to the New York Times first on Sunday morning), I realized that many of us were getting to the 100th. Day of School. Many elementary classes find different ways to celebrate, all encouraging students to understand the concept behind the number 100. </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/index.cfm">Teachers First</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> recommended a wonderful website from </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mathwire.com/">Math Wired</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> called </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mathwire.com/seasonal/100day.html">The 100th. Day of School Activities. </a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On this site you will find suggestions for many varied activities and also the PDF files for downloading forms that you would use. That certainly helps you to use their ideas without much work on your part. I think there are some great ideas!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I had never visited the main site </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mathwire.com/">Math Wired</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> so while I was singing the praises of the 100th. Day Activities, I backed it up to the Home Page of </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mathwire.com/">Math Wired</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> and I was very impressed. Lots of theme-based math activities. I think we have found a gold mine here!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-47523559801953193542010-01-18T14:29:00.001-08:002010-01-18T14:37:30.613-08:00"New Project Starting" Alert<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I wanted to make sure that each of you was aware that our wonderful Jen Wagner of </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.jenuinetech.com">Jenuine Tech</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > has developed a new project for the month of February. This project builds awareness of the 2010 census that will be taking place all over the United States and in the way, Jen does all of her projects, everything you need is accessible right on her website. Take a look at </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;" href="http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/ec20/welcome.html">Everyone Counts</a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >, which is the name of this project. It is for preschool-6th. grade and looks to me like there is something for everyone. It should be a fun way to learn about data collection and the opportunities of all curricular areas are many.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I know that I am not alone in praising Jen for all of the work that she puts into these projects. The number of participants that she gets in these projects are testimony for their value as learning experiences for both teachers and students. Thank you, Jen!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-74614924821800299062010-01-07T17:03:00.000-08:002010-01-07T17:05:46.021-08:00A Video All Teachers and Administrators Need to SeeI have seen this video recommended on Facebook, in several blogs, and on Twitter. I certainly think it is well worth a look. If you are in a position to show this to your staff , it would certainly lead to the type of discussion that needs to be had in schools everywhere.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mxJUQtoe0TU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mxJUQtoe0TU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-29058932088580733002010-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:002010-01-05T07:43:52.581-08:00A New Place To Find Images - Copyright Free<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The days of just searching Google Images for the right picture to go with a lesson or a student report or powerpoint is behind us. First it was </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> which gave us so many more choices and allowed searches using </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://creativecommons.org/">Creative Commons</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> to check for copyright. Now, today, Sharon Peters posted on Facebook a link to </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.sprixi.com/love">Sprixi </a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">- Free Images To Choose and Use. What I liked especially was the ability to download or save an image with the credit to the photographer attached to it. The only pictures on the site seem to be those allowed under the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://creativecommons.org/">Creative Commons</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> licensing.</span> <span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now you have more places to find pictures to organize with </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://vi.sualize.us/">Vi.sualize.us</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-77017769629436109272010-01-04T15:46:00.000-08:002010-01-04T16:04:29.696-08:00Just like Delicious For Your Images - Vi.Sualize.UsI was reading the newsletter that Jen Wagner sends out each month. You can get this resourceful newsletter <a href="http://www.jenuinetech.com/newsletter.htm">HERE</a>. As always, Jen introduced me to a wonderful website, <a href="http://theteachingpalette.com/">The Teaching Pallette</a> . The author of this website is Theresa McGee, who apparently is an Art Teacher. This website has all kinds of creative ideas. Under her reviews, she has a section called Technology and Gadgets. This is where I discovered <a href="http://vi.sualize.us/">Vi.Sualize.Us</a>. The main idea of this wonderful online tool is that it becomes the place to save and share your collected images the same as <a href="http://delicious.com/">Delicious</a> allows you to save and share your bookmarked website. If you are using Firefox, it automatically downloads its ability to "right-click" and just save it to <a href="http://vi.sualize.us/">vi.sualize.us</a>. If you are using another browser, you can upload a toolbar tool like that used in <a href="http://delicious.com/">Delicious</a>. Once the image is being saved, then you can "tag" it to save it within the folder that will allow you to retrieve it when you need it. You can also search this website to find images saved by others.