TeacherLed

TeacherLed is an interactive resource for educators. This site appears to be a blog with English and Math activities for K-12 classrooms. The site does not appear to have been updated since March 29th, so I'm unsure if new content will be added.

All of the links appear to be in working order so I suggest taking a few minutes to look through the site and bookmark/download the activities you feel are most appropriate for your classroom. Personally, I think my students will enjoy the Rainbow Multiplication and Word Circle activities. I can't wait to go back and investigate the site fully, but it's definitely worth a mention! http://www.teacherled.com

I am always on the hunt for new activities, but if you need help locating resources, please comment and let me know. I'd love to try and help. Two heads are always better than one!

And on a completely unrelated note....9 followers? Thank you! I'd love to crack double-digits, so please pass this blog along to your friends! :) Happy Teaching!

Writing Fun

Writing Fun is great tool to incorporate into your Writer's Block. Perfect for visual learners. This is not an online game site, but real content for use in your classroom.

How would you implement this site? Use this site as you introduce content to the class on your IWB, use this site as a resource in the computer lab, or as a way to differentiate the process & product for your students. After you enter the site, you choose the text organizer that fits your project. Then students can view details for the text organizer and see examples. Students can type directly into the organizer and print their finished product. Writing Fun is a fantastic tool for upper elementary and middle school teachers.

Bubble Burst

Bubble Burst has to be one of the most fun (and challenging) games for your IWB! Students can use Bubble Burst to practice prime & composite numbers or odd & even numbers.

The object of the game is simple. Use the claw to burst only the bubbles with prime or odd numbers. The difficulty comes with the speed and accuracy needed! Your students are going to have a ball! What a sneaky way to encourage them to practice these skills! Shh! Don't let them know that they're studying! Keep it a secret!

http://www.teacherled.com/2008/04/02/bubble-burst/

HippoCampus

HippoCampus is an educational site for secondary teachers. "Teaching with the power of Digital Media" is their slogan and I am very impressed with the layout and content. This is not just a site filled with games, but rather with lesson planning tools and educational content.

Use materials found here for display during guided instruction or on a computer station for tutorials. Students can work in a group or independently and the activities are self-checking and self-pacing.

Content includes: Algebra, Geometry, Government, Biology, Calculus, Environmental Science, Physics, Psychology, Religion, Statistics, and US History. (The Algebra and Calculus sections are also presented in Spanish!)

http://www.hippocampus.org/

Peter Rabbit

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends! I have time to make a quick post before heading out the door for services so I wanted to share this cute website with you.

Peter Rabbit is a classic children's story and this website ties in beautifully! Children explore this site and play games based on Beatrix Potter's beloved characters. The cutest part is the site is designed as a children's pop-up book! Take a few moments and explore the site. This could be a great resource for a center or reward activity!

http://www.peterrabbit.com/us/index.asp

What's the Score?

Have you ever spent time designing a fun game for your students but then you ran out of creative options for keeping score? You'll love this! Curriculum Bits hosts two versions of score keeping programs for use on your IWB. You can even add sound! What a fun way to jazz up a game!

You can keep score using a two-team format:












Or a four-team format:












Make sure to check these two options out for your next review game!

EcoKids

EcoKids is a Canadian based website for Earth Day activities. There are games and activities for students that can be used on your IWB. I would not recommend these games for younger elementary students, but the activities are appropriate for upper elementary/middle school. There is also a teacher section where you can register for lesson plan ideas and printables. Just in time for Earth Day!

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm

The Lorax

For all of my elementary and middle school teachers, here is a free version of the Lorax! This video is hosted through Google and will be removed April 29, 2011. Remember it's almost Earth Day and give your kids a quick treat!

	Lorax's Save the Trees Game" align="TOP" border="0"> I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I've come here to celebrate Earth Day, so please Come join me and help spread the message I bring. Be a friend to the trees and to each living thing. Playing this game requires the latest version of Shockwave. If you do not currently have this software, you may download it by clicking on the icon below.

