November 2011

So here are a few cool new things I found and stold from others. I hope they help you in your classroom and make your teaching days happy days.

What I learned about?

This is an online real time classroom behavior tracking tool. You can use it on your whiteboard or computer and track your students on your phone or ipad using mobile class dojo.

Teaching and Student Learning

The beauty of Class Dojo is that it tracks your students behaviors using a point system. You can customize the behaviors you track and you can track positive and negative behaviors. You can use the pre sets which include, annoying others, talking, being kind etc... or create your own. The Dojo also prints reports of the students behavior on an as needed basis. The reports are clear simple and easy to follow. I think it is great that you can continue to track behavior on your phone or ipad. Which makes it a great way to track behavior in the lunch line or at the library.

What I learned about?

This is an online way to read books for shared reading with the use of a projector or a whiteboard.

Teaching/Student Learning

This is a free site where you can find great books to read with your class. I see this as a great resource of seasonal books that you can read with your class for shared reading without having to buy books. This is a great tool to build vocabulary and fluency. It also helps develop civic responsibility because everytime you read a book the program donates a book to children in need. It also has links to programs that give books and will give you other ideas to teach you students to give a book. Great Resource!!!


Thanks Happy Teaching!!!

April Tech Tips: CUE Conference Palm Springs

What we learned at CUE?

March was filled with fun learning and conferencing. The annual CUE conference in Palm Springs was a great opportunity to learn and find free new and innovative resources for learning and teaching.

Teaching

I do not know about you but so many times I do research on one computer download or create all kinds of great resources and then I don't have a flash drive to store and save them for use at school or even worse the flash drive is corrupt. There are several options to avoid this and use the clouds to store your information.

1. Google Docs
This is a great resource that is user friendly. Google docs is basically an online word processing tool. Anything uploaded/created in google docs can be saved and shared/printed for use in the classroom as long as the classroom computer has an internet connection.

Here is an example of a place value resource I found on the internet and uploaded to google docs I was then able to log into my google account and print this in the classroom.


2. DropboxSyncplicitySparkle Share

These 3 are online cloud based storage (an online hard drive). You can store/save documents/images/videos on these websites. You will have access to them on any computer that has internet access. Each has it own unique qualities.

Dropbox- is free it provides 2 GB of storage and more if you refer friends, downfall it is not difficult for others, who do a some research, to find where your files are stored online

Syncplicity-offers an automatic sync of your files similar to the time machine on the mac computers, downfall the digital footprint is large

SparkleShare- Allows you to create files and store them so your friends can easily access them downfall not officialy released

Check them out see which one works for you! There are many more

Learning/ Classroom Use

Wordle and Tagxedo

This are great word splash online resources. Students generate words and a cute colorful word splash is created. This is great for reading comprehension, retelling stories, expanding vocabulary. Tagxedo is a little more visual than Wordle in that it places the words into an image. This may need to be done outside the PUSD network (due to filter).


Tech 4 Learning

This is a company that has several digital storytelling/digital project software including Frames and Pixie. The also have a great resource Pics4learning a collections of teacher selected images for use in the classroom for free. The great thing about this software is that when students create digital projects in the software it can be converted into a pdf. that can be embedded in your class blog/website or share with family and other students.

Until Next Time
(Link) View more Work Sound Clips and James Sound Clips

Riverdeep Refresher Feb. 16, 2011 Lexington Elementary

Riverdeep Refresher
Destination Sucess LMS 4

Quick Guide Reference printable

The Basics
1. Go to the PUSD website
2. Go to Staff links click and select Riverdeep link
3. Insert user name and password (hint;no spaces in user name)


4. Print a class rooster and create username and password cards

Reading
Navigation

• Map =exit
• Stop=exit course
• Activity Tool Bar
• Restart
• Print screen

Organization of Reading

• Units
• Unit Menu
• Activities

Printable Activities (Resources)

• classroom activities
• takehome- editable letter, activity

Destination Math
Navigation

• Glossary
• Place value mat

• Navigation Panel will show you were you are in the unit
• List the

Organization of Math

• Modules =Strands
• Units=Standards
• Sessions= Classroom instruction objectives
  

1.Lesson- Best for presentation on a Smart board or projector
2. Practice- Guided practice in a group setting
3. Work out- progressively harder, apply skills from lesson, can see solutions(if needed)

Assessment
Riverdeep Research Results

Student Reports

How to assign a Test




Resources Correlations Charts and Scope and Sequence

Math


Reading


Reading
Kindergarten


First Grade


Second Grade

ABCya!

It's so easy a 5 year old can use it!

What is it? This a primary grade level resource it has alphabet games, addition, subtraction, geography as well as a really cool digital magnetic letters board. The content is divided by grade level k-5th. There is a feature called Animation for Kids, which teaches students how to create simple animations. This could be used as a response to literature project, where students create a summary of a familiar text.


How its used at Lexington?
At Lexington I have seen magnetic board used on Smart boards. I have seen teachers use this to model how to manipulate letters to make and build words. It can be used to review and build sight words and spelling words. The games have been used at independent centers as well to review and reinforce core concepts


What do I need ?
To use ABCya! all you need is an internet connection and a computer. This is a free resource. To use ABCya!, all you may want a projector, lap top and interactive white board for whole group activities and classroom computers or computer lab for students to use independently. I recommend bookmarking ABCya! and putting it on your computers toolbar. The bookmark has the words ABCya! and a image of a star making it super easy to teach students what bookmark to click on to access ABCya!.

What else can I do ?
There is the ability to download some elements, games so that you do not need to log in each time you want to use it in the classroom. There are also some apps available of the games on itunes that can be used on portable devices such as ipods or ipads in the classroom but that is for the lucky teachers who have those in the classroom.

Starfall.com

It's so easy a 5 year old can use it!
Click here to See !

What is it?
This is a web based resource that can easily be integrated into most k-2 classrooms to enhance students language and literacy skills. Starfall includes; alphabet knowledge, cvc readers, emergent readers and seasonal interactive activities. The format is engaging and student-user friendly.

How its used at Lexington?
I found the best way to integrate Starfall in the k-2 classroom is in two modes; 1. projected on my Interactive white board as a whole group concept introduction/review and 2. at student computer centers to review literacy skills.

What do I need ?
To use Starfall all you need is an internet connection and a computer. This is a free resource. To use Starfall, all you may want a projector, lap top and interactive white board for whole group activities and classroom computers or computer lab for students to use independently. I recommend bookmarking Starfall and putting it on your computers toolbar. The bookmark has the words Starfall and a image of a star making it super easy to teach students what bookmark to click on to access Starfall.

What else can I do ?
Okay, for those of you who are already integrated and using Starfall you want to know how to further use this tool. There are a couple of paid options 1. more.starfall.com, this is a yearly subscription that will give you access to more starfall resource including math,folk songs and colors etc. 2. a CD version of Starfall activities to use on computers without internet access or students with homes without internet access is also available for purchase. Some teachers use Starfall as an emergent reader program here's an example; Shared/Guided Reading-The "Learn To Read Books" on starfall are projected on interactive whiteboard, the class can collaboratively read and identify cvc words. Independent Reading-Students read the"Learn To Read Books" by themselves in the computer lab or classroom computers to reinforce skills taught in shared reading and increase fluency. Home Connections- Students can read the"Learn To Read Books" online at home for free as well or they can be printed for students to take home and read. * If you have any other great ideas please post them in the comments.