<br />The implications are many for the classroom. Remember that especially for younger students, you will be finding those pictures that students will use in the power points or other ways that they "show what they know". Now you have a place to save and organize these images so that students can get at them any place that they are connected to the Internet. Additionally, there are safety filters that you can use and the ability to use Creative Commons filters to use only those images without strict copyrights. Do take a look at this new find!! <a href="http://vi.sualize.us/">Vi.Sualize.Us</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-9064288454970203802010-01-03T10:46:00.000-08:002010-01-03T10:53:54.276-08:00Snow Flake Maker (Just What We Don't Need in Cleveland!)I have been reading through many of the blogs that I have left unread over the winter holidays and thinking about so many of you returning to school tomorrow (Monday). I know that winter weather will be on many of your minds and if you need something creative and child-ready for the first week in the computer lab - this <a href="http://snowflakeworkshop.com/">Snowflake Workshop</a> may just be the thing. By using the pencil, children create the geometric shapes that will be cut out of the folded paper. Then they click on the scissors and the shapes are cut. They can do it again and agian until they have one that they really like. At that point they can save it. They can see their saved snowflakes in the gallery or send/receive it as an email. As the students see how the snowflakes turn out, they can vary their designs. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-59145553276472416942009-12-20T12:35:00.001-08:002009-12-20T12:43:06.620-08:00Think Math - Lots of Great Activities<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="italics">This website came from the <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/signup.cfm">Teacher First Newsletter</a> today. It is called <a href="http://www.hbschool.com/thinkmath/">Think Math </a> and it is from Harcourt School Publishers. The interactive tutorials can be used as review activities, to introduce new concepts, or for students to learn as groups. These exciting drill and practice activities provide feedback on right and wrong answers. For example, use "Comparing numbers" tutorials and activities to learn and practice identifying the hundreds and tens places. Each example gives immediate feedback on right and wrong answers.<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Use <a href="http://www.hbschool.com/thinkmath/">Think Math</a> to improve thinking about - Math! Choose either a grade level (K through 5) or a subject (such as Algebra, Geometry, Time and Money, or Data Analysis, to name a few.) Use one or more of the e-lab activities for each subject as well as interactive tutorials explaining the topic. Use the glossary in the upper left corner to understand the meaning of the terms being used. Don’t miss the “Teacher Resources” link with great Adobe PDF resources.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I know I have not written many blogs lately, but I only really want to post when I have something very worthwhile for you to examine and see how it might work in your classroom. I am hopeful that you are about to begin a wonderful winter break and that it will have in it some time to be with family and friends!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-29831455896500316762009-12-07T07:36:00.000-08:002009-12-07T07:52:09.804-08:00Another Way To "Tame The Tedious Teacher Tasks"<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >There is absolutely no reason for busy teachers to make and spend money on some of the classroom accessories that you may need or just want to "jazz up" an activity in the classroom. I have always spoken about "Ways To Tame The Tedious Teacher Tasks" in my workshops and my list of such resources just keeps growing. Today Pete McKay of <a href="http://www.resco.ca/ttl/">The Teacher List</a> wrote about a fabulous website called <a href="http://www.teachfactory.com/thememachine/">The Theme Machine</a> from the <a href="http://www.teachfactory.com/">Teacher Factory</a>. This is a collection of downloadable resources for your classroom. These include name tags, bookmarks, classroom money, stationary, and many things that you might want right at your fingertips. Everything is free, colorful, and cleverly designed. You will want to check this out!<br /><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:11pt;" ><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-14953396863424882212009-11-24T10:13:00.000-08:002009-11-24T10:24:26.702-08:00Saying Thank You and Sending Good Cheer To The MilitaryYou may want to have your class remember those men and women who are serving in our military during this holiday season. Two really good websites for doing so crossed my desk this morning. Thanks to a post from Linda Ryan George on Facebook this morning, I was reminded that the Red Cross is back with their <a href="http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail">Holiday Mail for Heroes</a>. All cards are sent to a specific address and then the <a href="http://www.pb.com/">Pitney Bowes</a><a href="http://www.pb.com/"> Company</a> screens them for hazardous materials and then they are sent to the servicemen and women.