PrintWhatYouLike

PrintWhatYouLike

Here is a fantastic site that will enable you to print content from the Internet without text running off the page, without ads, and even without the images. This will save you time and money on printer cartridges! All you have to do is enter the URL address of the site and then you can begin editing the content and print! Simple! You do all this without leaving your browser. No more copying & pasting the content into a program like MS Word!

YouTube SearchOn

I just recently stumbled across an easy way to create videos on YouTube. Visit http://www.youtube.com/searchon and create short videos for your class. It is basically a video of an internet search. You are given six search boxes that connect with Google and you can choose to display a web search, maps, images, etc. When you are satisfied with the content, you can add music, preview and upload your video to YouTube.

How is this relevant for the classroom? Well, first of all, it's fun. It would be a fantastic way to differentiate the process or product for a classroom assignment. It is a great first step for teachers just beginning to integrate technology into the classroom. You can easily add the video to your classroom website or blog! It could even be used as a tool to aid communication with parents.

I'm very sleepy this morning since my crazy puppy woke me up at a ridiculously early time this morning. After my coffee kicks in, I plan to play with the tool more!

Interactives

Interactives is a great website to check out for middle & high school teachers. There are several activities in Math, History, Language Arts, and Science. Only two of the games are reserved for elementary students. The games are all well done and would be a great resource for either introducing or reviewing content. Enjoy!

http://www.learner.org/interactives/

Sheppard Software...We Make Learning Fun!

Sheppard Software houses an enormous amount of content for your IWB. Games and activities are available for PreK-8, however the majority of the games are for elementary. There are still gems to be found for secondary teachers. Content on the site includes all of the core areas. The site is engaging and easy to navigate. While there are a few advertisements and pop-up windows, I still think site is worth using on your student computers or IWB. Some of the activities can even be differentiated for ability level. If you haven't checked this site out yet, bookmark it for future use!

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_menu.htm

"Our educational games will give your brain a workout! Learn new things and challenge yourself by advancing to higher levels."

Fakebook

Looking for a great new differentiated activity for your students! Tired of reading boring book reports or your basic project? Need a creative way for students to demonstrate their knowledge of historical figures or fictional characters?

Try Fakebook! Fakebook is powered by Classtools.net and will pull images for historical figures. Students can create a Fakebook page for their historical figure! What a fantastic way to integrate technology in the classroom and differentiate instruction! Students can add friends, write comments, and provide basic information on their "wall". This is too much fun!

Thank you to In Tec Insights for this great post! Couldn't wait to pass it along to my readers. All 4 of you! :) Smile! It's Monday!

http://www.classtools.net/fb/home/page

Maths Master

You have to look at Maths Master! This is a relatively new site that has several short videos covering different math topics. The videos are short clips designed for students to use as a review tool or study aid. Great for when your students need a quick boost of their skills or while you are working with a small group. http://www.mathsmaster.org

Science Museum

Science Museum is a collection of interactive games for use on your IWB or computer workstation. These interactive Science games are designed for elementary students but could be used with middle school students as well. Games include links to support content and you can even find lesson plans written for your class!

The site is well developed and easy to navigate. There is no cost associated with the site either! Definitely go check out this site and save it to your bookmarks!

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/onlinestuff/games.aspx

Create A Graph!

Create A Graph is a fantastic tool for middle school and high school teachers. Upper elementary students will also be able to make use of this great tool! You can create bar, line, area, pie, and coordinate plane graphs. Students can completely customize this graph and print their results when finished! Take a look around the site! You'll be surprised!

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx?ID=52cd6409573b4382b47ea618895d4622

Build An Online Habitat with Switchzoo!

Anyone else going to the zoo this year? My class is going in just a few weeks and we always include a science unit on habitats. Here is a great site for you to use in your class as you discuss animals and their habitats. It's Switchzoo!

