Web Tools
Below is a list with explanations on how I use various web tools to support my instruction. It is just a list of tools that I use on a weekly basis, not a compilation of tech tools that are good. My students complete the activities, protocols, challenges, projects, through their checklist as described earlier. I put examples of each tool in the pop out section on this tab.
Miscellaneous:
Stixy - I use stixy in combination with a few other tools. It is essentially in online post it note board in which students can communicate and collaborate. Since it is based online, I never use student names. I usually post a link of some type of grade level video explaining a skill from 'khan', 'learnzillion', etc... for the students to view with a link for a grade level text from 'readworks' that has something to do with our content in the classroom for the students to apply the learning below it. I then post some focus questions for the students to answer. The students can also answer the 10 Q & A questions that are embedded with the readworks text.
Educreations - This is a screen casting tool that you can use with an a computer with a microphone or an iPAD. It records what you say and do, much like 'Khan', and then creates a link when you are done. I do this a lot to differentiate math lessons and house them on MyBigCampus for my math groups. The students can watch the screen casts and complete the challenge, ixl link, focus questions, etc... that I have for them. Students also use this as a tool to represent their products and learning.
Jing - This is a screen shot program that allows you to take a screen shot or video of any size with anything on your screen. You could frame in a youtube video and hit play for the video and record it as it is happening. You can take a screen shot and annotate on the photograph. I use this tool a lot! Click here for a tutorial video.
Social Media:
My Big Campus - Is a Lightspeed program that runs much like an educational form of Facebook. To learn more about it watch this video or contact me. It is the central hub of my classroom.
Edmodo - Edmodo is similar to MBC and is a wonderful tool if you do not have access or like MBC. To learn more about it watch this video.
Math:
IXL - This is a math based website that lets you have around 10-15 free questions per device/browser a day. It has the math state curriculum and common core state standards K-12 depending on what you are using in your classroom. I use it to differentiate and scaffold lessons. My students use to to assess their individual math goals. Click here for a tutorial video.
Tenmarks - This program has a free and pay version. The pay version allows you to personalize your students' curriculum based on their MAP scores. It is a much more teacher friendly version of 'Khan' and is strictly math based. I use this for 'flipped' assignments and differentiated homework. Click here for a video tutorial.
Common Core/Language Arts/Math:
Learnzillion - This site is free and provides scaffolded lessons on common core strands in reading, writing, and math. At last check it starts at 2nd grade and goes to high school. It is a new site and constantly adding new screen casts with texts, problems, and writing prompts. I use this a lot with stixy
Khan Academy - Khan academy started out as a just a man screen shooting videos on how to do basic math skills. It has grown into a variety to Math, Science, World Cultures, Economics, etc... screen shot videos of how to do or interpret topics. I use it to complete 'flipped assignments', and my students use it to assess and practice their personal math goals.
Language Arts:
Readworks - This site is free and offers thousands of non-fiction texts that you can download as pdf's after making a free account. You can search by lexile level, skill, grade, etc... Attached to the pdf's are 10 Q&A's for you or students to use to assess their progress with the text. I often use this in combination with tech tools like stixy for students to watch screen casts and apply them to grade level or independent level texts. If you have iPads the students can download them onto the Typeon PDF app and annotate on them and send them back to you on MBC or Edmodo.
Research:
Google Docs - If you are familiar with google docs you can have a student create a docutment, click 'tools', click 'research', and then a pop up screen that they can research from will com to the right side. If the student finds something that they like, they can just hit 'cite' and it will automatically footnote it and cite in within the document.
SIRS - This is a great research data base that you can search by lexile level among other things like subject, genre, etc...
Nettrekker - Another research data base that you can search by elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Miscellaneous:
Stixy - I use stixy in combination with a few other tools. It is essentially in online post it note board in which students can communicate and collaborate. Since it is based online, I never use student names. I usually post a link of some type of grade level video explaining a skill from 'khan', 'learnzillion', etc... for the students to view with a link for a grade level text from 'readworks' that has something to do with our content in the classroom for the students to apply the learning below it. I then post some focus questions for the students to answer. The students can also answer the 10 Q & A questions that are embedded with the readworks text.
Educreations - This is a screen casting tool that you can use with an a computer with a microphone or an iPAD. It records what you say and do, much like 'Khan', and then creates a link when you are done. I do this a lot to differentiate math lessons and house them on MyBigCampus for my math groups. The students can watch the screen casts and complete the challenge, ixl link, focus questions, etc... that I have for them. Students also use this as a tool to represent their products and learning.
Jing - This is a screen shot program that allows you to take a screen shot or video of any size with anything on your screen. You could frame in a youtube video and hit play for the video and record it as it is happening. You can take a screen shot and annotate on the photograph. I use this tool a lot! Click here for a tutorial video.
Social Media:
My Big Campus - Is a Lightspeed program that runs much like an educational form of Facebook. To learn more about it watch this video or contact me. It is the central hub of my classroom.
Edmodo - Edmodo is similar to MBC and is a wonderful tool if you do not have access or like MBC. To learn more about it watch this video.
Math:
IXL - This is a math based website that lets you have around 10-15 free questions per device/browser a day. It has the math state curriculum and common core state standards K-12 depending on what you are using in your classroom. I use it to differentiate and scaffold lessons. My students use to to assess their individual math goals. Click here for a tutorial video.
Tenmarks - This program has a free and pay version. The pay version allows you to personalize your students' curriculum based on their MAP scores. It is a much more teacher friendly version of 'Khan' and is strictly math based. I use this for 'flipped' assignments and differentiated homework. Click here for a video tutorial.
Common Core/Language Arts/Math:
Learnzillion - This site is free and provides scaffolded lessons on common core strands in reading, writing, and math. At last check it starts at 2nd grade and goes to high school. It is a new site and constantly adding new screen casts with texts, problems, and writing prompts. I use this a lot with stixy
Khan Academy - Khan academy started out as a just a man screen shooting videos on how to do basic math skills. It has grown into a variety to Math, Science, World Cultures, Economics, etc... screen shot videos of how to do or interpret topics. I use it to complete 'flipped assignments', and my students use it to assess and practice their personal math goals.
Language Arts:
Readworks - This site is free and offers thousands of non-fiction texts that you can download as pdf's after making a free account. You can search by lexile level, skill, grade, etc... Attached to the pdf's are 10 Q&A's for you or students to use to assess their progress with the text. I often use this in combination with tech tools like stixy for students to watch screen casts and apply them to grade level or independent level texts. If you have iPads the students can download them onto the Typeon PDF app and annotate on them and send them back to you on MBC or Edmodo.
Research:
Google Docs - If you are familiar with google docs you can have a student create a docutment, click 'tools', click 'research', and then a pop up screen that they can research from will com to the right side. If the student finds something that they like, they can just hit 'cite' and it will automatically footnote it and cite in within the document.
SIRS - This is a great research data base that you can search by lexile level among other things like subject, genre, etc...
Nettrekker - Another research data base that you can search by elementary, middle, and high school levels.