Integrating technology in the classroom
Sometimes I come across new things or get an idea for how to use a technology and I get entirely too excited about it. I have one such idea today…in fact, it is so exciting that I am going to make a video blog about it so that you can share my enthusiasm. This is going to take a bit of time as I am teaching at the moment. So…stay tuned and be sure to check back! It is good to be a tech geek! 🙂
What it is: Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science is the online student addition of the textbooks. Students is grades kindergarten through six can click on the book that matches their grade level. Here students can watch video clips, play vocabulary games, take animated summary quizzes, read e-journals, and more.
How to integrate Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science into the classroom: Even if your school does not use the Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science textbooks, this site is a wonderful supplement to any science curriculum. The fun interactive environment is sure to be a hit with students. The vocabulary review games would be fun to play as a whole class with the projector (split students into teams) or individually. You might also offer this site to students for homework help or for test review at home.
Tips: Click on the OSE button at the bottom of the screen for the Online Student edition of the text box. Below the OSE button are login names and passwords for various grade levels.
P lease leave a comment and share how you are using Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science in your classroom.
Happy 2008! Monday January 7th marks the end of my holiday “break”. Break is in quotations because for me, it was not a break at all. I wasn’t teaching or blogging, instead I was putting together our yearbook. The admin. decided to go digital this year. When anything goes digital, it is a good indication of more work headed my way. I love my job! I realized as I worked over the break that if it hadn’t been the yearbook it would have been something else. You see, I can easily become technology obsessed. I love finding and learning about new technologies, especially those that are education related. I hope that my obsession brings you some useful ideas for integrating technology into your classroom this year. Please share your technology finds, successes, and frustrations. I, like you, am a teacher and I know that introducing technology into the classroom can bring them all. I so enjoy hearing from all of you!
This year you can count on iLearn Technology to bring you the latest ideas for integrating educational technology in your classroom. Thank you for joining me on this journey.
May 2008 be a year of blessings for you!
Hello all of you bloggers, educators, and techies! Lately I have been getting a lot of spam in my comments and feedback. Because of all the spam I have been over-zealous with the delete button and sending things straight to junk mail. However, I love getting you comments, feedback, suggestions and critiques. I know I have deleted at least one non-spam comment…I apologize for that! So, if you did not get a response from me, by all means try, try again! I always respond 🙂 Thank you all for joining me in my adventures in the world of educational technology!
What it is: Class Tools is possibly the most impressive, easy to use tool that I have reviewed to date! This allows teachers (even those who aren’t incredibly tech savvy) to create interactive Flash diagrams and games for learning and revising material. It is FREE! All diagrams created can be saved as data files or web pages to host on your school website or intranet. Quiz creators allow you to input up to 25 questions and answers an then choose a game to test student knowledge. Games include Matching Pairs, Manic Miner, WordShoot, and Cannon Ball Fun. Learning templates that teach and support chronological awareness include Time Line and Living Graph. Categorization tools include Post it, and a Target diagram. Linkage tools include Venn diagrams, and The Learning Puzzle. Priortization tools include Diamond Nine and a Priority Chart. Sourcework Skills tools include Lights Out and Source Analyzer. Essay skills tools include Fishbone and Hamburger diagrams. WOW!!
How to integrate Class Tools into the classroom: Class Tools may be one of the most versatile tools you can use in the classroom. Teachers and students can create learning diagrams together and upload to the school website for later study. Teachers, you can create games for your students to play focused on any specific curriculum. The sky is the limit for Class Tools in the classroom.
Tips: Print out a copy of the Class Tools Flyer, having a description of the tools handy is a must!
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Class Tools in your classroom.
What it is: Elf Yourself is pure fun! Turn yourself or your students into dancing elves.
How to integrate Elf Yourself into the classroom: Use Elf Yourself as a holiday greeting for your class. Create your elf and use a projector to share your “Elf Self” with your students. They will love this in place of traditional cards! If you have a classroom camera students can Elf themselves as well. Elves can be sent to parents via email as a holiday greeting. This is a fun site that students of all ages are sure to love, it also acts as a platform to teach students how to upload a picture/file.
Tips: Set up an “Elf Yourself” station that can be used during the classroom party. This is where a Mac’s built in camera comes in handy!
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Elf Yourself in your classroom.
What it is: Spelling City is a place where your students can practice their spelling words through teaching, games, and practice tests. In the teaching section, students hear the word and a sentence including the word before the word is spelled for them. In the game section, students can choose to play an online word search, hang mouse (like hang man), and word scramble with their spelling words. In the practice test, students click to hear the word and a sentence containing the word. They type in the word and check for correctness. Teachers can save spelling lists on the site (or a years worth of spelling lists) for students to practice. Students login with the class information to access that weeks spelling list. Students also have the option of creating their own lists. Best of all Spelling City is totally free!
