The Internet is a never-ending database of resources for anyone searching for basically anything. Everyone has their top lists, which usually vary monthly as trends change, new tools are developed, and web sites evolve. So we'll say for the month of December, here are 10 useful websites for teachers and students (in no particular order):
1. Tube Chop - YouTube.com is a huge online portal to any and every video imaginable. Just search by topic. While it can be highly inappropriate for some things, it can also serve as a great tool when used in the right way. Teachers can find ways to illustrate concepts, projects, subjects, and more. A partner to You Tube, Tube Chop allows you to edit and "chop" any You Tube video, to make it acceptable for your students and parents to watch. In addition to security, it can also be used as a time saver, shortening a clip to maybe just the phrase or comment you are discussing in your class, especially when reviewing a speech. Copy the video from YouTube and paste the link in TubeChop, then follow the simple instructions.
2. Futureme,org - Send yourself an email and select the date you want to receive it. What you type in the email is up to you. This can be extremely useful for reminders to yourself and students. Students can email themselves notes, assignment or test reminders, monthly goals, or even year-end goals, like grade expectations. Use it as a vocabulary word tool and refresher. The possibilities are endless.
3. Lit2Go - A huge list of authors and their works. Click on the author you are looking for (organized by alphabet). See a short summary of their biography and then options for accessing the actual book you'd like to read. You can download the book via audio, in PDF, and more. Most books are segmented by chapters. Students can read the actual work online and teachers can see the standards met when using this material.
4. Super Kids Math Worksheet Creator - This is a free math sheet creator. Click the types of problems you need and your math worksheet will be ready in minutes. You can choose how many problems per page, and the subject level from basic to advanced in each category. It's great for teachers and parents to continue math drills and help at home.
5. Cells Alive - An interactive gallery of biology topics with definition, cycle explanations, and illustrations. Students can search in cell biology, microbiology, immunology, and microscopy. The animations are informative and the facts are explained in direct and simple ways of understanding.
6. Social Studies for Kids - A really comprehensive site of links to all things social studies and history. They offer changing fact sheets on the week in history, current events, and featured spotlights. Teachers can find book reviews on social studies topics, educational games by subject, maps, history, presidents, states, time, and so much more.
7. Word Smyth - An easy vocabulary word quiz maker. Free access allows you to use 15 words in your quiz question. Choose from children's, beginner, or advanced levels.
8. Why Files - This site provides a collection of online interactive science projects and concepts from making a snowflake and a rainbow to playing with lightning and controlling a tornado. There are well-written explanations of the science behind each concept.
9. Snag Learning - Educational videos by subject and grade level from K - college. Subjects including everything from children's programming and music to world culture and political science. Videos are provided by channels like National Geographic, PBS, and Sundance.
10. AlgeBasics - A great site for algebra tutorials and help on a long list of topics ranging from basics to ratios, factoring, linear equations, and radicals. If you click on a topic you will get an audio tutorial as well as a visual of the problem being solved.
We hope you found these useful. Internet4Classrooms strives to find the best online resources for educational use. And we'll continue to search as technology and classroom needs keep changing. Let us know if you have a favorite site of your own!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Why Students Should Write
The Importance of Journal and Blog Writing with Students
When you walk into an empty classroom, what do you see? Desks, chairs, books, chalkboards, maybe a couple of computers. But what you don't see is the pressure. Teachers are pressured to meet scores and standards. Parents are pressured to raise the perfect students and to have the means to provide endless resources for their children. Students are pressured to make good grades, participate in school activities, be popular. As we've seen this past month focusing on bullying, we know school can be a pressure cooker for all kinds of emotions. Along with utilizing school resources like counselors and the community of parents and teachers, writing can serve as a key tool in just letting it all out!
Students often see writing as a chore. "O.k. kids, it's time to write in our journals today," the teacher might say. "Awwww!!" reply the children. But what they don't realize, is there are huge advantages to expressing themselves on paper (or keyboard depending on the resources).
A Communication Outlet
Writing allows us to express our thoughts out loud - but not really. Students can tell what they are feeling without having to necessarily face someone. They can talk about interests, goals, their likes and dislikes. When you write an idea down, and elaborate on it, you are emptying your head. And when students can empty their heads on a daily basis, the pressures don't have as much opportunity to build.
Stress Reliever
Once the writing is complete, and their heads are "empty," their work can act as a huge stress reliever. Writing allows students to reflect. They can go back, read how they were feeling the day before, or read about something that made them feel confident a week ago. When students write, they are providing themselves a way to analyze their thoughts, figure out what is going on, and move forward. It's a great problem solving tool.
Skill Builder
Writing enhances skills all across the board. Grammar, writing, reading, researching, proofreading, and on and on. When a student sits down to write, it's not just simply writing on a particular subject assigned by a teacher. Students are researching subjects, practicing English skills, proofing and editing their work, and communicating in a way that they expect everyone who's reading to understand. They are learning how to get their points across. They are learning how to cite sources. They are learning how to improve their skills daily without even knowing it, because constant writing keeps the mind sharp.
Idea Tracker
We know that students can be so creative! Yet they can be so busy as well. Writing, even if it's simply jotting down notes, allows them to remember things for later. Whether it be an essay idea, paper topic, or homework question, the act of keeping their ideas in one place adds confidence and offers another outlet for improving English skills.
