Tag: practice

Maggie’s Earth Adventures

Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment on Maggie’s Earth Adventures2979 views


What it is: Maggie’s Earth Adventures is an incredible site for teachers and students.  First the amazing tools for you… Every teacher has wished for a lesson that takes little time for teacher preparation or explanation, can be used as a center activity, is a filler for students who finish their work early, serves as extra credit, is a ready made homework assignment, or can be an emergency plan for a substitute teacher.  Maggie’s Earth Adventures Teachers Lounge is the place to go!  Sign up for free weekly activity packets in subjects such as math, reading, science, and social studies.  Weekly activity packets are sent based on age levels (emergent reader, primary, and intermediate) and a different subject area is sent each week.  These are high quality teaching materials!In addition to the free weekly activities, Maggie’s Earth Adventures also features an excellent lesson plan resource, you can get an entire theme unit or a few lessons.  Some lessons even have free PowerPoint presentations to accompany the lesson.  The site is available in English or in Spanish making it perfect for the ESL classroom. Maggie is not just for teachers, you will find outstanding interactive games for your students too!  Kids can watch cartoons that tie in directly with the lesson plans.  The cartoons are packed with teaching and are interactive.  In the postcard section students can choose a picture and then choose an activity to accompany the picture.  Students can create a story clock, news article, description web, or postcard.  In the games section students can choose from games to improve math, spelling, reading, geography skills, language skills, proofreading skills, and science. Students can also download free books (these download as a printable pdf).
How to integrate Maggie’s Earth Adventures into the classroom: These high quality lessons and activities are ideal for having on hand for students who finish work early and are looking for extension activities.  They are also ideal for extra credit, homework practice, or emergency substitute plans.  Use the games as practice for important skills students are working on in language arts (spelling and punctuation) and math.  This is a great place for students to hone a newly learned skill.  The postcard maker (which actually makes much more than postcards) is a great place to send students for story starters and creative writing assignments.  This is one of those sites you will want bookmarked on your classroom computers!

Tips: Sign up to receive weekly activities and lessons from Maggie.  I know you sign up for a million things throughout the year, this is one that you will really use!

Leave a comment and share how you are using Maggie’s Earth Adventures in your classroom.

Typing Web

Kelly Tenkely2 Comments on Typing Web4108 views

 

What it is: Typing Web is an awesome website I ran across yesterday. It is a free to use typing tutor, tester, and also includes games. Typing Web tracks students progress and provides a place for them to practice their most frequently mis-typed letters. Students can personalize their Typing Web site by choosing a “skin” to decorate the typing practice page. I don’t know about you, but as soon as my students can personalize anything they are hooked! The web based software makes it possible for students to practice typing from anywhere they have an Internet connected computer. There is also a NEW free iPhone or iPod Touch Typing Tutor for those that are so lucky 🙂 .

How to integrate Typing Web into your curriculum: Typing Web is best used in a computer lab setting where students can have blocks of time set aside for typing practice. You can also set up a practice center in your classroom where students can take turns practicing their typing skills. Because Typing Web is web based students can practice at home too!

Tips: Typing web has a school version where teachers have more control over the individual student set up as well as data collection. The school version is subscription based.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Typing Web in your classroom.

Spelling Wizard

Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment on Spelling Wizard2755 views

 

 

What it is: The Spelling Wizard gives students two cool ways to memorize their spelling words. First students type in 10 spelling words, then they choose between two fun games. In Spelling Scramble students unscramble letters to practice their spelling words. In Make a Word Search students hunt for their spelling words in a word search to practice their words.

How to integrate Spelling Wizard into the classroom: Set up computers as a study center where students can practice their spelling words. This site would be great for use as an “I’m finished, now what?” activity.

Tips: Remind students that the words HAVE to be spelled correctly, otherwise they will practice their words incorrectly.

 

 

Spellits

Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment on Spellits3347 views

 

What it is: Spellits is designed for 7-11 year olds, this website offers interactive activities and printable resources which teach spelling strategies, rules, and patterns. The spelling activities are integrated into three games, making spelling practice and learning fun.

How to integrate Spellits into your language arts curriculum: Use Spellits to improve student spelling. Students will easily be able to work independently through the activities, there are support functions built right into the site such as a dictionary and clue list. Set up Spellits as a center during literacy or spelling time. Students can use Spellits to help build a word wall in the classroom.

Tips: This is a British site so some of the words are spelled slightly differently (ex. colour).