Welcome! I am excited to showcase some of our school's hard work and projects that integrate the use of technology. I also hope that you find any information and resources I post helpful as you continue to strive to make technology a seamless part of your day to day teaching and learning.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Learning Playlists

Earlier this winter I attended the ICE conference and noticed that many presenters were using a Web tool called MentorMob.  As soon as I saw it I knew that it was something that I wanted to try out.  MentorMob is a free tool that allows you to create learning playlists.  What is a learning playlist you ask...well watch the short video below.



These playlists can include articles, websites, videos, images and even quizzes.  It allows you to create a space to compile resources for students to use during a research project or for an introduction to a unit or for that matter a whole unit.  You can use the space to collect digital projects to share with family, friends or the community.  I think it is a great tool to use to create a more student centered learning environment.  Best of all they can easily be embedded into websites, blogs or learning management systems (ie. Edmodo).
I recently started a collection of resources for our third grade teachers to use in their class.  They are starting a unit on Canada and Mexico and their relationship to us.  Instead of the teachers standing in front of the class sharing information about the two countries for the next few weeks, the kids will visit the playlist, collect their own information and then create an eBook sharing what they learned.  The teachers are then freed up to facilitate as needed and teach the more difficult to understand information. Take a peek at the start of our playlist!



Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Text to Speech

Being a former first grade teacher I always struggled with students having the ability to read online content. I would search and search for sites that the students would not struggle reading. Many times I would pair them with buddies from higher grades to help them with their research or project. Other times I would set up our MacBook's text-to-speak option and teach the students the key combination short-cut. However, not everyone has MacBooks with that option!
I recently came across two text-to-speech extensions for the Chrome Browser,  Select and Speak and Announcify.  Both can be added to your browser toolbar in just a few seconds.

Select and Speakhighlight any text on a webpage, click the icon in your browser, and listen to the reading of the text.  Great for younger students who are just learning how to read, for struggling students or for students who just need help with a few words now and again.


Announcify: any time you're viewing a webpage you can just click on the icon in your browser and have the whole page read to you. It enlarges the text on the page and removes all sidebar content as well, making it easier to read. 

Follow the links, install the extensions and happy listening!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Running Records and iPads...

Tired of papers piling up on your desk, having trouble finding time to score your running records...?

Well, this app is for you!  


My colleague was introduced to Record of Reading in her graduate class and she was sold.  This app is an exact replica of a running record form - except it is digital!  It allows you to take a running record using your iPad (more efficient if you use a stylus) and then it scores it for you - all of the formulas are embedded within the app.  It also allows you to record the student reading, so you can replay it if needed.  Once the record is calculated you can then email it in PDF form to yourself or better yet couple this app with Evernote and organize all of your running records in one place - you can go completely paperless!    BEST OF ALL....IT'S FREE!





Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Get Students Engaged in Writing!

Every heard of BoomWriter?  It sounds like a very cool Web tool that I think will engage all types of learners.  

BoomWriter in a nutshell is an online storytelling application that presents the first part of a story and then leaves the next part up to the students.  After the students write each of their chapters, they are submitted and then the other participants read all of the submissions and vote on the best one.  The best part is that the writing is anonymous so the students are voting solely on the written work, not who wrote it!!

Take a peek at the video below - it gives a much better introduction!

Keep me posted if anyone tries this out in their school  :-)



Sunday, March 10, 2013

Tablets

It is amazing how many tablets there are to choose from now!  My school has pretty much evolved into a Mac-centric school, thus far investing in 200+ iPads and many other Apple devices.  As much as I love our iPads, they are not the easiest to manage.

I have come across a few other tablets that are designed strictly for education; Kuno, iStartSmart (for early learning, check out this article), Nabi and most recently Amplify.

The way that these tablets are designed make curriculum, assignments, lessons and your students more manageable and creates a more student-driven, individualized environment!

Check out these two videos demonstrating use of the Amplify Tablet




If you have used any of these tablets please leave a comment as I would LOVE to hear your feedback and opinion.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Wallwisher Update

I am sure many of you have used Wallwisher in the past, but it was recently brought to my attention that it is now called Padlet.  I am pleased with changes; the layout and user friendly interface make it a great web tool.  You can still add files from your computer, images from your device's camera and URLs.


The creators have recently announced the launch of Streams as a layout option.  This layout gives you the option to have structure to your layouts instead of the posts being in freeform.  This layout arranges the posts one below the other in chronological order, which will allow for even more creative ways to use this tool.  Students could work on a story or other text collaboratively, you could begin a story and have your students work on it by adding their own parts during literacy stations or from home, post a discussion topic and have students add their thoughts/opinions, use it as a message board having students post questions or comments about the content...be as creative as you want.

Here are some other ideas listed on Padlet's website.  Visit the site to see examples!



I am sharing a job aide that may help new users start a Padlet.  



Monday, January 21, 2013

Maternity Leave

Please note that I have not abandoned my blog!!!  I have been on maternity leave and will be back soon.  Make sure to visit again in March.  :-)


My new bundle of joy!


Monday, November 5, 2012

PBS

As usual PBS has another great resource!  My school's librarian received it through an email from PBS.  The website is called PBS Learning Media and it is loaded with digital content to enhance your curriculum - there is resources for all grade levels and subjects and best of all...IT IS FREE!!!

Add this site to your EdTech Toolbox and click the link to start using it today!








Saturday, October 27, 2012

TenMarks Math

Heard of TenMarks Math?  I had not until yesterday!  If you have I would love for you to leave some comments on how your are using it and whether you find it a useful resource for your classroom.

For those of you who have not heard of it, TenMarks Math is a web based program for teachers to differentiate and individualize their math instruction.  There is a free version, which is fantastic, and of course you can upgrade to the premium version for a fee.  You can set up your class and have all of your students using this adaptive program during interventions, small groups or independently.  I signed up, created a fictional class and assigned curriculum in no time and at all.
They do offer a webinar every Wednesday to help you get set up and provides tips on how to best utilize this program in your classroom.  The only flaw that I have found thus far is that there is no audio choice for kids to click in order to listen to the questions if they cannot read.  However, there is a video lesson for each assignment that you assign to your student and best of all you can choose the curriculum based on state standards or the common core.

To try out a grade and get a feel for the program click here.  This program is also iPad compatible; however, it seems that not all of the video lessons are up and running quite yet.

Here are a few videos that you can watch to learn more about TenMarks.








Sunday, October 21, 2012

Resource Community

I came across this website that houses a ton of great resources for teachers.  You can sign up for free to search the resources (lessons, units, assessments) categorized into a variety of subject areas.  Each learning resource can be commented on and rated, some resources may be rated exemplary or basic.  Sign up and begin searching - it is worth it.
(Click on the image to visit Curriki)




http://welcome.curriki.org/