Confidence Booster
Writing takes creativity. Students have to think, research, edit, build sentences, and communicate. When their writing assignment is complete, and they can go back and read what they wrote, it's a huge self-esteem booster. Confidence is especially achieved in the case of a blog, where the audience is not just fellow students or teachers. Students have the opportunity to feel validated when people across the globe can comment and relate to their ideas and feelings.
Whether students are writing or typing their content, it is saved. The work will be there whenever they want to go back and read it. There is a record of what's been created. Knowing "I did this," provides a sense of accomplishment. Students need that now, more than ever.
How do you incorporate writing into your classroom instruction? Do you find it valuable? Do you find it difficult to get students to find their creativity?
Internet4Classrooms has a wide range of writing resources and language arts tools. Check us out if you are looking for ideas and information. We'd love to hear from you!
When you walk into an empty classroom, what do you see? Desks, chairs, books, chalkboards, maybe a couple of computers. But what you don't see is the pressure. Teachers are pressured to meet scores and standards. Parents are pressured to raise the perfect students and to have the means to provide endless resources for their children. Students are pressured to make good grades, participate in school activities, be popular. As we've seen this past month focusing on bullying, we know school can be a pressure cooker for all kinds of emotions. Along with utilizing school resources like counselors and the community of parents and teachers, writing can serve as a key tool in just letting it all out!
Students often see writing as a chore. "O.k. kids, it's time to write in our journals today," the teacher might say. "Awwww!!" reply the children. But what they don't realize, is there are huge advantages to expressing themselves on paper (or keyboard depending on the resources).
A Communication Outlet
Writing allows us to express our thoughts out loud - but not really. Students can tell what they are feeling without having to necessarily face someone. They can talk about interests, goals, their likes and dislikes. When you write an idea down, and elaborate on it, you are emptying your head. And when students can empty their heads on a daily basis, the pressures don't have as much opportunity to build.
Stress Reliever
Once the writing is complete, and their heads are "empty," their work can act as a huge stress reliever. Writing allows students to reflect. They can go back, read how they were feeling the day before, or read about something that made them feel confident a week ago. When students write, they are providing themselves a way to analyze their thoughts, figure out what is going on, and move forward. It's a great problem solving tool.
Skill Builder
Writing enhances skills all across the board. Grammar, writing, reading, researching, proofreading, and on and on. When a student sits down to write, it's not just simply writing on a particular subject assigned by a teacher. Students are researching subjects, practicing English skills, proofing and editing their work, and communicating in a way that they expect everyone who's reading to understand. They are learning how to get their points across. They are learning how to cite sources. They are learning how to improve their skills daily without even knowing it, because constant writing keeps the mind sharp.
Idea Tracker
We know that students can be so creative! Yet they can be so busy as well. Writing, even if it's simply jotting down notes, allows them to remember things for later. Whether it be an essay idea, paper topic, or homework question, the act of keeping their ideas in one place adds confidence and offers another outlet for improving English skills.
Confidence Booster
Writing takes creativity. Students have to think, research, edit, build sentences, and communicate. When their writing assignment is complete, and they can go back and read what they wrote, it's a huge self-esteem booster. Confidence is especially achieved in the case of a blog, where the audience is not just fellow students or teachers. Students have the opportunity to feel validated when people across the globe can comment and relate to their ideas and feelings.
Whether students are writing or typing their content, it is saved. The work will be there whenever they want to go back and read it. There is a record of what's been created. Knowing "I did this," provides a sense of accomplishment. Students need that now, more than ever.
How do you incorporate writing into your classroom instruction? Do you find it valuable? Do you find it difficult to get students to find their creativity?
Internet4Classrooms has a wide range of writing resources and language arts tools. Check us out if you are looking for ideas and information. We'd love to hear from you!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Why Blog in Your Classroom?
A blog (termed after web log) is a web site - that you create easily and for free - where you can share homework assignments, class summaries, images, links, test and quiz alerts, and any other information you'd like to get out to your students and parents. When you have something to say, you type in a post. It's dated, time stamped, and published for anyone that you've allowed access. Every post is saved, and archived, with the entries being listed from most recent to oldest. You and your readers can email and comment on each post. Sounds easy enough, right? Still not sold on the idea? Here’s why you should be:
Blogs Allow Flexibility
Today’s lives are hectic. Some students don’t get home until way after dinner time between sports practices and activities. Families are multi-dimensional. It can be difficult for everyone to be on the same page when shuffling back and forth, traveling, etc. Children have absences. But if you have a classroom blog, there leaves little room for excuses.
If you have a classroom blog, your parents and students can rely on the web for information. It gives them the comfort and flexibility of working at their own paces. No more, “I couldn’t find the assignment.” No more, “But it was too late and I couldn’t call anyone to find out the information.” No more, “I wasn’t here yesterday so I didn’t get the notice.” School doesn’t stop when the bell rings.
Blogs Encourage Dialogue
With a classroom blog, you allow your students and parents to connect with you, each other, and even other teachers. Say you post a math assignment, and Suzie has a question. She can email you privately, or write her question in the comments section of that post. Not only do you have the opportunity to respond, but so do all of her classmates. They feel involved. You feel involved. You are creating a dialogue. You are allowing collaboration.
Blogs Improve Communication
With this dialogue, you provide an outlet for students to improve on their communication. Students will have an opportunity to write to you and each other. By typing questions and responses among teachers and peers, they are gaining communication skills. Think of it as an online journal. They are learning how to illustrate their thoughts on “paper,” in order to be understood by multiple readers. It’s one more tool to communicate their ideas more effectively.
