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Holidays - Manatee School District - Grades 1 to 3 - permalink

Need some information or class ideas about Christmas, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Yom Kipper, or New Years? Check out this interactive, easy to follow website. Each holiday has an individual page with several links to photos, historical information, vocabulary definitions, reference information, and more. There is also a Read feature available with each paragraph. This allows students to hear the paragraph read aloud (a great feature for non-readers and ESL or ELL students).

At the time of the review, the link on the Yom Kipper page to Hear the Sound of a Shofar was being updated. All of the other many links and information worked perfectly. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Save this site in your favorites to share during the holiday seasons. Assign research groups to investigate the holidays listed at this site. Have students report their findings to the class. Create a class wiki for students to share holidays they celebrate and holiday traditions that they follow.

Screencast-o-matic - Big Nerd Software - Grades 4 to 12 - permalink

Teachers First Edge Review: For adventurous technology users. Use this simple and free tool to create a video recording of your screen to upload and share on a teacher web page, wiki. blog, etc.. This is an easy way to create a tutorial from your own computer screen. When you visit sites that have tutorials on how to use their software, you are looking at a screencast. Use this site to give specific directions on how to use different applications in and out of the classroom. This site requires Java. Audio is not necessary for the screencasts but may be beneficial, depending upon the tutorial. An example can be found here. Click to Play the "Using the Wiki" screencast.
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In the Classroom:
Skills needed: Users will need to know how to use whatever computer software, website, or skill they are demonstrating. Following basic directions and managing browser windows or tabs are a must, as well as the managing settings of the computer being used. The site demonstrates how to troubleshoot problems on both PC's and Mac's.

How to use: Click "create" to start. The website will check your computer for Java, which is required to use the online software. As the screencast is being created, files will need to be written temporarily to the desktop. A security screen will pop up that asks to run the application. You will be asked to "trust" or "not trust" the security certificate. Depending upon your school's Acceptable Use Policy and computer security settings, you may not be able to complete these steps. Choose the screen size when played and whether audio will be needed (audio can be tested here as well, which is recommended: settings may need to be adjusted for different microphones.) Open a new tab or browser window and enter the web address of the site (or software) that will be the subject of your screencast. Drag the black frame by clicking the line and dragging it in order to choose what will be recorded during the screencast. The microphone icon has a green bar that shows recording levels. A green arrow showing instead of a green bar denotes that sound is not being captured. The red button is used to start recording while the black "X" stops the recording. Once you stop recording, click on your screencast tab or browser window and preview your recording. You can then either upload or discard your screencast. At this point you can create an account easily. Save your screencast to a channel of your own. Use the embed code to place your screencast into a blog, wiki, or other site. You can also use a widget code to embed the screencast player into a website. Screencasts can then be made from your other site and will save directly to your screencast channel. Screencasts can be set to different levels of privacy and comments can be turned on or off.

Safety/security concerns: Teachers who must request certificate approval by tech staff may want to try this tool at home and create some sample projects to convince administration of its educational value. Ads are found along the top and sides of the screencast site. You may want to prohibit or point out the links to advertising located on the screencast pages. Unless checked to turn off comments, this site will allow comments on your work. Many districts prohibit such interaction and steps should be taken to prohibit commenting from others. When using the widget, the tool does not attribute work to specific students. You may wish to have the students identify their work while creating the screencast. Screencasts will only be able to be viewed when using an embed code in a site, wiki, or blog. Students need an email to create an account though authorization is not required. Check your school policies about accessing/sharing student email on school computers. You may want to create your own Gmail account with up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how. By marking the screencast "searchable," it can be available to the public. Recently created screencasts do not appear on the home page of screencast-o-matic. Students are able to self-register, but you may want to keep a record of logins and passwords for students who forget.

Classroom Uses: Make how-to demos for instructions on using and navigating your class home page, class wiki or blog, or other applications you wish the students to use in creation of classroom content. By narrating how you want students to navigate through a certain site or section, you can eliminate confusion, provide an opportunity for students to use the information as a refresher for the future, and maintain a record for absent students. Software demonstrations add an increased flexibility with helping students who need it while allowing students to begin and work at their own pace. Added audio is a great asset for many students including learning support and those who might need to access the material in smaller “chunks.” Use this site for students to give "tours" of their own wiki or blog page. The presentation of their web-based projects and resources can be more engaging. Use screencasts to critique or show the validity of websites, identify a resource site they believe is most valuable, or explain how to navigate an online game. Social studies teachers could assign students to critique a political candidate’s web page using a screencast. Reading/language arts teachers could have student teams analyze a web site to show biased language, etc. Math teachers using software such as Geometer’s Sketchpad could have students create their own narrated demonstrations of geometry concepts as review (and to save as future learning aids). Teachers at any level can create screencasts to demonstrate a computer skill or assignment, such as for a center in your classroom or in a computer lab. Students can replay the “tutorial” on their own from your class web page and follow the directions.

