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Friday, November 18, 2011

Polar Bears International Webcast

I sure wish I had thought to post this sooner.  Edmodo and Polar Bears International teamed up this week on a series of webcasts from the sub-arctic. Participating in a live webcast with real scientists is a great way to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).  If your classes study animals, habitats, ecosystems, climate, or human impact on the planet these webcasts are a great resource.  Although they have already taken place, the archives can be found on their website. Tundra Connections Archive  They also have a really great game that can be played to reinforce the challenges facing the Polar Bears in the Hudson Bay/Churchill area.  It is called Polar Bear Trek.

If you missed the live webcasts and want to participate live, mark your calendar for next fall right about this same time.  This is an annual event. 

Monday, November 7, 2011

Election Day

Since tomorrow is Election Day across the USA, I thought I would share some great resources you might want to use in your classroom.
Kids Voting - Your students can log in and vote online.
The Democracy Project - a bit outdated ('08) but great info.
Props for a Voting Event - make your own voting booth, buttons, etc.

Of course I found a few on TpT.  Some free, some not.  None of them are mine but don't let that stop you from checking them out!

Political Party Voting - election locker decoration
Election Voting Letter
Election Vocabulary Games
Election Category Game

You can search through 150+ other activities here...

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Combining Tech Tools

I've posted in the past about using Prezi and Wordle.  I'm finally getting around to sharing an idea I have had about combining a variety of tech tools.  This "mash up" is going to get a test run this week in my science classroom.  We're beginning a new unit about Weather and Climate.  Understanding the water cycle is a key component of this unit as well as our landforms, biomes, and ecosystems units.  I decided to combine some things together in a Prezi and this is the initial result. Water Cycle Introduction.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Simple K12

I subscribed to Simple K12 some time ago.  Have you ever checked it out?  It really is a great resource!  I think my favorite part about it is the professional development via webinars I can access "from home in my PJs".  It'd be nice if we could be that comfie at school. 

October is filled with some great webinar topics that could enhance your use of technology.  I think I'll be checking out the 3 Keys to Having a Successful Blog. 

There are some fee based portions of this website but you can get a lot of mileage out of their free webinars.  It's definitely one of the places I frequent to find out about the latest, greatest, newest thing for tech in the classroom.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Teacher Town Hall

Last year was the first Education Nation Teacher Town Hall.  It is hosted by Brian Williams of NBC News.  This year I have been chosen to attend the event live in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza.  You can imagine my excitement!!  In watching the archives from last year, I started wondering what I might say to the nation if I am given the microphone.  I would love to hear from other educators here.  Leave your comments below and I might just get the chance to speak up for teachers.

You can also sign up to participate in the Teacher Town Hall online.  Check it out and register here.

After you leave a comment, head on over to my TpT store to check out this limited time freebie.  I'm developing a series called Scrap Paper Test Strategies.  This 1st one is a chart that assists students with recalling facts about polygons.  Get it quick because it won't be free for long.



Saturday, August 13, 2011

Giddy 4 Google Docs

As a teacher, one of the best FREE resources I have found to encourage the use of technology and decrease the paper load is Google Docs.  I haven't found a lot of teachers who are really using them to their fullest potential.  If you've never tested them out you don't know what you're missing!  If you've used them but don't see the potential for making your job easier and engaging your students, you might need to take another look.  This guide from Free Technology For Teachers may be exactly what you need. 

I don't know what I like the most about them.  We've used the forms to create blog entries that I can edit before copying and pasting to our school website and to answer quiz questions that can be graded via Excel in Google Docs with a 1 time painless setup.  We've used the document feature to generate class vocabular lists and KWL charts quickly with everyone typing their responses all at once.

As we gear up for the beginning of another school year, you might want to give Google Docs another glance!


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Free Webinar Opportunity

I am going to host a webinar tomorrow night. Please consider joining me to chat about teaching elementary science.