Blogs Motivate Students
Using the confidence in their communication, you encourage students to look beyond one right answer. The conversations motivate them to go find more information, find more sources, and ask more questions. It could start with one simple topic then grow into an elaborate discussion about everything behind that topic. Students want to find the answer and share the knowledge with their peers. Students want to feel confident in their abilities. They want to succeed. Motivation encourages involvement, which can lead to accountability, which can lead to higher test scores.
Blogging really is easy. And it’s free. We have step by step instructions that tell you how to create a blog account. Once your account is ready, we have step by step instructions on how to write a blog entry. Check out our sample classroom blog here. Stay connected. Be a part of the tech-savy classroom. Blog!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Tools for Time Management and Homework Help
Teachers and students are officially in school mode now. Time management and classroom organization for both parents and teachers can be a difficult hurdle to overcome.
For Teachers:
With all the tasks teachers have to tackle on a daily basis, it's imperative to have the knowledge that can help you stay on target for the year's goals. Internet4Classrooms has many tips and resources to ensure you stay organized and focused.
Teachers are most successful in time management and classroom organization if they know themselves and how they reach their peak productivity. Determine how you spend your time doing and prioritizing, before you begin creating task lists. By knowing your to-do's, you can create daily and weekly schedules as well as calendars to keep you and your students right on target.
For Parents:
Parents strive to give their children the best environment and tools to succeed, but often lack good resources or simply the time to find them. Internet4Classrooms is here to help! One of the biggest challenges for parents is homework, homework, homework. Some children are big procrastinators. Some children find the work so overwhelming that it's easier for them to just avoid it altogether. We all know it takes a lot of effort to make good grades all year long. If you're feeling removed or unsure of how your child approaches homework as a whole, try this exercise first to learn the best way to achieve assignment goals.
Once you've got your homework environment created and a routine in place, homework time can become an orderly system for both parents and children. Start with good study habits, training them to be more aware of how their minds work. A child's attention span can wander very easily. Teach concentration tactics on how to focus, learning how to remain dedicated to school work by taking scheduled breaks and offering grade incentives. After study habits are established, studying methods can be introduced, such as creating an index card system. If your students master these tools mentioned, then test taking help can complete the puzzle of eliminating stress and anxiety in your child's school days.
As a main resource, parents and teachers can go here for tips on everything from researching and paper writing, to communication, reading advanced materials, spelling help and assignment completion methods. Patience and persistence will definitely encourage success for all of your goals: organizationally, administratively, and beyond.
Children and Search Engines
In a world where laptops, social networking, texting, and phones with Internet access are the norm, parents may find themselves in the dark when it comes to technology and their children’s technology use. Gone are the days where the majority of households have a large collection of encyclopedias organized by letters cramming their bookshelves. Now you can sit at a computer, type in what you need, and a world of information is literally at your fingertips.
Although there are obvious dangers when allowing kids to access the web without proper monitoring, there are tremendous advantages as well. For this blog, we’ll focus on the Internet as a whole, and discuss safe search engines specifically for students.
First and foremost, you want to make sure your children are using trustworthy and accurate resources. Common sites like Google and Ask.com have a huge amount of information. However you need to be careful what you click on. Make sure to read the website addresses before going to them. Sites like Wikipedia.org have a lot of material, however the information isn’t verified. Anyone can post on a particular topic.
There are many websites for children. Number 36 will help you search by topic. Number 40 has history search engines, science engines, authors and biographies, and so much more. Askkids.com allows you to type in any question. Super-kids.com is a great tool for searching by category, like people or science. You can also use the Internet Public Library for specific subject and reference needs.
When you are searching, make sure to type in keywords. If you’re not using a site where you can enter in the full question, you’ll need to narrow down the words you use. If you want the engine to look for a particular phrase, put it in quotations. For example: “civil war battlefields” instead of civil war or “middle school math” instead of just math. Most search engines have an advanced link button, where you can limit your topics even further.
Finally, teach your students the importance of acknowledging the sources they’ve used. The Internet offers a mountain of information, but remember the material has been written by someone else. Happy searching!
Although there are obvious dangers when allowing kids to access the web without proper monitoring, there are tremendous advantages as well. For this blog, we’ll focus on the Internet as a whole, and discuss safe search engines specifically for students.
First and foremost, you want to make sure your children are using trustworthy and accurate resources. Common sites like Google and Ask.com have a huge amount of information. However you need to be careful what you click on. Make sure to read the website addresses before going to them. Sites like Wikipedia.org have a lot of material, however the information isn’t verified. Anyone can post on a particular topic.
There are many websites for children. Number 36 will help you search by topic. Number 40 has history search engines, science engines, authors and biographies, and so much more. Askkids.com allows you to type in any question. Super-kids.com is a great tool for searching by category, like people or science. You can also use the Internet Public Library for specific subject and reference needs.
When you are searching, make sure to type in keywords. If you’re not using a site where you can enter in the full question, you’ll need to narrow down the words you use. If you want the engine to look for a particular phrase, put it in quotations. For example: “civil war battlefields” instead of civil war or “middle school math” instead of just math. Most search engines have an advanced link button, where you can limit your topics even further.