How to integrate Spelling City into the classroom: Use Spelling City as a spelling center where students can practice their spelling words. Create a link to your classes spelling lists on Spelling City on your classroom or school website. This will provide easy access to spelling practice at home and at school. Spelling City makes spelling practice fun for students…they will ask for more practice! Be sure to let your parents know about Spelling City. It will make spelling practice at home fun too. The word search and word scramble games can be printed out for off computer practice in the classroom or at home. You will be amazed with this site!
Tips: Spelling City has links to additional spelling games on the teachers page. These have not been fully integrated yet (meaning that your spelling words won’t automatically flow to the games, this is being worked on). Games include crossword puzzles, build a sentence wall, wacky story builder, find the misspelled word, verb puzzle, homophone quiz, sound alike words, syllables and the synonym game.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Spelling City in your classroom.
What it is: SuperThinkers is a website that encourages students to become thinkers as opposed to memorizers. The goal of SuperThinkers is to teach children how to think by creating connections, look for meaning behind facts, and analyzing in order to understand. Even reluctant readers enjoy using this site to read for meaning. The Peetnik Mysteries are stories that the students read and interact with. In the mystery game, students use common tools such as maps, phones, and phone directories to follow up on hunches to solve the mystery.
How to integrate SuperThinkers into the classroom: SuperThinkers includes quality mysteries from author Peter Reynolds. Use SuperThinkers as part of a larger mystery unit or as a reading activity that encourages logic, problem solving, critical thinking, cooperative learning, analysis, pattern interpretation, mystery solving, writing, observation, sharing, discovery, imagination, self determination, reflection, and opportunities for self expression. The mysteries take about 30 min. to solve and would be best utilized in a computer lab 1 to 1 setting or as a whole class with a projector. The mysteries are popular with students, even the most reluctant readers enjoy working with the mysteries. The Peetnik Mysteries can also be used to teach students how to create a time line, compare and contrast skills, and as story starters.
Tips: Be sure to visit the Educators section of SuperThinkers for curriculum tie-ins, lesson plans, and posters.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using SuperThinkers in your classroom.
What it is: North Star is a book written by author Peter Reynolds. The North Star book is online for students and classrooms everywhere to read and enjoy. The book is a fable which helps children chart meaningful journeys in life and teaches a philosophy of creativity and lifelong learning. The North Star website includes the book, a place for sharing and communication with other North Star readers, a North Star constellation Map Maker where students can chart their own journey, crossword puzzles, inspirational quotes and cards, and several activities that encourage creativity and reaching goals.
How to integrate North Star into the classroom: The North Star is an amazing addition to any character education program. Read the story as a class using a projector (or purchase the book). Use computer lab time or classroom computers for the North Star constellation map maker where students can chart their life journey and goals. Encourage students to share their hopes and dreams with one another. Your students will not only learn more about themselves, they will learn more about their classmates.
Tips: Be sure to visit the Educators section of North Star for some outstanding free teacher resources. Find mini-posters and clip art. Note- the North Star Constellation Map Maker requires a Shockwave player.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using North Star in your classroom.
What it is: Fable Vision is a virtual town for kids filled with stories, games, and fun places to visit. The Fable Vision Library has a collection of online stories and stories that can be downloaded, borrowed, and shared. The Fable Vision Arcade fun games featuring the whimsical characters of Fable Vision. FVTV is the Fable Vision TV station, here students can watch mini cartoons that are fun and informational. At the Fable Vision post office allows students to send Fable Vision e-cards to family and friends. Fable Vision School is the home to all things educational. The first offering is the Fable Vision publishing workshop. Fable Radio is a place for students to listen to the Fable Vision books.
How to integrate Fable Vision into the classroom: Fable Vision is a fun virtual world that teaches reading and writing language skills. Use this site during literacy time. Read fables together using a projector. Use the Fable Vision School as part of the writing publishing center in your classroom. Students can stop by the Fable Vision School to learn about publishing and then open a word processing program to digitally publish their writing. Students will love the Fable Vision stories, use them for retelling and story ordering activities.
Tips: Be sure to visit the Educators section of Fable Vision for some outstanding free teacher resources. Find mini-posters, a guide to Sparking the Creative Spirit, a Fable Vision Field Guide, and a Fable Vision clip art collection.
Please leave a comment and share how you are using Fable Vision in your classroom.