Monday, August 8, 2011

Plan a Prezi

I've been introduced to the world of the Prezi.  How about you?  About 15 years ago, I was all about the PowerPoint and my students were enthralled with them.  Sadly, they have become kin to a lecture style of teaching.  The Prezi on the otherhand seems to be the next big thing.  They definitely have a more professional video feel to the presentation.  Rather than using slides, you create a presentation path. It will take a little bit of practice but I think this Web 2.0 tool has a lot of potential.  Best of all, educators have access for free.  The only way to really start planning your Prezi is to sign up and start playing around with it.  If you're looking for a way to spice things up as you head back to class, this might just be the answer. 

Let me get you started in the right direction with some youtube videos.

Top 5 Reasons to Use Prezi

How to Use Prezi

PowerPoint Alternative - Prezi

Now head over and sign up to try it out for yourself.  Get Prezi for educators here.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Let the Cyber Search Begin!

Darn... you just missed Cyber Search Monday.  What a bummer.  Fortunately, the links to our blogs/websites are still linked up below.  If you want to take a look around and purchase the items you missed, please do.  Don't get left out again.  Subscribe to my blog and you will be sure to read about the next great event. Thanks for stopping by.







While it is only Sunday here in the Eastern US, it is definitely Monday halfway around the world so...  Cyber Monday has officially begun.  Don't worry, it won't end until the very last time zone rings in at midnight Aug. 8th.   Whether you're just getting started or I am the last stop on your treasure hunt, be sure to grab your copy of my 5 E's Unit Plan - Electricity - It's Elementary.

This file normally sells for $5.00 on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store,
but today it can be downloaded for FREE right here.


This unit is great for anyone who teaches about electricity.  It can be used to enhance an existing curriculum and/or science kit or used as a stand-alone.  Don't have a kit with supplies?  Don't worry.  This unit includes ideas for re-purposing common household items or using the typical kits you may already have.  Students love to learn using my simulations and I have found that simulations build student interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers.

Just click on the file menu in the google docs window below and choose download to get it  right now.

If you like this item, please consider visiting my store and sharing a link to my blog with others, but hurry ... This PDF is only active for 1 day!  You could also leave a comment below.

Once you've picked up my freebie, choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Look for the blue CyberSearch buddy button to find more freebies. There are over $85 worth of materials you can snag.  Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!  You never know what great tips and information we'll share next.

Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites


Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here.


Note:
*You are downloading copyrighted material for classroom use only.  Please do not distribute it in any form, including copying it for other teachers or posting it online.  Thank you for understanding.




Friday, August 5, 2011

Going Buggy for Friday Tech Freebies!

So I was reading through my Daily Diigo updates and came across some things that have me going absolutely BUGGY! 



Here you can sign up for a 1 hr. time slot to interactively control an $800,000 scanning electron microscope and use the build-in chat to send questions to scientists. Free.  I thought, no way but I was wrong.  It's for real and within minutes I was able to send my request for a time slot in October.  Just make sure you plan ahead because there is often a  6 week waiting period.

Are you looking for effective technology-based tools for the K-12 classroom? How about a way to access primary sources and generate engaging learning experiences? If so, I think you may be looking for Primary Access, a suite of free online tools that allows students and teachers to use primary source documents to complete meaningful and compelling learning activities with digital movies, storyboards, rebus stories and other online tools.

When was the last time your district purchased new textbooks?  Whether you are going paperless or your textbooks are just out of date you might be interested in an online warehouse with FREE textbooks.

Hope you are going Buggy for my Friday Tech Freebies too!

Welcome to the Cyber Search Showcase!

It's not "cyber Monday" yet, but you can take a peek now!

Let's get started looking for those freebies ....

Download over $85 worth of materials for free!

Monday, August 8th only!

This is how it works...

  1. Visit each blog or website below and you'll find one featured item that's valued between $3.00 and $10.00. You'll see a link to the TeachersPayTeachers.com store where you COULD buy this item, but you won't have to because it will be absolutely free to download from their website on Monday, August 8th!
  2. For now, look for the blue Cyber Search buddy button on each blog or website to help you find the he Cyber Search Showcase page. Then take a look around and check out the great teaching resources you'll find there. These bloggers have great teaching strategies, tips, and free items in addition to the items they sell on TeachersPayTeachers.
  3. Then choose another website on the list and hop over there to check things out. Bookmark any pages you like so you can come back and check them out later!
  4. On Monday, return to this page to start your Cyber Search for over $85 worth of teaching materials created just for Grade 3 - 5 teachers! Download and save each file before moving on to the next site. If you like the freebie, you may want to follow the seller on TpT or Facebook so you'll know when they create more great stuff!


