Teacher Tube: A Few Finds

TeacherTube offers educators access to videos and it probably is not blocked in your school like youtube.   Keep it simple searching led me to the three videos I am sharing with you today.  You can join TeacherTube at no cost and then you can eliminate the ads that play before a video begins.

If you are looking for a video to support your curriculum or your own professional development, check out TeacherTube as a resource. Enjoy my video picks for today.  Leave a comment, if you use TeacherTube or if you like what you see here.  
The Money Song



A Walk Through Ancient Egypt


School Technology - 21st Century Skills

Sharing Tech Thoughts for 2011

Happy New Year blog readers!

As we begin the new year, I wanted to share some quotes that I think have a good message for everyone who works in a school.  I hope you find inspiration in the words of these authors and other educators.  In keeping it simple, I found these quotes on http://edquotes.wikispaces.com/, http://synthesizingeducation.com, and http://www.brainyquote.com.

In 2011, keep learning and relearning, challenging yourself and your students, engaged and engaging, and understanding that as you learn and try new technologies, it will not always go the way you planned.  Nor will it be perfect.  Embrace the messiness and believe in your importance.

“The technology itself is not transformative. It’s the school, the pedagogy, that is transformative.” - Tanya Byron

"The illiterate of the 21st century won't be those who can't read & write but those who can't learn unlearn & relearn" - Alvin Toffler

“Indeed, the role I give the computer is that of a carrier of cultural 'germs' or 'seeds' whose intellectual products will not need technological support once they take root in an actively growing mind.” Seymour Papert

'How do we recapture the magic and myth of education? ... to enable teachers to believe in their importance...so teachers and the public can rediscovers the hope schools once held?'
Deal and Peterson 

From the journal of the National Association of Teachers, 1907: “Students today depend too much on ink. They don’t know how to use a knife to sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will never replace the pencil.”

"Technology, like art, is a soaring exercise of the human imagination."   Daniel Bell 

"Part of the problem is when we bring in a new technology we expect it to be perfect in a way that we don't expect the world that we're familiar with to be perfect."   Esther Dyson

The Gift of Time

Frequently, teachers ask me how I have time to find, research and learn technology integration ideas, tools and techniques.  I have learned some strategies that save me time and I thought, in the season of giving, I would share a few comprehensive lesson plan websites that are high quality and easy to navigate.  My goal for this blog is to help keep things simple as readers delve into expanding their technology integration with students. 

There are many quality lesson plan websites and teachers will need to decide whether or not modification of someone else's lesson plan is necessary.  That supports the "art" and "science" of teaching.  That being said, here are some resources for you to consider as you plan your next unit or a lesson.  The websites are free, searchable by curriculum, and printable.

• Read Write Think from the Verizon Foundation  

Thinkfinity from the Verizon Foundation

Scholastic's  Lesson Plans - Lessons for K-12 and adult education

 Awesome Library

 I hope these sites will provide you with helpful, quality lesson plans that effectively link to your standards, curriculum maps, etc.  These are just four of many quality lesson plan websites.  If you already use other lesson plan sites, please share them in a comment.  Also, if you find the sites that I have shared are useful, take a minute to share how the resources helped you in your teaching.  

Happy holidays to all who read my blog.  Thank you and Happy New Year.  I look forward to continuing my "keeping it simple" blogging in 2011!

Looking Back at 2010 Via New York Times Quiz

With less than two weeks left in 2010, you may want to end the year or begin next year with a look back.  What is news today can be forgotten so quickly and I am sharing one resource for you and your students to take a minute to look back and see what you remember.  Today's New York Times offers an online quiz about events they covered or wrote about during 2010.   

News Quiz | Farewell, 2010

By ANNISSA HAMBOUZ and KATHERINE SCHULTEN

 

 

Also, check out the retrospective that includes detailed lesson ideas that correlate to the events/quiz questions.

Your students can take the quiz on line or you can print the quiz from the PDF link.  

Those of you who teach English language learners, try the Google translate.  You can translate the site to dozens of languages.