AAA Math - - Grades 0 to 8 - permalink

Students can practice math skills independently with this collection of challenging, interactive practice activities, organized by grade level and topic. The website says the activities are designed for students in grades K through eight. Topics vary greatly and include algebra, statistics, counting, comparing, decimals, basic operations, exponents, fractions, and many others. Nearly every math topic taught in elementary or middle school, will be found at this site. Once you click on the general topic area, be prepared for a HUGE list of specific choices to explore. Each math concept is explained in a simple paragraph and then students are presented with practice activities about the specific concept. The practice activities are timed.

Be aware there are several advertisements at this website (all appropriate). But considering this site is free (and full of ready to go math activities), the advertisements are worth the minor annoyance.
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In the Classroom:
This site has countless possibilities in the classroom. Use the descriptions and activities as an anticipatory set for a new topic in math class. Share the activities on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Set up a learning station for students and differentiate the activities for your lower and higher level math students. Provide this link on your class website for students to use to review at home.

25+ Tools for Accounting and Budgeting - Sean P. Aune - Grades 7 to 12 - permalink

This blog, created by Sean P. Aune, offers a collection of Web 2.0 tools which could be useful in business education, math, family and consumer science, or economics classes. Some of the sites offer ways to save money, create a budget, analyze your expenses, find hidden fees, and more. The four main areas of the site include Business Accounting, Personal Accounting, Personal Budgeting, and Shared Accounting. Each link on the blog includes a brief description of the site.

Be certain to consider your school's Acceptable Use Policy before creating any STUDENT accounts on any of the tools. There are comments (students can both read or add comments), so be sure to supervise their navigating or do this as a class on an interactive whiteboard or projector. For tips on using Web 2.0 sites in your class visit the TeachersFirst Edge Tips. Some of these tools require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this site to help your students learn how to budget their money and expenses. Read through the descriptions of the 25+ tools and find out which ones may be useful in your subject area. Have students choose one of the tools to create a monthly budget a week or so prior to the start of the month. Have students keep calculations (using the site) throughout their "budgeted month" and see how well they can stick to their own budget. You may want to include this link on your class website so students can access the tools at home. You could also assign students to try more than one tool and compare them. Since students are used to using web tools for everything, challenge them to make the decision about which tool is best.

K12Online Conference - K12Online Conference organizers - Grades 0 to 12 - permalink

This annual "conference" started in 2006, costs you nothing, and connects you with teachers and education professionals all over the world in live or near-live interaction. Always held during the second half of October, the conference features "presenters" using technology tools to share their experiences using technology and best practices to change the way learning occurs in their schools and classrooms. They describe it as "a conference by educators for educators around the world interested in integrating emerging technologies into classroom practice."

Each year the strands vary, so be sure to visit the site early to learn more about the current focus. Our editors are very impressed at the changes in this conference since our first review in 2006 and cannot wait to see what will happen next. Every teacher can find something to learn and stretch without being overwhelmed.

Don't miss the "Fireside Chats," opportunities to talk live with the presenters and ask questions. NO question is too minor or "dumb." TeachersFirst writer and reviewer Louise Maine will be presenting in 2008. Don't miss the chance to "meet" her.
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In the Classroom:
Put this conference on your calendar every year. Consider holding a get-together after school for pizza and participation with some face to face teacher friends as you meet new ones "virtually." Many of the presentations are available as podcasts to carry along to children's soccer games or listen as you commute or jog, too! As you move forward, possibly rethinking the way you teach in the 21st Century, consider sharing your experiences by submitting a presentation proposal. Most of the presenters are "just teachers" like you. Don't have time to "attend" during these two weeks? That's OK. The entire "conference" remains online in perpetuity for you to experience personalized professional development. Ask your administration to allow you to "attend" and earn continuing ed credits. Don't miss the archived material from 2006 and each year thereafter.