The Teched Out Teacher's Featured Free Item

Visit These Websites To Continue Your Cyber Search!

(Note:  a few sites haven't set up their pages yet - so don't worry if you don't see the cybersearch button - it will be coming soon).
Cyber Search Showcase Sellers and Websites
Bonus Item hosted on Laura’s site:

Ruth S.  "Chocolate Fever Student Worksheets"


Thanks to Laura Candler for setting this up.  If you aren't already receiving her newsletter, be sure to sign up here, or follow her facebook page here

 

Monday, August 1, 2011

LifeLab - Growing Classroom Resources

If you've ever considered gardening with students, LifeLab.org is a great resource.  This week about 10 teachers in our district are spending time with one of the trainers from LifeLab and we've been learning lots already.  Attending a workshop or bringing a trainer in to do district training isn't always an option.  Fortunately, many of the resources from LifeLab can be found online.  They even have their own channel on Youtube.
If you like this, you should really check out the Banana Slug String Band for some great songs too.

If you use any of these resources, I'd love to hear about your experience.  Leave a comment below.
 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Back to School Sale on TpT Starts Tomorrow!

The 10% OFF promo code will be B1T1S and be good from the 1st-6th

Biology Introduction Complete Unit Plan 20Products


The Ultimate Lab Safety Bundle for Science Teachers


Metric System Scientific Measurement Unit Plan of 12 Products


Science Stuff Blog








Think-Tac-Toe-Bundle Differentiated Literacy Activities for Any Text
 
Literacy Activities Using Thinking Maps 
 
Sentence Starters for Paideia Seminars
 


Reading Comprehension Strategy Resource Binder


Literacy Elements Resource Binder


11 Themed Kooshball Templates for your SMARTboard
 
Runde's Room Blog

Rachel Lynette's TpT Store


Beginning of the Year Activities
 
Any List Spelling Activities


150 Creative and Critical Thinking Cards


Minds in Bloom Blog


Spanish Speaking Activities


Spanish Projects


Spanish Bell Ringers


Spanish Plan's Blog




Student Portfolios: A Collection of Printables for Throughout the Year


Animal Habitats Mini-Unit: Balanced Literacy ArtScience


Number of the Day: Developing Number Sense Numbers from 1 to 50


Teaching In the Early Years Blogspot


Classroom and Behavior Management Package


Translations, Reflections, Rotations, and Graphing Activities Package


Geometry Review: 8 Math Centers




Printable Beginning Readers Sets 123 At One Low Price


Preschool-Kindergarten-First Grade Reading Math Games SAVE ON BOTH


Kindergarten Sight Word Books BUY ALL 5 SETS AND SAVE


Teacher Tam's Educational Adventures Blogspot




Daily Essential Vocabulary


Action Verbs and Keith Haring
7th Grade Bell Assignments


Life in Special Education Blogspot

 Irregular Past Tense Verb Game: Grammar and Vocabulary Unit Plan


Reflexive Pronouns ELD-ESL: Grammar Unit and Lesson Plan


Place Value with 3 Digit Numbers Games and Lesson Plans, Math Games




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Alien Text Talk Full Year Daily Language Practice Grammar and Spelling