Perfect for your IWB, you simply choose an animal and then create the perfect habitat! There is a compatibility meter for your students to help them choose the correct biome, vegetation, and precipitation! Great activity!

http://switchzoo.com/games/habitat.swf

Word Girl

She's.....WORD GIRL! Looking for a great new way to expose your students to more vocabulary? Try PBS Kids' Word Girl! Great cartoons and activities for use in your classroom. Very engaging episodes that your students will enjoy. And....and, and, and.....Word Girl has an online vocabulary competition once a year! Unfortunately, it's already passed. Next year, my class will be registered! :)

http://pbskids.org/wordgirl/

Topmarks

Topmarks is a teaching resource site that is absolutely HUGE! Can you sense the excitement? I'm positively drooling over some of the great resources. Of course, this being a technology blog...let's talk interactive ideas for your whiteboard.

Topmarks breaks down their content into key stages. These stages correspond with primary/elementary/middle/high school ages. There are interactive games and activities for all of the core subject areas. There's something for everyone! Once you've arrived at the site, please look around for other great content. Enjoy!

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Interactive.aspx?cat=76

Scholastic

Did you know that Scholastic has great online activities perfect for your IWB? I didn't. Now I do! There are fantastic games and more importantly, comprehension activities for use in your classroom. Perfect for SMARTboards, Promethean Boards, and Mimio. Activities range from Pre-K to 12th grade and cover Language Arts, Social Studies, Science & Math, and Learning Games & Teaching Tools. I am most excited about the Science section!

All of these activities are free for teachers. If you are a member, then there is a lot more content available for you. Might be worth the investment. However, go check out the free activities. Here's the link:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/whiteboards/languagearts.htm?eml=TNL/20100105/TNL

Visuals Engine

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I was just over at Free Tech for Teachers and I saw this post! Thanks guys! I have to show you this great site for creating visuals. ConnectAbility.ca has created this visuals engine that is perfect for special needs students, young students, or just any visual learner. There are pre-made templates and project ideas just waiting on you.

The site has several photographs and images from Boardmaker for you to use or you can upload your own images. Create things like:

• Choice Boards
• First...., Then....
• Circle Time Boards
• I Want...
• Schedules
• Token Economy
• Labels....and more

When you are finished with your creation, you can either print or save as a .pdf. There are many more resources on the site, but for differentiated instruction or special needs children, this is a must.

http://connectability.ca/visuals-engine/#content

Pete's PowerPoint Station

Pete's PowerPoint Station contains hundreds of PowerPoints and games for use in your classroom. All grades and almost all subjects are represented. You can easily search out PowerPoints for use in your instruction. I used to import these PowerPoint files directly into ActivInspire on my Promethean board, but I felt limited by what I could do with the file. Annotations were always having to be "cleaned" off before I moved on to the next slide.

Now, I simply open the PowerPoint file in MS and I hover my stylus over the lower-left corner of the board. This brings up a menu for me to use. I can advance the slides, choose pen colors, and choose marker colors. This only works in "slideshow" mode. I'm sure there are similar options with SMART boards but I only have experience working with Promethean.

http://www.pppst.com

Cam Scanner for Android

CamScanner is an app for Android phone users that turns your phone into a document scanner. This tool is a lifesaver! The best part is it's free! Use your phone to take a picture of the document. The app crops and enhances the image. You can save the image as .pdf and email or upload to the Internet. The app also works with Evernote and Dropbox.

Uses for education: Scan documents for absent students and email the documents to parents!
Scan and save professional development flyers. Upload them to Dropbox
and save space in your classroom!

Try CamScanner on your Android phone for free! There are also scanners available for Apple and Blackberry. Just go to your app store and do a quick search. You'll be surprised how quickly you integrate the app into your life!

http://www.appbrain.com/app/camscanner-phone-to-scanner/com.intsig.camscanner

Online Math Manipulatives

Here is a site that has a long list of virtual math manipulatives for your IWB. These are just a few of the manipulatives available. You will need the Java plugin for many of these programs.

• Bar Charts
• Base 10 blocks
• Counters
• Patterns
• Fractions
• Money
• Number Lines
• Spinners
• Attribute blocks

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/grade_g_1.html

Pic-Lits

Pic-Lits is a fantastic site for upper elementary, middle-school, and high-school teachers. This interactive website encourages students to become better writers. Bright, colorful picture prompts are combined with key words. Students can freestyle write or use the drag and drop feature.