 

 The quiz offers teachable moments and offers students an opportunity to check their knowledge of current events.  The authors keep it simple so you can focus on the importance of retrospective teaching ideas.  They offer 9 ideas with links.  In addition, they provide links to a number of other retrospectives for 2010.   Congratulations to Annissa Hambouz and Catherine Schulten  for this well developed look back at 2010.

 

 PDF version of the quiz. The link is provided on the quiz site.                                                              I hope you find this activity helpful and interesting.  I encourage you to share your thoughts or ideas on retrospectives in the classroom. 

Making Math Relevant with YummyMath

I baked cookies this weekend so Yummy Math is a perfect site to blog about today.  Two educators, Bill Marks and Leslie Lewis, created this site that offers downloadable lessons (doc and pdf) using real world examples.
The tabs on the left are the topics they cover.  They include food math, holidays, sports, geometry, and several more topics.

The web layout keeps it simple to navigate around the site.  In addition, the lesson documents are well done and offer clear examples that you can use with your students. Below is a screen shot that shows part of the "Not Enough Mashed Potatoes"  lesson and problems that students would solve.  It even includes a recipe.  Now that's real world!

As I have said before in this blog, I am a believer that teachers do not need to reinvent the proverbial wheel for quality instructional material.  Sites like YummyMath offer teachers well-developed, creative material for your lessons under Creative Commons Attribution.  It is important to credit the authors when you use the material and the link will provide you with more information.

I hope you find YummyMath worth checking out and that you look for ways to incorporate real-world math into your instruction.
    Have a wonderful week!

Algebasics - Free Math Tutorials with Audio

Frequently, I learn about new websites and online tools from teachers. In my work in technology integration, I  am always looking for new ideas, integration strategies, tools, websites, etc.  Today, I shared vocaroo.com with a group of teachers and at the end of my demo, a teacher asked me if I had heard of algebasics.  This is a website she uses with middle school special education students and her students love it.  High praise made me curious so I checked it out and I am sharing it with my blog readers.

I love the algebasics motto, "show me how, now!" When kids don't know something, isn't that what they want?  This website provides free, audio supported solutions to math problems in 16 algebraic topics.  The site keeps it simple. 


This is the list of content on the algebasics website.





This is what students see under the sections.  There are three simple stops, as you can see in this screen shot.  You need audio, select an example and click on it to play. 

The solutions are clear and easy to understand in English.  If you are math teacher, I hope you share this site with your students.  I like that fact that students can listen and watch the example being solved as many times as they need or like. 

This is what you see when the problem is being solved.  It is not interactive but rather like an audio book of basic algebra examples with solutions. The site shows you "how," as their motto says.

Algebasics is now on my list of best tutorial math sites and I hope you check it out to see if it meets your needs.  If you don't teach algebra, pay it forward by sharing it on to a colleague. 

Connecting Standards to Practice

In this blog, I've shared tips and tools to help teachers integrate technology into the curriculum. Today, I am sharing a post by Collete Cassinelli, Tech Curriculum Integration Ideas.  The post offers specific activities that connect to to the International Society for Technology In Education (ISTE), National Education Technology Standards for students.

• Creativity & Innovation
• Communication & Collaboration
• Research & Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
• Digital Citizenship
• Technology Operations & Concepts

Ms. Cassinelli's post keeps it simple while providing educators with concrete examples, using easy to access tools.  I'm not about re-inventing so I am paying it forward by sharing her thoughts in my blog. 
Consider posting a copy of the ISTE NETS for Students in your classroom.  This will provide you a ready reference as you align lessons and activities to your curriculum standards.

In addition, I encourage you to visit the ISTE website.  You will find a wealth of information and ideas to support integration of technology and your professional learning.

If we teach today as we taught yesterday, 

 we rob our children of tomorrow.

                                John Dewey

Thank you for taking time to read my blog.  I hope you find something that you can use and practice. 

Teachers Should Like Google's New Search Option

Last Friday, Google added reading levels to its search tool.  Click to read more. Barry Schwartz wrote this blog about the new reading level option and he keeps it simple.