Finally, teach your students the importance of acknowledging the sources they’ve used. The Internet offers a mountain of information, but remember the material has been written by someone else. Happy searching!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Internet Safety Resources
As the 2010-2011 school year begins, now is a great time to review our basic resources on Internet Safety. More and more children are going online through their mobile devices, including phones, iPods, eReaders, in schools and at home. Due to the multiple ways of accessing the internet, it is getting more difficult to block sites from children's view. Therefore, the keys to online safety are being aware of childrens' online activities and teaching children to exercise good judgement online. This is especially true when it comes to behavior on social media sites.
Click Here for our Internet Safety Resources, which includes articles, videos, and games for children to play to learn about staying safe on the internet. In our Character Education Resources, we've included grade-appropriate resources on bullying and cyberbullying to help teachers and parents address this topic, as it is becoming more prevalent on social media sites, especially for middle and high school aged students.
As a reminder, please don't forget to visit our Back to School section, which has been expanded this year with more materials for teachers and families.
Please send us any resources that you may have found on this topic, so that we can share them on the site.
Thanks!
Click Here for our Internet Safety Resources, which includes articles, videos, and games for children to play to learn about staying safe on the internet. In our Character Education Resources, we've included grade-appropriate resources on bullying and cyberbullying to help teachers and parents address this topic, as it is becoming more prevalent on social media sites, especially for middle and high school aged students.
As a reminder, please don't forget to visit our Back to School section, which has been expanded this year with more materials for teachers and families.
Please send us any resources that you may have found on this topic, so that we can share them on the site.
Thanks!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Standardized Test Prep Activities for High School
Want to raise your SAT/ACT score?
Daily Vocabulary Practice is one of the best ways that you can raise your verbal scores on standardized tests.
Our Summer Learning Program provides daily and weekly practice for these tests over the summer and into the fall, and it is not too late to sign up. Click here to register for our Free Program that is designed by teachers and currently being used by thousands of students.
We'll send you daily vocabulary lists, Latin phrases, math and science activities, "This Day in History" and other fun, engaging activities to keep your mind working over the summer.
We also have other SAT/ACT practice resources for you to use on our site, including practice tests, interactive activities for English and Math and more!
Click Here to sign up now!
Daily Vocabulary Practice is one of the best ways that you can raise your verbal scores on standardized tests.
Our Summer Learning Program provides daily and weekly practice for these tests over the summer and into the fall, and it is not too late to sign up. Click here to register for our Free Program that is designed by teachers and currently being used by thousands of students.
We'll send you daily vocabulary lists, Latin phrases, math and science activities, "This Day in History" and other fun, engaging activities to keep your mind working over the summer.
We also have other SAT/ACT practice resources for you to use on our site, including practice tests, interactive activities for English and Math and more!
Click Here to sign up now!
New ADHD Articles for Parents and Teachers!
Internet4Classrooms.com is pleased to announce that we are expanding our ADD/ADHD resources to include articles from experts in this field. We hope that you find this information valuable for use in your home and classrooms.
Check out our newest articles from Dr. David Rabiner, Ph.D. addressing such topics as:
Check out our newest articles from Dr. David Rabiner, Ph.D. addressing such topics as:
Monday, June 14, 2010
Free Summer Learning Program
Internet4Classrooms has put together a free summer learning plan for
every age level from Pre-K through High School.
On a daily and weekly basis, we will provide students and parents fun activities, links to
great learning games, and other educational resources that will help
them get ready for the 2010-2011 school year.
We feel that summer learning loss is a major concern.
Here is the link to sign up for the program:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/links_grades_kindergarten_12/summer_learning_2010.htm
Please share this link with anyone
that you feel may be interested and/or benefit from this program.
Best Wishes for a Great Summer!
every age level from Pre-K through High School.
On a daily and weekly basis, we will provide students and parents fun activities, links to
great learning games, and other educational resources that will help
them get ready for the 2010-2011 school year.
We feel that summer learning loss is a major concern.
- Did you know that on average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills during the summer months?
- Research shows that teachers typically spend between 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer.
Here is the link to sign up for the program:
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/links_grades_kindergarten_12/summer_learning_2010.htm
Please share this link with anyone
that you feel may be interested and/or benefit from this program.
Best Wishes for a Great Summer!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tell Congress to Keep our Schools Competitive
| Write Your Representative Today or Face No Enhancing Education Through Technology Program Funding Next Year | |
President Obama's proposed budget for FY2011 eliminates funding for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program, the sole direct federal educational technology funding resource, and proposes to consolidate education technology in its proposal for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization. In lieu of a separately funded ed tech program like EETT program, President Obama has proposed in vague terms to infuse technology throughout all federal education programs. We can't let this happen.
Here is a link to the EdTech Action Network's Legislative Site that will assist you in sending email to your legislators.
Here is a link to the EdTech Action Network's Legislative Site that will assist you in sending email to your legislators.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Top 10 Free Sites for Web 2.0 Tools
Check out this presentation from Steve Dembo, Online Community Manager for the Discovery Educator Network.
He presented last week at the Palm Beach County School District Technology Conference. His high-energy presentation showed live demos of the different tools and created a lot of excitement among the attendees.
In further blog posts, we'll show you how educators and creative thinkers are using these tools.
The List: Top 10 Free Web 2.0 Tools for Educators
He presented last week at the Palm Beach County School District Technology Conference. His high-energy presentation showed live demos of the different tools and created a lot of excitement among the attendees.