Shakespeare's Staging - Regents University of California - Grades 11 to 12 - permalink

This great site gives serious Shakespeare students something to dig their teeth into. Of particular interest is a full-length, documentary video titled "Shakespeare and the Spanish Connection." The documentary links Spanish and Elizabethan theatres in style of performance, architecture, and background. From the homepage, you can look at galleries (basically online picture albums) of Shakespearean productions from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Clicking on the "Videos" tab will enable you watch short excerpts of plays performed in various venues including open air theatres. Due to the academic nature of the presentations, this is probably best used with upperclassmen or gifted students who have some familiarity with the Elizabethan Renaissance and Shakespeare. The videos require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
The ideas presented on this site offer imaginative teachers great scope. Using the short videos and/or the albums as jumping off points, students can create their own videos of their own productions. Share the videos on YouTube or another tool such as SchoolTube (reviewed here)

One of the central topics can be the ease or difficulty in staging some of the scenes. Since there are several of the videos where actors describe the experiences playing certain characters as well as short documentaries showing authentic Elizabethan music, dance, etc., students can incorporate their own ideas in making their own scenes more genuine.

Edgar Allan Poe Webquest - Ellen Bower - Grades 6 to 8 - permalink

This is a simple webquest to use with students who have not done many webquests. It introduces students to Poe effectively by requiring them to research his life as well as one of his stories. It is designed for students to work in teams, which makes it ideal for middle school students. The options given for evaluation are attractive to students and there is even a section that compares Poe to Stephen King.

Note: You will want to use your own links for the conclusion to give students more sites to visit since most of those listed are not working. The bulk of website works fine. Be sure to include TeachersFirst’s Interactive Raven as an alternative for those investigating this poem and for others who have concluded their work.
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In the Classroom:
This can be tailored to any of the Poe stories you read. One task might be to have students themselves find websites to offer additional Poe information after they have completed the webquest. Have students create a fictitious blog – written by Poe!

Welcome to Debatepedia! - International Debate Education Association - Grades 8 to 12 - permalink

Debate teachers and those who teach persuasive writing--rejoice! Here is a site for students to practice their own reasoning skills as well as read the arguments of others. A very complete site, this includes current debate on a number of subjects categorized by area of interest as well as a breakdown of "popular debates." While this IS a wiki, meaning that all the content is user content, it appears that support for the argument is imperative. Scrolling down the main page gives you the category browser as well as the top debate articles. There are featured daily debates as well. The topics are as varied as the opinions that support each side.

You must join if you want to participate, but it is free. Creating an account requires an email address. You may want to consider creating a Gmail account (rather than your personal or work email). If you are having students create email accounts, consider Gmail which allows you to set-up to 20 subaccounts for each group of students (by code name or number) within your classes. Here is a blog post that tells how to set up GMail subaccounts to use for any online membership service.

Since this is a user-contributed wiki, be sure to preview whatever you wish to share with your students (close to class time). Some of the topics include video clips which require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
If you are having students write persuasive essays or speeches, this is a site to peruse as a class. Remembering the caveat that it is user-edited, there are insightful and controversial topics here that students can get excited about. If you are new to wikis with students, this might be a good place to start, as the content is current and the topics vary widely enough to appeal to any student. Create your own debate page here. Or have students debate each other on a topic of their choosing on your own class wiki.

We can change the world challenge - Siemens - Grades 5 to 8 - permalink

Use the virtual lab activities on the Siemens Challenge website to investigate energy-related topics. Choose from "Wow, Windmills," "How Big Is Your Footprint," "Ponder This," "Everyday Fossil Fuels," "The Ever-changing River," and more. Each activity begins with an introduction, investigation where factors are changed, and results. Registration and login is not required for the virtual labs. A teacher section contains great lesson plans dealing with fuels and biodiversity as well as many others. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
9586

In the Classroom:
Introduce units with the virtual lab to build background information. Assign each group a different factor to manipulate, and have them report back to the class with their results. Students can then identify factors needed to understand the concept as well as questions. Have students research or provide them the information to answer their questions. Use the lesson plan and extension activities for understanding. Students can join in the Siemens Challenge or create a proposal in their community or school to improve use of natural resources and biodiversity.

Puzzlers Paradise - Shelly Hazard - Grades 2 to 10 - permalink

This site offers some fabulous (and addicting) mind stretchers. There are both visual and verbal puzzles. There is also a puzzle archive featuring a variety of puzzles for various grade levels. Some of the puzzles are interactive and you complete them online, while others are printable. This site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Save this site in your favorites. Use a logic puzzle as a class opener to “warm up” brains. Display the puzzle on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Print out the logic puzzles for students to complete for additional enrichment. Use this site with your gifted students. Provide a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Challenge your students to create some puzzlers of their own and share them on a class wiki.