In the advanced search, you can choose basic, intermediate and advanced reading results for your search.  The "advanced search" option is located to the right of the search box.

This new option offers teachers more options for teaching search skills and helping students find appropriate sites for research projects.  I shared the option at an elementary school today and the teachers felt that it would help them find resources for students that they could read and that they could use in their lessons.  There are additional features in the advanced search that allow you to delineate the file format in a search.  This is another way to narrow your search and can yield more of what you are searching for.

I hope you add the reading level option to your search bag of tools and that you share it with your students.  Try it and see how it works for you.  Write a comment about your use, what your students think about the option or any questions you have.  Happy searching!

 

Two Tips for Today - - It's Follow-Up Day

Today I am following up on two recent posts.  On Monday, I shared two contests that are available to students.  Here is another essay contest that is being shared.  Students in grades 3-12 are eligible.  They need to write 100 word essay about technology and the grand prize is $10,000.  http://tweentribune.com/essay
I quoted Wayne Greszsky in my Monday post and I believe his words ring true in all aspects of learning.  He said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."  One of your students could come away a winner and even it they don't, learning to limit an essay to 100 words is a 21st century skill worth exploring and supporting.  Check out this 100-word essay contest and share it with someone if it won't work for your students.  Pay it forward!  100 words for a possible $10,000!  This is keeping it simple.

                                                       *   *   *   *   *   *   *    *  

My second follow-up is to my post from December 2nd: "Don't Get Stuck in 1.0" in which I shared a blog post by Nicky Hockly.  The post about Web 1.0 was the first in a series and I am sharing her next installment about Web 2.0, the "read, write web."  Ms. Hockly keeps her explanation simple and I hope you recognize some of the tools she discusses.
http://www.emoderationskills.com/?p=378

crazyleafdesign.com

Have you moved on to Web 2.0 in your teaching?  Web 2.0 is about engaging students through producing with tools that allow creation and interactivity.  This is something that today's students are quite comfortable doing. 

In this blog, I've been sharing a number of these tools and I look forward to your comments about how you are using the read,write web or Web 2.0.  I hope you keep learning and trying to increase your technology tool kit.  You can do tech!

Math Playground - An Arcade of Engagement

Today's tip is a well developed math game website. 

http://www.mathplayground.com/ASB_Index.html

If you are looking for a one stop place for arcade type math games, this Math Playground link is sure to engage your students.  The site keeps it simple and provides clear directions.  The games load quickly, some can be played publicly and privately, and some support both single and multiple players.   If you create a private game, you can add a password and students can share it with friends.  Games on this page include the addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and ratio, fraction and integers. 

In addition to using Math Playground games in your classroom, this is a good site to share with parents to support the home/school connection.  Teachers frequently ask me for sites that will engage their students and this is one that I continue to recommend.  If you like this page, there is much more to the site you can explore.

Check it out and see if it will work for your students or share it with a colleague.  Leave a comment if you find that Math Playground is a hit with your students. 

Learning About Web 2.0 Storytelling - A Resource

 Today, I am sharing a wiki about Digital Storytelling that I think keeps it simple but provides information, videos, and conversation on the topic.  You can read about digital storytelling or "click" and enter a discussion on various aspects of digital storytelling.  The authors of this wikispace site, Bryan Alexander and Alan Levine, provide a variety of storytelling links and examples.  This wiki was developed after the two wrote an article in 2008, "Web 2.0 Storytelling, Emergence of a New Genre." Click the title to read the article.
 Check out this wiki to expand your understanding of Digital Storytelling and how to integrate technology into your storytelling lessons.http://web2storytelling.wikispaces.com

I hope you find this wiki resource useful and simple enough to navigate.  Try a few clicks and see what you find.
Share your thoughts in a comment.  Two years after this article was published, has the new genre emerged in your classroom or school?

Take a Shot: Online Contests - An Easy Find

The web provides access to many FREE resources for teachers and you can also find opportunities for your students to participate in contests, challenges, projects, and events like the Google Science Fair and much more.