In further blog posts, we'll show you how educators and creative thinkers are using these tools.
The List: Top 10 Free Web 2.0 Tools for Educators
- Delicious
- Glogster
- ipadio
- Kidblog
- Voicethread
- Wallwisher
- Poll Everywhere
- Edmodo
- Prezi
- Wordle
Monday, February 1, 2010
Diversity Lesson
While Internet4Classrooms is known for providing the best online resources to teach students of all grades and subjects, here is a simple project for parents and teachers that doesn't require a computer or an internet connection.
"We're All the Same Inside" - this is a lesson plan that has been used for years. This link is to the preschool version, but it is appropriate for all ages.
Supplies needed: some eggs and an open mind
Have children decorate the eggs and give them different color skin (or mix brown and white eggs), hair, and features. Then crack open the eggs. They are all the same inside!
Sometimes the simplest lessons are the easiest to teach.
We've heard stories of children doing this lesson in school and then showing it to their parents at home.
Feel free to share with us any other simple projects that illustrate diversity.
- Susan
"We're All the Same Inside" - this is a lesson plan that has been used for years. This link is to the preschool version, but it is appropriate for all ages.
Supplies needed: some eggs and an open mind
Have children decorate the eggs and give them different color skin (or mix brown and white eggs), hair, and features. Then crack open the eggs. They are all the same inside!
Sometimes the simplest lessons are the easiest to teach.
We've heard stories of children doing this lesson in school and then showing it to their parents at home.
Feel free to share with us any other simple projects that illustrate diversity.
- Susan
Friday, January 15, 2010
Lessons from the Earthquake in Haiti
Today I sat in my son's Pre-K classroom during circle time and the teachers spoke to the children regarding the tragedy in Haiti. They explained that there was an earthquake that destroyed many homes and that many people are hurt and in need of food and shelter.
Click here to read more.
Click here to read more.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Connect to Students via a Teacher Blog
Let us know what you will be working on in your classrooms during January and February. We want to provide you with specific resources to fit your needs that you can upload to your teacher blog.
Teacher Blog? We can help you create one. Stay tuned for our January and February Newsletters for our Technology Focus on enabling teachers to connect with students via a blog.
Teacher Blog? We can help you create one. Stay tuned for our January and February Newsletters for our Technology Focus on enabling teachers to connect with students via a blog.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Teachers: Tinkering
We've just returned from the Mid-South Technology Conference. The speakers were very thought provoking on a variety of topics, and I'd like to share some of the ideas with you.
Tinkering
Have we lost a connection to learning through child’s play? When we think back to how we learned as children, wasn’t it hands-on trial and error for a lot of things? John Seely Brown, the Independent Co-Chairman of the Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation, describes this as "Tinkering". Pulling things apart and then putting them back together in various ways, learning what works and what doesn’t, talking with teammates about different ways to connect things to create a new entity.
All of the above is Web 2.0. transferring ideas, remixing, experimenting, participating, interacting, explaining things to each other, creating, sharing, integrating with others’ ideas.
By setting up collaborative groups and incorporating the curriculum topics of the day, students can experience this type of learning through free tools on the Internet.
Here are some resources that Internet4Classrooms.com would like to share with you:
To summarize, by using web 2.0 tools that are free on the internet, we can help students achieve "tinkering" skills they will need in the 21st century. They are not only consumers of information on the Internet, but also become producers of information from which others may learn.
Other Web 2.0 resources can be found on Internet 4 Classrooms at http://internet4classrooms.com/web2.htm
- Susan
Tinkering
Have we lost a connection to learning through child’s play? When we think back to how we learned as children, wasn’t it hands-on trial and error for a lot of things? John Seely Brown, the Independent Co-Chairman of the Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation, describes this as "Tinkering". Pulling things apart and then putting them back together in various ways, learning what works and what doesn’t, talking with teammates about different ways to connect things to create a new entity.
All of the above is Web 2.0. transferring ideas, remixing, experimenting, participating, interacting, explaining things to each other, creating, sharing, integrating with others’ ideas.
By setting up collaborative groups and incorporating the curriculum topics of the day, students can experience this type of learning through free tools on the Internet.
Here are some resources that Internet4Classrooms.com would like to share with you:
- VoiceThread is an excellent choice for a beginning class project. The students insert pictures, either drawn or by digital camera, and insert voice to explain the pictures. These can be shared with parents, students, or the world! They can also be made private so just friends can view it.
- xtranormal is a more advanced piece of moviemaking software. They can create an animated movie about the topic of study and share it.
To summarize, by using web 2.0 tools that are free on the internet, we can help students achieve "tinkering" skills they will need in the 21st century. They are not only consumers of information on the Internet, but also become producers of information from which others may learn.
Other Web 2.0 resources can be found on Internet 4 Classrooms at http://internet4classrooms.com/web2.htm
- Susan
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Parents: Helping with Homework
We receive correspondence from parents and teachers worldwide on a variety of topics. One topic that is of concern to both parents and teachers is homework. While Internet4Classrooms.com is a great resource for learning, parents must provide their children with the necessary support and structure, so that they can complete their assignments at home.
Here is a great resource for parents that clearly spells out a plan for helping your child succeed.
Remember, if you are doing your child's homework or struggling to get him/her to complete assignments, you are not alone, and there are resources to help manage this available to you.
Happy Holidays!