<br /><a href="http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html">Let's Say Thanks</a> is a project done by the<a href="http://www.xerox.com/"> Xerox Corporation</a>. This project is done completely online and does not give the actual feeling of sending a card but postage costs will not be a problem.<br />Can you imagine all the happiness cards from children all of the United States would bring to the members of the military who are far away from home this season?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-60216246925662708272009-11-24T09:37:00.000-08:002009-11-24T09:39:42.317-08:00Thanksgiving Brain-Pop for FreeI am not sure if this post will get to many of you on time, but for those still in school tomorrow, I just found out that <a href="http://www.brainpop.com/">Brain Pop</a> was offering their Thanksgiving Movie for free this week. It can be found <a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/holidays/thanksgiving/zoom.weml">HERE</a>. I hope I caught a few of you in time.<br />I also hope that this Thanksgiving Holiday finds you all surrounded by family and good friends, enjoying love, laughter, good food, and football!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-58084680012308797232009-11-11T18:49:00.000-08:002009-11-11T18:57:45.012-08:00Sometimes You Want It Really Big!<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Have you ever had an image or text that you wanted to "blow up" into poster size? Maybe you want to use it for a Bulletin Board, a Center Sign, or a visual teaching sign. I once had a way of making a poster using a Microsoft Excel, but this is way easier! It is called </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.blockposters.com/default.aspx">Block Poster</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> and I found out about it while reading my daily dose of "wow" from the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://ilearntechnology.com/">ILearn Technology</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> blog. I am always amazed at how many useful websites I do not know about and they continue to make me wonder why any teacher would ever say they did not need technology???</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Take a look at </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.blockposters.com/default.aspx">Block Poster</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. In three easy steps you can upload an image, decide how big you would want your poster and then click on the pdf that was made for you. It prints out on 81/2 x 11 inch paper or other sized paper that you specify. It can be printed in portrait or landscape. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It is just another useful tool for "Taming The Tedious Teacher Tasks".</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-77834032334800012292009-11-04T07:57:00.000-08:002009-11-04T08:09:33.383-08:00Holiday Card Exchange Project To Begin - Registration Opens Friday!Jen Wagner, in her never tiring efforts to bring excitement into real time/real life learning is once again hosting the <a href="http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/hce09/hcewelcome.htm">Holiday Card Exchange Project</a> Registration will open on Friday. I am aware that many people want to stay away from the religious significance of the holiday season so as not to exclude any religious groups. This project can be done with geography and world awareness in mind without making this a religious project.<br />After you register, you will be placed in a group with 24 other schools, hopefully from far and wide. You will be asked to make and send holiday cards to the 24 other schools in your group. The cards will include information about your school and your city. Links for ideas of making cards will be provided and of course using scanners and digital cameras to publish cards on your computers would also be an option. By December 7th., you will send your cards and start receiving ncards. The cards you receive will include information about the school and the city it is coming from. Using a map to identify where your cards come from will have students "talking geogrphy". For example, one child will see a card form Minnesota and exclaim, "That class is so close to Canada!" Of course, cities can be located on Google Earth or Google Maps simply with a zip code.<br />The cards form the basis for the project - but so much more learning about the world can come out of this project.<br />Again, Thank You Jen!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-64094513734353023512009-11-02T19:30:00.000-08:002009-11-02T19:35:15.131-08:00Handy Tool For Your Classroom - A TimerI think this would be a very handy tool to have in the classroom - a <a href="http://www.triptico.co.uk/flashFiles/timer/timer.html">Simple Timer</a> . This timer can be used two ways. One, as a countdown timer for an activity that you want to keep to a certain period of time. Second, you could use this clock to time a certain event or activity. The <a href="http://www.triptico.co.uk/flashFiles/timer/timer.html">Simple Timer</a> can be projected onto a screen or onto an Interactive Whiteboard so that everyone knows how much time is left or how much time they are taking to perform a task.<br />I learned about the <a href="http://www.triptico.co.uk/flashFiles/timer/timer.html">Simple Timer</a> from one of my favorite blogs <a href="http://ilearntechnology.com/">ILearn Technology</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-55492724676558740112009-10-22T09:18:00.000-07:002009-10-22T09:26:36.487-07:00Purpose Games - Drill and Practice With A Purpose!I loved these games that I learned about this morning on <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/">Free Technology For Teachers</a>. They are called <a href="http://www.purposegames.com/">Purpose Games</a> and consist of games that teachers have created<a href="http://www.purposegames.