If you are an educator, click the link for classroom resources, complete the simple registration form and Google will send you materials for your class or even your whole school.  Students or teams ages 13-18 are eligible to participate in the Google Science Fair. Google will kick off registration on January 11th.  So, if you register your classroom/school now, you should receive your material before the.

My next example will be ending on January 21, 2011 but there is still plenty of time to enter.  Olive Garden is sponsoring its 15th annual Pasta Tales Essay Contest.  Students from 1st - 12th grade are eligible to register online or you can print a form.  This year's topic for a 50-250 word essay is: “Describe how furthering your education beyond high school will help make your dreams come true.” The contest grand prize is a three-day trip to New York City and a $2,500 savings bond and there are also winners at each grade level who receive a bond and dinner at a local Olive Garden.

 According to the contest website, submissions will be judged based on creativity, adherence to theme, organization, grammar, punctuation and spelling by the Quill and Scroll Society of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Iowa, with winners selected by Olive Garden.

This form keeps it simple and the essay topic is central to motivating students to achieve and think about furthering their education beyond high school.

If you are looking for a way to challenge your students and open their eyes to new ways to demonstrate their abilities, search the web for contests, events, and opportunities like these.  There are hundreds available, depending upon where you live and the age of your students.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  Wayne Gretzky
http://www.brainyquote.com 

If your students don't ever participate in something like these contests, they will never have the opportunity to win. My search of online writing contests yielded 930,000 websites so, if my examples aren't to your liking, I am sure you will find something that could work for your students. Many contests are simple online submissions like Olive Garden's.  Teachers should check with a school administrator and follow appropriate protocol for online submissions.  I hope you are able to let your students take a shot!

If you have participated in an online event, contest, etc. share your experience in a comment.  If not, could the Google Science Fair or the Olive Garden Pasta Tales Contest work for your students?   Share your thoughts on this topic.

Don't Get Stuck in 1.0

I began this blog in September and I have been sharing technology tips and tools that I think educators should consider using with their students. Many of the tools are Web 2.0 tools and in my work with teachers, I still find that there is confusion about this and other tech terms. Recently, I read a post by Nicky Hockly that is part of a series she is writing. Her post provides a clear, easy to understand history of the web and how teachers are using technology in classes.
Click and Read Teachers & Web 1.0 – A Beginner´s Guide to Webs 1,2,3, x Nov 16th, 2010 by Nicky Hockly
In my work with teachers, I find great variation in knowledge and skill level about what is possible using a computer with students. Some teachers are fearful of tools that require a "registration" and they like to stay comfortable with PowerPoint and video clips. That is part of the my reason for creating this blog. I know teachers like it to keep it simple so I try to emphasize that aspect of the tips and tools I am sharing. Nicky Hockly's post keeps it simple and I hope you will click and read through it as it may clarify some of the terms you hear about and may be using in your work.
I aim to help educators move out of their comfort zone and take a dip in the waters beyond Web 1.0 that Ms. Hockly writes about. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope you are finding tools to enhance your curriculum and engage and motivate your students. Getting students to produce content for the Web is what I think is exciting and different from Web 1.0.   Share your thoughts here or leave a comment for Nicky Hockly on her blog.  Develop a passion for Learning.  If you do, you will never cease to grow.

                               -Anthony J. D'Angelo -

Vocaroo - A Super Simple Way to Create Voice Recordings

Vocaroo is a free online voice recording tool that doesn't require any software installation.  It's one of those little tools with big possibilities.  I shared this with some teachers today and they quickly came up with ideas for using it so I decided to share it here. When you open the site, this is what you will see.  Vocaroo really keeps it simple.

All you do is click to record and start your recording.  You can use the computer's build in mic or plug in an external mic.  When you are done you can preview your recording and re-record if you aren't satisfied.  When are are ready to share your recording, you can email it, embed it in a website by copying the html code that you will see, or you can download the file.
  I looked for some examples of teachers using Vocaroo and found Mr. C's website.  His assignment was for his elementary students to use Vocaroo to record a reflection.
The teachers I shared Vocaroo with came up with some ideas on how they might use the recording tool.  They want to try recording homework assignments and posting them to their Google sites, have students record responses to assignments, have students explain math problems, and share class announcements.  There are many ways you can use this simple but effective tool.  Try recording and see what you think.  The simplicity of the tool makes it a good choice for giving students a "voice."  It could be the start of a class podcasting project. If you use Vocaroo, post your experience as a comment.  If you have ideas on how you could use this voice recording tool, please post them too.

