Computer Lab Symbaloo Link

Feel free to add the webmix....
I included links that our school uses, but most are applicable to any school.
Gray: Assessment sites/Multiple subjects(Abc ya has activities for all grade levels K-5)
Red: Younger grades ELA sites
Yellow: ELA Common Core sites(interactive)
Green: Typing sites
Pink: Presentation sites to use with Speaking and Listening standards
Blue: Math Common Core sites(interactive)
Turquoise: Science sites
Brown: Social Studies sties

Share with your teachers! Let me know if you have any questions or if a link does not work.

~Melissa
Computer Lab Symbaloo

Book Review #2

This will be a short blog ;-) I know it's not exactly tech, but it is educational related.

 

 

This book has been recommended in more than one conference, so I knew I had to check it out. If you teach in a Title 1 school I highly recommend it. It is an easy read and contains valuable information to help you understand your students ad why they do what they do. It explains how families in the low, middle, and high class interact with each other. It also gives suggestions for things to do in the classroom and offers theories behind why they respond the way they do to teachers. It's all about approach with kids that come from a poverty world. These kids just need someone to understand and realize that some are caring a heavier load than they should.

 

 

Next post: I-pad list

 

Until next time,

~Melissa 

Some back to school thoughts

I'm taking a little break from a true tech post on this one. Although what I'm going to talk about I learned through social media, so it is sort of tech related. I'll be back with some more tech blogs soon I promise. I've got a list that I am working, so little by little I will get those posted. Monday officially marks our first day back and then the kids come back the following Monday. So with that day drawing close, I've been doing some thinking.

I was blessed to grow up with some amazing teachers. Teachers who got to know their students, who took time with them, and who went the extra mile. I went into teaching because I wanted to be that teacher to the students I came in contact with. Things haven't always gone as planned, but I have learned a lot over the last year about what I had on the inside of me. I've also learned that people will not begin to value what you do, until you value who you are. If you don't place an importance on the job you are doing in the classroom, other people will not pay attention to it either. You very well may be that child's whole entire world. You make a difference one way or another, the choice is yours.

I heard about this book through Twitter. I'm so excited about taking advantage of this PLN opportunity. A couple of people that I follow were doing a book study on this book and their discussion/chat took place online one night. So through the hash tags I was able to follow. I was so intrigued by what they had to say I knew I had to read the book. The book is called "Do you know enough about me to teach me"?". It is short and a very easy read. It is written from a students' perspective and gives teachers an insight on to what students really think. A main theme in the book is on establishing relationships and teaching your students as you would want your own children taught. Knowing your students and laying that foundation will allow you to teach academics and so much more. So, do you know enough about your students to teach them?

I saw this idea on Facebook from a Children's Pastor. They had been given a jar of marbles that contained one for ever week they had until their child graduated high school. The object was to take one out each week as it passed. The point was to hopefully realize how precious time that was left and to make each week count. It's not always about quantity, but quality. So this is a focal point for my area next year. I'm going to put it up where I can see it and each week I will take one of the pom-pom's out. There are 36 in here total. I'm not counting down the weeks because I'm ready for summer again, no this is to remind me how much time I have left to make a difference and to make it count.

The age old quote applies to kids. They really do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Kids need to know you care about them, then they will listen to all you want to teach them. Go into this year remembering why you do what you do. You are a difference maker, you are a cheerleader, you are a hero, and for some kids you are what is right in their world. Don't let them down. You may not always see the difference you make, but you are making it one child at a time.

Until next time,
~Melissa

Common Core symbaloo link

Taught a workshop this morning at our local tech conference. Below are the links to handouts and a webmix with all of the links. Enjoy, any questions let me know. If you share(and I do not mind if you do), just give credit! Thanks!

Symbaloo link

Handout link

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer! More posts to come soon ;-)

LakeShore learning

LakeShore learning has more than just hands on manipulatives that teachers can order and use in their classrooms. They have an interactive online learning catalog now that is very reasonable for teachers to order. The interactive learning games can be used whole group with any interactive white board system. Teachers can find activities from English Language Art, Math, and Science/Social Studies.

LakeShore also has apps for Language, Reading, and Math. Apps range from Kindergarten to 5th grade and support whole and small group learning. They are similar to the interactive learning CD that has the same name.

Find LakeShore on Pinterest! They have several common core boards divided by grade levels.

More still to come
~Melissa


If you have a question or something you would like to see on here email me or leave a comment:
Thanks! melissamann00@gmail.com

Animoto

If you haven't used Animoto, you don't know what you are missing! It is the easiest way for students to create online podcasts and videos of their work. There is also an app that is available that students could use.

Animoto Link

If you are a teacher scroll down to the bottom and click on education. Teachers can fill out for a free education account that allows teachers to create longer slide shows. Any questions comment on here and I'll try to help you through it. It gives you a link once the slide show is finished and then you can share that link with others!

More still to come
~Melissa

The 1 I-pad classroom

The last couple of weeks have been crazy to say the least. Time to focus on some techy stuff for a couple of days, before I go out of town again ;-)

The 1 I-pad classroom is a webinar I have done for Simple K-12. So many teachers today are faced with budget restraints and most teachers are ecstatic just to have one. So what do you do with one though and 20+ students? Here are a couple of thoughts:

• Center rotation: Teach the students the app you want for them to do before you put it in a center. Using a VGA adapter you can show your I-pad through your projector and teach the app whole class. Depending on your system's network, you may be able to do this through a different method than the VGA adapter, but ask your system IT people first. Once you have taught the app, you can then place the one I-pad in a center rotation and share with the kids what you expect.
• Small Group or One on One Instruction: I am a special education teacher and the I-pad gives the flexibility to take the work anywhere that we may need to meet(be that in the hallway or in a classroom). Apps like Skitch and Doodle Buddy allow teachers to be mobile in location and still continue with learning. Both are free and Skitch requires a simple account set up through Evernote. Doodle Buddy requires that you use your camera roll. You can take a picture of something using home screen button and power button.

Other apps for the 1 I-pad classroom: Scan and Educreations

If you want more on the 1 I-pad classroom, check out the webinar or presentation on Simple K-12.

More still to come!
~Melissa