Susan
Here is a great resource for parents that clearly spells out a plan for helping your child succeed.
- http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/homework.html
- Why Homework is a Concern for the Whole Family
- How to Help - Showing that You Think Education and Homework are Important
- How to Help - Monitor Assisgnements
- How to Help - Provide Guidance
- How to Help - Talk with Someone at School to Resolve Problems
Remember, if you are doing your child's homework or struggling to get him/her to complete assignments, you are not alone, and there are resources to help manage this available to you.
Happy Holidays!
Susan
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
November Flu Update
H1N1 influenza virus is still affecting many schools across the world. School age children have been disproportionately affected by this virus, so staying informed is critical for both teachers, school officials, and parents.
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
Stay informed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is maintaining an information portal on H1N1 flu. Also, check your state's Department of Public Health website for more localized information on the spread of the virus. Another informative website is the Centers for Disease Control's website which maintains the latest online information on the outbreak.
Vaccinate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the H1N1 vaccine for the following groups:
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Not only are you worried about the spread of this virus, but chances are that depending on your child's age, she/he is aware that people all over the world are being affected.
Remember, it is never too early to teach your children good hygiene. Here is a simple 1-2-3 "Hands, Mouth and Table Game" to teach your children healthy habits that will help keep them well.
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
Stay informed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is maintaining an information portal on H1N1 flu. Also, check your state's Department of Public Health website for more localized information on the spread of the virus. Another informative website is the Centers for Disease Control's website which maintains the latest online information on the outbreak.
Vaccinate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the H1N1 vaccine for the following groups:
- pregnant women
- people who live with (or care for) children younger than 6 months old
- kids and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
- people ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems
- health care and emergency services personnel
The H1N1 vaccine does not protect against seasonal flu, so it's also important that kids also get the seasonal flu vaccine as well.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
Not only are you worried about the spread of this virus, but chances are that depending on your child's age, she/he is aware that people all over the world are being affected.
- The American Psychological Association has a great article on managing your anxiety about H1N1.
- The National Association of School Nurses has released an article for parents on how to talk to your children about the flu. It includes tips on what is age-appropriate information to share and suggested points to emphasize.
- What Parents Need to Know - from WebMD
- Centers for Disease Control
- Official H1N1 Information - from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Remember, it is never too early to teach your children good hygiene. Here is a simple 1-2-3 "Hands, Mouth and Table Game" to teach your children healthy habits that will help keep them well.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Digital Natives
Meet Jacob. A very technology savvy 5th grader with an iPhone, an XBox and a Wii. He is comfortable writing reports on a laptop, chatting and doing research online. Jacob is a "Digital Native". He has never known a world without technology.
Enter the phrase: "Dial a Phone"
I asked Jacob if he knew why we say we "dial a phone number" and he had no clue. So, for his 11th birthday, I went on eBay and ordered him a "Classic Rotary Phone", the Model 500, to be exact, which was in production from 1949 until 1984.
He got the iPhone first, and I waited until he had it all synced up with his MacBook Air, songs loaded, and the "wow" factor had worn off and it was just another device to him.
Then I handed him the box. We opened it. There was an information card explaining the history of this phone, which was made in the US and Canada, not China. It was a heavy metal object, and he asked me to explain to him how it worked. I showed him the wheel on the bottom to make the ringer louder and softer, showed him the plugs and then explained how the phone works. After we plugged it in the wall in the kitchen, he made his first phone call, actually dialing a number.
He said, "This is so cool. I'm dialing." Because it was. It was different to him. It wasn't wireless. There were no buttons to push. It was solid and old, and most importantly, still functional.
This really got me thinking about how children today are being conditioned to a "push the button and something will happen quickly" mentality. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. But, they don't have a lot of exposure to mechanical devices. Even money to them is really digital math. They rarely handle currency, except when brought from the tooth fairy, making it a special event.
I'll save the story for opening the lock on a backgammon set for another day.
Do you have any similar stories to share?
How do we keep up with all of these new technologies and ways of learning, but at the same time instill in our students and children the value of the past as stages on the journey to the world in which we now live? The rotary phone episode brings this to life.
Thanks for reading!
Susan
Enter the phrase: "Dial a Phone"
I asked Jacob if he knew why we say we "dial a phone number" and he had no clue. So, for his 11th birthday, I went on eBay and ordered him a "Classic Rotary Phone", the Model 500, to be exact, which was in production from 1949 until 1984.
He got the iPhone first, and I waited until he had it all synced up with his MacBook Air, songs loaded, and the "wow" factor had worn off and it was just another device to him.
Then I handed him the box. We opened it. There was an information card explaining the history of this phone, which was made in the US and Canada, not China. It was a heavy metal object, and he asked me to explain to him how it worked. I showed him the wheel on the bottom to make the ringer louder and softer, showed him the plugs and then explained how the phone works. After we plugged it in the wall in the kitchen, he made his first phone call, actually dialing a number.
He said, "This is so cool. I'm dialing." Because it was. It was different to him. It wasn't wireless. There were no buttons to push. It was solid and old, and most importantly, still functional.
This really got me thinking about how children today are being conditioned to a "push the button and something will happen quickly" mentality. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing. But, they don't have a lot of exposure to mechanical devices. Even money to them is really digital math. They rarely handle currency, except when brought from the tooth fairy, making it a special event.
I'll save the story for opening the lock on a backgammon set for another day.