This is how a Vocaroo recording looks when it is embedded.  Click the triangle to hear my recording. 

What's in a Glog? Using Glogster for Multimedia Posters

Glogster is a Web 2.0 tool that provides you an opportunity to create a multimedia poster (glog) online. Your poster can include video, audio, pictures, text and other creative elements. No more cutting magazine pictures to and letters create posters. You drag and drop elements into your poster. It this tool is new to you,  check out the examples and videos that are available. Glogster Edu provides educators with a free account. Note: A premium account is available but I suggest you keep it simple and begin with the free education account.  Once you create and save your project, there are several ways to publish it.  Make sure you follow your school's acceptable use policy for sharing.

Here is my very simple glog poster.  I have a link to my blog and two videos that will provide some ideas on how to use the tool.  The opportunities for creativity are endless.   Here are some ideas for using Glogster Edu with your students.  But, like all tools, it is essential that you have a basic understanding of how to create a glog.  Try it yourself.  It's easy to learn.  

If you want to read more about Glogster Edu, this link will connect you to the site overview.
http://edu.glogster.com/what-is-glogster-edu

If you are looking for a way to explore digital storytelling, Glogster Edu may be the answer for your students. If you are already using Glogster Edu, share your glogs and leave a comment about your experience. I believe this tool keeps it simple enough for elementary students to be successful using the tool but it is engaging enough for middle and high school students.  The ability to include multimedia elements, makes it cool enough for kids.

Podcast for Learning Math - It's Math Dude

Yesterday's post featured Grammar Girl, a podcasting website that provides audio podcast grammar tips.  The same company features Math Dude.  Math Dude is written by Jason Marshall and here is his bio.

Much like Grammar Girl, Math Dude features short audio podcasts that can be downloaded to an MP3 player or accessed from a computer.  The sites features concepts from beginning math to real world math.

If you teach math and you are looking for another way for your students to learn and retain the concepts you teach, have them try using this site.  Using audio files is easy and cool for students and this site keeps it simple.  You do not need to register to hear a podcast.  The written script is included below the audio tool.  Simply click play and you are into the world of learning with podcasts.

You can view available podcasts by type or see all the available topics.  The best way to stay connected to this site is to subscribe to new posts and can do that through a newsletter, iTunes (for your mp3 player) or by RSS feeds.


I encourage teachers to explore the use of audio podcasts with students and I would love to hear your experiences.  Math Dude and Grammar Girl can be another tool in your instructional tool belt.  Check out Math Dude and pass it on to a math teacher.  Thanks for reading my post and if you know good instructional podcasting sites, please share them in the comment section below.

Listening for Learning - Grammar Girl Podcast

I have been sharing Grammar Girl with teachers for several years.  It is one of those tools that middle and high school students will use because they can access it from their phones, mp3 players and computers.  Listening to audio is an integral part of students' lives so listening to podcasts is cool and is a medium that is comfortable to students.  Grammar Girl is an audio podcasting website that provides short audio and/or written tips to improve students' writing.  The founder of Grammar Girl is Mignon Fogarty.  You can read her bio at: About Grammar Girl

Podcasts are like listening to the radio on your computer and the possibilities for learning are endless.  Grammar Girl keeps it simple.  The podcasts are free and there is no log in.

You can listen to the audio and learn about grammar, punctuation, word choice, style and more. The site also includes the dialogue of the podcast in writing.  Episodes are about 5 min in length.  You can also subscribe to new podcasts in a variety of ways. Subscribing means you receive notification every time Grammar Girl posts a new podcast.
Have you ever struggled over "affect versus effect," "who versus whom," "bad versus badly," or "active versus passive" voice?  Grammar Girl has the answers.  