Shopping Math - Dositey - Grades 1 to 4 - permalink

This is a fabulous site on money. Students are given a specific amount of money to spend in this virtual toy store. Basic addition, subtraction, counting, and money skills are all necessary to play this great game! This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce this activity (or review basic concepts of money). Then allow students to work independently and try out the activity. This one will work well for students practicing during assigned times on a single classroom computer or cluster.

Addition K-2 - Dositey - Grades 0 to 2 - permalink

This is a useful site for addition practice. The website includes interactive games and challenges, as well as printable worksheets. Topics all relate to addition and include levels: basic addition facts, adding 2-digit number with regrouping, adding 2-digit numbers without regrouping, adding 3-digit numbers and more. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this website to differentiate addition instruction. This website would be a wonderful learning center activity on your classroom computer or cluster, with each student assigned the appropriate section for practice.

Subtraction - Dositey - Grades 0 to 3 - permalink

This is a fabulous site for subtraction. It includes interactive games, challenges, and printable worksheets. Topics all relate to subtraction and include basic subtraction facts up to 20, subtracting with regrouping, subtracting without regrouping, and subtracting 3-digit numbers. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this website to differentiate subtraction instruction. This website would be a wonderful learning center activity. List this site in your class newsletter or on your class website.

Number Sense - Dositey - Grades 0 to 2 - permalink

This website provides a wonderful introduction to numbers and place value. The website includes interactive games and challenges, as well as printable worksheets. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
8522

In the Classroom:
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to involve your entire class in the Flash activities. Make one of the activities a center in your single-computer classroom. Print off the worksheets for additional practice at-home.

Multiplication - Dositey - Grades 2 to 5 - permalink

This site includes interactive portions and printable worksheets for students to use to learn multiplication. Topics include everything from basic facts 0-20 to regrouping to order of operations. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Use this website (and the activities) to differentiate the material for your class. Allow the more advanced students to try their hand at one of the more challenging programs. Get out an interactive whiteboard or projector to introduce the website, then allow students to practice their multiplication on their own on your classroom computer cluster or as part of their time on a single classroom computer.

Negative and Positive Number - Mystery Picture - Dositey - Grades 5 to 7 - permalink

This website offers a simple mystery picture challenge. Students are given nine math problems to solve to figure out what picture is hidden underneath the math problems. Questions include positive and negative numbers, and order of operations.
8524

In the Classroom:
This is a great website for students to practice positive and negative integers, and order of operations. Provide this link in your class newsletter or web page for students to use at home for additional practice.

Addition Facts - Dositey - Grades 0 to 2 - permalink

Practice addition facts to twenty with this interactive challenge. This site uses caterpillars, ladybugs, and leaves to motivate young minds. The virtual manipulatives help students visualize and understand basic addition. The site requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard. Then create a learning center and have students practice on their own or in cooperative learning groups. Share this site on your class web page, so students can practice basic addition at home.

Addition and Subtraction - Dositey Corporation - Grades 3 to 4 - permalink

All aboard the math train! At this site, students can practice addition of three-digit numbers with an interactive exercise that breaks the task down into place values and the process of regrouping. This site requires Shockwave. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard during a lesson on three-digit addition, place value, or regrouping. Create a learning center and have students practice on their own or with a partner. Share this site on your class website so students can practice three-digit additions at home.

Read the Clock - Dositey - Grades 1 to 2 - permalink

Practice telling time to the hour and half hour with this multimedia activity. Students must match the correct time to what is shown on the analog clock face. Instant feedback and remediation (as needed) is provided through audio-visual explanations. This site requires Shockwave. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
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In the Classroom:
Share this site on an interactive whiteboard during a unit on telling time. Create a learning center and have students practice on their own or with a partner. Share this site on your class website.

Missing Letters - Dositey - Grades 1 to 2 - permalink

Students can practice basic spelling skills with this interactive and engaging activity. Find a word that matches the incomplete word above, and enter the missing letters (a word box is included). Click on a hamburger to go to the next or previous word unit. This site requires Shockwave. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
6540

In the Classroom:
This is a fabulous site to share on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students take turns filling in the blanks. Have students work with a partner or on individual computers. Provide this link on your class website.

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