Do you have any similar stories to share?
How do we keep up with all of these new technologies and ways of learning, but at the same time instill in our students and children the value of the past as stages on the journey to the world in which we now live? The rotary phone episode brings this to life.
Thanks for reading!
Susan
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Assessment Testing
Is it ever too early for teachers to think about and begin to prepare students for assessment testing?
Tell us how you integrate preparation for assessment testing into your early school year lesson planning.
We will be featuring your responses in our upcoming newsletters.
Tell us how you integrate preparation for assessment testing into your early school year lesson planning.
We will be featuring your responses in our upcoming newsletters.
In the meantime, be sure to visit our assessment testing resources for grades K-12. We have links to released tests, standards information from various states and PLENTY of interactive skills activities for all grades.
Thanks,
Susan
Thanks,
Susan
Free Wipes for the Classroom - Promotion Ended
Thank you to all of the teachers that sent us their contact information for the Clorox promotion. We will be forwarding your mailing information to Clorox this week.
We are glad that we were able to help those of you that had difficulty registering for the wipes directly on the Clorox site. However, this promotion is now over. If it is extended, we will post that information to this blog.
Keep checking internet4classrooms.com for the best K-12 educational resources on the web and other teacher/education related promotions! Don't forget to follow us on twitter at internet4classr as we also post resources to the educational communities there.
Best,
Susan
We are glad that we were able to help those of you that had difficulty registering for the wipes directly on the Clorox site. However, this promotion is now over. If it is extended, we will post that information to this blog.
Keep checking internet4classrooms.com for the best K-12 educational resources on the web and other teacher/education related promotions! Don't forget to follow us on twitter at internet4classr as we also post resources to the educational communities there.
Best,
Susan
Friday, September 4, 2009
Free Clorox Wipes for your Classroom! - Ended 9/5
Updated: 9/8/09
Unfortunately this promotion is now closed. See latest blog post for information on fulfillment.
____________
We've recently learned that a number of teachers attempted to register to
receive free disinfecting wipes for their classroom from Clorox and were
told that supplies had run out for the day.
We've made a special arrangement with Clorox for users of
internet4classrooms.com who are unable to register for the free wipes.
Please copy the following information into an email and send to:
info@internet4classrooms.com
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Email Address:
Parent? Yes__ No __
Teacher? Yes __ No __
Grade(s): ___________
Subject: ____________________________
We will forward this information to Clorox and you will receive your coupon in the mail.
Again, thank you for your support of internet4classrooms.com. Please feel
free to post any comments, concerns or suggestions or email us directly.
Unfortunately this promotion is now closed. See latest blog post for information on fulfillment.
____________
We've recently learned that a number of teachers attempted to register to
receive free disinfecting wipes for their classroom from Clorox and were
told that supplies had run out for the day.
We've made a special arrangement with Clorox for users of
internet4classrooms.com who are unable to register for the free wipes.
Please copy the following information into an email and send to:
info@internet4classrooms.com
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Email Address:
Parent? Yes__ No __
Teacher? Yes __ No __
Grade(s): ___________
Subject: ____________________________
We will forward this information to Clorox and you will receive your coupon in the mail.
Again, thank you for your support of internet4classrooms.com. Please feel
free to post any comments, concerns or suggestions or email us directly.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Email from Teachers
On which state is your standards information based?
We have also reorganized the activities and added descriptions to our skill-builders section so they are concept focused.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm
Select your grade and the topic your class is studying and choose from the selection of links on that topic. In the standards section, just click on the area of focus, then select the individual sections that deals with your topic.
You may also want to use our search functionality, found on the top right hand side of our pages or at the bottom of our pages. Just enter the grade and the topic, and a list of pages that are relevant will appear in the search results. You may also want to look in our Links for K-12 section in the Subject Areas for additional activities.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm
If you need any help finding a specific topic, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will guide you to the appropriate activities.
Thanks for your support of our site!
- Susan Brooks
Internet4Classrooms.com's standards pages are based on the newest 2009-2010 standards from Tennessee. However, during the history of this site, while looking for resources for each skill and communicating with teachers all over the country, we have discovered that most states teach the same concepts during the school year. Although the standards may be worded a bit differently, the concept that is being taught is exactly the same. Therefore, our standards sections can be used throughout the country
We have also reorganized the activities and added descriptions to our skill-builders section so they are concept focused.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/grade_level_help.htm
Select your grade and the topic your class is studying and choose from the selection of links on that topic. In the standards section, just click on the area of focus, then select the individual sections that deals with your topic.
You may also want to use our search functionality, found on the top right hand side of our pages or at the bottom of our pages. Just enter the grade and the topic, and a list of pages that are relevant will appear in the search results. You may also want to look in our Links for K-12 section in the Subject Areas for additional activities.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm
If you need any help finding a specific topic, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will guide you to the appropriate activities.
Thanks for your support of our site!
- Susan Brooks
Monday, August 3, 2009
What is in a Name? or It's All in Their Name!
According to Wikipedia.org, a name is:
"A name is a label for a noun, (human or animal, thing, place, product [as in a brand name] and even an idea or concept), normally used to distinguish one from another. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context.
A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person."
Let's stop there.
School is starting shortly and teachers need to quickly and correctly learn their students' names. It is one of the first things that they do to welcome children into the classroom and make them feel part of the class. It doesn't matter if you are teaching kindergarten or at the college level. Using names is a basic way to connect with a student.