I hope you check out Grammar Girl and use it with your students or share it with another teacher.  Share your thoughts in a comment if you have used Grammar Girl.  Give it a try!  I'm confident your students will like it and learn from Grammar Girl.

Site Sharing with Portaportal

Portaportal is another tool teachers can use to organize and share websites.  The free version of the Web 2.0 tool works well but there is an upgraded membership that eliminates the ads.  You will need to register for Portaportal but it is quite simple.  Portaportal offers a getting started tab that helps keep it simple. They also clearly state their privacy policy so you know that your websites will not be linked to your email address.

With Portaportal, you create categories of websites you want to share and you populate a form.  When your portaportal site is displayed, your categories are listed and they link to the sites you have saved.  You can continue to update your portaportal and you share the link with students, colleagues, etc.  They will be able to easily find and use the sites you add to your Portaportal.

The best way to understand Portaportal is do see what other teachers have created.  I have shared a screen shot of one Portaportal and links to a few more.  Check out this easy to use tool.  Give it a try and see if it works for you and your students.  As always, share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of this post. 

This is Harveys Portaportal.
You click the "triangle" next to a topic to open the category and reveal the weblinks.










Here are two examples you can explore.
 A resource portaportal.  http://guest.portaportal.com/sduggan
A math and science portaportal.  http://guest.portaportal.com/adebellegarde 
Training resource page - http://guest.portaportal.com/elamj

Enjoy Portaportal a new way to organize and share your bookmarked websites.  Does anyone have any other ideas on how to use Portaportal?

Learning What You Don't Know - Innovation In Action

It is not uncommon for teachers learning how to integrate technology in their classrooms to say, "how do I know what I don't know?"  Technology is changing rapidly and I understand how intimidating it may be for educators to keep up with innovations.  Here is a resource to help you "see" innovation in action.

Teacher TV, a video and resource library website from the UK, is one of those places to help you conquer the "what don't I know" blues.  Here is what the site says about learning with their videos.

This website is supported by the UK Department of Education but is managed by an independent media consortium.

The goal of Teacher TV is to provide quality professional development
resources for teachers.   
About Teacher TV provides additional information. Teacher TV keeps it simple and the website is easy to navigate and allows for searches by subject and grade level (Stages) to it applicable to all teachers.

While Teacher TV provides outstanding videos for teachers to watch, they depend on teachers sharing videos of best practices in classrooms.  The videos are by teachers, for teachers.  Teacher TV sponsors video submissions including contests like "Tomorrow's Teacher." 

Check out Teacher TV and see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms.  It's one way to learn in 2010 that is easy and that you can do anywhere, anytime.  I hope you enjoy Teacher TV.  I would love to hear what you think about this resource. This site can help you find an answer to what you don't know.  Please share your thoughts with a comment.

Happy Friday!

Lesson Support - Who is your hero?

English classes in the schools where I have been working are beginning a unit on non-fiction writing and it is also bullying awareness week.  I was researching resources to support the English teachers and I came across a website I haven't visited in a while.  This not for profit organization supports anti-bullying efforts that are important for our schools and I can't think of better examples of 

Have you seen the My Hero Project website?  According to the website, "the MY HERO Project was founded in 1995 by Karen Pritzker, Jeanne Meyers and Rita Stern as a response to the lack of positive role models in the media for children. This not-for-profit website was built on the belief that people of all ages from around the world would participate by sharing stories, art, and short films that illuminate heroes from all walks of life."

Students are able to submit writing, art or short films to My Hero Project and the site has teacher resources and lesson plans.  My Hero Project activities address the ISTE NETs and the connection is stated on the site.

There is a well developed set of resources, galleries of work, and lesson plans to support the mission of the site.  Students can register and create a "my hero webpage" on the site.  

I hope you will check out My Hero Project.  It is an inspirational project that is worth exploring.  Let's get kids exploring a hero, developing creative projects and participating in the lesson activities that you will find on the site.

Leave a comment about your experience with My Hero Project.