Mr. Popper's Penguins Novel Teaching Unit


The Teaching Banks' Blog


 FAIRY TALES WORKSHEETS PACKET
 
NOVEL RESPONSE CARDS


BLOOM BALL REPORTS




 Reading Tracker Bookmarks for Students


Reading Workshop Task Menu Recording Sheets Grades 4-5


ROCK-n-ROLL Classroom Theme Back to School


Effective Teaching Solutions Blog

 Spanish Greetings and Farewells and Basic Introductions Packet


Telling Time in Spanish Fun Thematic Unit Bundle


Solve Systems of Equations Resource and Activity Packet


The Enlightened Elephant's Blog


 Fabulous Fairy Tales Unit Ideas for 10 Fairy Tales


The Great Poetry Race Fluency Kit


Addition and Subtraction Mystery Pictures


First Grade Brain Blog


 36 Week Reading Response Journal


Read-Aloud Journal: A Simple Way to Teach Reading Strategies


Writing Journal Genre Infomational or Expository


Raki's Rad Resources Blog






Back to School Unit September


Complete Poetry Unit


Literature Worksheets for Any Book




 Mayflower Mayhem Podcast Classroom Package American History


Reading Iintroduction Power Point and Daily Use Skill Bookmarks


Reading Skills Power Point Game Full Version


Schoolbox Treasure's Blog

 Back to School with Miss Bindergarten


Back to School ABC's of Kindergarten Handbook


Ready for Summer Math and Literacy Center


Peace, Love, and Learning Blog


 Greatest Common Factory and Least Common Multiple Four-in-a-Row Game


Gallon Castle A Story of One Family in Capacity Kingdom


Time Center Activity: Racing Fun With Time


Vintage Teacher Blog


 Welcome Back to School Activities for the First Day and Beyond


Wild About Learning Wild Animals Safari Jungle Classroom Theme


A-Dino-Mite-Year Dinosaur Classroom Theme




 50 Spelling Homework Assignments for Any List


Antonym Power Point and Worksheets


Compound Word Power Point




 Reading Record-and-Response Book with Graphic Organizers


Daily 5 Chart Management System for Kids to Monitor Daily Activities


Colors and Color Words Sorting Mats Circus


Rockin' Teacher Materials Blog


 How to Make SMores Interactive Easy Readers


Pet Math Work Station Activities


Big Chickens Fly the Coop Shared Reading Plans


A Special Kind of Class Blog


 Teaching Tips from an Award Winning National Board Certified Teacher


Test Prep Tournaments for Any Grade and Subject


Word Problem of the Day 200 Word Problem Charts


The Best of Teachers Pay Teachers Blog


 Angles Geometry Hands on Activities


Bug-Ya Basic Math Facts Computation Game
 
Fractions for the Confused and Bewildered AllOperations


Go Figure With SciPi's Blog


 Generic Writing and Reading Workshop PDF's


UNITS 1-10 Test Reviews for Grade 1 Everyday Math Notebook Files


Open-Ended Student Reading Strategies Posters for Grades 2 through 5 and Wise Owl Factory Language Arts CD


Wise Owl Factory Book a Day Blog

 Wise Guys TpT Store


Beginning of the Year 18 Lessons, Activities, and Worksheets on a CD


Guided Reading Worksheets and Activities 38 Pages for Any Novel


Creative Monthly Elementary Reading Log for September, Football Theme


Wise Guys Blog

Game Subject Predicate Grammar File Folder Center Literacy Sentences


Fall -Winter Ordered Pairs Pack Bundle Halloween-Thanksgiving-Christmas


Smarty Pants Teaching Blog


  Smarty Pants Teaching Store on TpT



All About Me Let's Make a Book


I Can Draw, I Can Write Animal Friends Fun Pack


African Jungle Animals Let's Make a Book


Kinder Kay's Store on TpT




  Rosshalde Pak's TpT Store


First Week of an ESL-ELL-ELD Class BI-I Language Abilities


All About You Questionaire


4th Grade Theme 1 Vocabulary Quizzes Journeys


Education Shortlist Blog



TpT Store for First Grade Fanatics


Reading Strategies Poster Pack Decoding and Comprehension


Ice Cream Math Timed Test Pack Addition


Pocket Chart Calendar Cards




First Grade Fanatics Blog




Secondary Solutions Store on TpT 


The Outsiders Literature Guide Common Core Standards Based


Creative writing Activities to Help Build Confident Writers


Activity Pack for The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost


Secondary Solutions Blog




Color Matching Game Ready Set Match


3D Shapes with their Nets and Properties


WORD WALL OF COLORS for Back to School


Nyla's Crafty Teaching Blog

Teched Out Teacher's TpT Store


Super Science Set Weather and Climate


Sports Theme Classroom Pack


Pets Theme Classroom Pack


Teched Out Teacher Blog







Clip art from: 
Digi Web Studio
Special Thanks to Carolyn at WiseOwlFactory for creating these fantastic advertisement images!