Here are some resources to help:
"A name is a label for a noun, (human or animal, thing, place, product [as in a brand name] and even an idea or concept), normally used to distinguish one from another. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context.
A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person."
Let's stop there.
School is starting shortly and teachers need to quickly and correctly learn their students' names. It is one of the first things that they do to welcome children into the classroom and make them feel part of the class. It doesn't matter if you are teaching kindergarten or at the college level. Using names is a basic way to connect with a student.
Here are some resources to help:
- KinderKorner - This site is geared towards teachers of younger children, mostly pre-school through primary. Includes songs and fun names activities for the entire class.
- VirtualVine.com - This site is nice for elementary teachers, as it contains many activities reinforcing phonics, literacy and graphing for learning names.
- TheApple.com - Quick tips to learn names quickly, adapted from the 'First Year Teacher's Survival Guide'.
- TeacherVision from the Family Education Network has a huge resource page for Personalizing the Secondary Classroom.
- The National Teaching and Learning Forum discusses the importance of learning names in the higher grades and has activities for the classroom. There is also a focus on peer-peer interaction to foster a learning environment in classes that may be very large and the student may just feel like another "number".
Monday, June 29, 2009
Knowing the Facts Regarding H1N1 Virus
As your children are attending summer camps or you are starting to think about the beginning of the school year, H1N1 (formerly called the "Swine Flu") is a concern in all of our communities across the world. School age children have been disproportionately affected by this virus, so staying informed is critical for both teachers, school officials, and parents. The main thing to remember is that although a global pandemic has been identified, it is a reflection of the spread of the virus, not the severity.
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
Stay informed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is maintaining an information portal on H1N1 flu. Also, check your state's Department of Public Health website for more localized information on the spread of the virus. Another informative website is the Centers for Disease Control's website which maintains the latest online information on the outbreak.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Not only are you worried about the spread of this virus, but chances are that depending on your child's age, she/he is aware that people all over the world are being affected.
Remember, it is never too early to teach your children good hygiene. Here is a simple 1-2-3 "Hands, Mouth and Table Game" to teach your children healthy habits that will help keep them well.
Have a safe and healthy summer!
Susan
What You Can Do to Stay Healthy
Stay informed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is maintaining an information portal on H1N1 flu. Also, check your state's Department of Public Health website for more localized information on the spread of the virus. Another informative website is the Centers for Disease Control's website which maintains the latest online information on the outbreak.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Follow public health advice regarding camp/school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.
Not only are you worried about the spread of this virus, but chances are that depending on your child's age, she/he is aware that people all over the world are being affected.
- The American Psychological Association has a great article on managing your anxiety about H1N1.
- The National Association of School Nurses has released an article for parents on how to talk to your children about the flu. It includes tips on what is age-appropriate information to share and suggested points to emphasize.
- What Parents Need to Know - from WebMD
- Centers for Disease Control
- Official H1N1 Information - from the U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Remember, it is never too early to teach your children good hygiene. Here is a simple 1-2-3 "Hands, Mouth and Table Game" to teach your children healthy habits that will help keep them well.
Have a safe and healthy summer!
Susan
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
We love Wordle, but....
In our search for internet resources that are suitable for use by students in the classroom and at home, we really love Wordle as a tool. The visual display of words really gets across the main idea in a number of ways. In fact, we are using a Wordle of our blog as our display background on our Twitter page.
However.
Yesterday, I was speaking with my niece, who was going to use Wordle with her 2nd grader to display information about the State of Indiana for his end of year Social Studies project.
The conversation went something like this.
"Aunt Susan, be very careful in recommending Wordle on your site for use in the classroom. I was sitting at the computer with Jack. We did an amazing Wordle on the Indianapolis Colts, and then decided to look through the gallery. We went to the home page and I almost slammed the laptop on his fingers, because there was a featured collection of very, very obscene words."
Ouch.
So I went to the FAQ for Wordle and found this:
Teachers and parents, please keep this in mind as you use Wordle with children. You may want to link to Wordle's "Create" page, instead of the home page if you intend to use it in your classroom or at home.
Please feel free to share your thoughts, or email us directly.
Best,
Susan
However.
Yesterday, I was speaking with my niece, who was going to use Wordle with her 2nd grader to display information about the State of Indiana for his end of year Social Studies project.
The conversation went something like this.
"Aunt Susan, be very careful in recommending Wordle on your site for use in the classroom. I was sitting at the computer with Jack. We did an amazing Wordle on the Indianapolis Colts, and then decided to look through the gallery. We went to the home page and I almost slammed the laptop on his fingers, because there was a featured collection of very, very obscene words."
Ouch.
So I went to the FAQ for Wordle and found this:
"I'm a teacher, and I'd like to use Wordle in the classroom or send my students to use it at home. Can you filter or moderate Wordle's content?
Wordle, as it stands, is inappropriate for classroom use. This is because I do not censor the content that appears on Wordle (I couldn't possibly; there are thousands a week), and, therefore, it's possible to find images in the public gallery that are entirely unsuitable for younger users.
I saw an obscene Wordle. Could you take it down?
I cannot moderate or filter Wordle, as many thousands are created each week. I also cannot become an arbiter of decency. Therefore, unless someone has exposed your personal information (such as your name and phone number), I'm not going to take it down."
Please feel free to share your thoughts, or email us directly.
Best,
Susan
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