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> </a>so that students can practice things like the states, the skeletal parts of the body, the thirteen colonies. Teachers can create their own game, based on the curriculum that is for their students, they can share games with others, or have their students create games as a review.<br />There are two types of games. One is a simple multiple choice and the other is more complex (easy to create) one like the map of the states.<br />This is a wonderful Teacher-Tool website for creating your own games or using games that others have created. I liked this alot! <a href="http://www.purposegames.com/">Purpose Games</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-77980913910127074592009-10-21T07:51:00.000-07:002009-10-21T07:53:34.394-07:00Planning a Virtual Trip With The Kids?This is a quick one today. If you are planning to "pretend" that the kids will be traveling to another place, here is a great website to make and be able to print out an actual airline ticket replica. One hint is to put the full name where it says Surname or only the last name will show. It is called <a href="http://omatic.musicairport.com/">Music Airport</a> and it is just one of those sites you may want to bookmark for the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-66831715986065540762009-10-19T12:57:00.000-07:002009-10-19T13:07:48.016-07:00For Those That Teach About Angles -GeometryThis website, called <a href="http://www.amblesideprimary.com//ambleweb/mentalmaths/protractor.html">Protractor,</a> is specific to using a protractor for the study of angles within your geometry curriculum. It is simple enough and visually appropriate for even showing right angles to kindergartners or first-graders. It is so complete and is shown full screen without any distractions, that I was extremely impressed with it. This would be perfect to be shown on an Interactive White Board.<br />I found it on Teacher First, an excellent newsletter that is in my in-box every Sunday morning, just like the New York Times (but that arrives in my mailbox!) Sign up <a href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/signup.cfm">HERE </a>to get Teachers First sent to you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-67515824224238097302009-10-17T13:53:00.000-07:002009-10-17T14:04:35.648-07:00Time For The Pumpkin Seed Count Project - Yeah Jen Wagner!We are so fortunate that <a href="http://jenuinetech.com/">Jen Wagner</a> continues to provide teachers all over the world with opportunities for participating in an online project. They are timely, there is much to be learned by the students, and there is very little effort needed by the teacher. This project is only for the K-3rd. grade set, but I am sure 4th. and 5th. grade students may enjoy doing some of the activities on their own. This project also only goes from October 28th. to October 30th. The project website can be found <a href="http://www.jenuinetech.com/Projects/ps09/ps2009info.htm">HERE</a>. This is a great place to introduce a spreadsheet when all of the results are in. You will also be able to make a simple graph/chart with the results. Once the graph/chart is made, students can answer questions like, "Where was the class from that had the most/least seeds in their pumpkin?" "Where is the class whose pumpkin had just about as many seeds as ours had?" Reading graphs like this makes this skill using real life-real time data easily developed even in young children.<br />Registration is now open for this great project. Much gratitude to Jen!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959856001582308935.post-48552328311837628692009-10-13T18:15:00.000-07:002009-10-13T18:28:36.619-07:00Revisiting Online SafetyIt is always good to revisit online safety several times during a school year. Kelly Tenkely's blog <a href="http://ilearntechnology.com/">ILearn Technology</a> reminded me today of a website full of lessons that will engage students with online safety lessons. This website is <a href="http://www.ikeepsafe.org/">iKeepSafe</a> and as I reread a <a href="http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=540">blog post</a> that she wrote in the past, I remembered how "rich" this website is in great resources for kids, parents, and teachers. Quoting from this post, Kelly states: <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">There are videos, downloadable and printable books, and games for kids. All are centered on teaching kids to be safe online. There are free guided discussion sheets for you to go through with your students, quizzes, coloring pages, etc. This program is the perfect way to introduce Internet safety in your elementary classroom without worrying that the content is too mature for your audience.<br /></span>Today, her<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>blog invited us to visit the newest video and downloadable book that is featured on <a href="http://www.ikeepsafe.org/">iKeepSafe</a>. It is called <a href="http://knowwheretheygo.org/faux_paw">Fauz Paw and the Dangerous Download</a>.<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Faux<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Paw is a Techno Cat who learns the hard way that downloading a file or music may lead to trouble.<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>Much is learned about the legality of downoading and file sharing, but within the appropriate level for elementary students.<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Very well done!<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0