The drag and drop feature is a perfect way to differentiate this writing activity for your struggling writers. When the assignment is completed, it can be uploaded to Facebook, Twitter, or embedded in a blog. Of course, there is a print feature too! Make sure to check out this site. It's worth the time!

http://www.piclits.com/compose_dragdrop.aspx

Mouse Mischief by Microsoft

Real-time assessment. Think of how lovely it would be to have your entire class engaged and have immediate access to their comprehension levels. Ahhh....savor it. Your class is moving forward, closing the gaps, and inspired at the same time. Are you smiling yet? You should be! Microsoft has created "Mouse Mischief" for PowerPoint. Here's a small blurb from their site....

"Mouse Mischief can transform teaching and learning in the classroom. Mouse Mischief integrates into Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 and Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007, allowing teachers to create interactive presentations that engage and excite every student in the classroom. Approximately 525 students, each with his or her own mouse, can answer multiple choice questions and draw on a shared screen. You can download Mouse Mischief free of charge."

e-learning for kids

E-learning is a fantastic and free site for elementary students, K-6th. Subjects covered are: Math, Language Arts, Science, Computer Tools, Environmental Skills, Heath, and Life Skills. Activities are brightly colored, engaging, and perfect for your IWB or computer lab! Take time and investigate the site!

http://www.e-learningforkids.org/

Into The Book

What is the hardest part about learning to read for our students? Higher-level comprehension strategies! Absolutely. Into The Book is an interactive reading comprehension site. Geared for K-4 students, but I believe it is more appropriate for 2nd-5th.

Areas covered include: Making Connections, Visualizing, Summarizing, Synthesizing, Prior Knowledge, Evaluating, Questioning, and Inferring. Best of all...it is completely FREE! That should make some ELA teachers very happy!

http://reading.ecb.org/index.html

Magnetic Poetry

Do you remember playing with magnetic letters and words? Or maybe you have young children and your refrigerator is adorned with these letters now! Children of all ages enjoy creating sentences, stories, and poetry! Turn your computer or IWB into an old-time refrigerator, dry-erase board, or even a school locker and have your students create original poetry for free!

http://kids.magpogames.com/playonline.cfm

"Choose Me!"

What is it? Save the Words is a website dedicated to vocabulary instruction! This site is geared towards middle and high school students. After the page loads, students will scroll around the page looking for new and interesting words. When they select a word, it will be defined for them and students have the opportunity to "adopt" the word for the week. Great way to expand vocabulary instruction!

www.savethewords.org

PowerPoint Games!

Good evening! Found a terrific website that has free PowerPoint templates. These unique games are easily downloaded and can be modified to fit your curriculum needs. Also, these files are easily imported into SMARTboards and Promethean Boards for use in your classroom!

Enjoy the templates!

Xtra Math

What: XtraMath is a free, web-based program for teachers, parents, and students. This program

helps students master math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The

program sends reports via email to parents and teachers.

How to implement: Xtra Math allows teachers to quickly set up a class and students may log in to

the program at home or at school. Use it as a free choice center, review

activity, or parent/school connection.

I'm including a short video that will give you more information about the program.

XtraMath Overview from XtraMath on Vimeo.

Intervention Central

Needing help integrating technology with your struggling students? Need a website that has ready made materials waiting to be tailored to your needs? Visit Intervention Central and look at the behavioral and academic resources available for you to integrate into your curriculum.

Primary Wall

Here is a great service for elementary teachers and students! Primary Wall! Simply create a URL address and elementary students can visit the wall to write note or message one another. Super kid-friendly and a great use for brainstorming sessions!

Of course, you will want to plan out exactly how you want to implement this in your classroom because students are definitely going to want to write silly notes on it. Clear planning will be the key to success! Here is a short video for you to watch!

Zapd

What is it? Zapd is a free application for iPhone

What does it do? Zapd allows users to create websites on the go from your phone. You can

share images, videos, and/or text. You can even create multiple sites.

Why? You can quickly create a site while on a field trip. If students have their own iTouch or iPhone, they can upload images and text to record their experiences.

Here is a short video hosted by Vimeo that explains the app. Enjoy!

Zapd in 60 Seconds from rocketvox on Vimeo.